Chapter 3

Eyes Wide Open

Luckily the pain had become less worse after holding the pack of ice against her ankle for a while. She was able to walk without support; it was still a bit sore, but Natalya could take it.

Just like she had expected, Tyson hadn't shown up in the trainer's room during that time. She had wondered where he was, but she had a suspicion of where her husband could possibly be. Could it be that he was with Nikki Bella...? For some reason, it wouldn't have surprised Natalya if it was true. It was like she had gotten used to Tyson's bad habits... Of course, in every relationship each partner had some unpleasant traits and with some patience, you could get used to them. Nobody is perfect, right? But... this was going too far.

Tyson should've been there for her when she was in so much pain, he practically abandoned Natalya when they were backstage. He had promised her he would come back for his wife, but it turned out it was just one of the many other promises he couldn't keep.

Exiting the showers, the Canadian Diva wrapped a towel around her body. The locker room was completely empty, most of the Divas had already taken a shower and dressed up to leave the stadium and head towards the hotel. Zipping open her suitcase, Natalya looked for an outfit to wear; she enjoyed wearing a comfortable outfit after the show, it felt better than wearing her somewhat tight wrestling attire.

She just didn't know what to think anymore.

Natalya had been feeling so unhappy lately and it was all because of Tyson. But luckily, she was blessed with a great friend; Cesaro. No, Natalya was wrong. Cesaro was... more than just a friend to her. No matter how miserable she was on some moments, the Swiss had always been there for her. He had treated her with nothing more but kindness and understanding. It was funny, actually... it was her best friend that treated her with the love which her husband, her damn husband, was unwilling to give. Natalya didn't understand... She and Tyson were so in love before they were married. They did everything together, they went to the movies, dined in fancy restaurants, he occasionally bought her presents... Where did it go wrong? How could you treat somebody so coldly if that person had been nothing more but good to you?

Didn't he love her anymore?

Is that why he had been sexting with Nikki?

The thought made Natalya's skin crawl. Her head felt like spinning. Oh God, was this true?! But she still loved him... Natalya still wanted to do so many things with Tyson, she wanted to have children with him, grow old with him... The Canadian Diva had so many questions, yet she was unable to answer them.

Cesaro... Cesaro was so much different than Tyson.

It was him who made her feel truly happy. She could feel that same warmth she felt on that one night whenever she was thinking about the Swiss, she had felt that warmth many years ago as well... when she met Tyson. Could it be that... she was feeling love for Cesaro? But she couldn't! She was married, that was so wrong! And yet, despite that, she didn't refuse to sleep with the Swiss when she was completely miserable. Yes, Natalya regretted so much what she had done, no doubt about that. The Canadian Diva and Cesaro both agreed to keep what they did as a secret, there would be no way it could ever leak out. It was so wrong... but it felt so good. Why couldn't Tyson give her the love Cesaro had?

She enjoyed the company of Cesaro so much when he was with her in the trainer's room. His hand on her shoulder was already enough to ease the pain. God, she felt like she was floating when he kissed her on the cheek. It was a kind of kiss good friends would give each other, but it meant so much to the Canadian Diva. Just the smallest things, like giving her a friendly hug, a hand on the shoulder or just a simple conversation could make her feel like she was on cloud nine. She noticed she looked forward to seeing him again. Being with Cesaro felt so good... it was nearly addicting.

But still, it was so wrong.

Cesaro was just a good friend to her.

Natalya just finished putting on her boots. She folded her wrestling attire and put it inside her suitcase. What she needed right now was a nice dinner in the hotel's restaurant and a night of good sleep. Perhaps her ankle would be less painful the next day. She picked up her suitcase and exited the locker room.

'There you are!'

The Canadian Diva slightly jumped when she suddenly heard her husband's voice right next to her, dropping her suitcase to the ground. Tyson had been waiting for her while she was dressing up, he was already wearing his casual clothing. But for some reason, he didn't look too happy. It didn't make Natalya feel comfortable at all, but she decided not show it.

'Where the hell have you been?' the Canadian Diva asked indignantly. 'You told me back there you would be back soon!'

But Tyson completely ignored her question.

'There's something I need to ask you, Nattie...' he said in a clipped tone. 'Where had you been staying that night where you practically kicked me out of our room?'

'Didn't I already tell you, Tyson? I had been staying with Naomi.'

That was a lie, Natalya hadn't been staying with her friend on that night. Tyson had asked that same question the next morning when they were reunited in that bedroom. There was no way in hell Natalya wouldn't have told him she had spend the night with Cesaro, she would've never ratted him out. That's why she made up that lie, to cover up the secret. If Tyson would ever find out about what happened... God, she didn't want to think about it.

'Oh really?'

Just then, Natalya noticed something that made her skin crawl and made it harder to lose her cool. Tyson's eyes had something they never had before, she had never seen anything like this. His eyes were ice cold. Wait... Could this mean that...? Oh God, did he find out?! Natalya could feel her heart pounding in her head, but she had to remain calm, no matter what! Tyson stood in front her, her back was almost touching the door behind her.

'Because when I asked Naomi about that, she said that didn't happen at all.'

The Canadian Diva had to try her absolute best to suppress a gasp of shock. Oh no, oh God, no! Damn it, Naomi! She had to control her breathing, because when she panicked, she would often hyperventilate. Her breath was shaky, it was almost impossible now to stay calm.

'Don't try to lie to me again, Nattie...' Tyson hissed. Just then, he grabbed Natalya's shoulders and squeezed them firmly. This startled the Canadian Diva; he had never done this to her.

'Tyson, let go of me, now!' But when she tried to break loose from his hands, he only tightened the grip more.

'I know exactly what's going on here! You have been staying with Cesaro, didn't you?!'

'You don't know what you're talking about, that's not true! He has nothing to do with this! Let go, Tyson!'

'Don't lie to me!' Tyson yelled with a furious voice.

In a fit of rage, he pushed her against the door with all the strength he had. The back of Natalya's head hit the door with a loud thud. A sharp pain traveled through her entire head, she could almost see stars. Letting out a pained grunt, Natalya clenched her eyes shut and covered the painful spot with her hands.

Tyson's eyes widened with shock as he realized what he had done.

'O-oh no. Nattie, I'm sorry, I-I didn't mean to do that...' he stammered.

Her head felt like bursting, it hurt so much. Never in their entire marriage, Tyson had laid a finger on her. Natalya opened her eyes and glared at him, her eyes filled with hate. Just then, she noticed a print of a pair of red lips on his neck. The color of lipstick Nikki Bella would wear...

Everything became perfectly clear to Natalya.

That was it.

She could take a lot, she could take rude remarks, loveless nights, even sexting with a plastic bimbo, but this... No, she would never accept this. No man, not even her own husband, would hurt her like this. Not only did he dare to hurt her physically, he also abandoned her while she was in so much pain to be with that bitch.

Natalya had enough of this.

Her eyes were finally opened.

She didn't have an ounce of love for Tyson anymore.

'Don't you dare to touch me!' she hissed. 'Get away from me!' She pushed Tyson away from her and walked away from him as fast as possible, ignoring his pleas for her to come back.