[BL] A Marriage Ruled by Family, Saved by Desire-Chapter 76: She Said Sign the Divorce Papers

~Alexander’s POV~

The drive home was the longest of my life. Every mile that took me farther away from Alis felt like something was tearing inside my chest.

By the time I stepped into our bedroom, the silence hit me immediately. It was too quiet... too empty. I sat down on the edge of the bed, my eyes falling on the space beside me where he was supposed to be.

The weight of the one-month deadline settled heavily on me. I looked around the room, and somehow he was everywhere, in the slight dent on the pillow, in the faint trace of his presence that hadn’t faded yet. It felt like he was still here... and yet he wasn’t.

I swallowed hard, my chest heavy. If I couldn’t get through to my mother... if I failed... then this would be my reality.

Sleeping alone in a house that no longer felt like a home, but a place filled with everything I had lost.

The thought of a life without him, of never hearing his laughter echo through these halls again, shook me to my core. I leaned forward, burying my face in my hands, and something inside me gave way.

A broken sob tore out of me, my tears soaking into my palms. I cried for the seven years we had built together... and I cried for the terrifying possibility that it was all slipping through my fingers because of the one person who was supposed to love me.

In the middle of my breakdown, my phone lit up. Babe❤️.

I wiped my eyes quickly, taking a few shaky breaths to steady my voice. I couldn’t let him hear me like this, he was already hurting enough.

I picked up the call. "Hey, baby," I said, forcing a calm I didn’t feel.

"Did you get back home safely?" Alis asked instantly.

"Yeah, I just got in," I said, staring at the floor. "I was about to call you... I just had to take care of a couple of things first."

"Alex... have you been crying?" Alis asked softly. "Your voice sounds... off."

The question caught me off guard.

"You didn’t even call me immediately," he continued, his tone filled with quiet concern. "You always call the moment you get home... sometimes even before you step out of the car."

I swallowed.

"No, no," I said quickly, trying to sound normal. "I just got in and sat on the bed for a bit... I was missing you already. You know how it is."

I knew he didn’t fully believe me. He knew my patterns too well. But Alis didn’t push it; he knew there was nothing either of us could do at this moment but try to survive the distance.

"What are you going to do?" he asked quietly.

"Baby... right now, I can’t even think straight," I admitted, my voice low. "But tomorrow..."

I paused, taking a steady breath.

"I’m going to my parents’ place in the morning," I said. "Whatever happens... I’ll let you know. I’m not giving up on us, Alis."

"Okay, baby... but please," Alis said over the phone, his voice soft but pressing. "I don’t want to stay here for too long."

He paused, then added, "I know they said one month... but it doesn’t have to take that long, right? You can fix it before then."

His voice dropped, low and pleading. "Please, baby... do something. I don’t want to be away from you for that long."

I let out a quiet breath. "Alright, baby," I said gently. "I’ll bring you back home before that month is over. I promise."

Alis let out a soft breath of relief. "Okay," he murmured. "Eat something and try to sleep well. Tell yourself what you told me earlier... that everything is going to be okay."

He paused gently.

"We’ll find our way back to each other in the end."

"I believe that, baby. We have to," I replied.

We said our goodnights, but he didn’t hang up immediately.

"Wait," Alis said softly. "Tell me you love me."

I let out a small breath.

"I love you," I said.

"Say it again," he whispered.

"I love you so much, Alis," I repeated, my voice softer this time.

"Again..."

I closed my eyes.

"I love you more than anything. More than anyone. I’m not letting you go."

There was a small pause.

"Again," he murmured.

"I love you," I said again, more calmly. "I love you, and I’m coming back for you. No matter what."

That seemed to settle him.

"...Okay, baby, I love you more," he said quietly. "We’ll talk tomorrow."

The call ended.

The second it did, the mask I had been holding up shattered.

I dropped the phone onto the bed and fell back against the pillows, my chest rising and falling as the tears came harder than before.

I was supposed to be strong.

But how was I supposed to be strong?

One month. His mother gave me one month.

But he didn’t even want to wait that long.

What am I supposed to do...?

My throat tightened as the thoughts kept crashing into me.

I turned to the empty side of the bed, my chest heavy. "I can’t lose him..." I whispered brokenly.

The tears didn’t stop.

I cried until my eyes burned, until my body felt too heavy to move... and eventually, somewhere between the pain and exhaustion, I fell asleep.

The next morning, the sun felt too bright for how heavy I felt. A soft knock on the door pulled me out of my sleep.

"Sir, breakfast is ready," the maid said from outside.

"I’m not ready," I said, my voice rough from the night before.

I wasn’t even thinking about food.

I just wanted my husband.

I reached for my phone immediately, my thumb hovering over his name.

Alex: Good morning, baby.

Before he could even reply, I called. 𝓯𝓻𝓮𝙚𝙬𝓮𝙗𝒏𝙤𝒗𝙚𝙡.𝒄𝒐𝓶

He picked up after a few rings, his voice still heavy with sleep.

"Hello... baby..."

"Did I wake you?" I asked softly.

"I just woke up," he murmured.

We stayed quiet for a second, just listening to each other breathe.

"When are you going to your parents’ place?" he asked.

"I’m about to get ready," I said. "I’ll leave soon."

"Okay... let me know when you get there," he said gently.

"I will."

We didn’t say much after that.

Neither of us wanted to hang up... but we did.

After the call ended, I forced myself into the shower. When I stepped out, I got dressed in a sharp suit. Before leaving, I picked up Alis’ cologne and sprayed a little on myself... just to feel close to him, even if he wasn’t there.

When I stepped outside, my driver already had the car idling in the driveway.

The drive felt too long. I sat there, staring out the window, my thoughts all over the place, going over what to say, how to say it. I didn’t have a clear plan... I just knew I couldn’t fail.

When we finally pulled up at the house, I stepped out and walked in.

Both my parents were in the living room.

"Dad? You’re back from your trip?" I asked, surprised to see him.

"Alex! Yes, I got back last night," my father said, standing up and patting my shoulder.

"Why are you here so early?" my dad asked.

"Dad... I just came to spend some time," I replied.

He nodded slowly. "Alright, I see that. But why are you alone?"

I didn’t answer that.

"Yes, Dad," I said instead.

I walked over to greet my mom respectfully, even though I could feel her eyes on me cold and sharp... like she was already reading everything I wasn’t saying.

"I told the maid to serve me food. I’m hungry," I said.

She quickly brought the meal.

I sat at the dining table, and my father joined me, sitting across from me. My mother stayed in the living room, but I could tell she was listening to everything.

My father looked around for a moment, then back at me.

"So..." he said again, his voice calm but serious, "where is your husband?"

I gripped my fork, the metal cold in my hand.

"He... he left the house, Dad."

My father frowned. "Left? Left to where?"

I exhaled slowly and looked up at him.

I didn’t bother to hide it. I went straight to the point.

"Right now... Alis is preparing to file for divorce."

"What?" My father stared at me. "What happened between you two? Why would Alis want a divorce? Did something happen? Did you fight?"

I glanced toward the living room where my mother sat, her expression hardened.

"It’s because of what happened the last time she came to the house," I said.

I paused, then continued,

"She insulted him, Dad. She talked down on him... made him feel like he didn’t belong in my life."

My grip tightened around the fork.

"He couldn’t take it. It got to him... so he went back to his parents’ house."

I exhaled slowly.

"And now... his mother is the one telling him to file for divorce."

My father turned toward my mother, his brows drawing together.

"Why would you speak to him like that, honey?"

Before she could answer, I kept going, explaining the bitterness, the insults, and the way Alis’s mother had finally stepped in to protect her son. "His mother doesn’t want him with me anymore because of how he’s been treated here. I don’t even know if I can get him back, even if I fix things on our end."

My mother finally walked into the dining room, her voice cutting through the air like a blade. "Don’t even bother, Alex. If his mother wants a divorce, then fine. You should just take the papers and sign them the moment they arrive."

I stared at her, my mouth falling open in disbelief.

"Are you serious? You’re telling me to just sign away my marriage?"

"No, honey," my father cut in quickly, his voice firm.

"Why would you even care about someone like him?" she snapped, her eyes flashing. "Every day of your life, you are the one fighting for this love. You are the one making the effort. At the first sign of trouble, he gives up on you. He runs to his mother and asks for a lawyer. Why would you fight for someone who gives up on you so easily? He isn’t worth it, Alex. He’s shown you exactly who he is, someone who doesn’t have the spine to stay when things get difficult."

She leaned over the table, her voice cold. "Never. I will never accept him, and you shouldn’t either. Let him go."