"Ma'am, someone sent you a letter."
Avery, who was reading one of Edward's books to get rid of his boredom this afternoon, immediately looked up quickly when one of the maids handed her brown enveloped letter on which was the emblem of the United States district court.
"Who sent it?"
"I don't know, ma'am. But it looks like this is an official letter from the court because what delivered it were two men in suits whose breasts also had the same emblem as the emblem of this letter."
The waiter bowed respectfully to Avery and immediately excused herself to continue his pending work.
With a little anxiety, Avery began to open the brown envelope to read the contents. It feels a little strange if she suddenly gets a letter from the district court, whereas she feels that she has never committed any crime so far.
"Divorce letter?"
Instantly Avery's heart skipped a beat as sentence after sentence had been successfully read and they all led to the conclusion that she had been divorced by her husband. Andrew Thompson.
"What really happened? Why did Andrew divorce me?" muttered Avery sadly with tears starting to flood her cheeks.
Without thinking she immediately walked to the second floor, where Michiel was. She had to ask the man for an explanation regarding the divorce letter that Andrew suddenly sent her.
Even though a few days ago, her relationship with her husband seemed fine. Even though a few days before she was upset that her husband didn't come to celebrate her birthday, they made up. She has forgiven her husband and her husband has also apologized to her. So how could that man suddenly land divorce letter if it weren't for Michiel. That man must have acted reckless because two days ago he had rejected the man's proposal. Even though she did love Michiel, her decision to stay with Andrew was unanimous. She didn't want to hurt the entire Thompson family because of her selfishness.
"Honey, what are you doing in my room?"
Avery slapped Michiel hard on the cheek with all the rage over her heart.
"Avery, why did you slap me?"
Michiel, who felt that he didn't have any problems with Avery, became emotional and yelled back at Avery.
"Why? I was the one who wanted to ask you why Andrew sent me this divorce letter. What have you said to him, huh?" Avery asked loudly, causing several maids who were passing around Michiel's room to start whispering about the relationship between Avery and Michiel, which heated up again after they always looked compact and romantic.
"I told him to divorce you and I told him I love you. Why? Isn't that better? Andrew better divorce you than you tortured life with him," replied Michiel loudly.
There was no longer the gentle attitude he usually showed Avery because now he was too fed up with the plays him, Avery, and Andrew were playing. The three of them were actually tormented by all of this. It's just that Avery's high ego and idealism made things difficult.
"Why do you interfere in my domestic life. Didn't I tell you that I can't marry you. Even though we love each other, that doesn't mean we can live together in a bond. This thing of yours must have hurt Andrew. He must have hated me very much now because he already knows that I love you. You are such an annoying bastard. I'm sorry I got to know you and gave you a second chance to make up. You should have gotten as far from my life, Mic. You are a destroyer! You ruined my life," Avery shouted with tears running down her cheeks.
Michiel stared at Avery grimly with an excruciating pain ripping through his heart. How could the woman whom he had been trying to fight for from the beginning turn back to hate him and say harsh words that hurt his heart.
"Before you throw all your accusations and insults at me, you should first ask your husband what he has done behind your back. I'm just trying to fight for your happiness so that you don't feel pain when knowing everything. As long as you know Avery, I sincerely love you and I want you to be happy, even if it's only once." Michiel hissed furiously before he walked away leaving Avery still sobbing in his room, still crying.
While at the end of the door, Michiel bumped into Andrew who was about to enter the house. The man was seen in a hurry as he draped his jacket on one hand and the other hand was carrying a black bag.
"Mic, have you seen Avery? I want to explain in advance the reason why I filed for divorce in court to her, but the court has already sent the divorce letter this afternoon."
"Avery is crying in my room. You better explain everything to her immediately before she really turns to hate you," replied Michiel coldly and immediately got out to his car. This afternoon he needed fresh air to clear his very chaotic mind.
-00-
The atmosphere in the quiet living room seemed so awkward to Andrew that an hour ago he'd told Avery all his big secrets. The woman looked so cold in front of him without giving any comment regarding his affair with the secretary. But instead of getting Avery silent like that, he'd better get thousands of curses from Avery because right now he was actually worried about Avery, who hadn't made the slightest sound since he confessed everything to her.
"Ave... say something. Shout out when you are angry or cry if you feel very sad. Don't bury everything because you just make me worry," said Andrew breaking the silence between them. But a second later what came out was a bland laugh that sounded sad and heartbreaking.
"Hahahaahaa... hahaa... do you think I'll be mad at you? Huh, even I can't get my tears out even though I want to. Hahahaa .. all I can do right now is laugh Drew, because all my anger and tears have been given to Michiel. MICHIEL! A man who wholeheartedly loves me and is willing to give everything he has for my happiness. But I gave him thousands of very harsh curses on him. I poured out all my anger on a man as good as Michiel, Drew! Do you realize I have made many fatal mistakes because I wanted to keep you away from pain, but in fact I hurt the man I really love so deeply that his heart breaks. You .. Arghhh !! I hate you, Andrew! You're a really disgusting goddamn man!"
"Ma'am... ma'am... The hospital gave the news that a few moments ago Mr. Michiel had an accident, and Mr Michiel... did not survive."
"Michiel's accident? Where is he now?"
Avery couldn't hold back his tears when bad images of Michiel one by one began to creep into his brain. Flashes from the past to the incident a few hours ago when he cursed at Michiel began to spin in her head like a film that was very, very painful. With a little sway, she immediately asked the Thompson family driver to escort her to the hospital that had been mentioned by her maid.
"I'll take you, Ave."
"No need! You don't even have to bother coming to the hospital. Just take care of your bitch, damn it!"
After that he immediately ordered Jim's driver to drive his car to Columbia Central Hospital which a few moments ago gave him the news about the accident that happened to Michiel.
Throughout the road to hospital Avery kept praying to God, begging God to save Michiel and not taking Michiel too quickly because she wanted to make up for all her mistakes in him. She wanted to apologize to the man for all her rude actions for accusing him of destroying her household.
I'm sorry I got to know you and gave you a second chance to make up. You should have gone all the way out of my life, Mic! You are a destroyer! You ruined my life!
Avery closed her eyes in pain as the words kept rolling in her head and made her heart ache even more. She had misjudged Michiel. She was wrong to treat Michiel unfairly when he was always there for her. Even Michiel is the only person who always remembers her birthday and has never missed giving her gifts since she married Andrew. She should have repaid all of the man's good deeds with all the love she had, but in fact, she actually gave him a lot of pain. She had failed him too much.
I'm just trying to fight for your happiness so that you don't feel pain when knowing everything. As long as you know Avery, I sincerely love you and I want you to be happy, even if it's just once
"Hikss hikss hikss... Michiel don't leave me, please," whispered Avery in pain in the silent car. Really at this time she hoped that Michiel was just lying and teasing her as usual. She hopes that when she arrives at the hospital she will see Michiel's mischievous smile because he had tricked her with the fake accident news fabricated by the man.
"Ma'am, we have arrived."
"Thanks, Jim."
Avery opened the car door heavily while wiping her tears which still kept creeping down her cheeks. From a distance she could see a group of policemen in front of the hospital with a white audi car wrecked on all sides. Without being able to stem her tears anymore, Avery immediately cried as loud as she could as she ran into the hospital. She knows who owns the car. It recognizes every inch of the car well because of its owner. But she hoped she was wrong. She hopes it isn't Michiel's car because she won't be able to accept the reality that will soon hit her.
"What happened... an accident?" Avery asked haltingly at the receptionist who was in the lobby of the hospital.
Seeing Avery who looked very chaotic, the nurse immediately concluded that Avery was a family member of the victim of the unfortunate accident that happened a few hours ago.
"This is an identity card that the police managed to get from inside the victim's car. Please see first, ma'am."
The receptionist handed a shabby white identification card which was splattered with blood on some sides. With trembling hands, Avery took the ID card and read every word on the ID card carefully.
"Michiel Thompson... No way... This can't be." Avery whispered softly before she fell down and made a few people around her panic because she suddenly just lay on the floor without anyone holding her.
Michiel you couldn't possibly leave me this soon, right? This must be only part of your silly play. Don't you love me? Michiel... Please don't leave me.
-00-
Avery Pov
I opened my eyes slowly and found myself in my room with black clothes covering my whole body. The silence that created in my room felt so suffocating and unnatural. Usually this room is always filled with swearing and screaming that comes from the voice of me and that man, Michiel Thompson.
But now... I can no longer hear his annoying voice or teasing voice that always makes my heart flutter. Honestly, I'm angry not because I hate him who keeps teasing me, but I'm angry at the reaction of my body that always feels shaking whenever he teases me or touches me with his soft touch.
All this time I felt like a bitch. I thought I betrayed my husband by having more feelings for Michiel, but in fact it was that man who betrayed me first. So I shouldn't hate Michiel. I shouldn't have yelled at that man, and I shouldn't have rejected that man's sincere love, because I really needed him by my side.
With heavy breathing and puffy eyes that looked swollen, I tried to close my eyes again, hoping that this was all a dream. But when I opened my eyes, again I was in the same place, and in the same clothes. This is not a dream. This really happened. Michiel has left me forever in a car accident that killed him.
Yesterday, with my own eyes, I saw Michiel's stiff body which had been covered by the white hospital blanket. At that time, my legs felt weak, and I didn't dare to open the white blanket just to see Michiel's face one last time. But from the clothes that the hospital had put into the box that was given to me yesterday, I can imagine how devastating the accident was to him because almost all of his clothes were covered in blood. My Michiel... is gone. He left me with thousands of regrets that I didn't have time to apologize to him. Repay all his kindness... and become his wife, as he wants.
"Michiel... why are you really leaving? I don't really want you to go..."
I sobbed in my lonely room, imagining Michiel's grim face when I insulted him with harsh, heartless curses. He must be sick... He must be in a lot of pain with all I said to him... God, why did you take Michiel instead? Why not me? I have hurt him, I have ruined his life, but why did you take him first God... Why?
"Ma'am, Mr. Michiel's body will be buried soon. Mr. Edward asks you to come downstairs."
"How is grandpa now?"
"Very pale and looks very deprived, ma'am."
As I thought, grandpa must have been devastated by the death of his grandson. The only man who became the successor of his family, actually left very tragically. No wonder neither grandpa nor Andrew want to see Michiel's crushed face after the hospital sent his body home last night. No one dared to open the coffin, because they were afraid that they would passed out and turn into hysterics after seeing Michiel's appearance, which they could no longer recognize clearly and also intact.
With a blank gaze I followed the maid's steps which led me downstairs, joining the hundreds of mourners who all looked gloomy when they saw Michiel's coffin which some of the pilgrim had lifted to his final resting place.
"Avery... Don't be like that, you have to be strong. Michiel wouldn't like to see you like this."
Grandpa put his arm around my shoulder and brought me into his warm embrace. Grandpa now looks so fragile and devastated by the death of Michiel, the only grandson he has. This is all my fault! I was the one who made them all cry and made grandpa even more vulnerable as he aged. I... I have destroyed this family with my selfishness.
"Grandpa, I want to take Michiel to the funeral."
Grandpa let go of his embrace and let me come with Michiel's coffin carrier. In the front row, Andrew leads the line while carrying a handsome photo of Michiel smiling sweetly facing the camera. I will definitely miss that smile, his voice, his touch, and everything that Michiel has, I will definitely miss him a lot.
-00-
Heavy rain poured down on the city when Michiel's funeral process was completed. Now only Andrew and I left who were waiting for me to leave Michiel's tomb. But I still want to be here. I want to drink wine for the last time with him. No matter the heavy rain that has soaked all over my body, I just want to pay my respects to Michiel.
"Avery, let's go home."
"Leave me alone. I want to drink wine for the last time with Michiel." I said coldly. Not long after, I felt the sound of Andrew's footsteps starting to move away. It would be good if he realized and decided to leave because I was really disgusted by him.
When this cemetery was completely empty, I began to unscrew the 1994 Chateau Grand Bourdies Graves red wine that I had been preparing since this morning. This wine is wine made in the year I was born. I then poured half the wine over Michiel's tomb and poured the rest into the clear, tall glass I had been preparing since morning.
Drop by drop of rain water got into my glass of wine and made my wine's color fade away. I should have drunk this wine with him the night I had a dinner party to celebrate our make-up day. But at that time he seemed to be in a hurry to leave the dining table and didn't have time to drink this wine, so I decided to save it and open it at the right time. But I didn't expect that this wine was finally opened on the day he was buried. Let's enjoy this wine for the last time.
"Cheers! I love you Michiel Thompson."