Love That Wasn't Meant to Last

Chapter 5

By the time Selena got home, it was already the wee hours. I sat on the couch, waiting for her, but she didn't notice me. Instead, she tip-toed her way in as if afraid to wake me up. When she turned around, we locked eyes.

Initially stunned, she quickly resumed her normal walking posture and approached me coquettishly. "Why didn't you tell me you've been discharged, Hud? I went to the hospital for nothing."

Hanging my head low, I pursed my somewhat chapped lips. "I forgot. Sorry."

She seemed to have missed my strange emotions and continued tenderly, "Why aren't you asleep yet at this hour? Were you waiting for me? Gosh, Hudson, you should look after yourself sometimes."

She grabbed my hand and realized it was cold. "Why are your hands so cold? You should've turned on the heater. What if you get sick again? Also, did you clean around the house? Why does it look so empty?"

My mind was surprisingly calm at that moment. I had figured everything out. Indeed, Selena loved me, which was unquestionable. At the same time, she couldn't let go of Zion. Both statements were equally irrefutable.

With that said, it was that exact reason that I couldn't take this. I couldn't accept someone who loved me while at the same time flirting with another man.

I suppressed the bitterness I felt in my heart and looked up at her, interrupting, "I know, Selena. About you and Zion."

The light was dim, yet it was enough for me to glimpse Selena's ashen face. She pretended to be clueless, but her trembling voice and pale complexion betrayed her. "What are you talking about, Hud?"

My lips curled into a wry smile. "Are you still gonna keep pretending, Selena? What'd be the point?"

She shrunk underneath my arms and spoke with a shaky voice. "Hear me out, Hud-"

I didn't push her away and simply interrupted her coldly, "What can you even say? That you missed our anniversary because you were busy attending a concert with him? Or that you went on a movie date with him not long ago? Or was it about how you wore a wedding dress for him?"

she pulled her head out of my arms,

honestly wondered if you ever thought of me while you were with him. You could've just told me that you got sick of me, and we could end this amicably. After all the years we spent together, you chose to

had the

interrogative words prompted her to weep endlessly. She struggled to find her words, with nothing coming out

and it wasn't as difficult as

in place,

not getting a divorce with you!" She shot up, screaming with a rather hoarse voice and contorted expression. "I won't agree to the divorce, Hud. I was wrong; I'm sorry. I admit I

I was never serious with him.

now whenever she made a mistake. Without

"We should

letter for her. "Remember to fill this up. I'll be back to collect it. Also, I'm returning these to their

You cannot leave! I won't agree

around to face her. "Sometimes, there's no going back once you take the

this what you want?" I would've answered no. But that was life, wasn't it? No matter how reluctant I was, some things were meant to be given

finally took a step out of the door. For some reason, I felt a weight

as spacious as my old home, it had

of gardenias sitting on my desk, which took up half the space. Gardenias

came with a card that read, "It's a new day. I hope it's a

my love for gardenias wasn't something that strangers

met her a long time ago, she was holding a mini bouquet of gardenias. The way she smiled was complemented by the beauty of the flowers, and it became one of the fondest