THE DIVORCE PROPOSAL

One year into marriage with a man named Brent, Alyssa thought she had understood all of his characteristics. However, it turned out she hadn't, as the man sitting in front of her was far from the Brent she knew.

"Are you being serious right now?" Alyssa asked, seemingly disbelieving Brent's words.

He remained composed, sitting in his work chair. Taking off his reading glasses, he looked up at Alyssa. "I'm just asking for three months, and after that, I'll sign the divorce papers," he explained.

"Three months of being your real wife? No way! I refuse!" She rejected outright. How could Brent ask for something so unreasonable? Alyssa wouldn't agree for even one day, let alone three months.

"Well, it's up to you," Brent said, moving the divorce papers to the edge of the table, focusing on his stack of documents.

"You jerk!" She muttered.

He didn't respond. He was engrossed in his papers, seemingly undisturbed by her insult.

For this side of Brent, Alyssa seemed to understand him well. He was the calmest man she had ever met. Every move he made was calculated, even the smallest gestures like lifting a glass. That's why Alyssa always approached him with caution. He was too calm, even when engaging in deceit.

Apart from being excessively calm, Brent was also the type who never withdrew his decisions. This was evident from his actions adhering to the marriage terms she had set a year ago. So there was no point negotiating with him.

But Alyssa wasn't one to lose in a debate. After all, she was skilled in the game of words.

"You are not consistent!" She voiced again. "You agreed to my conditions before our marriage, that we'd separate at the right time."

"And this isn't the right time," replied Brent. "I'm very consistent with my words, you know it," he added.

"Alright, then when do you think is the right time?" Alyssa sighed.

"After those three months," his answered.

"It's not fair! You're asking us to act like a real couple, it's the same as asking me to cater to you for the next three months!"

"You asked for three conditions, and I asked for three months. It's fair enough."

"Nonsense! Do you think you can trap me with this kind of tactic?" She stood up. "Sorry, sir, I'm not that stupid!" AlyssaI said before leaving with her divorce papers.

Just wait, she will do everything to make him come and sign those papers willingly. Brent has to know whom he's dealing with this time.

***

"Seriously, I don't know if he's possessed or what. Like yesterday, it was genuinely the weirdest moment in my life after getting married." Alyssa shared with her personal assistant, Lewis, while eating. "Can you imagine? Jordan Brent Davis making such a cheesy request!"

Even now, she still baffled by Brent's request from last night. When Alyssa showed up with divorce papers in hand, she wasn't prepared to hear such a ridiculous demand.

"You're exaggerating, Alyssa. Plus, what's the harm if Mr. Brent asks for three months? Maybe he wants to use that time to make you fall for him," Lewis suggested, his mid-twenties demeanor attentive to Alyssa story.

"Hell no! I know Brent, he wouldn't have such a thoughtless idea. I suspect he's planning some program or anything that requires public sympathy. That's why he wants to use me as his stage."

Okay, Alyssa would be lying if she said she hadn't thought about Brent's request at all. In fact, she almost didn't sleep last night due to her deep contemplation. She genuinely curious about the reasons behind the request.

So far, two reasons make the most sense for Brent to express such a request. Firstly, as part of his political agenda, where he needs a good family image in the public eye.

"Well, that could be true. If news of your divorce spreads, it could be a big deal. Especially since you're public figures, it'll be talked about everywhere," Lewis commented. "But, if that's really the reason, he could ask for a delay. He could also ask for your help to appear as a good wife in public without actually becoming a married couple."

And the second reason, "Well, if it's not that, then he probably just wants to mess with me. He wants revenge because I set conditions like that back then. He wants to show me that he has the power to make me submit to his terms."

"That's just your assumption, Alyssa. There's no way Mr. Brent has time to think about something like that. His mind is already full of endless people's issues," Lewis disagreed.

"Well, it's just weird to suddenly ask for that. How can I not think about all possibilities?"

"Compared to that, you're still the weirdest. Imagine, out of nowhere, I show up at my husband's workplace and casually hand over divorce papers. And I handed them over so casually. I'm lucky Mr. Brent didn't kick me out," Lewis snorted.

"You know from the start I wasn't interested in marrying him. I only agreed because I was desperate. And now that I've found the right time to divorce, I won't waste it."

The timing she mentioned is when both of her parents are busy in France for their business expansion. Meanwhile, Brent has successfully become a public official sitting in the cabinet. So, she think there won't be any issues for both parties to separate at this point.

"You really don't know how to be grateful. Mr. Brent even helped clean up your scandal," Lewis remarked.

"He's not helping me, really. He has his own interests. Remember, my marriage to him is mutual symbiosis, we both benefit. I can be free from scandals with my own celebrity, and he can be free from the gay rumors that were spread in the public back then," Alyssa explained.

"Your life is really weird," teased Lewis. "But seriously, I'm curious, is he really gay or not?"

Alyssa shrugged indifferently.

"Come on, just tell me a bit. I promise I won't spread it."

"I really don't know," she replied.

"How come? He's your husband, for God's sake. How can you not know?"

"Well, I'm not close to him."

"Not close at all? Come on, once you're married, you must have done something, right?" Lewis said.

Alyssa just shook her head as if it wasn't a big deal.

"Damn, seriously?" Lewis was genuinely shocked. He even couldn't control his volume, making some people in the cafe turn their heads towards them.

Alyssa reflexively slapped her assistant's hand. "Ck, don't be so loud," she scolded.

"Sorry, sorry, I was surprised," Lewis said. "But seriously, you two never did anything?" This time he lowered his voice.

"I made it clear from the beginning to sleep separately, have separate rooms, separate everything. I'm sure he understands that it means I don't want to be touched even an inch by him."

"Yeah, but I thought you two might have had those moments. Come on, living with Alyssa Grace Mitchell for a year, you're telling me he never once felt attracted to you?"

Lewis's question made Alyssa reconsider. Indeed, Brent had never shown any signs of interest in her. It wasn't that she desired it, but upon reflection, it seemed implausible.

How could an adult man like Brent never feel anything when near her? Perhaps if it were another woman, she could understand. But come on, Alyssa was talking about herself. A successful woman with a brilliant career at a young age, from a seriously reputable family background, and most importantly, a woman with a truly stunning physique.

Inheriting Dutch blood from her mother's side and a mix of Chinese-Spanish from her father's side gave her a captivating appearance. Not to mention, she meticulously maintained her diet and exercise routine, resulting in a body proportion skin to a Spanish guitar.

With qualifications like that, Alyssa could easily attract attention from men out there. In fact, due to her perfection, the company where she currently work regretted her firm decision to be an agent instead of a talent. Because surely, if she wanted, she could effortlessly become a top-tier star.

"Even if he's not attracted to me, I'm one hundred percent sure the fault lies with him, not me. Because everything on me is just perfect," she said confidently.

Although her confidence always managed to annoy Lewis, this time he couldn't deny it. Even if Alyssa weren't his boss and childhood friend, Lewis believed he would be drawn to her.

"True, even though his type isn't a girl like you, you two have been living together for a year."

Alyssa furrowed her brows. Brent not her type? How low of a type could that weird guy be?

"In my conclusion, one." Lewis raised his drink before continuing, "He's not interested in women, but he really likes the 'men' instead," Lewis blurted out without hesitation. Now, that makes sense.

"If it's really like that, it's a big problem."

"What's the problem?"

"Well, it's a problem. It means his initial goal of marrying you wasn't just to dispel those rumors and climb up in politics. But because he wants to hide his sexual orientation. Which means, from the beginning, he didn't plan to divorce you," Lewis explained at length.

"Shit," Alyssa cursed.

Lewis's words had some truth to them. It could be that from the start, Brent married her not just to dispel rumors but to hide the fact about his sexual orientation. And Brent's compliance with her conditions wasn't because he knew boundaries but because he genuinely had no interest in a woman.

Just thinking about it infuriated her. Alyssa thought all this time she had Brent under her terms, but it turns out he was the one using her.

"So, he request for conditions yesterday, it's not just about needing additional strong evidence to prove he's normal. It means he wants descendants as evidence that if you uncontrollable, he has something to hold onto," Lewis added.

"If that's true, damn those Davis descendants!" Alyssa cursed while sipping her cold water.

"I told you, be careful with the Davis family, their moves are really unpredictable. But back then, you said everything was under control."

Well, everything has indeed been under control so far, until the surprising conversation last night.

But of course, being her, Alyssa would never be defeated. If that's the reality, knowing it, she will easily change strategies and alter the situation.

"Okay, the Davis family is known for their cunning, but don't forget, there's no history of the Mitchell family losing in the battlefield. I'll make him file this lawsuit himself," she concluded.

To be continue...