A Ruined Marriage: Me, My Baby and My Dear Ex-Husband

CHELSEA

I sat on the window seat, lost in my thoughts as the rain poured down outside. The sound of droplets hitting the glass matched the rhythm of my racing heartbeat.

It had been a tumultuous week, and I couldn't shake off the worry that had settled deep within me.

“What’s wrong with him these days?” The image of my husband, Raphael, flashed through my mind, accompanied by an overwhelming sense of longing.

"Miss Chelsea, are you okay?" a soft voice interrupted my reverie. I turned to find Rowena, our devoted maid, standing by the door with a concerned expression on her face.

She had been with our family for years and had become more than just an employee. Rowena was like a second mother to me, always there to lend an ear or offer a comforting word.

Startled, I blinked away the tears that had gathered in my eyes and forced a smile. "I'm fine, Rowena," I replied, my voice slightly shaky. "Just lost in my thoughts, that's all. Thank you for your concern."

Rowena's gaze lingered on me, and she tilted her head, studying me intently. "You've been like this for days now, Miss Chelsea. I can see the worry etched on your face. You shouldn't stress yourself too much, dear. It's not good for you."

I sighed, my shoulders sagging under the weight of my emotions. Rowena was right—I had been carrying the burden of uncertainty for far too long.

"I know, Rowena," I admitted, my voice tinged with sadness. "But I can't help it. He’s here with me, yet he felt so far. I miss him so much, and the distance between us feels unbearable."

Rowena approached me, placing a comforting hand on my shoulder. "I understand, my dear. But you have to trust that everything will be alright. Raphael might just be going through something now. In time, he’ll talk to you. Trust me."

Tears welled up in my eyes again, and this time I let them flow freely down my cheeks.

Rowena's words resonated deep within me, offering a glimmer of hope in the darkness that had engulfed my heart. Her presence and unwavering support provided me with a much-needed lifeline in these difficult times.

"Thank you, Rowena," I whispered, my voice choked with emotion. "Your words mean the world to me. I will try my best to stay positive and have faith that he'll talk to me soon."

Rowena squeezed my shoulder gently, a comforting gesture that conveyed more than words ever could. "That's the spirit, dear. Remember, love can withstand any storm. You’ll get through this together, just like you always have."

Her words echoed in my mind as I watched the raindrops race down the windowpane.

The storm outside mirrored the one within me, but with Rowena's encouragement, a flicker of hope ignited in my heart.

I vowed to hold onto that hope and remain strong until my beloved husband returned to his old self, bringing the warmth and light back into my life.

…..

“Raphael…”

But days passed by, still, things didn’t change as I wish it to be.

I can feel it. There’s something wrong with Raphael. I am not numb or dumb at all.

When Raphael was in the same room as me, it was easy for me to see that he was gradually pulling away from me emotionally.

Raphael usually used the excuse that he was busy with work in order to avoid me. Before exiting a room, I would sometimes catch him giving me an odd glance before he exited.

Instead of sleeping in the same bed with his own wife, he chose to make himself comfortable on the sofa or in one of the spare bedrooms we have for visitors.

At first, I decided to disregard his odd conduct in the hope that it would go away soon and that he would explain what was troubling him to me.

But he did not change his behavior and continued to exclude me while functioning normally with his own thoughts in his own world.

Yes, his world, a world that I can feel I am no longer belong.

Every time Raphael looked at me, I no longer saw the affection that he once had for me in his eyes; instead, I saw only hatred and misery in his eyes.

I've attempted to encourage him to interact with me by talking to me and touching me, but all he does is act like I'm not even there.

‘Raphael… what went wrong? What is happening, my love?’