From the Streets to the Suites

Chapter Two

Alex snatched the phone from Sam’s hand and as the live stream flickered on the phone, he tightened his grip, trying to comprehend what he had just seen.

“The audacity!” Sam yelled.

It was a big shock to all of them. It has just been a year into his marriage with Olivia and everything was not as it seemed.

As the celebrity host prompted them to introduce themselves, Alex’ heart pounded in his chest.

He glanced at Olivia, his wife, who was sitting beside a man whose face was not revealed yet. 

“I’m Olivia and this is my boyfriend, Owen. We were together for two years but lost contact for about a year. We just met again a month ago and we decided to rekindle the love we once shared” Olivia said with a loving smile.

The camera quickly turned to reveal the mysterious boyfriend of Alex’s wife and as his revelation unfolded like a scripted drama, the appearance sent a shiver down Alex’s spine.

For some minutes, he lost his balance and everywhere looked blurry.

“Alex! Alex! Easy, man! Are you alright?” his friend Sam called out.

Two years abroad, lost contact and a sudden reunion last month that resurrected their connection; the pieces of the puzzle clicked in Alex’s mind.

This was too much for him to bear.

“Sam, I was just a replacement for this punk, isn’t it?” he looked anxiously at his friend and hoped for a different answer.

“Man…” Sam was speechless.

Olivia had married him because Owen had dumped her and now that he was back, it seemed she would return to him.

“No… this can’t be!” Alex shrieked.

“She never loved you, mate.” Isaac said as he tried to comfort his friend.

The weight of betrayal sank in and Alex couldn’t bear to watch the live stream any longer.

He handed the phone back to Sam, his closest friend with a wry smile.

“Alex…” Sam could sense the distress his friend was going through.

He knew how much he loved Olivia.

“Man, I know this is rough. Are you okay?”

Alex, still processing the shock, shook his head with a heavy sigh.

“I can’t believe she kept this from me, Sam. I feel like everything from the beginning has been a lie.”

Sam placed a reassuring hand on Alex’s shoulder, “I know it’s hard to believe and I know it hurts. But you are not alone, Mate. We’ll get through it.”

“I thought we were happy. I thought she loved me. How could she do this!?” Alex let out a sigh.

“People aren’t to be trusted, right? It’s not a reflection of your worth and, you deserve better.”

Alex, looking downcast, nodded in acknowledgement of Sam’s words but he was still full of emotions and wished to be left alone.

“Mate, guys, thank you so much for tonight. But, I think I need to be alone for now. I’d catch up with you soon. Thanks.” he said in a low voice.

Deep in his thoughts, he absent-mindedly took a cab to his home and sank into the couch with the lights off.

He sobbed silently and wished for all this to be a long nightmare from which he would soon awaken.

“Olivia… I love you” he whispered in his mind.

As hours passed like a slow descent into despair and each tick of the clock amplifying the heavy pain he was feeling in his heart, he drifted off to sleep.

The door creaked open, breaking his peaceful sleep.

Olivia entered, flipping on the lights.

“Oh my goodness!” a scream escaped her lips.

“Alex!?” she whispered as she realized it was her husband, not an intruder.

The room fell into an awkward silence.

She looked at his puffy eyes and wondered if he had cried because she didn’t attend his lousy anniversary party.

“Have you lost your mind, Alex!? What are you doing sitting in the dark like a ghost!?” she accused him.

“And why does your eyes look so red and puffy!? Don’t tell me you sat down here alone crying like a child because I didn’t attend some lousy party you planned.”

“Lousy!?” Alex asked with a wry smile.

“I used all my savings and salary to plan that surprise you just called lousy, Olivia.”

“Well…” she stammered.

“I told you I was busy! And who asked you to plan a surprise, anyway. You could have saved the money!”

Alex looked at her. His eyes filled with disappointment and betrayal.

“What’s with that look!? Have I said anything wrong now?” Olivia asked with an indifferent tone.

The tension in the room escalated, the air heavy with unspoken truths.

Alex finally took a deep breath.

His voice, strained but firm, cut through the room.

He uttered the words that had been lingering in the shadows of his mind, 

“Olivia, I want a divorce.”

Olivia’s anger transformed into a mix of shock and realization.

“What!?” she exclaimed.