Chapter 222: lt's Hard To Say Goodbye

They arrived at Lucia's apartment door. For a few moments they stood facing each other and looked at each other. Lucia continued to hold Leo's hand very tightly.

"Go inside, warm your body with clothes and hot tea. After that, rest!"

"What about you? Where are you going and who are you going to meet?"

"Why do you still care where I go and who I meet?"

"Because you are my husband, Leo. You are my life." She said in a trembling voice holding back the pain in her heart.

Leo looked at her gently and kissed her forehead. He didn't know what else to say now because whatever it was, he knew it wouldn't make Lucia feel any better.

"Lucia, our marriage was only registered in the church and is not legally official because we never registered the marriage. That means, we can separate whenever we want and now is the right time. After this, you can move on with your life. You can remarry with Bryan, Pierre, Chris or whoever you want. But most importantly, marry the man who loves you the most, with whom you never feel sad, disappointed, hurt. You can live your life happily, giving birth to cute children and raise them well, I am very sure that you will be able to be a good mother for your children in the future. You no longer have any burdens that you need to bear, your father and daughter are gone. Now you are free, you have your life completely."

"But I just want to be with you, Leo. I want us to have children together and take care of our children. I-"

"I will never be able to be a good husband and father to you and our children. I'm sorry, but I'm sure you're fine without me."

"I won't be okay, Leo. I love you so much. I can't lose you, I can't. Isn't there something we can do so we can stay together? Isn't there a chance for the two of us to live happily like other couples?"

"No, there won't be that opportunity. That's why I beg you to forget me after this!"

"I don't want to forget you, I can't. Leo, please take me with you!" She kept begging and begging, hoping Leo would melt and take her away.

Leo looked at her with cold eyes, he grabbed Lucia's hand and hugged her very tightly, so tight that it made Lucia feel suffocated. He kissed Lucia's lips aggressively and a little roughly. Leo's unusual kiss made Lucia start to feel uncomfortable, Leo seemed to want to hurt her on purpose and that made her try to stop this kiss.

"Leo, I-"

"Why? You want to stop kissing me?"

"It's not like that, I-"

"Lucia, I could hurt you more than this if you remain stubborn and insist on me granting all your wishes. Have you forgotten that I married you and acted like a good husband for weeks just because I wanted to grant your last wish? Have you forgotten that actually I don't want you anymore!" He said firmly. He looked angry and that made Lucia speechless.

"Even though you did it to grant my last wish, I believe that you actually did it because you love me!"

"How many times can I say, I don't love you anymore, Lucia! I couldn't love you anymore even if I tried. I'm just pretending, everything I did to you was just an act and I want you to know that!"

"You are lying!"

"What makes you think I'm lying?"

"Because I can see it in your eyes!"

"What do you see in my eyes?"

"You love me, you love me so much."

"I don't love you, I will never be able to love you again. You had a chance before and you failed, so stop living in the past because it will only hurt your heart!"

Leo sighed after letting out the anger he was trying to suppress. He started to leave so that the argument between them could end quickly before anyone saw them here.

But before he could actually walk away, Lucia grabbed his hand and held it tightly, trying to stop him from leaving.

"Please don' go!"

"Let go of my hand, I have to go now!"

"Don't go, I need you!"

"You don't need me, that's why-"

"Leo, I love you. I love you so much. I promise I will say it every second, I promise I won't give you trouble. I won't burden you, I won't ask you for anything. That's why I beg you, don't leave me. I don't want to lose you."

Her tears flowed freely down her face. She looked so broken and not ready for this separation. She loves him so much that it makes her unable to think about anything other than being by the side of the man she loves.

Leo stared at her for a moment with an expressionless face, then let go of Lucia's hand before walking away.

"I'm sorry and goodbye, Lucia."

"Leo...! Leo, please don't go! Leo...!"

She sobbed as Leo walked away from her, her body felt so weak that she couldn't move her legs to catch up with Leo. She wanted to prevent him from leaving, how could she do anything if it would make Leo stay.

"Leo, don't go...! Don't leave me, don't leave me..." She sat in front of the door with tears in her eyes. She was angry, hated, frustrated, why it seemed as if her legs couldn't move.

She remained in that position for almost 15 minutes until finally the elevator door at the end of the hall opened and Pierre appeared behind the open elevator door.

Seeing a woman sitting weakly in front of Lucia's apartment door shocked Pierre, he was silent for a moment, trying to understand what he was witnessing.

"Lucia?" His eyes widened after he realized that the woman sitting in front of the door was Lucia who had been missing for four weeks.

Pierre walked quickly over to Lucia, a little disbelieving that Lucia had really returned. Pierre knelt in front of Lucia who looked at him with sad eyes.

"Lucia?"

Pierre was silent for a few seconds, touching Lucia's face with both hands. Seeing Lucia's tears streaming down her face made him immediately hugged her tightly.

"Oh God, where have you been, hmm? You're scaring me!"

"I'm sorry, Pierre. I'm so sorry."

***