His Loving Embrace

What was that about? Madison exploded immediately we all entered the room. I ignored her and locked the door behind us. Kids, you can lay on the bed now. Your room would be shown to you later. I said and they did not hesitate to climb the bed. They were really tired. George am I not talking to you ? Madison asked angrily. Can you just let me be ? I also did not expect to see her. I warned mum that she must not be told of my arrival that I would see her later. I snapped at her. Really? Why did she show up all of a sudden at the door? She asked and went to sit on the couch.

"Perhaps it is better things happened the way it did. " She said. " And why is that ? " I asked stunned. " So that she will really know that you are already married with two children and your wife is expecting another. " She said yawning. Also, be fast with the divorce process. I want everything to be finalized in two days.

I looked at her confused. And you think she let go easily? She was about saying something when all of a sudden, we heard a loud bang at the door jerking the children up from the bed. " Open this stupid door George. Open it. You cannot just come back after six lonely lonely painful years and call me your sister. Seriously, George, your sister? Tell that bitch that I am your wife. Selena shouted still banging the door.

Daddy who's that ? My son, John asked me. Honey please go back to sleep. Don't mind the noise Madison said glaring at me. "Mummy" Lizzy's tiny voice rang through the room. I looked at her feeling helpless. Immediately Madison went towards the bed and hugged both of them, trying to calm them down. All of a sudden, we heard someone trying to calm Selena. 

After a while, the noise reduced and they both left but I still hear her sobbing. ' I hurt her damn bad ' I know. ' I broke her heart' I know. Who would wait for a man for six years only for the man to come back with another woman as a wife with two children.

"George, hasten up and finalize your marriage with her. I can't continue to keep up with this madness." Yeah. It was Madison who said that. The same woman that had trapped in her beauty when I set my eyes on her for the first time. That was a year after in the United Kingdom. She had me wrapped around her finger.

I lied shamelessly to her about my marital status in order to make her mine. My plan was to date her and dump her before leaving the United Kingdom but I guess she had other plans. Out of the blue, she got pregnant out of our illicit affair and she insisted that we must get married as she cannot have a child outside marriage. I suggested we terminate the pregnancy but she bluntly refused even when I told her the truth about my marriage. So we did a court wedding.

She was not just any woman, she was the daughter of my business partner. When I told my parents what I had gotten myself into, they were very disappointed and refused to talk to me for days.

They nearly disowned me as they did to Ethan. I was able to convince them not to tell anything to Selena. That's why they bought her house for her to live in so that they do not break down and spill everything to her.

It was John's birth that got them talking to me again. when I announced the news to them, mum immediately cut the call on me. I thought the news made her angrier only to see her two days after in the United Kingdom. We joyfully celebrated John's birth. Dad sent his greetings and regards. After John, came Lizzy.

Soon, Madison got impatient and demanded I take her to Netherlands, my home country since the business I came for had long be completed. After a lot of heated argument, I agreed. I can never really win in an argument with her.

I had warned mum not to make known my intending arrival to Selena, so that I could go visit her, talk to her and there after we divorce peacefully. Only for the door to be opened be opened and be pulled into a bear hug by Selena. Seeing how broken I made her, I wondered if she would be able to take the news of our intending divorce lightly.

Two days had passed and things were not yet well.

Though Selena had stopped throwing tantrums, they were so much tension in the house emitting from everyone. Mr and Mrs Williams had tried talking to Selena but all they got was her angry stares. She had already told her parents what happened and they were also broken especially her mother. They advised her to leave the house but she wanted to sort things out first.

Emily, Hannah and Ethan were always there to console her. They all felt sorry for her as they would have done worse if they were in her shoes.

While Selena was in the sitting room trying to divert my mind from the recent happenings by watching TV, George went to join her. Sighting him, she reduced the volume and turned to him.

"What are you doing here ? " She asked angrily. Selena, words cannot explain how sor... Please go straight to the point, Selena said nearly shouting, cutting him short. This action of hers almost terrified him but he quickly regained his confidence and gave her a white document. She took it from him and looked at it.

A divorce?

She asked trying to fight back the tears that were fighting their way out of her eyes. It is probably the best thing to do now for peace to reign. I have broken your heart and you don't deserve a man like me. You deserve someone better. I'm bad, wicked and all sort of things but please do find it in your heart to forgive me after we part ways. " He said

"But I love you, you love me. We love each other. Selena whimpered finally breaking down.

"That was in the past"

"What changed? Where did I ever go wrong? I did a lot of things of you. I waited for you George, I waited. "

She said as tears was pouring down from her eyes.

She was already hipcupping. " Six years is not small. The time I spent waiting for you, I could have used it to make something of myself."

"What is stopping you now. Stop making it seem like it is my fault. I found love and grabbed it. Selena looked at him disappointedly. "So you don't love me, you never loved me. All these while you were playing with my feelings. " " I did love you but not anymore."

Do you love her? 

"Yes I do." He answered immediately. He did love her or so he thought. After they got married they never really got into a serious fight. Most of their quarrels were based on his first marriage. Every other thing they quarreled about was just petty.

They did leave peacefully as Madison was always there especially in his time of need. Though her thought are weird at times.

" I hate you " Selena said angrily.

"I know. Just sign these papers so that we can part and you would never have to see my face again. " She looked at the document in her hands and tore it into pieces. " Seriously, what was that all about?" George shouted angrily.

"How can I sign these papers when I still love you.

" She said sobbing seriously.

"You just said that you hated me."

"I'm sorry."

"I will bring another divor..."

"No. No. No. I won't sign it, I won't let you go. I still love you.

"I love another"

"Then I will learn to live with her. We will live peacefully as co wives. Selena said desperately.

" She won't like that. Neither will I. "

" George please, I am even begging. Don't do this to me. Have you not broken me enough. What will I tell my parents. What of all the promises you made to me. You promised me that you would never leave me. You even swore on your life.

"That was in the past. I was also childish then.

" Childish?"

"Yes childish". George said angrily, tired of her questions. " You know what ? I can't do this anymore. " He said and left. Instantly Selena's wailing increased.

Ethan, who had been listening to their discussion, came out from where he was and went to console her. He immediately took her hand into his. " I can't leave him " she went mumbling and sobbing repeatedly. " All will be fine. " He consoled her.

With time she fell asleep. He carefully carried her to her room and dropped her on the bed. He looked at the woman who had arrived at house days ago.

As at then, she was bubbling, shinning and glowing with beauty.

The same woman that her smile had captured his heart. He chuckled at his thought. He looked at her again. This time around, he saw a completely different woman. She was looking thin and distraught. Her eyes were swollen, a face were as pale as paper. He shook his heard and caressed her cheek.

SELENA'S POV

I woke up feeling something besides me. I turned to my left to see Ethan beside me. I almost screamed in horror but I realized I had slept of in the sitting room when he was consoling me.' Maybe he brought me to my room and while waiting for me to wake up, he slept off"

"Ethan, Ethan..." I tapped him. He let out a loud groan and sat up. He rubbed his eyes and looked at me. Then he noticed where he was and seeing the position we were in, he quickly left the bed.

"I'm so sorry. I slept off. " He apologized. " It's okay..." I said giving him a weak smile. He has been nothing but kind to me. Always consoling me and treating me with care. " So how are you feeling? " He said sitting on the bed. " I'm better at least. " I said yawning. " Selena please you need to move on. Listen to George and move on. If you remain here, you will get nothing but pain and I am tired of seeing you cry. Kill whatever feeling you think you have for him and move on. He does not deserve your tears. " He said with concern.

" He is your brother, you know. " I reminded him. " So? What if he is my brother? No woman deserves to treated the way he has treated you. And... If you have noticed, we are not even close. " I looked at Ethan. There was nothing but care in his eyes. " And you think it is easy to just move on? " I asked him.

"I moved on Selena. " " But you did not get married.

No offense but did you? Also the six years I waited for him can't just go to waste. And I still love him.

Selena are you crazy? Maybe I am

"Listen Selena, there is a friend of mine who owns an interior designer company and is really looking for an intern. I can talk to him and he can fix you somewhere. He stays in Singapore. I will make arrangements for you to move there.

That's a very tempting offer but I rather stay here with George. Ethan looked at me disappointed. 

But you clearly heard when he said that he wouldn't want two wives, neither will his wife. He said still persisting.

"I don't care. With time we will learn to live as one.

"I cannot leave him." I said challengingly.

Disappointed at my response, he got up. " I really wish I could change your mind. Anyway, I would be going back to Singapore in two weeks. The proposal is still on if you change your mind so that we can travel together. "

"Thank you but my mind is already made up to stay with George. Selena please still think about it.

Staying with George will cause you nothing but pain. And while trying to conceal the pain, worst things could happen. But moving far from him will help your wounds to heal faster and you would..."

"Enough." I said stopping him from speaking further. " Please stop. I won't change my mind. You can go out. " " Are you kicking me out? " He asked.

" No I am not. I just want to rest my head and think of strategies on how I can make things work out among George, Madison and I.

He looked at me longingly before leaving the room.

I knew I was rude to him but if I did not react the way I did, he would have continued pestering me. I felt emptiness when he left the room but it was for the better. Our proximity was becoming alarming anyway.

' Enough is enough. I won't break down anymore.

Though it is painful sharing my husband with some one else. I will try to conceal it. With time, the pain will disappear. As they say, time heals wounds. I will make this relationship work.