My Blind Wife Wants Divorced

What silly things did Leonel do after five years of his bland marriage? This is the first time he enters Chloe’s room while conscious. There was no alcohol involved. He couldn’t even imagine Ester’s face while he made love to his wife. Leonel truly stepped forward and approached his sleeping wife. He had been standing at the slightly open bedroom door for a while now. Perhaps Chloe had forgotten, or the door needed to be fully closed, but it was an advantage for Leonel. He could hear all the conversations taking place.

Feelings of anger, frustration, and regret kept alternating in his mind.

He suppressed it all until he could get closer to his wife. He looked at her peaceful face, ensuring the blanket properly covered her. He also adjusted the room temperature to ensure Chloe’s comfort in her sleep. And unexpectedly, Leonel pulled back the blanket Chloe was wearing. He slept next to his wife while observing the true beauty that Chloe Delilah possessed.

But why couldn’t he see it all this time?

In Leonel’s eyes, Ester Gisela was the most beautiful. She fulfilled his expectations of a woman. The one he imagined waking up to every morning, becoming a legitimate part of his family. But it was all just a figment of his imagination. God had laid out a different path for him. However, upon closer examination, Chloe was a suitable woman who could adapt to the conservative Grisham family. Leonel couldn’t deny Chloe’s place in his beloved family.

“Why can’t I fall in love with a woman like you, Sa?” he whispered, tidying up the stray strands of hair. Chloe’s breathing remained steady, undisturbed by his presence, as he half-embraced his wife. “I’ve been trying, Sa. I have been trying all this time to love you but always failed. Many things make me angry, frustrated, and resentful about your presence in this house. Why can you adapt to my family while Ester couldn’t?”

Apart from the sound of the air conditioner and the clock’s ticking, there was no other companion for Leonel this time.

“But since you asked for a divorce, I started to think. Is this really what I want? Do I truly want this, Sa?” Leonel chuckled. “I don’t know anymore. Seeing you suffer because of me, seeing you helpless when you used to be so active, not to mention all the things you used to do, are now limited. I…” There was a choked tone in Leonel’s throat. His eyes gazed up at the ceiling of his wife’s room. He let out a long breath as a sign of frustration. “I can’t bear to see you like this, Chloe. Even though I remain mostly silent with you and don’t respond much to everything you give me, I’ve been paying attention, Chloe.”

That’s true. Despite Leonel ignoring everything Chloe did, provided, and accomplished for him and their family, he never bothered. And Chloe rarely protested and always obeyed his words. She never engaged in debates or made Leonel feel frustrated with her stubbornness. It’s different now, often making Leonel worried.

Besides Chloe’s limited mobility, he feared she might do something reckless.

Thoughts related to Chloe quickly circled in Leonel’s mind.

“Honey, what would you like for dinner when you come home?” Chloe asked enthusiastically in the morning. Despite Leonel ignoring her for the past two years of their marriage, Chloe never gave up. She always asked the same question. There was never any sign of weariness or boredom. If Leonel thought about it, Chloe seemed to have too much free time. Even though Leonel never

Responded, she continuously repeated the same activities.

Leonel wanted to get angry, but he remembered his mother’s advice to respect the people in the house, including his wife.

“No need,” Leonel replied curtly. He returned to enjoying this delicious meal that, he admitted, was all thanks to Chloe. It was both delightful and delicious. But Leonel needed breakfast to face the long day before lunchtime arrived.

Just as a duty to consume food, nothing more. If it’s on the dining table, that’s what Leonel will swallow.

“Although I wanted to make beef soup, Honey. It would have been delicious,” Chloe pouted. But then quickly replaced it with a smile. Leonel thought Chloe would win if there were an award for rapidly changing facial expressions. But he still needed to pay more attention to what his parents’ chosen wife wanted to do.

“I’ll make it anyway.”

“Whatever,” Leonel replied again. There was one spoonful of porridge with chicken on top left. Leonel couldn’t help but wonder what time the woman woke up-getting everything ready. But since Chloe didn’t have any activities at home, it wasn’t surprising that she had plenty of time.

Chloe’s smile grew wider. “Oh, Honey, can I go out with Mama Agatha this afternoon? She called last night and wanted to introduce me to her friend.”

“Yes.” That’s all Leonel said. “Do whatever you want, Chloe, here.” He quickly grabbed his work bag next to him. He moved swiftly to leave for his office. Besides having a meeting, he also wanted to avoid Chloe, whom he considered talkative.

No good morning kiss. No encouraging hug. And no words like, “Take care at home, okay.” Like his father often said to his mother at their home. Leonel wouldn’t do that to Chloe.

Thinking about it suddenly made Leonel’s chest tighten. He quickly pushed away those thoughts. But it didn’t seem easy. Because almost every day, he neglected Chloe like that. Cold and indifferent to whatever his wife did at home. He thought about how busy he was out there, and this was the consequence Chloe had to endure for accepting this foolish arranged marriage.

“I’m afraid of losing all your care, Chloe.”

Six months had passed since the accident, and Leonel had been thinking a lot. He often met Ester and still did things he usually did when he was with her, but Leonel couldn’t deny that he had a certain feeling for Chloe. And it was much more profound than what he felt for Ester. She heard Chloe curse at him and say harsh words because of the things Leonel did for her. Her cold and rude behavior towards him made Leonel realize how much his wife suffered because of him.

That was the extent of Leonel’s mistake toward Chloe, even to the point where his wife requested a divorce.

“If we end up divorcing, will you be able to forgive me?” Leonel swallowed nervously. His eyes returned to his sleeping wife. “Or… give me a chance to redeem all my mistakes, Sa.” Saying that made Leonel wince. How could his wife forgive him so quickly after what he had done to Chloe? The evidence of her anger was becoming more evident.

Allowing Ester to enter this house was not without reason. Leonel realized that. Chloe was punished in her way. A way that was unusual and could push Leonel or Ester further away. Entering the Grisham family took a lot of work. Even Bi Elin, his mother’s sister, was still often avoided because she had done something embarrassing by the more prominent Grisham family. But that was the extent of it.

That’s why it was difficult for Ester to fit into her more prominent family, while Leonel couldn’t just distance himself from all of them. The blood of the Grishams flowed strongly in him. Everything he had came from his father. Even if he worked outside, he still carried the Grisham name, which could facilitate his progress. He didn’t want to fight because he felt he had more ability than his family name. Not at all. Leonel was taught and educated since childhood to be aware and humble, knowing that he had heavy duties and responsibilities on his shoulders.

“You will refuse, won’t you, Chloe?” Leonel finally asked. A small sigh escaped his lips. “I made a huge mistake for you, didn’t I?” Leonel still couldn’t help but touch Chloe’s head. “I don’t know how to act. I’m confused.”

Chloe stirred slowly, which surprised Leonel a bit. But a slight grin appeared on Leonel’s face. He gently pulled his wife’s body closer, embracing her tightly and softly stroking her back, wrapped in yellowish-golden pajamas. The gentle perfume scent Chloe wore filled Leonel’s senses.Copyright Nôv/el/Dra/ma.Org.

Regardless of whether Chloe would push him away or hit him when they woke up, Leonel accepted it. For now, he needed to hold his wife multiple times, whispering apologies that might be meaningless to hear. Besides his sleeping wife, Leonel felt his mistake was too big to be forgiven.

***

Before Chloe fell asleep last night, she planned to walk in the backyard in the garden. Peni said the backyard of the park had just been rearranged according to what she wanted. Although she couldn’t see, she wanted to explore the new area there. Her enthusiasm to recover grew stronger day by day. It wasn’t just because she wanted to get away from Leonel, but also because she had many thoughts about her possibly bright future.

Who knows the future, right, other than God?

Chloe was sure and believed that if she did things well, worked hard, and sincerely embraced her destiny, good things would happen in her life. It might not happen soon, but she believed God never left her alone. After the accident, Chloe had been rethinking her current life. Having wealth was meaningless if it only brought distress and pain from betrayal. She wanted to be free.

Although there was one goal before she could truly be free.

Or was it unnecessary? But she had already invited Ester here and carried out what was in her mind. She couldn’t take it back or turn back time, could she?

There was a sense of discomfort as she woke up as if her body was pressed by something. Heavy, but why was there another breath around her? Her heart started beating erratically because she felt her bedroom door tightly closed. Who dared to enter her room? It couldn’t be a ghost, right? She reached out to feel anyone sleeping next to her. Her hand touched a muscular arm. Chloe became even more restless.

“W-who are you?” Chloe tried not to sound hysterical. She continued to feel around where she felt a handful of slightly weighted hair.

“It’s me, Chloe.”

“Oh, my God!!!” Chloe exclaimed, unable to hide her surprise. “What are you doing, Honey?”

As much as Leonel’s head was slightly dizzy in the morning due to being surprised by Chloe’s touch, hearing his wife calling him “Honey” made him smile brightly again. “Sleeping, Chloe.”

“Sleeping?” Chloe still couldn’t believe what was happening. “How did you get in, Mas?” She rubbed her hair immediately. She quickly pulled the blanket away and hurriedly got out of bed. Because of her careless movement, she stumbled and almost fell. Fortunately, Leonel promptly grabbed one of Chloe’s hands. “Let go, Leonel!” Chloe retorted quickly.

“If I let go, you’ll fall, Chloe.” Leonel wanted to chuckle but restrained himself. Chloe’s face showed a mix of surprise and disbelief that she had slept soundly in Leonel’s embrace all night. The man also admitted that, for some reason, sleeping in Chloe’s embrace was incredibly soothing. He had never done this before. It could be said that this was their first time waking up in the same bed.

Although in the past five years, Leonel occasionally visited Chloe’s room, after that incident happened, Leonel went back to his room. He realized that he shouldn’t behave like that towards Chloe. Ah, but Chloe was his wife, right? Why couldn’t he touch his wife? Besides, Chloe enjoyed every touch that Leonel gave her.

“Let go,” Chloe muttered, not accepting it. “And you, get out, Leo!” she expelled as soon as she stood up properly. She adjusted her pajamas. Her mind was incredibly annoyed because Leonel had ruined her morning like this. How could he be in her room? Sleeping beside her? And it wouldn’t be impossible for her to sleep while embracing Leonel, right? Oh my God!!! How was this possible?!

“Yes, Chloe. I’ll leave,” Leonel didn’t want to argue. He was also at fault here. “Next time, make sure the door is properly closed.” Even so, his heart felt lighter and more joyful than the previous days. His smile was directed towards Chloe on the other side of the bed. He knew his wife was furious.

Before he even stepped outside, Chloe’s bedroom door was already open. And there stood a figure staring in astonishment at Leonel being in the room and a meaningful smile that made Leonel immediately leave the room.

“Chloe, are you okay?” Agatha asked after her son left his room.

“Mama?” Chloe suddenly became restless. “This is not what Mama thinks. I…”

“Why, what’s wrong? Mama thought something happened. Mama didn’t see anything strange.”

“But…”

Agatha approached, reaching out for Chloe’s shoulder, and asked her to sit on the edge of the bed. She whispered while advising her to be careful. “What’s wrong with you?”

“It’s Leonel, Ma.” Chloe looked at Agatha with teary eyes. “What was Leonel doing in Chloe’s room?”