Once a Wife [English Version]

Chapter 36

It had been two weeks since the incident.

Huffle and Abby were now safely home—out of danger, and slowly returning to their normal routines.

Maricar had gone back to work. She would sometimes meet Maricris for lunch or dinner. She still attended the group counseling sessions but no longer joined the friends she'd made there.

A part of her wanted to blame them—for feeding certain thoughts during the most fragile season of her life—but deep down, she knew the truth.

She had to take accountability. She had to own her choices.

She glanced at her phone to check if Tristan had messaged. He had gone back to Switzerland to be with his parents. He managed to inform her, though only through a phone call.

He still sent the occasional update... but something had changed. And she knew it. So she gave him the space he needed.

⸻

"Icang!" Maricris called. "Have you heard the news?"

Maricar shook her head. "What news?"

"Congressman Fuentes—he's been convicted," her sister said, wide-eyed. "And... Cynthia and Dominic filed for annulment."

"Annulment?" That was news to her. She hadn't heard from Dominic since everything happened. He didn't visit her at the hospital, even after saying he would. She hadn't even noticed the silence until now.

"So much has happened," Maricris sighed.

"And how did you find all this out?" Maricar asked. "Since when did you become the neighborhood gossip?"

"I'm not!" Maricris defended. "Slyther told me."

Maricar just nodded, feeling a quiet resignation settle in.

"You okay? You don't look it..."

"Just tired," she replied. "It's like... everything's only sinking in now."

"Icang, your kids are safe," Maricris reminded gently. "If you need space, say the word. I'll take care of them."

"Really?" Maricar asked. "Is that what I need?"

"If it were up to me, I wouldn't let you out of my sight," her sister admitted. "But... it seems like you need space to breathe."

"And where do I go?"

"What about Tristan?" Maricris teased. "The air's better where he is."

Maricar chuckled. "You're impossible."

"Or Tagaytay?" her sister suggested. "Cool weather. Quiet place. Might be good for you."

Maricar let out a deep sigh. "I don't know, Ate... I thought once everything was over, I'd finally feel relieved. I thought I'd be happy... but I don't feel victorious. I don't feel anything at all."

"Go on..."

"I feel like I'm floating," she whispered, brushing away a tear. "I don't even know if I should apologize... Their apologies didn't make things easier for me, so what would mine change?"

Maricris didn't answer. She just listened.

"Now I feel like I'm the villain. The problem. The one who ruined everything."

"That's not true, Icang," Maricris said. "What you feel is valid—but that doesn't make it the truth."

There was a pause.

"Sometimes," Maricar confessed quietly, "I want to blame God. After everything I've been through... I didn't think I could still hurt like this. I thought it was over."