Chapter 1: Ashley

Ashley’s POV

My husband, Noah, knew I was flying in today, and the thought of that only made my cheeks rosy.

I was  nervous too. I would have asked Anne, my best friend to come with me, but she was supposedly on a work trip in Chicago.

I missed her.

Finally, I was back from his private island in Monaco. Or should I say hell?

Three months ago, the worst thing happened. 

An intimate video of my husband and I leaked online.

We never found out who leaked it or how it got out. All we knew was that it spread like wildfire.

Noah started getting calls from his PR team. Some companies he collaborated with canceled. And it was like my whole world crumbled in front of me.

I got calls from my family too, especially my younger sister, Stella. But I didn’t pick it up. Shane didn’t let me.

Noah got furious and dashed into our bedroom that night and began packing all my things into a suitcase. I rushed after him, begging, and asking what he was doing.

He blamed me for the leak. He said I wanted to ruin his career and legacy.

I begged for him to hear me out. But he  didn’t.

He threw my suitcase at me and told me to leave his house.

There was no place for me to go, I explained to him. Then, he told me he had it figured out. I would be staying on his private island in Monaco till the scandal vanished.

He said three months would do. I did just as he said because I wasn’t ready to lose Noah. I really loved him.

And now, I am back. 

The car honk jolted me out of my reverie.

“Mrs. Reece, we’re here.” My driver said.

A huge smile lit up my face.

I stepped out of the car and walked to the front door.

If you asked me before if three months were a long time, I would’ve said no. But now, it felt like an eternity. 

My heart rate doubled, hammering louder than ever.

Oh God. I was actually doing this.

The door had granted me access by scanning my face.

I stepped in…and my world stopped.

“What…the…hell…” My brain delayed my words.

And my smile disappeared.

My eyes dragged from Noah to the  woman who was lounging against him.

“I didn’t expect you to be back so soon, dear best friend.” Anne, my best friend said with a smirk on her face.

“What’s…what’s going on here, Anne. You’re supposed to be in Chicago.” I walked closer to the couch they were sitting on.

Noah stood up and blocked me from her, almost like he was…defending her?

“Please tell me why my best friend is laid up on you. Please tell me it isn’t what it looked like.” I screeched, holding back my tears.

“It’s exactly what it looks like, Ashley.”

Everything grew more silent.

“You’re cheating on me?” I looked Noah dead in the eyes.

“No, no, no, poor thing. We’re married.” Anne stood up from behind him and flexed her diamond ring. “And we’re expecting.”

Only then did I notice her baby bump.

How was that possible when I only left for three months?

“How long?” I closed my eyes, too scared to listen to her answer.

“Six months.” Anne grinned.

“But I was gone for…”

“Ding, ding, ding. You finally got it. I must say, you’ve been so oblivious, or maybe you were just so in love you forgot to use your intellect.” 

“So you’ve been cheating on me with my best friend for six good months?” I looked at Noah.

Water filled my eyes.

He was quiet, and that told me all I needed to know.

My legs gave up. I dropped to the floor.

I didn’t know what to do. Scream? Cry?

“How could you do this to me? I trusted you. You were my best friend.”

Tears started streaming down my face, I couldn't stop them.

“It’s not that big a deal, I just took care of him while you were gone. You left him, Ash. Someone had to step in.” 

“I didn’t leave him, he told me to leave.” My voice was louder, almost pathetic.

“Aww, you poor thing. Too bad. You snooze, you lose.” Anne said with a smile on her face.

I felt my heart break harder.

“Why? Why? Why!” I cried out. 

“Enough!” He roared.

Noah stood tall above me with no pity in his eyes.

“I disappeared for you…” I screamed. “I survived lonely nights for you…I was stuck on a bloody island with no one to talk to. I woke up one day with a snake on my bed. Just…for…you.”

I coughed. I couldn’t breathe anymore. I felt every emotion in capital letters.

God please.

“And did I ask you to suffer because of me? I remembered giving you an island to stay on. You had it all to yourself. You could’ve opted out and divorced me instead.” Noah growled.

I wanted to pinch myself. To get myself out of this nightmare. 

Noah’s words kept replaying, over and over again.

“Should I bring the documents, baby?” Anne said while grabbing his biceps.

Noah was breathing heavily, his chest heaving. “Yes.”

What documents?

Anne brought a briefcase closer and passed the paper to Noah.

And he flung them at me.

“What’s this?” I asked as I read the documents.

Divorce. Noah wanted a divorce.

“You want to divorce me? After all you've put me through? Like I’m just your toy?”

“I don’t need you anymore. Don’t test my patience.” He clenched his jaw.

I got bit by the final blow.

“You’ve decided, haven’t you?” I asked.

He said nothing.

“You never believed me…” I sniffed. “You never did.”

“And why should I?” Noah’s face hardened. “Why should I? When it’s evident. You leaked that video to destroy me for whatsoever shitty reasons you had. And I’m telling you now that you’ve overstayed your welcome, I don’t need you anymore.”

I went silent, wiped my tears and stood back up.

“A pen.” I finally said.

Anne passed me a pen. I looked at her for a moment. She wasn’t who I thought she was. She was my comfort, who I went to when I felt like a dark cloud.

“Sign the papers and leave my house!” Noah roared.

I tore my eyes from both of them and signed.

“Here you go.” I dropped the papers on the desk.

“Leave.” He said, pointing at the door.

I looked at him for the last time. Desperate for his heart to change. I wanted him to fix my heart, the same heart he broke.

But no, I could only see hatred.

I walked out of his house with no idea of what to do next.

“Fuck!” I screamed at the top of my voice.

I let it all out. My tears, my anger, all of me.

My chest hurt and I started to see doubles.

The tree in front of me turned into two…and I blacked out.