Don't Want to Split

Chapter 11 - One Month Trial

"But there is one condition that you must fulfill, if you really want to get out of here" said Ezra coldly.

Zefanya. His heart trembled to find Julien staring at him like a tiger chasing its prey. But of course Ezra won't hurt him. Her husband was just looking for a gap, scanning every micro-change of expression implied on Zefanya's face and trying to find what the real cause was that made her Zefanya like this.

A long silence was again stretched between them. Zefanya's guts shrieked, his hunch saying the conditions given by Ezra would actually complicate him.

Looking at the silent Zephaniah of a thousand languages, Ezra continued his sentence. "You will be free on one condition, which is to stay with me and give me a month's chance to keep this marriage. If until the end of the agreement period, you still want to divorce then I'll let you go."

'One month living together?'

Zephanya seemed to lose his place on foot, his legs shaky. His face changed. His mouth was about to refute, but his brain was empty. Not knowing what to say, he closed his mouth again.

"Ma moitie's? You okay?"

Ezra's sweet and worried tone of voice melted Zephaniah's heart. As much as Zefanya's energy held back, standing awkwardly in place.

"I can't." whispered Zefanya. Lost the confidence that had been gathered. Facing Ezra instead made him fall back in love with the figure he was supposed to leave behind.

"I've guessed." cut Ezra down.

"If you know why you keep asking me to stay with me again?"

Ezra's jaw hardened, holding all the emotions crammed into his chest. "I want to prove that you really want to leave me. You can't decide something like this suddenly."

Zephaniah looked at Ezra. The man in front of him looked fragile. His eyes looked at himself without blinking.

"Yes God. Is my request too hard to grant, Zie? I'm not even saying we should sleep one room." lamented Ezra as if in despair.

"What-What?"

"Yes, Ma Moitie. I'm not asking you to have a room with me. Just stay with me, reassure your heart that you really don't need me."

Ezra repeated his sentence slowly, trying to confirm that what Zefanya had heard was not wrong.

Now Zefanya is trembling. The goodness of Ezra is beyond doubt. But sacrifice to this size? Zefanya had never thought in that direction. How can a man let go of sleeping separately with his beloved wife. Zefanya remembers how Ezra couldn't let go of her for a moment on their honeymoon. Every time Ezra had the chance, he could never stop touching her.

Zefanya shook her head. "I'm not willing to let you not get your rights as a husband. It's gonna torture you."

Zefanya jerked when Ezra arrived - suddenly brought her face closer to a distance of only a few inches from Zefanya's face. The Zefanya reflex took one step back and kept its distance.

Ezra closed his eyes and spoke in a stifled tone. "You said no until the heart refused my rights. But you intend to divorce me."

Ezra's chest rose and fell, withholding the swearing that was already at the tip of the tongue. He did not want to curse Zephanya with dirty words, his beloved wife. The woman who made it really frustrating.

Silent - silent Zefanya re-mas her skirt. He could feel how Ezra was holding back the anger before him. "I'm sorry.--"

"Right now, I'm not in a bargaining position. You have no right to determine what is good and bad for me." Ezra.

Ezra took one big step forward, Zephaniah retreated. Her husband did not want to stop, continued to push Zefanya's body up to the wall.

"You still love me. Don't you?"

Zefanya bit her lips and closed her eyes, unable to look into Ezra's dark eyes.

His heart was torn between telling the truth or lying. Once the word love was spoken, Ezra was increasingly unwilling to let go. Zefanya opened her eyes and ventured to return her husband's gaze.

"But sleeping apart will hurt you, Ez." Zefanya said, not answering Ezra's question.

"Wedding is not just about the bed. All these years I managed to refrain from touching you until you were an adult and ready to marry me. And this time I will survive." replied Ezra determinedly.

"But if my duty alone I can not fulfill it, of course other things will not be right." said Zefanya panic.

His premonition said this debate seemed to be won by Ezra. Once the man is determined, that is what he will do.

"You knew? No problem on our honeymoon time. Everything is so amazingly beautiful. The way you love me, looking at me. All I know is that there are principles here until you decide to separate. And I'll find out within a month. Besides, I deserve a month's chance to be with you. If at the end of the reconciliation period your feelings are still the same, which is to want a divorce then I will work together to facilitate the divorce process."

Zefanya's shoulder is shed. Their story is ironic. Ezra dies - defends marriage, while Zephaniah tries hard to separate.

Doctor Sandra was right, she had to exert all her strength if she wanted to be free from Ezra. That was also a very small chance of success, given the power and influence Ezra had in this city.

"alright. Pick me up at nine in the morning after I have breakfast and get ready. I need time to pack my things and say goodbye to everyone who's been nice to me." Zefanya said, trying to buy time as long as possible.

Zephaniah's sudden change surprised Ezra, but he tried not to show it.

"alright. I'll pick you up at exactly nine." Ezra closed their argument and said goodbye to go home.

Zefanya nodded in agreement, but there was still a slight wedge in her heart.

"Ez... "

"Yes?"

"Ehm, I intend to pay myself some of my treatment costs. I still have savings from Papa's estate."

"I'm still your husband, if you forget." Answer Ezra coldly.

"As long as we are still officially tied to a marriage then I will continue to be responsible for you. I have promised before God to love, protect and be faithful to you in times of trouble or pleasure. Healthy or sick."

Ezra purposely recites their wedding vows to awaken Zefanya's emotional side. After saying that, Ezra turned around and left Zefanya alone in her VVIP room.

Zefanya's body slumped, she cried as she pleased. He understands Ezra's intentions, more than he understands. But their marriage was something that was absolutely impossible.