It was the last thing she expected to hear from him, especially on their third wedding anniversary.
"Why?" She let out a gasp. "Did your grandmother force you to do this? I know from the very beginning she was against our relationship… I… I wouldn't even be surprised if she ordered you to divorce me."
Elisse reached out to touch his hand, but he pulled away as if repulsed by her touch.
"Grandmother has nothing to do with this. It's my decision, my own free will. I've realized that being together will only complicate things. It's better if we end things and go our separate ways."
"Really Colin? After three years together, you're saying that?" she blurted out loud, her heartbreak evident in her voice. "It's been difficult for me, facing discrimination and insults every day from everyone because of our gap in status, but I never thought ending our relationship would be the solution to all my problems."
Colin turned his gaze elsewhere. He didn't say a word. His silence hurt more than any words could as it made Elisse feel like he was giving up on her, on their relationship without a fight. She wanted to explode in frustration at his utter indifference, but she realized she couldn't dictate how he should feel.
She swallowed the lump in her throat, forcing back the tears. She didn't want to reveal her vulnerability to him. Raising her chin, she said, "Look at me, Colin." The firmness in her voice compelled him to meet her gaze. "Tell me you didn't love me, and that's why you're leaving me."
He seemed to hesitate for a moment, but finally uttered the words, "I don't love you, Elisse. Perhaps I did in the past, but things have changed now. You always made me happy, and I mistook that feeling for love. I really don't love you."
Elisse wanted to laugh in disbelief. How could he be so cold, so cruel, to crush her hopes on such a beautiful night, on their fucking anniversary. She had done everything for him, even sacrificing her dreams, and in return, he had broken her heart and trampled on it.
"I'm pregnant, Colin." The words escaped her lips before she could hold them back.
His expression remained unchanged, and he fell silent for a moment, as if weighing whether to believe her or not. Then he let out a heavy sigh and, with a cruel edge to his voice, said, "Do you expect me to believe that? How convenient that you're suddenly pregnant just as I'm divorcing you."
Her chest ached as though someone had lodged a stake in it. He knew her; she wouldn't lie about matters like this. However, it seemed he had already convinced himself that she was making up a story to keep him.
Elisse loved him, but she wasn't desperate enough to hold on to a man who was pushing her away like a toy he had grown tired of playing with.
"You can visit the City hospital. My records are still there. You would know whether I'm making up a story or not once you see my medical results."
Colin shook his head. "You've done well. I almost fell for it." His lips curled into a mocking grin. "Even if you are pregnant, do you expect me to believe that I am the father?"
The patience she had been holding onto snapped like a fragile thread. She stood up forcefully, sending the chair behind her toppling over. Her hands, as if they had a mind of their own, landed on his cheek.
"Slap."
Shocked, Colin touched the spot where her hand had struck him. It must be burning badly, but that was enough to make him pay for insulting her.
"I've never been with any other man except you Colin so how dare you accuse me of being pregnant with another man's child!"
Colin's nostrils flared. He gritted his teeth and snatched her wrist, his grip tight enough to leave bruises on her skin. "Really? How can I be certain of that when we aren't always together? It just doesn't add up! I've always been careful during sex—I always made sure we used protection. Damn it, I know for certain that child isn't mine."
Colin had said many hurtful things to her, but directly claiming he is not the father stung the most, like a burn. Elisse clenched her fists and spat. "A paternity test will prove it all."
"I admire your courage, but that wouldn't be necessary, Elisse." He released his hold on her. "I've had enough of this nonsense…" He fished his wallet from his pocket and pulled out a wad of cash, tossing it across the table. "That should be enough to silence you. Please don't call or text me again. I'm completely cutting you out of my life." With that, he turned his back on her.
As Elisse watched him walk away, she bitterly realized he was not just leaving her; he was abandoning all their memories together, even the child growing in her belly.
He can abandon her but not her child.
Elisse sprinted after Colin, finding him already seated in his car, poised to back out of the parking space.
"Colin, please open the door. We need to talk… for the sake of this child."
She tugged at the door handle, but it was locked tight from the inside. In a moment of desperation, she pounded her fists against the window, trying to catch his attention, but he didn't so much as glance her way, as if she were invisible.
The car began to move despite her efforts to stop it. It felt as though he wouldn't even flinch if she were to get hurt in the process. What a cold-hearted bastard! She clenched her teeth, watching as the car sped away.
Tears that Elisse had fought so hard to hold back streamed down her cheeks. She helplessly slumped to the sidewalk, asking herself why the people she loved always seemed to leave her in the end.