An Ex-Wife's Last Wish (Chapter 1)

Mavis Lionheart Briar clutched at her purse as she stood before her husband for five years. Even though they had been living together under the same roof and even share a single bed, her husband's feelings towards her remained unchanged.

Lansford Briar, the CEO of Golden Laurel Corporation, slid the document he just signed towards the edge of his table and set a pen beside it.

“Just as what we had agreed upon before, we will divorce each other in our 5th anniversary. Keep your words, Mavis,” he stated with his usual calm yet indifferent tone of voice.

Mavis remained quiet as she stared at the divorce paper that was already signed by her husband. She knew that this was going to happen and she had been preparing herself for this moment, but it seemed that it was not enough. Her heart still ached like some vines filled with thorns were starting to grip her heart. She did not want to divorce him at all because she would not know what else to do besides being a full-time wife of her first love.

“Mavis,” Lansford called her attention since he noticed that his wife was starting to space out.

“Two months,” Mavis responded.

This confused the CEO so he raised an eyebrow at her as he leaned back on his leather chair. They were both in his office because he thought that ending their relationship in the same room where they were forced to signed their marriage contract would be a proper closure for the two of them.

“Please,” Mavis begged, “be my husband for another two months. After that, I promise to divorce you.”

“What difference will it make? Why do you want to prolong this relationship that did not even work?”

Gathering her courage, Mavis lifted her gaze towards her husband and looked directly into his dark eyes.

“It will make a huge difference. And...” She paused for a while to breathe because her heart was racing like crazy. She never asked anything from him before because she was scared that he would see her as some greedy person and leave her in a snap. But now that they will divorce each other, she wanted to speak for once.

“And?” Lansford asked.

“Within those two months, let's go on dates, cook dinner together, eat breakfast at the same time, and... let's go on a honeymoon.”

Saying those words were a bit too much for Mavis that her blood rushed up to her cheeks and painted them crimson out of embarrassment.

“We never got the chance to spend our honeymoon so I want to experience it before we separate,” she added.

Lansford heaved a heavy sigh because doing those things would be a handful. Plus, he already had some appointments planned out for the next two months. Besides, even if they were to still be husband and wife for another year, nothing would truly change. They would be the same just like what they had been for the past years.

“No, Venice and I have plans together so it's impossible to do that. Don't worry, I already bought you a luxurious apartment where you can permanently stay and you won't be leaving the mansion empty-handed. Mavis, don't drag this and sign the document,” Lansford replied, suppressing the lurking impatience trying to come out from him.

Venice Lionheart. She is the first love of Mavis' husband and the also the biological daughter of her adoptive parents. Even before their wedding day, Mavis heard the promise of Lansford towards her sister which was to divorce her after five years and marry Venice after. She was hoping that it would not happen because she thought she would be able to change his mind within their five years of marriage, but she was wrong.

Mavis leaned forward with desperation in her eyes.

“I... I don't need a huge amount of money or a luxurious apartment, Lans. I... simply want some of your time. T-That's all. I am still your w-wife so please...”

Lansford was hesitant. This was the only time that his wife asked something from him so he wanted to grant it for her but he did not want to cancel his plans. Venice always comes first before anything else.

“Stop making this hard for the both of us. Sign that today or you won't get anything from me at all.”

Mavis pursed her lips and lowered her gaze back to the divorce paper. She dug her nails into her palm to stop herself from shedding a tear in front of him. It simply scared her that he might think of her as a weak woman that would be too much of a hassle to handle.

“I am not signing it,” she managed to say without looking at him.

“Mavis.” His voice was stern as he stared at the woman in front of him.

“No.”

“Sign it.”

“No!”

Holding the bridge of his nose, Lansford stood from his seat and walked towards Mavis whose immediate reaction was to take a few steps away from him. Even though she started to receive his deadly glares, she tried her hardest to ignore them rather than have him force her into divorce.

“Mavis,” he called with a low tone of voice which immediately froze her in place. She knew too well that if he calls her like that, it was already a sign that his patience snapped.

“Just one month,” she stated, hoping that he would agree with her condition.

But instead of complying with her, he outstretched his hand in her direction and said, “Come here.”

Mavis looked at him with doubt but the darkness in his eyes seemed to have vanished. His pair of silver orbs reflected her image just as how it did during their wedding ceremony. Remembering that moment, Mavis walked towards him and accepted his hand. The gentleness and warmth she felt from his large hand was enough to make her feel even more motivated to convince him.

But then, when she let her guard down, Lansford pushed her down on the table with him hovering over her from behind. He put his arms on both of her sides to show that she has no way out from this situation.

Leaning down, he whispered in her ear, “Don't test my patience, Mavis. Sign that and we're done.”

Their close proximity could almost make Mavis pass out, especially that she could feel his chest behind her back.

“I said no,” she insisted. “If a month is too much then, I'm asking for two weeks extension. Take it or leave it.”

“Don't be stubborn, I said that I have plans so just sign the document.”

Mavis had already gone this far so backing down was scratched out from her list. Besides, she won't be living long enough so before she lies down in her coffin, she should at least do all the things she listed in her bucket list.

Turning around, she looked up to him and clutched at his coat.

“Two weeks,” she reiterated, her eyes locked onto his. “Take it or leave it.”

“One night,” he responded.

This caught Mavis off guard that her grip loosened as she stared at him both in shock and disbelief.

“W-What?”

Lansford leaned closer and snaked his arm around her. That seemed to he still unsatisfying for him so he pulled her close that their lips almost touched.

“I'll sleep with you tonight and after that, sign the divorce paper. Deal?”

Mavis felt her cheeks burning like hell that she immediately looked away, afraid that her legs might give up on her. He was too close, just too close that it was hard for her to breathe.

“T-That's not what I mean. What I want is that we should act like a couple for two weeks. That's all. Besides, I don't want to bear your child,” she muttered.

It was already too late to have a child for Mavis. She only had two months and if she did bear a child like what she wanted for years, it would only pain her because she won't be able to even give birth.

Her last words, however, puzzled Lansford. As far as he knew, Mavis had mentioned several times before that it would be great to have even one child to take care of. But since he was divorcing her, he did not agree so it was a bit puzzling why she suddenly changed her mind.

Before he could say a word, the door of his office opened and a blond woman showed up. Upon seeing how close Mavis and Lansford were, her expression grew dark in no time.

“I suppose your business here is done, sister,” she stated.

Mavis did not want to brew another fight with her sister so she grabbed the divorce paper and faced her husband.

“L-Let's talk at home,” she said before rushing out of the office.

Venice did not want to just let her go so as intentionally got close to her and hit her by the shoulder.

“Slut,” she hissed and rolled her eyes.

Mavis chose to ignore her because it would only be a waste of time if she fights back. And it was most likely that Lansford would choose her sister's side. Thus, she walked out and simply headed back home where she received a call from her doctor.

“Mrs. Briar, would you like to set an appointment to the counselor I mentioned to you previously?”

“Yes, of course. I'll see her any time by tomorrow,” she replied.

Since things had been rough for her for the past few months, her doctor suggested that she should consult a professional to help her get through all these. She was not really interested but she should at least try.

Going to their shared bedroom, Mavis took another look at her medical result. She thought she was doing just fine but never did it ever occur to her that she would be seriously sick.

“Acute leukemia, huh.”