SASHA’S POV
Tears streamed down the corner of my eyes at the realization that he mistook me for his childhood crush once again.
“Stasia, I’m coming….”
Every trace of pleasure which I once felt before he ruined it all by mistaking me for his childhood sweetheart, crushed. And while he was having the best time of his life, I remained below him, eyes open, tears leaving my eyes, mouth shut, while he thrust deeply into me, growling and groaning her name.
I could barely close my eyes at night while Roland slept like a baby without any care in the world.
His words from earlier haunted me so much that it left me awake until the next morning.
For some reason, I felt the need to talk things out with him.
I’m his wife and for that, he should give me the respect I deserve, because groaning another woman’s name while having sex with me doesn't make any sense.
It was rather disrespectful and disregarding.
I waited in the sitting room as soon as it was morning, waiting for Roland to come downstairs so we could sort things out.
After all, it was Saturday and he wasn’t going to work.
As he made his way down the stairs, I couldn't stop staring at him. My husband is indeed a handsome man. With broad chest like that of an athlete, black jet hair, sharp jawline and emerald eyes.
I fell in love with those eyes during our college days and I am still in love with it.
Roland is the definition of perfection, if not more than.
While I was busy gawking at him, he walked past me, heading towards the entrance door.
I snapped out of my thoughts and looked at him, only to find out he was dressed for an outing, which caused my brows to crease.
“Are you heading out? Today is Saturday.” I rose to my feet, taking slow steps towards him who paused by the door at my words.
His head snapped towards me and anger clouded his gaze. “I see. Are you stalking my every move now?” He asked, his lips paused in a thin line.
Taking a step closer, I shook my head in denial. “No. I just have something to say to you. Can you spare me ten minutes of your time?”
Irritation crossed his features and he hissed in annoyance. “See woman. I’m a busy man. I have no time to spare!”
“Okay, five minutes!” I said sharply, hoping he could spare me some minutes of his time.
After careful consideration, he decided to spare me five minutes of his time. “Now speak.” He commanded.
“During our intimate moments last night, you called her name.” I started, wrapping my hands around my body, as if shielding it from the cold.
Roland brows arched in confusion. “Who?”
A pile lodged at my throat, but I pushed it down before speaking. The name was heavy on my tongue and almost impossible to let out. “Anastasia.”
I knew who she was to him and how much he cared about her, but I thought I could win him over. Make him forget about her and love me unconditionally. But as time passed, it became impossible to make him fall for me.
“You called her name twice when we were together last night.” It took sheer willpower not to scream out loud but I remained calm.
“Take your mind off it. It isn’t a big deal.” The nonchalance in his voice as he waved the discussion off broke my heart into millions of pieces.
Which woman in her right state of mind would brush off something as important as this?
“It is a big deal, Roland. You’re making me less of a woman,” I cut in, my voice a bit louder than usual, shocking both of us. “I’m your wife, not Anastasia.”
“But we both know she’s the woman I love. I don’t love you, Sasha. You should know that by now!” Roland snapped, checking his Rolex watch. “Five minutes is up. I have a party to organize.”
My heart lurched in my throat at the thought of Roland having a nice time with Anastasia. “For who?” Before I could stop myself, I blurted out.
Roland, who was about to leave, halted and turned half-way around. “I’m throwing a welcome party for Anastasia.”
With that being said, he walked out, disappearing through the door, while I stood rooted to the ground like a statue, eyes widened and my hands fell limb beside me.
He is supposed to be by my side not by her side!
I’m his wife. I’m Sasha Conrad. I’m the one who bears his surname.
I’m the one wearing his wedding ring and I’m his wife legally not Anastasia!
Anger. Pain. Hurt.
My chest felt heavy with pent-up emotions, each one clamoring to be released.
After what felt like an eternity later, I couldn’t hold it in anymore. I fell heavily to the cold ground, tears streaming down my eyes like a waterfall.
This marriage wasn’t what I pictured. When I begged my Grandfather to get me married to Roland, I had pictured a beautiful life together, not a one-sided empty and hollow marriage like ours.
A marriage filled with pain, hurt, tears for years….. I didn’t deserve a life like this.
*********
After about an hour later, I stopped crying and carried on with the day’s activities.
The day was already gloomy, but when I got a call from Roland, informing me that Anastasia told him to invite me to her welcome party, I knew the day was bound to be one hell of a bad day.
It won’t end well. I could tell. Yet, I dressed up, carrying the image of a perfect wife as I drove to the party which was being hosted in one of the most luxurious hotels in Boston.
The fact that my husband spent a huge amount just for a welcome party, made my heart ache.
He could spend such an amount for his childhood crush, whereas, he never thought to get me a flower, not even for once.
As I made my way down the hallway, guests murmured and whispered among themselves, but I couldn’t care less.
I carried myself with grace and held my head up high.
Upon arriving at the hall, I looked around, only to spot my husband beside Anastasia, his hand around her waist in a possessive manner.
I stood by the door, watching them with a wine glass around my fingers. If it were up to me, I would have walked up to Roland and made it known that I am the wife, not Anastasia.
Suddenly, our eyes met and she smirked. Anastasia smirked at me, her eyes glowing with mischievous intents.
Yes. She is beautiful, classy, and has a killer body, which every man could die for, including my husband, unfortunately. And that pains me.
Anastasia is every man’s dream woman.
She leaned towards Roland, whispered into his ear and pecked his cheeks, before heading towards where I stood.
The way she carried herself with grace, one would think she is a daughter of a god.
“Hi there, Sasha. It’s been a while.” Anastasia stopped in front of me, a mischievous smile stretched on her lips.
It was taking the last strength in me not to wipe that smile off her lips. “Yeah.” I replied dryly.
“I can see you took care of Roland in my absence. Thank you.”
Why was she thanking me for taking care of my own husband?
Who does she think she is?
“Why would you thank me?” I forced a smile, trying not to snap her neck into two. “He is my husband, remember? Not yours.”
I don’t know which part of my words angered her, but her eyes turned red and her lips tightened in anger. “Roland is mine. He might be your husband, but he is mine.”
“You said it yourself, Anastasia, didn’t you? He is my husband and you will forever remain a mistress.”
Her jaw tightened and her cheeks flushed with anger. “You’re a bitch and I hate you.”
“It is mutual, Stasia. I also don’t like you.”
With that said, I turned around and was about to leave when I heard her scream and all eyes fell on us.
I frowned and turned around only to find Anastasia bleeding from her wrist.
“Wha….what happened?” I asked, my eyes widened in horror as I tried helping her, but she hit my hand away, glaring at me.
Roland strode towards the scene and stood beside Anastasia. “What happened?”
“Your wife used a knife to cut my wrist because I told her to care more about you.” She lied and my eyes widened even more.
God…. She is not only a bitch, but a pretentious one at that!
“I…..I didn’t do that, Roland!” I shook my head, while trying to explain, but he glared at me, not believing a word I said.
“Why do you hate Anastasia so much that you want her dead?” Roland glared as he tore a part of his sleeve and wrapped it around her bleeding wrist.
Most of the guests stared at me with disdain and hatred while others brought out their devices to capture the moment.
“I didn’t do that to her! She’s lying! Please believe me, Roland!” I begged, hoping he would believe me for once, but he never did.
“I’ve had enough of this, Sasha,” he wrapped his hands around Anastasia’s waist and carried her in a bridal style. “Let’s get a divorce! You’re evil!”
I staggered, almost falling backwards due to my heels, but instead of falling, I hit a hard rock….no, a chest.
A stranger wrapped his hand around my waist, steadying me from falling and whispered in a low, deep voice. “Steady.”
I was too engrossed in explaining myself to Roland to see who the kind stranger was.
“Roland, you can’t do this to me!” I cried, but he was already leaving with Anastasia in his arms.
As I watched them leave the hall, Anastasia turned towards me and gave me a lopsided mischievous smile, and then muttered. “I won, bitch.”
NOAH’S POVA FEW MINUTES EARLIER.“You weren’t wrong, she is truly talented,” Dontelle said, a smile on her face as she rose from her chair.Matt had been fast when he had suggested that I approach dontelle, the stylist who had close ties with Anna Wintour, if Sasha was going at this again, I needed to make sure that everything was perfect for her.“It is funny how I had heard of the sah fashion house but never really branched into it, but now, that I have seen her, I am excited to see what she would come up with,” she said.“It is good to hear that,” I said, walking behind her as I led her out of my office.“Will I be seeing you at the gala night?” she asked.Dontelle was a friend, but she also loved to be in the know, “I will be, I just have to finish up these last files, my company is under fire,” I said with a soft chuckle.She smiled, “Noah Beck, the news isn’t exciting, If you need help, you know all you need to do is ask and everything will be sorted out,”“Thank you Dontelle,
SASHA’S POVNo one made a move to open the door, they were all waiting to hear the command from me.“You can do this,” I muttered under my breath, the words sounding foreign in my ears.“Okay, open the door,” I said.Just as Emma moved to push the door open, the noise outside had gotten more intense than before, and the cameras flickered so brightly that the car was no longer dim.“What is going on…” The words were trapped in my throat the second I noticed Noah beck walking towards the car with a gentle look on his face. He was dressed in a dark crisp suit that hugged his muscles like a second skin, and his eyes stared into the car with a smug look on his face like he knew that I was staring back at him.“You are drooling,” Nina mumbled in my ear.I blushed, blinking rapidly as I stared at the man who I assumed had turned into a ghost.The door pulled open, “Hey darling,” he greeted, his voice soothing and gentle as he stared at me with a smirk on his face.“Noah?” I called out like I
SASHA’S POVI haven’t seen Noah Beck since the news broke. And all I heard from Emma was that he expects me to walk into the gala night like the world around us wasn’t burning. Why wasn’t he reaching out to me?Why did I have to hear information from my assistant?“You look stunning,” Nina gaped, her eyes roaming around my body like she couldn’t believe her eyes.“Thank you, Nina, you look dashing yourself,” I replied, smiling softly at her.“The gown, I don’t think I have ever seen a design such as this before,” the stylist muttered, her eyes fixed on the red gown that Noah had gotten for me.Nina stared at me, wiggling her eyebrows as she waited for me to reveal what and who exactly I was in the fashion industry.“That is one of the first original pieces I have ever made When I opened Sah fashion house, I had just finished college and needed something to place me on the map,” I muttered.I was getting better, I could talk about Sah fashion house without feeling the harsh pang in my
AUTHOR’S POVAnastasia lingered by the window, her ears perked as she listened to the conversation between Roland and his mother. It didn’t take a genius to know that Eleanor Conrad wasn’t her biggest fan.And she had sabotaged herself the moment she had failed to act accordingly like the girl that was expected of her. A dark smile formed on her lips, If they refused their union, then she would have no other choice but to move on to the next plan.Her hand touched her stomach, gently rubbing it as she nursed the thought that played at the back of her mind. “They can’t deny their heir would they?”“Anastasia?” Petal’s voice echoed smoothly through the room, her soft blue eyes staring at her as if she was trying to analyse her. “I didn’t hear you come in,”Anastasia smiled, “Sorry, just couldn’t help but admire the garden,” she said, moving away from the window to hide what she was truly doing.“Come on, we need to talk,” Petal said.Anastasia’s heart dropped her eyes widening in shock
ROLAND’S POV“Roland!”I jumped up from bed, my eyes wide in alert, “What, what?” looking around searching for the danger that was coming.“You have to see this,” Maya said, rushing into the room with a smile on her face.Anastasia groaned, using the pillow as a wedge to muffle out our voices, “Keep it down Maya, you shouldn’t be in here this early,”If Maya heard her, she made no move to reply, her eyes were fixed on the phone with a large grin plastered on her face.“Roland, Noah Beck’s world is on fire,” she said.“What!”My eyes widened as I looked at the news flashing across her screen, “When did this happen?”“Just a few minutes ago,” she replied, sounding as excited as I was.Anastasia rolled out of bed, “What is going on?” she grumbled.“A story is going about Noah Beck’s company having a hand in an insider trading,” she explained.This was better than good, this meant that the whole world was about to witness as the great Noah beck grumbles to the ground.“Does this mean that
NOAH’S POVThe world was burning to ashes, and news channels carried the story of the supposed leak that came from my office.Matt stood by the corner, worry lines etched on his face as he watched the analyst try to explain my downfall to the other news reporters. This was the chaos that I wanted.No one understands the beauty that comes in the chaos, no one sees the pain before the pleasure.“You are about to crash the stock market you know that?” Arthur said, his eyes fixed on the television.I smiled, “The matriarch wanted to see me fall, isn’t this the way forward?”Arthur sighed; he was a strategist, just like me, but I could see it in his eyes that he wasn’t agreeing with my crude method of things.“What do you plan to do when you debunk the story?” he asked.“Nothing, when I make a major investment, the world wouldn’t remember what had happened a few weeks ago, right now, Petal Conrad has to enjoy her few seconds of fame,” I replied, pouring myself a glass of whiskey.I wasn’t