Chapter 1: Didn't Love Her
Chapter 1: Didn't Love Her
"You've been married for three years now, Theo.I think it's the right time for you to have kids" Danica heard an old man's warm, honest and sincere voice.
She knew that eavesdropping in a conversation was an immoral thing to do, but she couldn't help but stop and listen to the people talking inside the study room.
Suddenly, the warm voice became icy and callous that it echoed through the walls.
"What? You're saying that you're living with a woman you don't love? What kind of man are you?" Danica was about to knock on the door, but she abruptly halted.Her soft and gentle face turned pale when she heard it.
"Grandpa, how many times do we have to discuss this matter?" a familiar voice said with a hint of irritation.
Then, he continued "Stop thinking about this.I've told you a thousand times that I'll never have kids with that woman”
The cruel statement uttered by that man broke Danica’s heart into several pieces.
"You filthy bastard!" the old man yelled.
It startled Danica that a teacup shattered following the disagreement.
Then, she heard some footsteps walking towards the door.
Danica rushed to the next-door washroom to hide.She got occupied and worried by the thought of being caught eavesdropping that she didn't notice the teacup.
As a result, she scratched her waist onto its tip.Her eyes brimmed with tears, for it added to the emotional pain that she was feeling.
The pain spread into her body like wildfire piercing her heart.Her heart tightened when she remembered what had happened a few days ago.
Someone sent her a message.It was obviously from Theo's mistress, Venice.
Of course, Venice sent it to mock her.Danica was well aware of her existence and power.
She knew she wasn't someone to be reckoned with.
"Danica, you have been married to Theo for three years, and he still hasn't fallen in love with you yet.You are such a failure and a loser!"
"Only someone with no dignity could do such a thing.If I were you, I would've already jumped off the building out of shame” Venice added.
After she married Theo, Danica found out that his heart already belonged to someone else.
And that woman would eventually replace her as Theo's wife.
She remembered how heartbroken she was when she saw Theo and a famous actress enter and leave the hotel together.
But little did she know that it was Venice, her husband's mistress.
At that moment, she told herself that their marriage was almost impossible in the first place.
Who in their right mind would be with another woman right after his wedding? Venice and Theo both loved each other.
It was enough reason for Danica to let go, but a part of her wanted to hold her husband for a lifetime.
Despite all the hopelessness and doubts, she still had faith in developing their relationship.
She hoped they'd eventually make ends meet and have a happy family.She thought that wholeheartedly serving Theo would make him notice her.She even quit her job to be his full-time wife, but luck was not on her side.She ended up in a miserable relationship with him.
Looking back at those three years together, she could only laugh.She was indeed ridiculous, wasn't she? Her eyes widened when the washroom door flew open.She was surprised that she stumbled a few paces from her stance.
Amid her tears, she saw Theo walking in.
He looked drop-dead gorgeous with his handsome yet ruthless, stoic face, perfectly paired with his usual cold demeanor.
She noticed his expression was cold, but the perfect-fit black suit was even colder.
He walked towards her with eyes like a tiger ready to pounce on its prey.
He seized her jaw without any sense of courtesy, drawing his anger close to her, then shouted, "Did you persuade my grandfather for us to have a child? Have your methods evolved, Danica, huh?"
Theo's eyes became icier before she could even mutter a word.
"Did you long for a child so you could stay in the Dalton family for the rest of your life?"
His voice was strong and angry that it made her knees wobble in fear.
She didn't want Theo to act like this.
It wasn't the Theo she fell in love with.
"I did not say such things to Grandpa!"
Danica exclaimed as a dispute with a shaky voice because of the tension.
Her expression shifted as she bit down her lips, trying to calm herself from what was happening.Theo's jaw tightened more.
"Well, if you didn't, why do you look so guilty of eavesdropping on our conversation? You wanted this to happen right from the beginning!" Theo scowled.
She was shaking from the sound of his voice.
The silence didn't stop Theo, and he ruthlessly continued, "If you accidentally hear it, then let me remind you that you are already aware of how I feel for you.Danica, you are not worthy of being the mother of my child!"
Danica clenched her fists hard.
Her nails plunged deep into her palms as those harsh words were like bullets fired to her heart.
Why did he have to hurt her like this? Her feelings were valid because she was his wife.
All she wanted was to be close to him.
Physically, they were, but their heart was in a different universe. ConTEent bel0ngs to Nôv(e)lD/rama(.)Org .
Whenever she found a way to be near him, he pushed her away without hesitation.
She knew right from the start that Theo didn't love her.
Thus she understood that he would never reciprocate her feelings and only tolerate them.
Danica thought that she had already heard and experienced the worst, but directly hearing from him that she was not worthy of being his wife and mother to his child felt like thousands of arrows had shot through her heart.
Three years had already passed, and she had done all that she could do as Mrs.Dalton.
She tried her best to satisfy him not only in sex but in other aspects, too.
Danica thought that Theo's heart would gradually melt, but now she understood that his heart was as solid as an iceberg.
She couldn't melt it despite all the effort she'd put into it.
Eventually, Danica felt hopeless.
It never crossed her mind that entering a loveless marriage was more miserable than she had foreseen it to be.
"In all those three years, Theo, did you ever feel something for me?"
Even though her heart and mind were stopping her, she did her best to express her pain.
"Did you like me even just for a little?"
Her body trembled as she spoke in a weak and low voice.
It was as if she used every bit of her energy to gather her strength and courage from her body.
An odd feeling crept into Theo's body when he heard Danica’s humble plea, but it felt ephemeral.
He stared coldly into her eyes.
"Well, what do you think?" Theo replied apathetically.
He was disinterested in her question because the answer was obvious, but she still dared to ask.
That question alone could destroy the thinnest line of defense that her heart had guarded.
Danica knew that she had given him all of her, and nothing was left.
After providing him all her best, what would she give after that when everything went crumbling down?