Gio tried to catch my hand, but I pulled it away, tears streaming from my eyes.
“If you’re trying to get back at me because you were jealous of Rory, if you also want to hurt me because you think I wanted what happened with Rory, then congratulations, Gio! You’ve hurt me and broken me beyond measure.”
I wiped my tears with the back of my hand. Gio attempted to catch my hand again, but I pushed him away.
“I hope you’re content now. I hope you’re happy with what you’ve done to me, Gio. I’ve been crying for days, wondering if we can still fix this. I tried talking to you, I tried to resolve this, but you’re the one unwilling to fix everything.”
I forcefully wiped the tears from my cheeks. I sat down on the bed, feeling weak.
“That’s enough,” I said, choking back sobs. “It’s just too painful. I know I may have made mistakes, but you don’t have to make me feel this way. I’ve learned from everything; isn’t that enough? I’ve been trying to be strong every day because I know there’s no one else who can be strong for me. The pain is too much, Gio. Because it’s too much.”
I pointed to my heart. I ran my palms over my face. My eyes were swollen again. “I’m tired, Gio. I’m trying to piece myself together now because I know you’re no longer by my side to do that. Because it feels like you’re getting used to not having me.”
I saw the surprise in his eyes because of what I said, but he still didn’t speak. A moment of silence settled between us, with only my sobs audible.
Gio’s shoulders slumped, and he turned away from me. He gazed upward, as if contemplating something deep.
“Let’s have an annulment, Millie.”
If earlier I could still hold myself together and touch my own heart, now there was nothing left of me. I collapsed, in sync with Gio’s words.
~***~
“What did you just say?” I asked him in disbelief. I couldn’t help but admire myself for managing to speak coherently despite my weakened state.
Gio didn’t meet my gaze. “Let’s separate, Millie. I can’t be the perfect husband for you.”
I stared at his back for a long moment, still struggling to fathom the words coming from him.
“What I want, Gio, is for us to talk! I want us to fix this! But why, why are you offering me an annulment? Do you want to leave me? Are you done with me, Gio?”
“As long as I’m your husband, you will never find happiness, Millie,” he uttered forcefully. “It’s better to go our separate ways. You, with your life, and if you find someone else, I hope he’ll give you a perfect life.”
I wanted to laugh. I never thought I’d hear those words from him.
“I’ve never complained about the life you’ve given me, Gio. I admit, at first, I had so many questions about why I had to go through everything I’ve experienced simply because I was married to you. But I never complained! I learned to adapt my life for you,” I shouted at him.
He still had his back turned to me, but it didn’t deter me from expressing all my grievances.
“I learned to be happy despite all the tragedies because I knew I had you! I learned to love myself because you taught me. I learned to overcome my trauma, with your help. If you hadn’t come into my life, I don’t know where I’d be now. You fixed me, Gio, in case you didn’t know! And now you want to discard me because you feel unworthy of me?”
He remained silent. My anger intensified when I realized that, regardless of what I said, he had made up his mind.
“I know you were insecure, I know you were afraid, and there were probably many things on your mind. But did you ever think about me? What about me, with all the insecurities I have about the women who approach you? It’s not just you who’s struggling, Gio! But even when I get jealous at times, I trust you because you made me feel loved! Is that how shallow your love for me is?”
I wanted to convince myself that there might be a reason behind Gio’s actions, but I couldn’t find any.
I took a deep breath, then let my emotions run wild. I nodded to myself, as if accepting what she wanted to happen.
“I guess you’re done with me, and that’s why you want to discard me. You’ve had your fill of using me. You’re so heartless, Gio. I won’t be surprised if that’s how people see you. I thought I understood you, but now I see your true colors. You’re heartless and ruthless, not only to your enemies but even to me. You’ve shattered my entire being,” I said, my voice quivering with anger.
I started walking towards the door, unable to stand being in the same room with him any longer.
As I was about to open the door, I remembered something I needed to say to him.
“A perfect life with someone else, you say? Do you think, after treating me like this, I’ll trust another man? And let me remind you, Gio, there’s no such thing as a perfect life. Everyone has flaws, and everyone is imperfect. You’re trying so hard to be perfect, but you’re not, and you never will be. No one is perfect, Gio. Let that sink in.”
Even in my current situation, I still couldn’t bring myself to look at Gio, but I no longer cared.
I left the room and walked downstairs. Dario tried to follow me, but I quickly turned to face them and stopped them.
“Starting tonight, you have no responsibility towards me. You don’t need to protect me. If I die now, you’re all clear. Thank you for keeping me safe these past months. I’m happy to have met and been with all of you.” I smiled sadly at them and turned away from them all.
I got into a car and drove away rapidly.
I had no idea where I was going. I never thought a simple argument would lead to this. I didn’t even see it coming that Gio would tell me he wanted a divorce. Now that he had made this decision, I knew he could make it happen even without any grounds I could see. It’s Gio Locatelli; he could manipulate anything. I think he manipulated me and made me believe he loved me, even though deep down, I didn’t think he really did.
I gripped the steering wheel tightly and drove faster.
I let my driving take me wherever. I didn’t care about what would happen to me. In the back of my mind, I preferred to have an accident and forget everything forget Gio.