Entangled With My Rival CEO

Chapter 47

The atmosphere was imbued with a jubilant spirit as the night wore on.

Amidst the tranquil beauty of Clarissa and Reynold's expansive estate, the luminous moon illuminated the surroundings with a gentle radiance.

As the merriment of the evening continued, the opulent vehicle belonging to the family gracefully slid into the secluded garage, its polished form shimmering in the welcoming light from above.

The soft whirring of the garage doors marked the conclusion of their journey for the night.

In a flurry of youthful energy, the triplets - Juliana, Daniel, and Jennifer - emerged from the vehicle, their eyes alight with anticipation and enthusiasm.

Their animated conversation filled the air with a vibrant hum as they recounted the memorable moments of Alexander and Camilla's wedding.

Clarissa's exquisite gown swayed with elegance, while Reynold, in his finely-tailored suit, exuded an air of sophistication.

Observing their children with affectionate admiration, as they trailed behind, their faces beaming with happiness at the sight of their exuberance.

"Mom, did you see the cake? It was taller than me!" Jennifer exclaimed, her excitement palpable.

"And the dance floor was incredible! I didn't want the music to stop," Daniel chimed in, his eyes sparkling with enthusiasm.

Juliana nodded in agreement. "But Camilla's wedding dress was the highlight of it all. It made everything feel like a fairy tale."

Clarissa and Reynold listened intently, their hearts swelling with happiness at their children's excitement, feeling grateful to have shared such a special occasion with them.

"Well, it sounds like you all had an amazing time," Clarissa said, beaming with warmth. "But now it's time for bed. You need your rest after all that excitement."

The triplets groaned playfully but obediently made their way inside, their laughter echoing through the halls as they disappeared into the house.

"It's incredible how fast they grow up," Clarissa said with a soft chuckle, her voice filled with love

She glanced at Reynold, who's smile had now faded into a neutral expression, and just nodded in agreement.

Clarissa observed that he looked exhausted and asked him with concern, "Are you okay, Rey?"

However, he responded in a monotone voice, "I'm just tired. I need to freshen up," and walked past her into the house.

She sighed and sarcastically muttered, "As always, your anthem...I couldn't have anticipated any other answer," before following him inside.

Two hours later, they both had freshened up and were preparing for bed.

Clarissa sat at the dresser, tidying up her hair and reminisced, "Seeing Camilla on Alexander today reminded me of our wedding."

"It just brought back all the nostalgia, joy, excitement, and adrenaline I felt when I saw you waiting for me at the altar." She said and chuckled.

However, Reynold seemed lost in thought and absentmindedly watched his fingers tapping against each other, paying little attention to her.

Despite this, Clarissa continued to speak until she finished with a sigh, placing the comb back onto the vanity table beside her.

She turned towards Reynold, who remained seated on the bed, unresponsive and silent.

In a softer tone, she continued, "And it made me think, what if we got married again?"

Her eyes gazed affectionately at Reynold's face before she lowered them to the floor.

"I know it sounds crazy," she chuckled nervously, pausing briefly.

"But maybe it would do us and our marriage some good."

"Starting fresh from the beginning, you know?" She looked back up at Reynold, waiting for a response.

Reynold remained silent for around five seconds before responding in a noncommittal voice, "Mmm hmm...sure."

Clarissa smiled before turning back towards the mirror to gather her hair into a bun.

As she did so, she continued speaking, "I'm glad you agree. Honestly, when Sofia first mentioned the idea at the wedding, I thought it was crazy. But then I thought, why not?"

"So," Clarissa sighed in contentment, "since we're both in agreement, we should begin planning. I was thinking perhaps three months from..."

But before she could finish her sentence, Reynold interrupted her. "Clarissa," he said, his tone serious and his breath seemingly heavy with an unspoken burden.

As Clarissa stood facing the mirror, Reynold's somber expression was reflected in the glass as he fixed his gaze upon her back.

Piqued by his solemn demeanor, Clarissa turned to him and inquired, "What is it?" prompting Reynold to maintain eye contact, his expression serious yet uncertain.

Clarissa stared blankly at Reynold's serious expression for a moment before asking, her voice quiet, "You don't want a second wedding?"

Reynold replied in the same quiet tone, "No...I...Yes...I" He trailed off for a few seconds, but then mustered the courage to finish his sentence.

"I want a divorce, Clarissa," he said, his voice calm and clear, leaving Clarissa frozen in shock.

Clarissa could barely believe her ears. Her brain worked furiously, trying to process Reynold's words.

This couldn't be happening, she thought. She must have misheard him. But deep down, she knew that wasn't the case.

Blinking twice, her eyes widened in surprise and disbelief.

After a few moments, she looked away, blinking rapidly as she fought back tears.

Reynold could feel the weight in his heart lifting slightly as he spoke, a sense of relief or satisfaction creeping in.

He couldn't quite tell, but he knew he no longer felt the same heaviness he had been carrying earlier.

He knew he had to make things right between them.

He had put it off for too long, waiting for the right time that never seemed to come. But now, he couldn't wait any longer.

"I'm sorry...but I don't think I can go on any longer," he said, taking a deep breath.

He paused for a moment before speaking again. "I'm sorry, Clarissa."

Tears started to roll down Clarissa's cheeks, and she finally voiced aloud the question that had been gnawing at her. "Why?" she asked.

Reynold struggled to find the right words, his mouth opening and closing several times before he finally spoke. His gaze fell to the duvet as he uttered, "I just can't take it anymore."

Clarissa's voice was filled with hurt and anger as she demanded, "Take what anymore?!"

Clarissa's voice trembled with emotion as she spoke, "Reynold, we've been together since our first year in university. We have three beautiful kids together, and you want to throw it all away for what?"

Despite the signs that their relationship was strained, she had hoped they could work through it.

But with each passing day, it seemed like they were drifting further apart.

She had tried everything to save their marriage, cutting down on her time at her work and trying to rekindle their intimacy, but nothing seemed to work.

It was like they were stuck in a cycle of pain and hurt, and she didn't know how to break it.

Now, as Reynold told her he wanted a divorce, her heart shattered into a million pieces.

This was the one thing she had been dreading to hear.

She stood up, walked to the bed, and sat before him, looking at him with a mixture of emotions in her eyes.

Clarissa held his hands tightly, her desperation clear in her voice. "I'm sorry, I know I've hurt you in the past, but please don't do this to us. We can fix things."

Reynold shook his head, finally sitting up, and she saw that he was also crying.

"No, Clarissa. We're beyond repair. I can't keep carrying the broken pieces of our marriage anymore."

He gently pried her hand away from his and cupped her cheek with his thumb, wiping away a stray tear.

"Please," he pleaded softly, brushing his thumb across her cheek and wiping away the remaining tears.