Chapter 4 Great Man

Chapter 3: Great Man

After dropping Ram off at her home, Lara decided to stop by the market to restock their groceries. Their supplies were running low, and she figured she might as well take care of it now before the weekend.

The trip took longer than expected. Between picking out fresh produce, comparing prices, and waiting in the long checkout line, two hours had passed by the time she was done. By the time she arrived home, the sun was beginning to set, casting a warm glow through the windows.

Lara changed into more comfortable clothes before heading to the kitchen to put away the groceries. Once everything was sorted, she gathered the dirty laundry from both her room and Lucas's and tossed them into the washing machine.

As the clothes spun in the washer, Lara pulled out her phone from the pocket of her shorts and sent Lucas a message.

Lara: What time are you coming home?

She stared at the screen, waiting for the little "typing..." indicator that never appeared. It wasn't surprising. Lucas rarely replied to her messages. Letting out a sigh, she exited the chat and opened Instagram, scrolling absentmindedly through her feed.

A few minutes later, her phone buzzed. But it wasn't Lucas.

Mom calling...

Lara's lips twitched into a small smile as she answered. "Hi, Mom."

["Honey! When are you coming to visit? Your dad and I miss you dearly!"] her mother's voice rang through the speaker, full of warmth.

Lara couldn't help but smile at her mother's affectionate tone. "I miss you both too. I'll visit this weekend, I promise."

["Oh, that's wonderful! Your dad will be thrilled!"] Her mother's excitement was almost contagious. Almost. ["And don't forget to bring Lucas! Speaking of him... is he treating you well? He's not neglecting you, is he?"]

Lara hesitated.

How was she supposed to answer that? Tell her mother that Lucas barely acknowledged her presence? That he only came home when it was convenient for him? That in their three years of marriage, he had never once treated her like a real wife?

Lara forced a small laugh. "Of course, Mom. You know Lucas, he's a great man."

A lie.

A harmless one, she told herself.

As much as she wished she had someone to confide in, she couldn't bring herself to tell her parents the truth. Her father had never been too fond of Lucas to begin with. If he knew how things truly were, it would only make things worse.

["That's good to hear,"] her mother said, sounding relieved. Then her voice turned playful. ["But when are you giving us grandchildren? I miss having kids running around the house. Your brother is hopeless! He refuses to settle down. We're relying on you! It's been three years, Lara. I'm not trying to pressure you, but your dad and I aren't getting any younger. We want to see our grandkids while we still can."]

Lara felt her chest tighten.

A baby.

She wanted children. She truly did.

But how could she have a child when her husband barely looked at her, let alone touched her?

Lara swallowed past the lump in her throat and forced another chuckle. "Mom, Lucas and I are still young. There's a right time for everything. Right now, we're focused on our careers."

Her mother sighed dramatically. ["Oh, come on. Careers? Sweetheart, three years is more than enough time! Don't tell me you're still in the honeymoon phase?"] her mother teased. ["Does Lucas not want to share your attention with anyone? How possessive of him!"]

Lara forced out a small laugh. If only her mother knew how ironic that statement was.

Honeymoon phase?

They didn't even have a honeymoon. She was all alone during that 2-weeks trip to the Maldives.

And Lucas? Possessive of her? The idea was almost comical.

The man couldn't care less about her.

She bit the inside of her cheek, pushing down the bitter thoughts. "Mom, stop teasing me," she said, keeping her voice light.

["Oh, come on, am I wrong?"] Her mother huffed. ["You young ones are so confusing. But really, think about it, okay? I'd love a grandchild! My friends keep showing off their grandkids, and I can't help but feel envious!"]

"Then talk to Kuya Levi about it. He's already thirty-five. You should be pressuring him, not me."

["Your brother? Please. That man is a lost cause. He's practically married to his job. At this rate, he might as well sign a contract with his company and call it a marriage! I pity his future wife."]

Lara chuckled. "Oh, Mom, you're so mean to Kuya. But you know, that's what makes him attractive. Women these days love mature, career-driven men."

Her mother scoffed. ["You kids these days and your strange tastes. Back in my day-"]

And just like that, her mother launched into another long-winded story about her youth. Lara winced as she listened, knowing there was no stopping her now.

Lara could only press her lips together, listening patiently.

["Oh, dear! Look at the time! I almost forgot-I have dinner plans with my amigas tonight."] Her mother gasped. ["I'd love to chat more, dear, but I have to go. Just don't forget about our plans this weekend, okay? Your dad and I will be waiting! I love you, honey. Take care!"]

"I love you too, Mom. Enjoy your dinner."

["Thank you, sweetheart. Bye!"]

As soon as the call ended, Lara let out a deep sigh and placed her phone on the counter.

That conversation had been exhausting.

She loved her mother, but talking about her marriage always left her feeling suffocated. The guilt of lying to them weighed heavily on her chest. It was one of the reasons she rarely visited home. Her parents, especially her Mom, always expected Lucas to come along, and she knew he never would.

And now, she had to find a way to convince her emotionally distant husband to visit her family this weekend.

Ugh. What a mess.

Shoving her phone back into her pocket, she turned her attention back to the laundry. The washing machine had finished, so she moved the clothes to the dryer. Once they were dry, she placed them into a laundry basket and made her way to Lucas's room.

She rarely entered his space, but since she had already done the laundry, she figured she might as well put his clothes away.

Lucas's room was spotless, just as she expected. Everything was neat and organized, reflecting his personality.

She took her time folding his clothes, smoothing out the fabric, and carefully arranging them in his closet. It wasn't often that she entered his room. It felt foreign yet familiar at the same time.

The scent of his cologne lingered in the air, clinging to the sheets and pillows. Without thinking, Lara sat on the bed, hugging one of his pillows close.

It smelled just like him.

A soft, wistful smile tugged at her lips as she closed her eyes. If she imagined hard enough, it almost felt like she was holding him.

The warmth, the closeness-things she had longed for but never received.

And before she knew it, she had drifted off to sleep.

⫘⫘⫘

Lara jolted awake, heart pounding.

Disoriented, she blinked at the unfamiliar ceiling.

Lucas' room.

The realization hit her like a bucket of cold water. She sat up abruptly, glancing around. The sheets were slightly rumpled from where she had slept, but the bed was otherwise untouched.

Lucas wasn't here.

Fumbling for her phone, she checked the time. 11:00 PM.

Had she really slept that long?

Panicking, she quickly straightened the sheets and left his room, heading downstairs.

The house was eerily quiet.

There was no sign of Lucas.

A pang of unease settled in her chest. He was never this late.

Frowning, she pulled out her phone and checked her messages. Still no reply.

Her thumb hovered over the screen before she typed another message.

Lara: Where are you? Are you coming home?

She waited.

Two minute. No response.

Five minutes. Still nothing.

Ten minutes. Silence.

Biting her lip, she tried calling him.

The number you have dialed cannot be reached.

Her stomach twisted with unease.

Where is he?

Lucas was often distant, sometimes even cold but he was never this late. He might come home late, but not like this.

Worry gnawed at her insides.

A thousand thoughts ran through her head, each one worse than the last.

Was he okay? Was something wrong?

Or... was he with someone else?

The thought made her chest tighten painfully.

She squeezed her eyes shut, shaking her head.

No.

She refused to let her mind go there.

Trying to calm her nerves, she made herself a light meal, though she barely tasted it. The clinking of utensils against her plate was the only sound in the house. By the time she finished washing the dishes, it was midnight, and Lucas was still nowhere to be found.

Curling up on the couch, she hugged her knees to her chest. The TV flickered in the background, but she wasn't paying attention.

She checked her phone again.

Still nothing.

Still no Lucas.

Her fingers tightened around her phone.

She wasn't just worried anymore. She was frustrated.

Where the hell was he?