Chapter 100: I Want a Divorce

Third Person POV.

Mr. Mulan chose to wait for his beloved wife at the park before heading off to work, his longing for her company making it impossible for him to commence the day without first sharing a moment with her.

While immersed in a leisurely read at the park, sipping his refreshing juice intermittently, the metallic clang of the gate heralded the arrival of Matilda, who was dropped off by a car.

Mr Mulan's heart stirred as he caught sight of his beloved wife, and he stood up eagerly, his attention now fully focused on her.

The moment Matilda appeared and stepped out of the car, Mr Mulan rose to his feet in eager anticipation. While Matilda seemed hesitant to approach him, her husband's unwavering stance nudged her forward.

"Hello, my love," Mr. Mulan greeted her with his usual warmth, but Matilda's response was less than enthusiastic, casting a pall of concern over him. "You don't seem yourself today," he noted, the smile on his face disappearing.

"I'm not sure how to say this," Matilda began, her reluctance palpable. "I need to go to my house. I want to be left alone for now. "

"Left alone?" Mr Mulan echoed, his concern morphing into astonishment. "But, Matilda, we're a family, and we need you here. Why would you want to leave?"

"Peace of mind, I need a place to sit and think and I'm going to pick belongings, my bays with me."

With his confusion rapidly giving way to alarm, Mr Mulan pressed on, "What? Why is that? Pack your bags? Is there something you are not telling me, you are my wife, my responsibility. I have been waiting here for you, I couldn't even step out since you left. Is everything alright with Isabel?"

"I think so. See, I'm tired and I want a divorce. I'm sorry but, we have to do this now but I'm sure it's inevitable."

Mr Mulan stepped back in shock, retrieving his hand from her arm. "A divorce?"

The word "divorce" seemed to hang in the air between them, the weight of its gravity pressing down on Mr Mulan.

"A divorce?" he repeated, unable to fully comprehend her statement. "What did I do wrong? Matilda, please, don't do this. You came into my life like a ray of light, and the next moment you are walking away."

His voice trembled with emotion as his mind raced for some explanation, some way to salvage the marriage he had cherished.

"My dear, I don't have the answers to your queries with me, but your first son sure does."

With that said, Matilda walked away into the house, her eyes wet from the burden of her decision, it was the best to do for her daughter.

"Our son?" he asked. He made to follow her but found his legs too heavy to move.

He stood rooted to the spot, replaying Matilda's words over and over again in his mind, seeking an answer, any answer that might make sense of the chaos in his mind.

Like a man caught in a storm, Mr Mulan struggled to keep his footing.

He managed to climb up the stairs. He opened the door and watched in confusion as Matilda gathered her belongings.

"How can you do this? I loved you with everything I had, and you're leaving me in the dark,"

Matilda's response, though barely audible, spoke volumes. "I wish I could tell you more, but you'll understand why I'm doing this soon. I'm not happy to leave you, your son has a perfect explanation for this."

"Did he do something wrong? I know him to be respectful, did he insult you?"

Matilda shook her head, tears welling in her eyes as she approached him. Staring into his face, she kissed him deeply. "I loved you and I'm happy you affected my life positively but, I think my happiness wasn't meant to last. I'll always cherish the memories we made and I hope that you find peace of mind."

Matilda's kiss was a bittersweet farewell, a last moment of intimacy.

Mr Mulan's heart felt as though it were breaking in two, but he could only watch as Matilda turned away, her steps carrying her out of his life.

He was too confused to stop her and soon started to think it might be a prank on him. Matilda rolled her box and took her bags. "Where are you going?" He asked.

"I can't stand this embarrassment, the whole city will talk about this, I can't do this. I'm going to my home," She blew bitter kisses at him as she approached the car.

"Your home?" He queried, raising his voice a little. "Our home is here, with me and Isabel, and the children."

Yet, as Matilda's lips formed the goodbye kisses, Mr Mulan felt as though the ground beneath him was shifting. He watched, powerless, as she climbed into the car.

The driver turned on the ignition and went through the gate, she was taking with her his heart, his hope, and his understanding of the life they had built together.

When he turned around, he found Jane equally watching in confusion. Mr Mulan sought refuge in the privacy of his room, unwilling to confront the barrage of questions he knew Jane would unleash upon him.

But Jane's sense of duty, or perhaps curiosity, compelled her to press on, catching up with him as he retreated. "Sir?" she tried to make him attend to her.

He turned, with an unreadable expression. With a silent gesture of a raised hand, he signaled for her to keep her distance. The pain etched in the creases of his face told her all she needed to know.

To shield himself from the eyes of his servant, he locked the door.

Within the confines of his room, he could grieve, rage, and mourn the loss of his love.

Meanwhile, as the day grew older, Isabel's newly acquired vehicle glided into the estate. With the assistance of her faithful friend, Eric, she had arranged for a trustworthy chauffeur to take the wheel.

Just as she was admiring the vehicle, a piercing ring disrupted her attention, her phone vibrating insistently. The caller ID displayed a name she was not expecting: Stepdaddy.