Evara's POV

Under the scorching sun, there was cheering and crowd everywhere, when Julia, my daughter and I waited for my husband Edward to arrive at school to attend the annual sports day.

But ditching us, he was busy accompanying his ex fiance to the cemetery to bury her dead dog.

Arina flexed it on the internet, saying: [Find a man who always makes you number one.]

Everyone cheered for them and even said that the famous CEO Edward would finally divorce his low class wife since the crush was back.

The jab on my heart made me weaker on my knees. I looked at Julia who was crying badly, unable to participate in the competition.

Later, when Edward spent his night in Arina’s place, hugging her close, I chose to end our marriage.

“Edward, we have had enough. Let's divorce.”

*****

“When will papa come?” Julia, our six year old daughter, asked me pitifully. It had been half a day since we were waiting for my husband, Edward, to come and join the annual sports competition in Julia's school. Since it was a parents' sports competition, I could not join without Edward too.

“Soon.” I patted her head, trying to comfort her while the anxiety in my mind rose up.

Edward sent me a message,

[Eva, I can't come today, something came up. Say sorry to Julia.]

And the reason was? Of course, Arina, Edward's ex fiance who left him to pursue her modelling career abroad leaving Edward depressed and heartbroken. Staying by his side, I soothed him at that time and eventually we fell in love. Our marriage was eight years old. During that time, we had a happy family until four years ago Arina chose to come back again after being successful. Since then Edward always ran after her.

I didn't get to know anything from Edward not even a proper explanation until I noticed Arina’s post on Instagram:

Arina_Morris: [Miss u Lulu!]

She posted the picture of her dead dog and her second update was break shaking.

[Find a man who always makes you number one.]

In the picture, she was holding her dog, crying badly when Edward was holding her shoulder closely. They looked like a family.

As they were both elites, Arina was a famous model and Edward was a renowned CEO, everyone rejoiced in their story.

As soon as the photo was up, everyone jumped into the comment section. It was filled with love and condolences for Lulu but the most comment was targeting how good they look together.

Ari_lover: [Say whatever you want, but this duo has great chemistry.]

Make_me_ketchup: [Since the old crush is back, I have a hunch that Edward will leave his wife.]

Green_tea: [Won't everyone do the same?]

Everyone hyped them up, bashing me as a backdated country bumpkin who just clung to Edward for power money.

Looking at their picture together, I recalled the old days. When we were still in college, Arina and Edward often posted their photos on the forum. I fell in love with him but was afraid to confess since he already had a girlfriend. Later Arina left him to pursue her modelling career.

Edward was heartbroken and I accompanied him. We got married for eight years and had a six year old daughter who would turn seven after a few days. Since Edward was a famous CEO and Arina was a renowned model, As soon as the photo was posted everyone bashed them, some even had the guts to say that since Arina was back, Edward would ditch his low class wife. This backlash didn't even leave my daughter, she came back running and cried hard that her classmate said her father would leave us and went to sleep with another woman.

She came running and hugged my legs, “Mom, I am disqualified from the competition. Papa didn't keep his promise.”

I wanted to say that he was busy with work but she showed me the picture of Arina and Edward and said, “Everyone saying that Papa got another wife for him and will leave us now.”

Looking at her crying face, who was hiccuping and on the verge of collapsing, I took her in my arms and left.

It was not the first time Edward did that, before when he was really busy, he always neglected us for his work, now he included Arina on the list too.

Arina posted again. In this photo, Edward was cooking while wearing a girlish apron.

[Sorry Julia and @Evara_Franklin, I am keeping Edward today. Thank you for being so generous.]

When I saw the post I was furious and called Edward who picked up with full of annoyance in his tone.

“What's wrong?” He frowned, his voice was almost grunting, “Why did you call me so late at night?”

“Edward, did you even call Julia once?” I shouted, “When will you be considerate to your daughter? Do you know how badly she cried today?”

Edward fell silent suddenly. He slowly mumbled, “Tell Julia not to cry, Annual sports will be held every year. I will surely participate next time.”

“But here Arina needs me. Christopher is on a business trip. She is not close with anyone except us, how could I leave her at that time? It was my duty, you know?” Hearing his explanation, I let out a dry laughter but before I could say anything, Julia tugged at the hem of my dress and pouted. She took the phone from my hand and switched the voice call into a video call.

As soon as that happened, the scene was horrible in front of us. Leaving Julia traumatised whereas I couldn't move a little.

Arina wrapped her hands around him, while showing her cleavage. They were so close that if I suddenly didn't turn on the video call, they would have kissed. Seeing the scene, my heart sank. Before I could react, Julia cried out and roared badly, “Papa, you are so bad. Danny was right, you will leave me and stay with that woman!”

I abruptly closed her eyes and consoled her when she was mumbling the same line repeatedly, “I don't want to stay with Papa. Mummy, let's run away from here.”

Seeing the scene, my heart broke and when Julia noticed her father was a cheater, she held my hand and said she didn't want to stay with him anymore, she didn't want to have a step mother.

“Edward, let’s end this marriage.” This was the last sentence from me before hanging up the call.

Evara's POV

When I hung up, a trail of messages entered my phone but instead of explaining the scene, Edward scolded me.

[Evara, what do you teach Julia? She even called her own father a cheater?]

[If you want attention, act your own drama. Don't drag my matter into this mess.]

[Do you think that you can gain my sympathy by doing this? Give up on your childish act!]

“So I'm childish now!” I chuckled when a drop of tear ran down from my eyes.

His irritation was visible on the chat and I finally wrote the last sentence, [Since you know that Julia is learning bad from me, you chose to replace me?]

After that I blocked his number. Taking out all our things, both of us left the lavish villa which was decorated by us according to our choice. We did the interior design for four years but all the time we just lived under Edward's shadow and even when he was with us, we could never stay together. He was always busy looking after his work and Arina. Sometimes, he even prioritised Arina more than his work. In every small matter, he left as soon as he heard the name of Arina. I couldn't even remember when we had dinner together. While packing the suitcase, I discovered our wedding album, I tossed it into the trash can after flipping some pages. Since everything turned out like that, I didn't want him anymore.

“Edward, do whatever you want now, but we could never be the same anymore.” I sighed, mumbling the fact.

“Julia, do you want to leave with me or stay with your dad?” I didn't want to drag Julia into our own conflict. Even if she was small, she should have her own opinion.

“I will follow mummy.” Her voice was dim, “I didn't want that bad aunty.”

“Okay.” I kissed her forehead.

Julia and I got out of the villa and hailed a cab before leaving. I looked back once leaving all the memories here.

_ _

When I entered my old apartment, I felt foreign with the small space, but it was peaceful though a dagger stabbed on my heart. I bought this apartment with the money I saved during college when I worked on several part time jobs. Growing up, I always heard how my mother had to hear that she didn't have her own house and had nowhere to go. So when I turned older, I felt the urge to have my own house, a peaceful and cosy home. But now, the cosiness in my heart was nothing but a volcano who growled for her regrets.

When I was lamenting in my mind, Julia was an adaptable kid and she adjusted with me steadily.

Buzzing sound of the phone made me irritated, I thought that Edward sent me something again but to my surprise, it was Christopher this time.

[Evara, I heard what happened. Don't get Eddie wrong. He had to do this.]

“Had to do this! My ass!” I grumbled, flinging the phone, I wrote a quick message,

[Christ, tell your Eddie to fuck himself.]

I set the phone airplane mode to avoid those nuisances that bother me.

Looking at the apartment, I regretted everything. I wasted my youth for a person who was always devoted to her ex. At night, my phone rang. I thought Christopher called me again but this time it was Edward. I rejected the call several times but his persistent calling disturbed Julia’s sleep whose eyes were swollen from crying. I went to the balcony and picked up the call.

“What do you want now?” My tone was flat and cold.

“Eva, can you not be so petty?” Edward’s grumpy words churned my stomach, “I saw those post, you know how playful Arina is. Don't take it to heart.”

Edward asked me not to be jealous about the post and he said it was nothing wrong. He even convinced me that Arina was innocent and didn't think it through before hugging him even though he was startled. It was all a misunderstanding. Everytime I listen to him, my grip on the phone tightens, making it almost crack.

“Everything was a misunderstanding right?” I laughed, mocking their lame excuses, “Then Mr Edward Rosie, how are you planning to explain the fact that you spend nights with her?”

“Do you have to put it like that?” his tone was narrowed, “Arina fainted after we are back from the cemetery. How can I leave her alone? What if something happened? That's why I stayed with her.”

“Evara, grow up. You are thirty now, can you not be so childish?”

“Yes, I am childish!” I scoffed, “Go to hell with your dear Arina!”

I hung up the call while the ‘childish' word still lingered in my head. It happened every time Arina called him. Be it for the ambassador of a luxury brand contract or the short circuit in her house and ditching everything Edward rushed to her saying that in this she was all alone and it was his duty as a friend to take care of her.

He gave the same dialogue each time.

Slipping the coat on his body, Edward's gaze was worried whenever he heard the name Arina, “Evara, she needs me.” And he left.

Everytime we planned for a family outing or a vacation, it was always disrupted by Arina and ditching everything Edward just made up for us later. He thought that we were stupid and wouldn't notice the maze, but I let it go for my daughter's sake and for our love. But since he dared to spend the night with her, cheating me, I wouldn't let it slide. Even if Edward was a caring husband and responsible father, in his mind, he could never forget the woman and was always devoted to Arina. It was time for me to accept that.

Evara's POV

After I hung up the call, I made sure to block Edward’s number and turned off the notification of every social media platform. I turned off my phone and slid under the blanket beside my daughter before tucking her gently.

When we woke up the next day, it was Sunday and Julia’s off day.

“Let's go to play.” Seeing her down from yesterday, my heart panged.

“Okay.” Listening to me, Julia almost danced in joy. Children were happy with only small things, if only the adults were like this too.

But we didn't know what was waiting for us.

As soon as I opened the door after getting ready, , I glanced at the tall and familiar figure in front of us. Smiling Julia wanted to run to her daddy but stopped midway when she recalled those booing and how her daddy was hugging another woman that day. Hiding behind me, her eyes were teary.

“Papa doesn't love us anymore but the baddie aunty.]

Seeing that, Edward's expression was painful. Before we could take another step, Edward grabbed us in his grip and entered the apartment. Taking Julia in his lap, he wanted makeup for his daughter. But she declined. When Edward looked at me for help, my gaze was averted to my daughter who needed her father too.

Sighing, I resolved the matter for them.

“Julia, don't be like this. You know how much your father loves you, you can't hurt him alright?”

“Papa loves me?” She blinked, her head hung low.

“Of course.” I patted her head.

Julia looked up and looked at Edward, “If Papa loves us, then why was he hugging another lady?”

Edward’s face darkened and he bit his lower lip hard. He opened his mouth to say something but I covered the matter.

“Actually we should compensate for causing trouble, don’t we?” I laughed, pulling my daughter into my embrace, “Dad also did wrong with the aunty. While playing the aunty fell due to your Papa. So Papa was making up for her.”

“Is that so?” Julia smiled, “Sorry Papa, I shouldn't have said something.”

Edward kissed her forehead and pulled her closer, “It's alright Julia. For making up of the sports day, why don't you go for a grand lunch?”

“That would be great.” She jumped in joy and hugged me, “Mom, do you want to go?”

I wanted to say ‘No’. Children’s minds were simple and she believed it so easily. But he couldn't make me believe something stupid right? Even though the matter was resolved in front of Julia, we knew in our mind that it was not settled at all.

“It will never be settled.” I mumbled to myself.

“Mummy, let's go.” Julia’s voice brought me back to the earth, “I am craving some lobster.”

I initially didn't want to go but Julia said she was craving lobster very much, I agreed. In the car, Edward tried to explain or more liked to manipulate me but I said that I was not interested anymore.

Looking outside of the window, I mumbled, “Since everything turned out to be like this, let’s drift apart.”

“What about Julia?” Edward mumbled, his eyes were still on the road, so I didn't catch up with his expression.

“We can do co-parenting.” I looked at Julia who was smiling happily, “She needs both of us.”

Before Edward could say anything about this matter, Julia drew our attention.

“Papa see, I painted this picture.” She smiled ear to ear.

She painted the three of us and wrote happy family. I felt somehow the ‘happy’ was truly ironic showing the unwavering discomfort in the relationship.

When we reached inside the private room, I was astonished to see two familiar figures in front of us. They were none other than Christopher and Arina. Smiling, they approached us when we entered.

“What takes you so much time?” Christopher leaned on the chair and asked.

“Traffic.” Edward replied. During the time we stayed together, I had never seen Edward lose his cool but only with Arina, he expressed his emotion without hiding.

Meanwhile, Arina came in front of Julia. Stretching her hands, she wanted to pick her up but Julia hid behind Edward and cried out, “You are a bad aunty. You want to snatch Papa from us. Don't come near me.”

Arina was taken aback, embarrassed she almost teared up when Edward hugged her shoulder and comforted her, “Arina, Julia is still a child. Don't take her words to your mind.”

I was tired of those dramas and wanted to go home already. Carrying Julia, I sat on the chair, “Why don't we start eating already?”

They were startled by my act but Christopher managed everything, “Alright let’s eat.”

Soon the table was filled with delicious dishes. But when we sat down to eat, Edward started peeling lobster for Arina while Julia was left out. Even though I peeled them for her, she was sad that her father didn't spare any attention.

Finally Christopher noticed the matter and said teasingly, “Eddie, don’t give all the lobster in Arina’s place, your princess is waiting for her turn too.”

He pointed to Julia who was looking very down. Only then he got back to his senses and had an unreadable expression on his face.