My Blind Wife Wants Divorced

“Wait,” Peni intervened as she looked toward a group of familiar faces. A sense of annoyance and dislike crept into her eyes as she saw who had just arrived. Even though she had walked behind Chloe, secretly hoping that her employers’ relationship would find a way to mend itself, perhaps through some divine intervention, she knew it was too ambitious of a prayer. The third party in their marriage had already made their presence known. They stood there with a smile that Peni could sense hid some ulterior motive. So she quickly prevented Chloe from heading back to her original position.

“Maybe later, ma’am,” Peni said, struggling to find a reason to keep Chloe here.

“What’s the matter?” Chloe asked.

And just as Peni expected, she was caught off guard. “Um… well, there’s… maybe later. Shall I fetch some food for you? I’ll take it to the table prepared for you.”

“What’s going on, Peni?”

Peni couldn’t back out now. Feeling a bit uncomfortable under Chloe’s gaze, she lowered her head. She knew that Chloe’s eyesight was imperfect, and she hadn’t fully observed her surroundings. If Chloe’s vision had returned, wouldn’t Peni no longer be by her side? Would there be no need to assist this beautiful woman in her black dress?

“It’s… it’s, um, Mrs. Ester,” Peni finally blurted out, sounding like a trapped mouse. She hesitated, reluctant to reveal what she had been holding back all this time. She lifted her eyes slightly to see how Chloe was reacting now. To Peni’s surprise, Chloe was smiling. It was a sweet smile that left Peni blinking in confusion at her employer’s behavior. Had she seen something wrong?

“Let’s go meet her.”

“But, ma’am…”

“Enough. No need for ‘buts.’ It’s good if we go out now, Peni. That way, others can judge who is tearing whom apart.”

Peni didn’t understand the meaning behind Chloe’s words, but she couldn’t do anything except help guide Chloe toward the nearby gathering.

“Good evening,” Chloe greeted with a calm tone. There was no disappointment, anger, or displeasure as she felt Peni lead her to the correct position beside Agatha Theodore.

“Oh, coincidentally, Chloe is here too. I thought you wouldn’t come considering your eyes,” Agatha said, her displeasure evident in her voice. Her hand instinctively touched her son’s arm, giving him a slight smile. As if without her gaze, Chloe could convey that she could handle this situation.

“Ester,” Leonel warned.

“Yes, Mas. I know,” Ester smirked. “Besides, it’s impossible for a Chloe Gisela Grisham not to attend this party, right? Meeting important guests, speaking as if you understand your husband’s world. Oh my, sometimes I wonder how you manage to keep up with him in business.”

“Don’t speak recklessly.” This time, Agatha spoke up. She didn’t like Ester’s presence here at all. What did this snake-like woman want?

“No, Mrs. Agatha. I’m not speaking recklessly. I want to know more about Chloe. It’s not wrong. As future partners with Leonel in the Grisham family, shouldn’t we get to know each other?”

Agatha glared sharply, as did Robby, who never expected to hear such words from Ester. He wanted to urge Leonel to clarify the woman’s meaning, but he still had some dignity. This was a grand party. They shouldn’t be the ones causing chaos as the hosts. Who knows what people outside might say? It could impact the investment values Robby had planned and worked hard to establish.

“Ester,” Leonel said, intervening. “Let’s talk.” He forcefully grabbed Ester’s hand and led her away. He let go as soon as they were out of the family gathering. Knowing that many eyes were watching him, he still had some sanity left. It was evident that many pairs of eyes were following his every move.

Meanwhile, Chloe felt someone embracing her shoulder, giving her a reassuring touch from Mama Agatha. “Let that child handle that cheap woman.”

“No, Ma. Ester is costly. Ester did what she did to assert her existence in this family. We can’t deny, Ma, that you’ll be part of the family if Leonel and Ester get married.”

“Are you trying to torture Mama, Chloe?”

“Enough, enough. We don’t need to talk about Ester. Papa has been restraining his anger since earlier,” Robby intervened. He also didn’t like hearing Chloe’s previous statement. There wouldn’t be any blessings for that marriage, even if Chloe, as their son’s wife, consented. It would take a lot of work. From the beginning, Robby was sure there was a hidden agenda in their relationship, but until now, he didn’t know what it was.

“Papa is right,” Agatha sighed with a long breath. She regained her composure, which had been clouded earlier. She put on her sweet smile again and held her husband’s hand, walking towards the assigned seating. Behind her, she knew Chloe was following, assisted by Peni. And then Chloe, who resembled a robot, followed their lead, knowing exactly what activity awaited her. Occasionally, she heard Peni caution her to be careful until

“Oh my God, I’m so sorry!”

***[]***

Ester stumbled, her eyes slightly reddened. She had been wandering on the second floor. From her vantage point, she could observe the main event of the Mountain Pte company party unfolding. Ester considered many of the speeches to be mere pleasantries spoken for formality.

“Just you wait, Leonel!” she muttered with clenched fists. She growled in disapproval, especially when her eyes refused to leave the table where the Grisham family sat comfortably. Chloe, who was merely a figure with her back turned, seemed like a fool to her.

It was clear that Ester had won Leonel’s heart, so why did she still attend this party? Didn’t she know how much people spoke ill of her? Ester sneered and allowed herself to get caught up in some comments about how Leonel was suffering with a disabled wife. Many people sympathized with Chloe’s situation. But if Chloe didn’t come to this party, Ester was inevitable that those words wouldn’t have been uttered in the hall adorned with beautiful flowers as decorations.

“Damn it!” Ester cursed, displeased. She remembered her recent conversation with Leonel and how he warned her about their relationship. Was the man insane? After all these years of waiting for the moment, they finally had a future together. And now Leonel made decisions as he pleased? Then what had she sacrificed all this time for?

“I’ve made that decision, Ester,” Leonel said firmly, his voice filled with determination. His chest rumbled with strength as the woman before him seemed like a different person from the Ester Gisela he knew. Ester was stubborn and spoiled; he had always given in to her every desire, but not like this.

At a time when he couldn’t control everything, sparks kept flying, which rendered Leonel helpless. Although he intended to prove himself as strong as Chloe desired, there were other options besides leaving. No, that couldn’t happen. And as for Ester, Leonel was sure her feelings all this time were not based on love.

He had thought long and hard about this significant decision. He knew he would feel guilty towards Ester, but what else could Leonel do if he had to make this choice?

“Have you ever asked about my heart, Leonel?” Ester asked, her eyes almost watery. “What have you considered me all this time?” She couldn’t scream in a crowded place like this. “Enough. I don’t want to talk to you about anything. I’m sticking to my decision, in which Chloe asked me to enter the Grisham family. Ester took a slow breath. “Go back.”

Although Leonel turned around and walked quickly towards the table where his father, mother, and disabled wife were, leaving Ester struggling with her emotions, she still allowed Leonel to walk away. He would surely go to Chloe, right? That was enough! Ester had let Leonel with his behavior. His arrival was enough, and his words were clear, right? But why was there still a tightness in her heart?

“I will settle the score, Leonel. Just wait and see.” Her determination was strong. She chose to leave the party even before it ended because her heartache had reached its peak. She was afraid her emotions would overflow and endanger her. However, her steps halted as she reached the stairs. There were already several people blocking her path. Not her, but Leonel.

“Oh, coincidentally, it’s Ester,” one said.

An alarm went off in Ester’s mind. These weren’t just ordinary people; they were journalists.

“Can you explain the latest news?” Ester was taken aback. What news?

“It’s been reported that Mr. Leonel tempted you? You had a business matter with a certain brand at that time, but Mr. Leonel insisted on being there. Yet, Mr. Leonel is still married. Excuse me, but his wife is currently disabled.”

Ester widened her eyes. Those words took Leonel aback, and she immediately grabbed the recording device from the person who asked the question.

“What is this?”

“Sir, don’t act arrogant. It’s like justifying your actions at the nightclub in Cattle Village. The security there said you were involved in a physical altercation with a guest who was supposed to collaborate with Miss Ester. Is that true?”

Leonel shook his head vigorously. “Where did this news come from?” he retorted.

“But this news has been published, sir. You can check it yourself.”

Leonel and Ester checked the news portal without being asked, and they were shocked. They stared at each other, exchanging bewildered looks.

“Can you clarify this news, sir? Any denial? Or is there anything that needs to be clarified?”

Leonel chose to remain silent.

“What is your response, Miss Ester? Is it true that Mr. Leonel pressured you? So far, isn’t your relationship purely professional?”

“I don’t want to answer,” Ester said softly. She continued to move forward, trying to avoid those who kept asking. But they were persistent, so one made Ester stumble slightly. Leonel immediately noticed it and rushed to help.

“Be careful,” Leonel warned them while many took pictures. “Security!” he shouted. “Where is the building’s security?”

That immediately garnered significant attention due to the crowded room and the commotion that had captured everyone’s attention. Leonel didn’t care about himself, but all these questions made him wonder. What was the meaning of all this?

Several black-uniformed men immediately approached Leonel. They pushed aside the crowd of supposed uninvited journalists.

“Clear the area and escort Miss Ester to her car safely,” Leonel ordered.This is the property of Nô-velDrama.Org.

It didn’t take long to resolve this chaos, but it still drew many eyes. They stared questioningly, although Leonel didn’t pay much attention. As soon as he entered the point hall, his eyes searched for the person he believed was present at the party.

However, Leonel felt like he was being burned in intense flames before he could find that person. Especially when he saw his wife conversing intimately with someone, that person was even allowed to touch the back of his wife’s hand, and Chloe didn’t seem to mind. Not to mention the gaze of that person! Oh, God!!!

He immediately took significant steps, his eyes ready to pounce on anyone who stood in his way, not to mention his body language, which clearly showed he didn’t want anyone to interfere.

“What is this, Chloe?” He quickly released the hand of the man hovering around his wife’s writing all this time.