304 A Married Bachelor

Leon felt dumbfounded at Ella’s statement. He was left speechless at her fearlessness and her dangerous ire. He didn’t know whether to laugh or curse out loud as he watched the two pretty ladies scowling at him as though he was a demented soul.

“Have you sent your tramp away from the city?” Ella pulled Leon from his horrifying thoughts.

“Yes, I have...”

historical

“I’m not interested in the details. Make all your replies short and direct.” Ella hissed.

“Okay,” Leon took in a deep breath to control his erratically thumping heart. He repeatedly reminded himself that he was not here to fight but to plead and win his wife back. “May we at least sit down and talk?”

“Whatever!” Ella walked away ignoring all of Leon’s gentlemanly behavior. She took a seat on a double couch and beckoned on Denise to come join her.

However, Denise being her reasonable self decided that this was a matter she shouldn’t meddle in. She knew she needed to give the couple their space to talk freely.

Hence she walked up to Ella and kissed her on the forehead.

“As much as I would love to sit beside you, you will have to handle this part all by yourself, sweetie pie. I’ll be on the terrace waiting on you. Remember, he doesn’t deserve your tears. Do not give him the luxury of crying. Stay strong!”

.....

“Thank you, mama bear,” Ella smiled briefly. But the smile vanished immediately after her gaze fell on Leon.

“I’ll be watching you, shameless womanizer,” Denise rolled her eyes at Leon before leaving.

Leon bit down on his lower lips at Denise’s insult. He shook his head in frustration but he was inwardly grateful that she decided not to be a nuisance as she had always been.

He slowly strolled towards Ella and took a seat directly opposite her while admiring her serene beauty which seemed to intensify whenever she was either expressing happy, sad, or angry emotions.

“Ella, I know I’m the last person you want to see right now but...”

“Exactly! Your presence disgusts me and I wish you could just disappear!” Ella’s narrowed eyes flared at Leon’s statement.

Leon felt his heart sink at Ella’s statement and her continuous interruption of his speech.

“Let’s not beat around the bush and go straight to the point.” Ella sneered. “You are a shameless, and backstabbing husband and I wish we never bumped into each other. The only reason I won’t be filing for a divorce is because I made a promise to Nana Esther.”

Leon didn’t know whether to laugh or cry at Ella’s declaration. However, he inwardly blessed Nana Esther’s soul for making an attempt to preserve his marriage.

“Thank you!” Leon forced himself to smile amidst so much pain.

“Keep your repulsive thank you to yourself because we’re not done.” Ella snapped furiously at him.

“Even though we would remain married and try to keep our dispute away from the public, the only thing we should share together is bearing the name husband and wife.”

Leon smiled again knowing he could still address her as his wife but his happiness was short-lived as Ella’s next words fell on his heart like a crushing boulder.

“From this moment, you no longer exist in my world and I don’t exist in yours. Everything concerning my affairs ceases to be your responsibility. I no longer answer to you and you do not have a say in whatever I choose to do with my life.”

Although Leon inwardly celebrated that Ella didn’t want his infidelity thrashed in the public eye, he was terribly hurt by her words. So he quickly expressed his thoughts, while staring beyond the scorn in her eyes.

“Ella, you would forever rule my world. You are the queen of my heart and no one would ever take your place. Even if you chose to push me away right now, I would never give up on us. If I have to wait a hundred years to earn your forgiveness, then I’ll wait.”

The hurt in Leon’s eyes and the fierce determination in his words broke through Ella’s stone heart and softened it a bit.

Even though she was outwardly enraged by everything he did, inwardly, she knew that her love for him was undeniable. She knew that Leon’s presence and close proximity had a way of messing with her heart and thoughts.

So she abruptly shot to her feet and walked away from him. She gave him a reasonable distance before making her last request.

“Are you ready for my last and final request?” Ella focused all her attention on the tranquility of the setting sun, through the floor-to-ceiling window in the living room.

She didn’t want the see the suffering in Leon’s eyes and she didn’t want to feel sorry for him.

“Yes, I am,” Leon replied quietly.

He felt drained emotionally, physically, and mentally as he stared at the captivating back view of his wife.

On a normal day, he would have joined her by the window to appreciate the sunset together. However, doing this now might rattle the alert and feisty demons in her. Hence he remained fastened to his seat and waited patiently for her to turn around and face him.

“For my third and final request, I want you to go inside the house, take all your valuable belongings and get the hell out. You are no longer welcome here.”

“Babe!” Leon strained voice came out in a whisper.

Ella slowly turned and faced him while scowling at him.

“I want you to read my lips carefully, Leon Treshvire. You are hereby relieved of any responsibility of being a father to my unborn child. You asked for freedom and now I’m giving you the opportunity to remain a married bachelor for the rest of your life.”

“Ella, please! Don’t do this to us. Don’t send me away like this.” Leon rose to his feet and tried to move towards her but his feet refused to cooperate with his brain as they remained fused to the floor.

Ignoring Leon’s traumatized state, Ella heartlessly spewed all her requests at him.