"I have set my sights on your husband. So, here's the deal: I'm offering you ten million dollars to buy your husband. I suggest you consider a divorce," the woman slid an envelope with a check across the table towards me.
I looked at her in disbelief, a smirk forming on my lips. "That's a bargain," I retorted.
The business card she had given me read, 'Penelope Voss, Head of Marketing at Vanguard Holdings.' The woman sitting across from me was undoubtedly wealthy and strikingly beautiful. "Alright, let's talk about numbers. I know your family loves money just as you do. How much do you want to step aside and let Andrew go?" she asked, sipping her iced coffee nonchalantly.
"Has my husband confessed his love for you?" I countered.
She burst into laughter. "Oh, darling, in my world, love isn't a prerequisite for marriage. But to answer your question, no, he hasn't professed his love for me. However, the heart wants what it wants, and I want him. So, name your price."
"I'd be willing to let him go if he can look me in the eyes and tell me that he loves you," I replied, feeling a twinge of pity for her.
Her confident laughter filled the air. "My, you seem to have a lot of faith in your marriage. Just because his grandfather arranged this union doesn't mean it's unbreakable," she leaned in closer, her eyes gleaming with determination. "Remember, life is full of unexpected twists and turns. I suggest you go home and discuss our little chat with him. Let's see where his heart truly lies."
Her words left me reeling. Despite the seemingly perfect facade of our marriage, I realized that Andrew had never once told me he loved me. We had shared countless intimate moments, yet I had never questioned his true feelings for me. This revelation was a wake-up call, a stark reminder that appearances could be deceiving.
I was determined to confront my husband, so I swiftly changed my plans and made my way to the Vanguard Holdings building where my husband, Andrew Collins works as the CEO of the company.
As I reached the reception desk, I mustered up the courage to ask, "Can I see Mr. Collins?"
The receptionist greeted me politely and inquired, "Do you have an appointment with our CEO?"
I hesitated for a moment, realizing that I hadn't made any prior arrangements. The weight of the situation sank in, and I felt a pang of disappointment. "No, I don't have an appointment," I admitted, my voice tinged with sadness.
The receptionist nodded understandingly, her professional demeanor unwavering. "I'm sorry, but without an appointment, I'm afraid I can't grant you access to Mr. Collins," she explained.
Feeling deflated, I turned to leave, my mind racing with thoughts and emotions. No one knew I was Andrew's wife. They were aware that he had gotten married, but my identity remained a secret. It was a lonely realization, and a wave of sadness washed over me.
Just as I was about to walk away, my eyes caught sight of Chester Reed, Andrew's best friend, entering the lobby. He noticed me in the corner of his eyes and called out, "Drew?"
Embarrassment washed over me as I realized Chester had recognized me. I mustered a shy smile and nodded, confirming his assumption. Chester, ever-perceptive, approached me with a friendly smile.
Sensing my unease, he placed a reassuring hand on my shoulder and guided me towards the lounge area. "What are you doing here? Do you have a date with Andrew?" he playfully teased, his laughter filling the air.
I smiled awkwardly, feeling a mix of nerves and relief at his presence. "I was just in the area and thought I'd stop by," I replied softly, not wanting to reveal my true intentions.
Chester, always a supportive friend, suggested, "Why don't you call him?" He even pulled out his phone, ready to dial if I was unwilling.
I contemplated his suggestion, but after a moment, I changed my mind. I didn't want unnecessary drama, and I certainly didn't want to risk losing the marriage that fate had granted me. "Hmm... Just forget it," I said, my tone filled with determination. "I'll have to go. Please, don't tell him I was here," I sincerely asked Chester.
"Okay," Chester scratched his head, looking a bit puzzled.
We sat in silence during dinner, and I couldn't help but steal glances at my husband, Andrew Collins. He had always been charismatic, attracting attention from girls since our youth. I worried that he might entertain one of his admirers, and my mind drifted back to a memory from our younger days.
"Go out with me!" I mustered up the courage to ask him, attempting to hide the tension within me.
Andrew appeared annoyed, his response cutting. "Isn't it obvious? I'm not interested in you. Can't you understand that?" His words took me aback, even though I had expected such a response.
Confusion and hurt filled my voice as I questioned him, "Why? I'm smart! I excel in everything. I've followed you wherever you wanted. I've studied all your interests. Why can't you even spare a glance at me, even just a little?" My plea was evident in my words.
He sneered coldly, his rejection piercing. "So what? Your achievements and your devotion to me don't make me obligated to like you. I've told you countless times, I don't have feelings for you. Not now, not ever."
Andrew broke the silence, his voice filled with curiosity and concern. "Is there something you'd like to tell me?"
I felt my nerves fluttering, hoping that Chester hadn't revealed my visit to Andrew's office earlier in the day. "What?" I asked, trying to sound nonchalant.
"You seem distant. You've been staring at me with a blank expression. Is something bothering you?" he inquired, genuine concern evident in his voice.
I hesitated for a moment, contemplating whether to confront him about Penelope Voss. But my mind couldn't make up its mind. "Husband," I whispered, using the endearment I had never used before.
Andrew was taken aback, his surprise evident in his eyes. "You've never called me that. You always refer to me by my name," he remarked, his voice filled with curiosity.
A shy smile played on my lips as I gathered my courage. "Why did you marry me?" I asked, my voice filled with a mix of vulnerability and anticipation.
The dining room fell into a hushed silence as Andrew didn't expect such a question from me. His eyes searched mine, trying to decipher the emotions behind my words.
"You know that I had feelings for you before. I never expected that you would become my husband. It felt like I was living in a dream," I confessed, my words flowing from my heart without hesitation. "But you, you rejected me countless times. You made it clear that you disliked me. If you had known it was me, would you have accepted this marriage?"
My heart braced itself for his answer, knowing deep down that it might not bring me the happiness I longed for.
"I know that it's you," he confessed, his voice filled with tenderness. "Grandpa told me about you, and I agreed without hesitation."
I felt my heart skip a beat, my breath catching in my throat. His answer was unexpected, and I struggled to find the right words to respond.
Andrew delicately wiped his mouth with the table napkin before turning his gaze towards me, locking his eyes with mine. "It must be you," he said, his voice filled with a mixture of certainty and longing. With those words, he left the dining table, leaving the room filled with a sense of anticipation and wonder.
I couldn't believe what I had just heard. Did he mean what I thought he meant? Did he truly see me, the one who had wholeheartedly loved him for so long? The weight of his words lingered in the air, and my mind raced with a flurry of emotions. Hope blossomed within me, and I dared to imagine that our paths had finally converged, leading us to this moment of realization and possibility.
"So, what's your decision? Did you come up with an amount?" I couldn't believe I found myself back in this coffee shop, engaged in another conversation with the woman who audaciously wanted to 'buy' my husband.
With a confident air, I began to speak, my voice laced with a hint of arrogance. "I've been pursuing Andrew since high school, even though I wasn't well aware of the gap between our social statuses," I asserted. "He's not someone who can be coerced into something he's not interested in. I love my husband more than anything in this world, and he loves me equally. You can go elsewhere to find a man who will cater to your desires."
The woman's laughter filled the air, a mocking sound that only served to irritate me further. "Oh, dear, do you even know what you're talking about?" she taunted, her arrogance on full display.
I refused to back down, my confidence unwavering. "You're someone who seeks shortcuts. You didn't even make an effort to make him fall for you. All you have to offer is money. And before I forget, your wealth means nothing because I have more to gain as the young madam of the Collins family," I declared, standing up and looking down at her with a triumphant smile. "Nobody can take my man away from me."
She laughed in disbelief, unable to comprehend my unwavering determination. I left her behind, walking away with pride, as if I were the victor in this encounter. I refused to let anyone or anything destroy the sanctity of our marriage. I knew in my heart that I was more capable of loving Andrew than anyone else could ever be.
"Let's get a divorce." The words hit me like a tidal wave, leaving me stunned and speechless. I couldn't believe that these words were coming from my beloved husband, the man I had loved for so long.
"What did you say?" I stammered, desperately hoping that I had misheard him.
"Sign these divorce papers," he replied coldly, his voice devoid of any warmth or emotion.
"W-Why?" Tears welled up in my eyes as I looked at him, searching for answers. But he averted his gaze, avoiding my pleading eyes. "Did I do something wrong?" My mind was flooded with questions, wondering what I had done to cause the downfall of our short-lived marriage.
"I can't be with you any longer," he said softly, his words cutting through me like a knife.
"Why? Why?" I rushed towards him, my emotions overflowing. I pounded his chest as hard as I could, my frustration and heartache pouring out. I stumbled and fell to the floor, my voice choked with tears. "I've given you everything! I've devoted myself to you! You know how much I love you! It doesn't matter if you don't love me yet. We still have years to get to know each other. I know you will see the good side of me." I cried and pleaded, feeling a deep sense of despair. I couldn't believe that I had become this pathetic, reduced to begging for his love.
"I will pay you handsomely," he said without hesitation, his voice filled with a mix of resignation and desperation. "I will accept all of your conditions without complaint. I can give you everything. Just please... divorce me." He pleaded with me, his vulnerability shining through.
Andrew was always a proud man, never showing me this vulnerable side of him before. I couldn't comprehend how we had ended up here. Where had it gone wrong? I had given my all in this marriage, and now I was left questioning everything.