Episode 3

Alexander fixates his blue gaze on Valentina, whose own eyes reflect a profound emptiness within her heart.

Seeing that Alexander remains silent, Valentina speaks up.

"We should probably wait until after lunch," she suggests.

"Yes. Valentina is right. Please make yourselves comfortable, parents. I will call the chef to come to the mansion. Excuse us, but I need a moment alone with my wife. We won't be long."

Alexander takes her by the hand and leads her to their bedroom, where he locks the door upon entering.

"What are you trying to achieve, Valentina?" he asks impatiently.

"I want you to face the consequences of your actions," she retorts, only to be backed against the wall by Alexander.

She can feel his breath; it's pointless to hope for a kiss, a touch, yet all he wants is to push her away forever.

"Don't play games with me!" Alexander hisses through clenched teeth.

"You're the one playing games! I hope that when this comes to light, you find true happiness with that woman."

"Of course, I will. So after lunch, you should tell my parents that you no longer want to live with me, and that divorce is the only answer."

"I won't do it! For someone so tall and handsome, you really can't stand your ground," Valentina challenges him.

"You're quite feisty!"

"Because of you! You've brought out this defiance in me, but I refuse to comply, so last night I did some thinking," Valentina shoves past Alexander.

"Be straightforward," Alexander grows impatient.

"Do you want a divorce to be with her? Then it will be easy. Since you've suffered through three years of marriage with my unwelcome presence because I'm not enough for you, I have a proposition. It's this or nothing," Valentina states firmly, locking eyes with him, and then inadvertently, his lips.

"I won’t follow your rules!"

"Then think about how you'll tell your parents," she shoves Alexander aside, and he clenches his jaw in tension.

"Just tell them you don't want to be with me, and that's it, damn it!"

"No. I won't. Because what I overheard in your damned office yesterday broke my heart, but you don't care about that. If you've never had any consideration, then I owe you none," Valentina lifts her chin, holding back tears.

"What do you want in exchange for the damned divorce?" Alexander grunts.

She turns to look into his eyes.

"Pretend to love me for three months."

"What!?" Alexander frowns in disbelief.

"Just three months. Make me feel special. Take me out, kiss me, whisper sweet nothings in front of your parents, take me to your company's important events, work with me – make me a priority. And most importantly, have sex with me three times a week."

Hearing this, Alexander laughs heartily.

"We haven't got time for games, Valentina! My parents are waiting."

"Then don't keep them waiting any longer and accept my proposal."

"What do you stand to gain from all this?" Alexander looks at her with loathing.

"It doesn't matter! Just tell me if you accept or not; we’re running out of time," Valentina finds a strange satisfaction in watching the anguish on Alexander's face, which doesn't compare to the pain in her tiny heart – a wound he opened that almost made her wish for death.

"Nonsense! I don't want to kiss you, touch you – I don't want to!" Alexander's words hurt Valentina even more. "I had to get drunk on our wedding night just to have sex with you," another stab at her heart.

"Then sort out your problem! I won't waste any more time with you," she strides toward the door, but a desperate Alexander grabs her hand and pins her against the wall before she can leave.

Valentina's treacherous heart, masochistic in its thrumming, starts racing crazily.

"Just three months?" he asks between gritted teeth.

"Yes," she replies curtly.

"Let it be just three damned months! And sex just once a week," Alexander frowns.

"Twice, and I never want to know about your mistress at the company again. It's embarrassing. It must be the last time, or I'll tell your parents the truth about your cruelty."

"You're worse than I thought! I hate you even more!" Alexander growls arrogantly and leaves, Valentina collapsing into a sea of tears, knowing her husband hates instead of loves her. She cries to ease her heart, then touches up her makeup to hide the wound unseen but felt as a burning within.

Regaining her strength, Valentina returns to the living room where Alexander's parents are sipping wine and discussing the company.

The chef arrives just in time to start cooking.

"Why did you take so long, dear?" Alexander's mother asks, offering her a glass of wine, and is taken aback as Valentina downs it in one go. "Is everything alright, sweetheart?"

"I'm sorry, I was just very thirsty. It looks like we've run out of wine; I'll get another bottle," Valentina stands up.

"Wait, darling, I'll go," Alexander interjects, taking her hand. Despite the spark she feels hearing him call her 'darling,' she knows it's fake, all too fake.

"I'll go, don't worry."

"Then let's go together," he suggests, and they head to the minibar.

"Valentina, this isn't like you. My parents are getting suspicious; behave yourself. I won't say it again."

She ignores him, opens the wine, pours another glass, and drinks it deeply.

"Valentina!" Alexander chides, but he notices his mother approaching and quickly acts by kissing his wife's lips.

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