Chapter 001

Hailey’s POV

I sat on our sofa, my eyes glued to the entrance.

‎This was the first time something like this was happening in my home.

‎What was going on with my husband? Why was he suddenly staying out so late?

‎Even though we were not very close, he respected our marriage so much that he always returned home as soon as he finished from the company.

‎But today, it was different—almost midnight and Dylan was still nowhere to be found.

‎Since the beginning of our marriage, Dylan's affection towards me, was based on his mood, some days when he was happy, he came showering me with kisses and lots of gifts. While some days, when he had a strong face, he was out of it as if not interested in the marriage anymore, but he had never stayed out late.

‎Just then, I heard the creaking sound of our door. He was back.

‎My tensed-up mind calmed a bit and a slight smile appeared on my lips upon sighting him.

‎He looked amazingly handsome as usual, that face that always hushed whatever noise I had in my head. He was my man. The one I love and still loving.

‎I stood up and walked up to him, but his aura was outrageously cold and aloof.

‎Sometimes, he was like that but today, it felt different—so different I could suffocate from it. I wondered what had happened.

‎"What happen babe? What keeps you so late today?" I muttered, my voice soft and filled with concern.

‎But when he raised his head and looked at me, a cold shiver ran down my spine. Had I done something wrong?

‎"Is there a problem?" I asked.

‎"What concerns of yours is it that I stayed out late? Is it because I used to come back to this place every day? Is that why you think you're so special?" He rumbled.

‎I felt a sharp pain pierce through my heart.

‎"Get out of my way," he said and brushed past me.

 I shook on the spot. My leg wavered, and I almost slumped to the floor. 

‎He was cold but had never been this cold. What was happening?

With my trembling leg, I walked back to the sofa and sat quietly.

‎Dylan always had his ways of making me feel pain every time, but this was worse, this wasn't him, there used to be a bit of care in his behavior, but today it was completely flat, uninterested, hatred—I felt it all.

‎Just as I was lost in thought, my phone rang.

‎I looked up at the screen, and my heart crushed in my chest, it began thumping faster. Panic overwhelmed my soul.

‎With my shaky hands, I picked it up.

‎"Hey sis.." the voice came up. This voice that I dreaded with all my heart.

‎This voice that had done nothing but cause me pain, trauma, and heartache.

Why was she calling?

‎"Is that how you behave as a sister? You know I'm back but didn't care to call or say anything?" she muttered, her voice mocking, just as always.

‎"Oops, Dylan didn't tell you? I just called him and he said he's back home, but he didn't care tell you that your lovely sister is back?" she muttered and my hand shook even more.

What does she mean she was back? Why was my husband's ex back?

I began gasping for air. My body felt hot even though there was an AC with me in the living room. Many years of commitment, loving him and this lady was back?

‎I didn't need anyone to tell me this was where the problem started, why Dylan came back so late today. Why his aura was so cold and almost throwing me off—he was with her.

‎"You wouldn't even say anything to your sister? Come on Hailey, we've grown past this." Lexa said, knowing she was getting at me by returning to California.

‎Why now? After so many years? And Dylan didn't waste seconds before running to her. Was I about to lose everything I've built with my time, my heart, my emotions literally my life?

‎I shook and suddenly dumped the phone on the sofa and sprang to Dylan's room.

‎I didn't stay committed to loving him all these years just to be thrown away in the end. I needed to get to the bottom of this before it gets too late.

I had hoped that one day, he'd fully come around and we'd live as one big happy family, not for him to do this in the end.

‎"So this was it. You were with Lexa." I voiced as soon as I pushed the door open.

‎"What about that?" Daylan muttered, his tone flat as though it was nothing serious.

‎"Why are you making a big deal out of this? Your sister was at the airport she needed someone to pick her up and she called me," he explained, his voice nonchalant.

‎I rubbed my hair to the back, biting on my lower lip.

‎"She's your ex, Dylan," I said, but that doesn't seem to mean anything.

‎"So what! Please leave when you're done!" he snarled at me, I couldn't help the pain trouping inside my heart so freely like it was meant to. I was overwhelmed by his sudden attitude. He was cold, but never to this extent.

‎

But I refused to move an inch. I didn't know how to—I suddenly forgot how to take a step. Dylan had hurt me to my core.

‎"If not for my family, do you think I'd be married to you? I warned her to quit partying, she got caught by grandfather and he rejected her. And your dad, he practically begged me to take you since they can't let go of my family's alliance. You were just sold off to my family and I've never had any feelings for you, not even once. You don't have any right to question what I do, who I see, or even sleep with." he muttered effortlessly as if his words were not harshly bruising my soul.

‎When Lexa was rejected as his bride-to-be, Father insisted that I must marry him.

They were dating in school then before the alliance came. Hence it was supposed to be easy for them, but his grandfather ended up rejecting Lexa as she seemed too exposed and attended clubs.

I didn’t want it, but Dad already made it seemed like a it was a must. It felt like I'd be disowned that minute if I didn't listen to him. Hence I had no choice 

Dylan seemed nice and very handsome, the kind of man every woman dreamt of.

I wasn't happy my sister got rejected, I wasn't happy not having to choose who I spent the rest of my life with, but I had to accept my fate, and he was cool too and very likable.

‎He became my husband and I chose to love him. With his handsome face, it was very easy to fall in love with him.

‎After our marriage, Lexa disappeared. It was peaceful, living with him was a bliss, we were getting closer—so I believed, only for Lexa to come out from nowhere after three good years and it was Dylan she called to pick her up from the airport.

‎We had a driver she could’ve used but she decided to involve Dylan, to cause an uproar in my home.

‎My heart constricted with so much pain.

‎"Leave!" Dylan's word echoed, jolting me up from my reverie and bruising my chest even more, I felt like coughing blood—the pain was outrageous. 

‎I walked slowly out of his room, his words echoing in my head. 'You were just sold off to my family and I never had any feelings for you.'

‎Tears I've been holding streamed down my face.

‎As my legs moved, it took me back to our main room.

My eyes darted around as it occurred to me he wouldn't be coming here this night.

Panic settled in my heart.

Was I going to lose my husband? I needed him, I needed Lexa gone. Severe heartache engulfed my soul.

‎Just as I was about to drift off to sleep, I heard our doorbell ring.