Chapter 2

Khira’s POV

My blood turned cold as I picked up the tiny black pouch he had dropped. Inside was a flash drive.

What if he came back for it?

He would have to find me first and that would be almost impossible. He didn’t even know who I was.

The train finally came to a stop. I stepped down onto the platform, my body trembled, every shadow made my heart jump. I half expected him to be waiting somewhere, ready to corner me and take it back.

He wasn’t.

I made it to my husband’s house without being ambushed.

Only then did I allow myself to breathe.

Alex wasn’t home yet. His security told me he wouldn’t return for another hour. I made them promise not to announce my presence. I wanted this to be a surprise.

In his bathroom, I paused in front of the full-length mirror.

I liked what I saw.

The lingerie hugged me in all the right places, revealing just enough. Just the way he liked… or at least, the way I hoped he liked. Alex had always been kind to me, but sometimes I felt a distance especially in the bedroom. He never seemed to want me in that way. He always blamed work stress.

Once everything settled, once the company was secure, he would relax. He had just closed a multimillion-dollar deal. If there was ever a moment for us, it had to be now.

I closed my eyes and all I could picture was the man from the train. If I ever needed my husband to touch me, it was now.

I turned to leave the bathroom and I froze.

Footsteps.

My heart leapt.

He was home.

Finally,

I would see my husband again. His warm smile. His strong arms. I missed him more than I could admit. Maybe if he held me, I could finally erase the stranger on the train from my thoughts and my body.

My fingers brushed the doorknob.

Then I heard a voice that stopped me.

“You’re going to leave me again, aren’t you?”

I stopped breathing.

It was a woman. In my husband’s bedroom.

Maybe I wasn't hearing right. It couldn't be.

Alex sighed.

“I have to play the role of the devoted husband. I’ll be back soon. You know you’re the one I love”

My world tilted.

No.

I had to be hearing wrong.

“Alex, just divorce her already” the woman said, irritation lacing her tone. “I don’t understand why you married that ugly, naïve girl”

Ugly? Me?

“I married her because of her father” Alex replied calmly.

“Everything I have right now exists because of his backing. I just need to keep milking the cash cow. When the time is right, I’ll divorce her and marry you”

Something inside my chest shattered.

He never loved me.

My hand flew to my chest as nausea surged. I wanted to scream, to cry, to vomit all at once. My hands shook as I grabbed my gown and slipped it back on, tears blurred my vision.

I came here to surprise my husband.

Instead, I was the one surprised.

Then I heard it, a moan from the woman.

Oh hell no.

Years together. Two years of dating. A year of marriage. And not once had he made me moan or feel anything.

I pushed the door open.

They turned toward me in shock.

The woman was blonde, flawless, and blue-eyed. She looked like a model. No, she was the model. Bianca. The face of one of Alex’s endorsed brands. She always travelled with him. I thought it was strictly business.

I felt dizzy. I thought I was angry but no. I was hurt. Tears gathered in my eyes. Hearing them was one thing, but seeing the two of them on the bed. It shattered my heart.

“Annie…” Alex started as he climbed off the bed.

I hated that name.

My name was Anna Dupont. People had decided without my permission to call me Annie, even though I preferred anything else.

A tear slipped down my cheek.

“Tell me it's a lie. Please” I croaked out.

He stepped closer and began fixing his buttons.

“Why didn't you tell me you were coming?”

His mistress didn’t even look guilty. She looked irritated, as if she was waiting for me to leave so they could continue.

“You’re cheating on me” I whispered as the tears worsened

“This isn’t what it looks like”

I stepped back and let out a laugh. A broken, hollow sound.

“I heard everything”

I waited for an apology. For panic or anything.

Instead, he stepped closer and smiled

What the …?

“There’s no point lying now” he said, turning to the woman. “Bianca and I have been together for six years”

Six years?

I had been with him for three.

I wasn’t the wife.

I was the affair.

My head was spinning. My heart was cracking. I didn't know what to feel. .y knees felt weak. My hands were sweaty. I wanted someone to wake me up. Tell me it was a sick joke and that this was not real.

“Let’s pretend this never happened” Alex continued casually.

“I’ll stay your devoted husband in public. No one needs to know about this”

Something in me hardened. My tears turned to anger. How pathetic did he think I was?

I pulled the ring from my finger and flung it at him.

“I’m divorcing you. My father will know everything. You’re finished”

I grabbed my bag and walked out, ignoring his voice calling after me.

Outside his gate, my legs finally gave out. I leaned against the cold metal and let the tears fall freely.

My heart had never hurt like this.

I loved Alex because I thought he was different. Because I believed he didn’t care about my father’s wealth.

Now I knew.

That had always been the plan.

I got into a cab without giving a destination.

The tears refused to stop. My chest heaved painfully, each breath was shallow and uneven. I wanted to call my father to hear his voice but I couldn’t bear the thought of him hearing the way I sounded. I didn’t want to worry him. Not yet.

It would break him if he knew that the only man he let get close to his daughter was a liar.

“Where to, miss?” the driver asked gently.

I opened my mouth to say the nearest hotel when my phone began to ring.

Alex.

I ignored the first call.

“The nearest hotel” I said to.the driver

“It's a bit far from here”

“I don't care”

We were close to the hotel when my phone rang a second time.

I ignored it.

Then the third

The fourth.

By the fifth, my fingers were shaking too badly to stop myself.

“Annie, my love” his voice came through, it was soft and remorseful. Almost like the man I had fallen in love with

“I’m so sorry. You deserve a proper explanation. If you still want a divorce after that, I’ll sign the papers. I promise. Just… hear me out. One last time.”

Every instinct screamed at me to hang up.

But I needed closure. I needed to hear him say it to my face. I was angry but I still loved him. Alex was the first and only man I had ever loved. I couldn't walk away after everything without hearing what he had to say. I deserved that much.

“Okay” I said quietly.

“I’ll send you the address. I’m already there. Please, Annie. Give me one more chance”

The call ended. A message followed immediately.

I showed the address to the driver.

The place was silent when we arrived. A small cottage stood ahead, tucked away from the road, surrounded by damp ground and dead grass. Alex’s car was parked outside.

My heart pounded as I stepped inside.

One conversation.

Closure.

Then I’d leave.

“What do you have to say to me?” I asked, folding my arms as I stood near the entrance. The floor was slick beneath my feet, and I was careful not to slip.

Alex rose slowly from the couch, his movements were deliberate. His eyes never left mine as he walked toward me.

“I’m sorry” he said softly. “Everything you heard was true but that was before”

“Before what?” I asked, clearly confused.

“Before I fell in love with you” he replied smoothly.

“I was going to leave Bianca. I just… haven’t been able to yet”

A bitter laugh escaped me.

“You really think I’m a fool?”

He was close now. A little too close. I hated that despite everything, my body still remembered him. His hand lifted, cupping my chin, and my traitorous eyes almost fluttered shut at his touch. The touch I had craved for years.

“I love you, Annie”

I shoved him away.

“I didn’t come here so you could lie to me”

“Please” he said, his voice turning gentle again.

“It doesn’t have to end. I’ll leave her. You’re the one I love”

He pulled me into his arms, holding me tightly.

For a brief, stupid second, I let myself breathe him in. I always loved his scent. I had curated it myself. He still used the perfumes I got him. My eyes closed as I melted in his arms. This was where I had always thought I belonged but not now… Not anymore.

“You never loved me” I whispered.

Something in him snapped.

He pushed me hard. I slipped on the wet floor and crashed down, pain shot through my ankle as I cried out.

“You’re so annoyingly stupid” he muttered, raking a hand through his hair.

“You’ve been naïve all this time. Why try to be smart now?”

I stared up at him, my heart pounding. This was the real him. The man I fell in love with was an act.

“I can’t believe I wasted my time on you” I let out.

“On me?” he sneered, crouching down. He grabbed the collar of my dress and slammed me back onto the floor.

“I’m the one who endured you”

My head spun. As my vision blurred, something sharp and unmistakable filled my nose.

Not water.

Petrol.

Cold terror seized me. I tried to stand, but my foot slipped again and I cried out as my ankle twisted painfully beneath me.

Alex reached into his pocket and pulled out a match.

“Goodbye, Annie” he said, smiling.

“Please” I begged, forcing myself upright on my good leg.

“I’ll behave. My father will never find out. I swear”

His eyes were empty now. Almost Inhuman. I didn't recognise him anymore.

“You’re right” he said calmly, gripping my face. “I never loved you” those words cut me deep.

His head slammed into mine with brutal force

I fell backward, pain exploding behind my eyes.

The last thing I saw was the match being struck…

the sudden flare of fire…

And the door closing behind him as smoke filled the room.

Then everything went black.