Boss, I Want a Divorce!

Serena

"Ser, what's going on?"

Lucien stood silent in the doorway of the apartment. I approached him with confidence-or at least, I tried to project it.

I chuckled. "We canceled our date last week, so what's the harm in making it happen now?"

Lucien's eyes were fixed on my chest. His throat moved up and down.

Tonight I was wearing only lingerie. It was very skimpy; even where it covered anything, the fabric was sheer. I was wearing only a tiny pair of panties underneath.

I took advantage of his fixation. "Luce, I'm glad that after three years of marriage, our relationship is finally warming up. We even kissed last week. I'm ready to take things to the next level."

I could hear my own voice trembling as I spoke. My hands were sweaty, and even my back was tense. My fingers twisted the side of my lingerie.

Lucien closed his eyes. When he opened them, his eyes were as dark as the night sky.

"Ser, I've already told you-what happened over the last month was a mistake. You remember our agreement, right?" he asked in a heavy voice.

"That was your one-sided statement," I replied weakly.

"And that became the basis of our marriage. If it weren't for Grandpa, I wouldn't have married you. All of this was so I could fulfill Grandpa's ridiculous condition-that I could become CEO as long as I married you."

Lucien's jaw tightened as he said that. He turned his gaze to the side.

"Why are you backing out again, Luce? A month ago you were different-it was as if you'd changed your mind. We had dinner together, walked hand in hand, with no one else around. Not just in front of everyone, like usual," I insisted, stroking his arm.

"Because none of that was supposed to happen." He gently brushed away my hand resting on his arm.

My eyes began to blur. My chest felt as if it were being crushed by a massive boulder, choking me. My mouth hung open, yet no words could come out.

How humiliating!

I wanted the ground to swallow me up right then and there. I instinctively hugged myself. My tears finally fell.

All this time, Lucien had often rejected my advances. My heart had grown numb as a result. But humiliating myself like this-that had never happened before.

"Listen, Ser. I want us to go back to how things were a month ago. All this time, I... made a mistake," he said firmly, his piercing gaze fixed directly on my eyes.

For a moment, I thought I saw doubt in his eyes. But it must have been my imagination. That gaze was so cold, piercing like a dagger.

A mistake?

Was being intimate with his own wife really that shameful to him?

"Don't ever let this happen again. Or-"

"Or what?" I snapped, quickly wiping the tears from my cheeks.

Lucien paused for a moment. "Or you'll be even more heartbroken. Bury all your hopes, Ser."

"No, Luce! Don't say another word," I sobbed, hugging him. My body betrayed me.

I felt Lucien's body tense. Yet, he remained silent. His chest was wet with my tears.

"Our three years of marriage have been perfect, Ser. You've earned a prestigious title as Mrs. Hubert, a prestigious job, and plenty of money. And none of that should have been yours. You realize that, don't you?"

My heart felt as if it had been pierced by his words.

Yes, of course. I wasn't his choice from the start. His eyes never truly saw me from the moment we met when I was still an intern at the Hubert Group.

"Look at me like you have for the past month, Luce."

I cupped his cheek. My thumb slid across his thin, red lips.

Lucien closed his eyes again. His breathing quickened.

I felt something change down there. I looked down and smiled faintly.

Lucien's face flushed all the way to his ears. His hand pushed me away, causing me to stagger slightly.

"Don't you dare repeat this game, Ser. You'll regret it later!" he threatened as he walked toward his room. His footsteps thudded loudly on the floor.

My legs gave out, and I collapsed, sobbing again. I hugged my knees tightly and buried my head in them.

Still choking back sobs, I dragged myself toward my own room. My body curled up on the bed like a baby's.

I shouldn't have let myself do something like that. It was like pouring vinegar on my wounds.

Lucien will never change. Even though he seemed different for a moment, it was just a brief lapse for him.

My hopes were too high. I knew he was as hard as a rock, yet I foolishly believed I could chip away at him.

Stupid!

***

The next day, I was back in professional mode. No more tears, even though my eyes were still a little puffy.

I walked over to Lucien's office. As his personal assistant, I intended to invite him to lunch with our client from Norway.

"How does it feel to know your true love is back?"

I stopped in my tracks and immediately slipped behind the wall next to the large door that wasn't quite closed. I pricked up my ears to catch the conversation that pierced my heart.

That was Daniel's voice-Lucien's cousin and best friend. He's also the Marketing Director at Hubert Group, who's always felt threatened by my presence.

"I don't know."

Lucien's voice sounded uncertain.

"Has she contacted you?" Daniel asked again.

"Yes, a week ago."

My eyes widened. So this was why Lucien had grown cold toward me again.

Camille was back.

"Have you two met?" Daniel was still curious.

"Yes..." Lucien replied softly.

"And?" Daniel pressed further.

"She's still the same as before. I don't know, Daniel. Stop asking so many questions!" Lucien protested.

Daniel laughed loudly as if it were the best joke of the century.

What should I do?

Even without her around, I'm always pushed to the sidelines-let alone now that she's right in front of Lucien.

Should I stick it out in this toxic relationship?

Or should I just end our marriage before I die from having my heart constantly torn apart by Lucien?