He’s taking his time away in France while she was snapped looking gaunt with her wedding ring still on. Their love has survived critics who never thought they’d last five years, much less 13 years. More than a decade after Michael Douglas, 68 and Catherine Zeta-Jones, 43 have had it, their marriage, seen too vulgar at times, has apparently been dissolved and divorce is imminent.

With only a brief statement from Catherine’s rep, confirming their split and the couple’s move to work on their marriage, the couple confirmed theirs is a rocky marriage with little hope to make it work.

"Catherine and Michael are taking some time apart to evaluate and work on their marriage. There will be no further comment."

But critics and their followers have been in the dark as to why the couple broke-up. They have been apart since the announcement was made last week. Michael is in South of France and chose to stay even after his commitment was done. Catherine is reportedly staying with her mum and two kids in upstate New York.

But why the time apart?

The public may have been informed of the rocky marriage in recent week but there had been some problems in the Douglas-Zeta Jones union for some time, claimed multiple reports.

It looks like Douglas gave up on the relationship. The Daily Telegraph is saying that the actor has thrown in the towel for some time now, even reported meeting with lawyers already. There has been no confirmation if either Michael or Catherine is filing for divorce anytime soon.

The celebrity couple has yet to be seen together for almost five (5) months now. They were last photographed on the red carpet at the 40th Annual Chaplin Award Gala in New York City on April 22. They were then still very much loved-up.

Michael and Catherine got married in 2000, and it was too expensive for Michael. The actor, known best for his role in "Disclosure" with Demi Moore and "Fatal Attraction" with Glenn Close, has paid $45-M (USD) to ex-wife Diandra Luker just to be able to marry Catherine.

Looking back, it will be recalled that Catherine fell in love with Michael when they met in Deauville, France in 1999 and they had been inseparable since Michael used the line, “I want to father your children.”

The couple impressed Hollywood with their open adventures in bed, at least by giving hint that all is well in that arena. When they got married, Catherine gave Michael 1000 love blank cheques where he is to write his every sexual fantasy and she would comply.

After 13 years and two children, Michael may have had it after reports that he was the one who gave in and the two have reportedly been living separately since May 2013. The reason for split has been described as “intolerable cruelty” but in the dark of which party.

"The marriage is effectively over. Catherine is fighting to save the marriage but he's had it. Michael has been through so much in the past few years he feels that life is too short for all this misery," a source was quoted as saying by The Daily Telegraph.

There are a number of issues and series of crises however, that have been hounding the couple and believed to have triggered the split.

1. Michael’s health
The actor has been diagnosed with throat cancer and while he survived treatment, it is believed that Catherine must have failed dealing with it as she reportedly resorted to smoking and heavy drinking.

2. Michael’s first son, Cameron jailed for cocaine dealing
Michael apparently resented Catherine for allegedly “giving up on his first son, Cameron when the latter got jailed for dealing cocaine and amphetamine in 2010. While Michael regularly sees his son, with his other two children, Catherine has apparently never set foot in the facility to see her stepson.

3. Catherine’s bipolar II disorder
The actress has been open about her medical condition and even volunteered to seek help from a psychiatric hospital in Connecticut in 2011. It was said that Michael already left home summer the same year but went back home only because of his concerns over her health.

Catherine has recovered from the mental challenge but it is believed that she had spent some time at the clinic to receive further treatment.

4. The couple has drifted apart
They have reportedly tried to work out their marriage. Catherine wanted to save the marriage but Michael seemed to have lost hope it’s ever going to work.

"They have tried counselling but the truth of the matter is they've fallen out of love and are both completely different people now from how they were when they got married," an insider said.

Reconciliation has been ruled out. The editor of the Bohomoth celebrity gossip Web site, Jen Paul has an interesting insight about the couple.

"This has been a perfect storm of stress, guilt and incredible heartache,” Paul is known to have an inside track of the marriage, said, summing up the mystery in one statement.

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