The End of a Marriage (Colette and Matheo) novel Chapter 151

The End Of a Marriage

Chapter 151

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Asd every time, as she lay beside him afterward, her body spent and her art full, she would cling to that hope. Burely, no man could make

love to a woman with such passion, such need, if he felt nothing for her. Surely, this was proof that their relationship could be saved, that

somewhere beneath the rubble of their crumbling marriage, their love still survived.

Amber never got an answer to her doubts about their love. Instead, what allowed was an unraveling of their bond orchestrated, whether

consciously or not, by Lutca’s mother, Giulia. The week had already been a nightmare. Baby Nico had developed colic, leaving him irritable and

inconsolable for days. His cries echoed through the house at all hours, a relentless reminder of how fragile and demanding new life could be.

Amber was exhausted–beyond exhausted. She had been running herself ragged trying to comfort Nico, barely sleeping, barely eating, and

constantly second–guessing her every move as a mother. Twice that week, he had broken down crying in front of Luca, her tears raw and

unrestrained, spilling over from the reservoir of stress and fatigue she had been trying to suppress. He had stood there each time, looking

shell–shocked, his usual confidence replaced with a baffled helplessness that only deepened the chasm between them.

It wasn’t that there wasn’t help available. A part–time nanny came in for a few hours each day, and yet Amber couldn’t bring herself to let go.

Every time Nico cried, she felt compelled to hold him, soothe him, assure herself that she was doing her job as a mother. Rest felt like an

impossible luxury, and as the days wore on, the cracks in her resolve began to show.

By Sunday, Amber was barely functioning. Luca, as was his tradition, prepared to attend the weekly family dinner at his mother’s house. He hadn’t invited her, but she hadn’t expected him to. Their unspoken agreement not to involve her in his family affairs had become another quiet wound in their marriage. She didn’t protest his departure, either. All she wanted was to sleep–a few uninterrupted hours of peace once Nico

finally dozed off.

She had fallen into a deep nap that afternoon, the kind that felt like sinking into a void, only to be jolted awake by the muffled commotion of movement in their bedroom. For a moment, she thought she was dreaming but the sounds persisted: the shuffle of drawers opening, the quiet thud of luggage being placed on the floor, and muted voices just outside the door.

Amber sat up, her heart pounding. She walked into the bedroom to find Luca packing his belongings into a large suitcase. At first, her foggy mind assumed he was preparing for another work trip, but then she noticed how much he was packing–his suits, his shoes, even the small

personal items he usually left behind.

Her stomach tightened, dread creeping in. She opened her mouth to ask what he was doing, but the words stuck in her throat until finally, they came out in a shaky whisper. “What’s going on?”

Luca froze for a moment before looking at her, his expression a mixture of discomfort and guilt. “I talked to Ma,” he said, his voice measured, like he was trying not to upset her. “About… everything. Your breakdowns, your stress. She was really worried. She suggested I speak to a doctor, and he agreed that maybe I should give you some space.”

Amber’s mind reeled. Space? That word felt like a knife to her chest. She wanted to scream, to tell him how ridiculous this all was, to beg him not to do this. She didn’t need space–she needed him. She needed his support, his presence, his understanding. But as her eyes darted toward the door, she caught sight of Giulia’s shadow lingering just outside, undoubtedly listening to every word.

Her throat tightened as Luca continued, oblivious to the storm brewing inside her. “I realized I’ve been selfish, Amber. You’ve just had a baby. You’re exhausted. Maybe I’ve been demanding too much from you–physically, emotionally. I thought it might be best if I stayed in the guest

bedroom for a while, at least until you’re feeling better.”

Amber couldn’t speak. She couldn’t even cry. She just stood there, watching as the man who had once been her partner, her anchor, packed his things and prepared to leave their shared space.

Before she could find her voice, the sound of giggling interrupted them. Two voices–Chiara, Luca’s sister, and another unmistakable one:

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Chapter 151

Carola sa tera

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