Ash's pov ;
I never imagined this would ever happen to me. Elijah and I have been together for three years, and not once did I doubt his love for me. But now, as I sat in the backseat of the car, I realised how wrong I was.
"Where did Elijah say he was going?" I asked the driver, trying to sound casual.
He hesitated before answering, "He said he was going to the old house, sir."
My heart skipped a beat. The old family house? What business did he have there? A pit of dread grew in my stomach.
My phone suddenly buzzed. I pulled it out to see several new messages from my sister. My hands shook as I opened them. Photos of Elijah and Samantha, my sister, kissing and hugging popped on my screen. Each picture felt like a stab to my heart.
"No…no, this can't be," I whispered, feeling tears well up in my eyes.
My phone buzzed again. Another message from her. I opened it with trembling hands, afraid of what I would see. It was another photo of Elijah and Samantha, wrapped in each other's arms, their faces buried in each other's necks.
My breath caught in my throat, and a sob escaped my lips. "Oh god…" My whole world began to crumble around me as I watched the photos. How could they do this to me?
"Take me to the old house!" I requested. The driver nodded and stepped on the gas pedal. I leaned back in the seat, staring out the window.
When the car came to a stop outside the old house. I got out, my legs shaking as I made my way towards the front door.
I pushed open the door and stepped inside, my eyes scanning the room. But all I found was Samantha alone.
"Where's Elijah?" I asked directly without wasting any time.
Samantha turned to me and smirked. "So, you finally found your way to my house, huh?"
I frowned as a huge wave of anger swept through me. "Your house? Since when did it become your house?!"
My eyes roamed around the house where Elijah brought me after our marriage, the house I have decorated with my own hands, every wall, every painting.
However, just after a year of our marriage, he decided to move out because he couldn't get rid of his nightmares here. Nightmares of his parents death. He never told me about it but I always felt his pain.
After that, we moved into the house he owned in the city. It appeared that, after that, he completely forgot about this house, he would never talk about it. Many businessmen wanted to buy this property but he was never interested in selling it.
I can still remember the first time he brought me here. The house was a mess back then, but I could still feel the love he had for this place. He promised to restore it and make it beautiful, and he did.
And we would have still been living here if not for his nightmares. So, what is she doing here?
"I'm asking again, where's Elijah?" I gritted my teeth while glaring at her.
"Elijah is mine now, bro," She replied with a smirk in her tone. I scoffed but she continued. "Don't you get it? He never loved you. You're a man and he is straight. If it wasn't for his grandmother forcing him to marry he wouldn't have done it. You were just a passing fancy for him. So, why are you being a burden to him? Just leave him, he never loved you and he will never. He has decided to come to me and give himself to me just like he gave this house to me."
My head was spinning with the information. I clenched my fists as my chest felt uneasy hearing her words. He never loved me?
I couldn't help but wonder in that moment, had Elijah ever really loved me? Maybe he did, maybe he didn't. I couldn't comprehend it. He had never treated me badly, never raised his voice, or laid a hand on me. But he had also never truly shown me love. No tender moments, no sweet nothings whispered in my ears. His affection had always felt distant and reserved.
The more I thought about it, the more I realised how one-sided our relationship had been. I had given him my heart, my trust, my everything, and in return, he had given me…what? Politeness? Courtesy? It felt so empty now, so devoid of the warmth and passion I longed for.
I know he has a rough past, but I always hoped that we could build a new future together, one full of love and happiness. But that dream felt shattered now, and I could never put the pieces back together again.
"Didn't you see the photos I sent you? He loves me and not you." Samantha taunted, pulling me out of my thoughts.
I couldn't speak, the words stuck in my throat. She smiled and walked towards the stairs.
"Why don't you go home, Ash?" she suggested boredly. "You should be thankful that he didn't kick you out of that house to bring me. If you have an ounce of shame. Just get out of his life, divorce him, or kill yourself I don't know. Do whatever you have to, but just leave him."
I couldn't bear it. I turned and ran, tears streaming down my face. How could they? How could my own sister and husband betray me like this?
He doesn't want me to live in the old house but he's okay to let her live there. How long has he been living there with her? How laughable? I feel like a joke.
I got into the car and slammed the door shut. I didn't have to say anything as the driver started the engine and drove away from the old house.
I don't know when I reached home. My eyes were swollen with tears and my body was aching. I felt hollow inside.
As soon as I entered the house, I saw Elijah standing in the hallway. He was talking to someone on the phone. Our eyes met but I hurriedly tried to walk past him, I shuddered in disgust looking at this cheater.
However, my hand was grasped before I could reach my room. "Let go of me!" I gritted my teeth.
"Are you okay? I've been calling you but you weren't picking up your phone."
I was surprised when I heard his concerned voice. But what's the point? I don't need his fake concern or sympathy. I gasped when his hand reached my chin and pulled my face up to meet his worried brown eyes. "Are you crying?"
"Don't touch me! I know what you did, you and Samantha. You both are disgusting. Go away," I yelled and freed my face by shoving him away furiously, he stumbled and gave me a bewildered look.
"What? What are you talking about?" He inquired innocently. "Have you lost your damn mind?"
I wasn't in the mood to stand there and listen to his bullshit. I was so mad that I took the nearest vase and threw it at him. But he was quick and dodged it, the vase hit the floor and broke into pieces.
"Hey! What the hell is wrong with you?!" he shouted, his face turning red with anger. "What's with this crazy behaviour?"
But I didn't stop, I went for the second vase, however, he quickly pulled me back and pinned my hands against the wall.
"Let go of me," I shrieked and struggled to free myself.
"Tell me what's going on first," He demanded but I struggled hard.
"I hate you." I cried. "I hate you! Let go of me. You betrayed and lied to me, you cheater," I couldn't take it anymore, I broke down. I screamed and punched him. I wanted to hurt him. so badly. "Why did you do that? Why did you sleep with her?" I wept, my tears running down my cheeks.
He seemed to be taken aback. His expression appeared as if he couldn't understand what I was saying. So, now he's planning to play dumb. Great! "I don't know what you're talking about. I never cheated on you."
"Liar!" I screamed and hit him in the chest.
"Okay, okay. Stop," He tried to calm me down. The audacity of this man is truly incredible, trying to calm me down after he cheated on me. "I didn't cheat on you. And stop blaming Samantha. I know how much you hate her, but you should think twice before accusing me and her of such hideous things. We never did something like this."
"Oh, so now you are accusing me of lying. Then, what about the photos she sent of you two? I have proof, you bastard!" I screamed in his face but he didn't seem edgy.
"Mind your language, Ash. What proof? What are you talking about?"
"Let go of me and I'll show you-"
"I don't need to see some photos to prove myself. I'm telling you I never cheated on you, so stop framing Samantha because it's disgusting."
I'm framing her. So, he had already made up his mind that I was the vicious one. He doesn't even care to understand the situation and clear my doubts. Or maybe, everything he's saying is just excuses because once he saw the proof he knew his affair would be exposed.
"Don't you dare to defend her!" I shouted furiously. "She's a snake! A manipulative, conniving—"
"Stop it!" His voice cut through my words making me flinch. "You don't know what you're talking about."
The sudden intensity in his voice stunned me into silence. He was defending her, actually defending her but doesn't care about my tears. The realisation twisted the knife deeper into my heart.
"Do you love me?" I asked directly. There's no point arguing with him. But the silence right after my question felt heavy and suffocating. My fists smashed into his chest. "Tell me, Elijah! Have you ever loved me–"
"No," he said quietly. "I don't love you. I don't need to love you. I just need to take care of you as I promised your father before he died."
His words hit me like a physical blow. I staggered back, the world spinning around me. "S-So that's it? This whole time, you've been with me out of some sense of duty?"
He looked away, unable to meet my gaze. "Your father asked me to look after you, to make sure you were happy and safe. That's what I've been trying to do."
I felt the rest of my strength leave me, my legs threatening to give way. "So you…really don't love me. It means…she was right. You–"
"I'm sorry. I never meant to hurt you."
My vision blurred with tears making me realise that everything I had believed in was a lie. The man I loved, the man I thought loved me, had never truly been mine. He was just bound by a promise, a duty, and never by love.
And now, I was truly alone.
"Fine then. Let's get a divorce!" I announced, loud and clear.