CHAPTER ONE
Nova's POV
Tears well in my eyes as I drive out the building. Every bone and fibre in my body feels like they had lava poured on them as they melt in pain. My heart thumps erratically with every shaky breath I struggle to draw in.
I bite back a sob, blinking back the tears that threaten to spill.
'Maybe I misunderstood everything. It can't be him. Tristan would never do that to me.' I think aloud, hoping to convince myself that I had a misconception of the situation.
But I still couldn't shake off the feeling that he was in fact, the one I had seen. I had picked that outfit earlier in the morning, and I could easily tell my husband just by the whiff of his expensive perfume.
A loud beep sound jolts me out of my thoughts as I turn into the corner that leads to our house. A red car speeding off, catches my attention but I pay no mind to it as I drive into the driveway and step inside, collapsing on the white couch as my mind drifts back.
"Hello Mrs Forrest. Nice to meet you again." The receptionist at Tristan's office smiled at me as I walked in, a grin plastered on my face.
"Hi, Maria." I responded, rushing towards the elevator, hurrying to meet Tristan, my husband and the love of my life.
We had just gotten a partnership deal with one of the companies we'd been hoping to work with and I couldn't wait to see the surprise and happiness on his face.
"Stay calm, Nova. You've got this." I repeatedly chant to myself as I step into the elevator, my heart flooded with excitement.
I ran to his floor, stopping just right in front of his door to recollect my breath and straighten my skirt, raising it up just a little above my knees, dirty thoughts flooding my mind.
'You're such a whore, Nova.' I shook my head at my subconscious thoughts. As long as I'm HIS whore, who cares?
As I reached for the doorknob, I heard muffled noises, making me stop dead in my tracks.
'Huh?' my brows furrowed in confusion.
I pressed my ears to the door, wanting to make sure I had heard right.
Are those moans?
The sounds became louder and my heart nearly leaped out of my chest.
But how can that be? This was Tristan's office.
Confused, I twisted the doorknob, pushing the door open and my breath hitched as the sight I saw.
Red heels, a dress hiked up to the waist, red nails on her pale hands around his neck as her moans infiltrated the room.
Blue button down shirt unbuttoned, black pants rested on the ankles as his groans are muffled by a kiss, his shoulder length honey blonde hair sticky with sweat.
The atmosphere of the room screamed of sex as their skins slapped against each other, his musky perfume and smell of bodily fluid mixed in the air.
I stepped back, my heart threatening to burst out of my chest as the sight before me unfolds.
His hands cupped one of her breasts as she digs her nails into his back. Her hips buckled, crossing her slim legs over his back and moaning his name.
A tear rolled down my cheek as I watched him ram himself into her vigorously.
I turned on my heels, drawing a sharp breath as I ran out the office, sobs wracking my entire body.
My steps are quick as I descend the stairs, nearly losing my balance with a blurred vision.
Confusion etched on the receptionist's face as I ran to my car and drove off.
Tristan had just cheated on me.
My head coarse with pain as I stand up from the couch, heading to the kitchen for a drink. The sound of the door twisting open stops me and I turn to face him.
"Where have you been?" I ask, anger surging through my body as I notice the wrinkled shirt.
"Work, obviously." He replies in an annoyed tone.
I grit my teeth, staring, trying to suppress the brewing storm inside me. He didn't sound like him.
"I was at your office earlier."
"Why?"
"Am I not allowed at your office anymore?" I retort, my patience running thin at his lack of interest.
"You should have informed me. I could have been busy with something."
I scoff.
"Busy? Really? With what?" I question as I take tentative steps towards him.
"Enough with the silly questions, Nova. Why were you at the office?" His eyes roam my body and as if disgusted, he looks away.
I stop dead in my tracks. Tristan has never called me by my name. Not even when we are in the midst of an argument. He'd always been a gentleman, especially in the midst of storms.
"You can't even pretend, can you?"
He smirks and loosens his tie as he sits to face me.
"Pretend, huh? Now, why would I do that?"
I ball my hands into fists, my blood boiling at his nonchalance and lack of remorse.
"Answer me, Tristan. What were you busy with?"
"Work." He stands up, turning on his heels to the kitchen but I block his way.
"What do you think you're doing?" my voice barely above a whisper.
He raises one brow up in question.
"Did you cheat on me?" My voice cracks as I look at him with tears.
"Why would you think that?" His tone is bored and unconcerned, sending me into a spiral.
"Because I saw you, Tristan! I saw you on top of another woman on your office desk!!. The same desk we'd fucked on last night! How could you?!" I bark at him.
He stares at me unfazed.
"Why? Tell me why." I ask but he remains quiet.
I heave as I continue. "Alright, fine. Just tell me it wasn't you and I'll believe it. Please." I beg, hoping he tells me that I was, and is wrong.
If he just tells me that it wasn't him, I'll believe. I'll know what I saw was a lie and I'd misunderstood everything.
"I'm s- sorry for screaming at you earlier, okay? I was just-"
"Yes, it was me you saw and yes, I cheated on you." He responds, interrupting me.
Sounds of my heart shattering into a million pieces fills my ears at those words. My lips quiver in pain as I look at him, taking a step back and letting my hands fall limp to my sides.
"And I don't regret it, Nova." He adds, his voice laced with disdain as he pushes me aside and heads for the kitchen.
I didn't believe it. Something isqn't right.
No. Tristan can't cheat on me. I know and I trust him and I know what he can do. He loves me so much to cheat on me.
I'm sure something is wrong. Maybe he is angry at me for something. That's why he wants to punish me. That's it. He must be angry at something I may have done.
I follow him into the kitchen and proceeds to get the truth out of him. I know he was lying. What I saw at the office was also a lie too. I try to convince myself to ease the pain that threatens to consume me.
" You're lying. I know you're lying, Tristan. I lied, okay? I didn't see you do anything. I came to the office to tell you that we've successfully gotten the deal with Anderson and Co. I didn't see you and I got upset." I ramble as he walks around without a word.
"I'm sorry if I did something wrong but please don't do this to me. If this is some sort of prank, please stop it. This painâ it's unbearable." I plead in earnest.
"Did you really not see anything?" He faces me, unperturbed.
I nod.
"Yes, yes I didn't." I affirm. If I pretend I didn't see anything, then I'll forget about it. I'm sure he was trying to prank me. It wasn't the first time Tristan has pranked me, even though this once was crossing the line.
He pulls his collar to my face and asks.
"Then how do you explain this, dearest wife?" a bold shade of red lipstick staining his shirt; the one I'd carefully picked that morning, came in view.
My mind goes blank as I realize that he wasn't pranking me. What I had seen and was seeing, was real no matter how much I'm trying to deny it.
He also didn't deny it.
He had really slept with another woman, and has no regrets whatsoever. I can't keep lying to myself if he already admitted to it and is rubbing it on my face.
Why?
"Why?" I ask as I blink back the new batch of tears that pooled in my eyes.
"Because I don't love you anymore." He states unblinking.
If I thought him cheating on me was hurtful, nothing came close to hearing those words. I bite my lower lip and draw in a sharp, shaky breath as I look at his face, searching his eyes for a give away. I didn't find any.
His look is stern and firm. He meant it.
" Why?" I ask again.
He smirks " I found better and I don't need you anymore."
If anyone had told me that the man I've loved for 3 years and given my entire life to would be uttering these words to me someday, I never would have believed.
Tristan is the perfect example of a gentleman. He had always loved and cared for me. He went above and beyond for me. I trusted him with my life and we were both ready to do anything for each other.
But tonight, I didn't know my husband anymore. I don't know who he is at this moment. I could swear it wasn't him yet, I recognize him.
" I want a divorce, Nova."
And with every edge and curve of my remaining strength comes crashing down.