Chapter 63 Appreciate

<Mia>

With the high standards my parents set, I never experienced them accepting me for who I am. My family is wealthy, but their mindset is narrow. I have celebrated holidays abroad with the family, living a lavish life, getting everything I want. My sister and I have a good relationship, even though she's the favorite daughter. Despite the family issues, my husband Ethan has made me feel that there's nothing wrong with me. He prioritizes me, never judges me, and accepts me with all my flaws and imperfections. We argue and fight a lot, but he's always the first to apologize. But let's admit it, girls, we're not always right.

With Ethan, I feel like I can truly be myself, spread my wings, and be who I want to be without fear of judgment. He is the best husband I could ever have, and in another life, I would keep wishing for him.

I have my traumas, but Ethan has never inflicted them on me. I expected him to hurt and neglect me, prioritizing his work over me. I expected him to shower me with expensive gifts, as my parents did when they were busy with their business. Instead, he showed me that not everyone would treat me the same way my parents did. Ethan showered me with his time, attention, and even expensive gifts and surprises. He shattered my expectations and helped me heal from my traumas, although he doesn't know about them.

Despite all these, there's still something missing. I feel empty, and I want to explore what's missing inside me. I want to figure out what the problem is.

"Hubby..." I called out, feeling tired and not wanting to go to work. It's been two weeks since I started working, and though I enjoy my job because of my good-hearted coworkers, I feel more and more lethargic with each passing day.

"Hubby," I called again, my eyes still closed, and I reached out for him. He didn't respond and wasn't hugging me. He didn't have a shirt on, and after we made love, I fell asleep. I didn't feel him dressing me up after.

"Hubby!" I said with frustration when I couldn't get a response from him.

He reached for the remote in the drawer and then came back to hug me.

When he realized I was crying, he slowly opened his eyes. "Why are you crying?" he asked in a bedroom voice, looking at me with his sleepy eyes.

"It's hard to wake you up," I said, my voice choked with tears.

He wiped my tears away and hugged me tighter. His body warmth comforted me as he didn't have a shirt on. We made love every night.

"Sleep more, it's still early, wife," he ordered, and gently kissed my forehead. What time is it anyway?

I closed my eyes again, feeling comforted by his presence and warmth. I snuggled closer to him, and before I knew it, I fell asleep again.

I woke up when Ethan woke me up.

"Wife... wake up..." he gently tapped my cheeks.

He always woke me up like this, especially after I got angry at him for making me late for work.

"Stop glaring at me. I'll send you to work," he said while looking at his watch. I was sitting at the table while he leaned against the bar counter.

I frowned and didn't respond.

"You're sulking," he observed, walking towards me and kissing my forehead.

"Stop sulking. I love you. Go fix yourself. I'll send you to work," he said, his lips still on my forehead.

I looked at him, feeling teary-eyed.

"Why? Why is my wife crying?" he asked, cupping my face.

I felt a bit sad because I wouldn't see him for the rest of the day. We'd only meet at night since we both had overtime at work. He could go home anytime he wanted, but I had to stay later. Both our families were pressuring us to have a child.

"G-girl, your hubby sent you again? I wish I had someone like that. What does it feel like to be married?" my friend Jinkie asked. She was one of my friends at work and older than me.

"It's okay," I replied while still working on the computer.

"You're being too modest! Your husband is handsome. He's a doctor, right?" Jinkie asked, wanting to know more about my life.

I had already shared some things about myself with her.

"Yes, they have a hospital and some businesses," I replied, still focused on my work.

"Wow! I wish I could have someone like him! Right now, I'm just loving myself. But at the same time, I also want to settle down because I'm getting older," she said.

"Dashie?!" I called out to my ex when I saw him.

"Mia? What are you doing here?" he asked, coming over to where we were sitting.

"He's handsome! Introduce him to me," Jinkie whispered to me, excitedly.

I introduced them to each other.

"What are you doing here?" I asked Dashie.

"I earned something," he said.

"Girl, I'll just pick up our other friends. They're here," Jinkie said and smiled at me.

She left, and Dashie sat where Jinkie was sitting.

"You look blooming, Mia," he complimented me.

"Mia, look," he took something out of his pocket, "is this beautiful?" he asked, opening a box that revealed a rose-shaped ring with a diamond.

"I'm planning to propose to my girlfriend. I'm a bit nervous," he said with a smile and a twinkle in his eyes.

"I like the ring. What if we hadn't broken up? Maybe you would have proposed to me," I joked with a smile.

The smile disappeared from his face. He became serious, "yeah, maybe. If you fought for me against your parents," he said bitterly.

"Why so serious? I was just kidding!" I laughed awkwardly.

"I don't want anything from you anymore, and besides, I'm already married. I found a man who fought for me against his parents," I said, still smiling widely.

Dashie looks shocked.

"Oh, fuck? Really?! Are those the rings? I thought they were just decorations," he said, looking at my hands where I had my rings.

My phone beeped.

From: Doc Hubby.

Wife: I'm in a meeting. I miss you.

He always updates me.

"Is that your husband?" Dashie asked.

I just nodded at him.

"You didn't tell me right away. You also didn't send me an invitation," he joked.

"Our wedding was spontaneous."

"Wait - you've been married for how many years?"

"Four years now."

I felt happy to share with someone that I'm married.

"Shit! That long? For real?! You got married right after we graduated?"

I nodded at him, "Actually, right after I passed the board exam."

"Shit! Too young to get married. Anyway, the important thing is you're happy. I'm happy for you, Mia. We finally found the right person for us."

"I'm glad we broke up," I said.

"Why?"

"Because I'm lucky with my husband. When we were together, my anxiety was at its worst. I loved you, but I was always afraid. Now, I never feel fear. I feel safe and protected. I never have thoughts that my husband will cheat on me or leave me. When we were together, I was always scared, always overthinking. What if you leave me, what if you stop loving me. There were so many girls who liked you back then," I said with a smile. I'm saying this because they're no longer a part of my life, and I want him to know that I'm happy in my marriage now. I'm in a happy place. Ethan can be distant sometimes, but I don't think he'll cheat on me. When he's tired, he becomes distant, but when I get upset, he becomes affectionate.

"I'm happy that you're happy. Your parents are just too much," he said, trying to lighten the mood with laughter. I felt relieved to have blurted out these feelings.

Yunnie left me, many have left me, but Ethan? He didn't give up on me even when I was at my worst.

"Hey! Why are you crying? People might think I'm making you cry," he said and gave me a tissue. I'm becoming emotional.

"You deserve the happiness you're feeling right now. I'm glad you found a kind husband. I'm happy because he fought for you against your parents," he said with a smile and messed up my hair.

We stopped chatting when my colleagues arrived. Dashie also said goodbye because he had something else to attend to.

"Hit me up if you need anything. I'll invite you to my wedding, okay!" he said before leaving.

I felt relieved.

"What was that all about, girl?" Jinkie asked when she heard what Dashie said.

"Is he going to propose to me?"