Chapter 0003

ANGELINA

I watched as Luca's strong arms wrapped around Lisa tightly and protectively,my heart ached.Ididn't have that much strength to fight back anymore.I felt strength left my body and my hands fell on my sides.

“You're protecting her after what she just said to me?”I muttered under my breath,my voice breaking at the end.

“She's carrying my baby, Angelina.I’m protecting our baby.”Tears streamed down my cheeks.

His words only reminded me of my failure as his legal wife and my heart broke into a million pieces.

I failed to give him a child.

Monalisa clung onto him,her head resting on his chest and I didn't miss the triumphant smile on her lips.

I couldn't believe my husband chose to protect Lisa over me.

What about me? Who will protect me from the cruel world?Who will stand for me when people shame me for not being able to bear my husband a child?

Fisting my hands,I turned around and walked away with blurry vision.There was no need to put up with the fight…

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“Ma'am,why are you home so early?What happened? Did you forget something?Are…you feeling unwell?”Mia asked the last question hesitantly.

I couldn't bring myself to answer any of her questions because my throat was clogged with emotions.I just looked at her with tears in my eyes.

“Don't mind my questions,ma'am.I will finish replacing the flowers then prepare something for you.”She flashed me a polite smile but I couldn't bring myself to smile back at her.

I was too broken.

I nodded at her words then headed to our room.I was thankful that she didn't ask more questions.I was afraid I would break down if she asked one more question.

Taking a deep breath,I opened the door and walked inside, closing the door behind me.

Luca's strong cologne hit my nostrils and I choked on it.I darted my eyes around the room and everything that I laid my eyes on reminded me of him.The pain in my heart only intensified and tears streamed down my cheeks.

My eyes spotted the framed wedding picture on the table.I walked to the table,my legs feeling so heavy.I stretched my trembling hands and picked it.I sat on the bed and looked at the picture with blurry eyes, memorising the special day.

“Why Lucas,”I muttered under my breath, staring at the picture as though he would answer me.

“You promised to be a good husband to me.You promised to be there for me through thick and thin.You promised to love me till the end of times and never to betray me.What happened? What went wrong? Why did you break all the promises you made to me?What did I do wrong?''I talked to the picture as though it had ears.

All the vows and promises that Lucas made to me were broken.I recalled the day we tied the knot as if it was yesterday.It was one of the happiest days of my life because I was getting married to the man that I loved so much.

The man of my dreams.The man that I wanted to spend my whole life with,make memories and stick together till eternity.

I placed the picture back on the table, flipping it so that I don't see how happy we were on our wedding day.

The pain was unbearable.It hurt so much.

Heaving a deep sigh,I stood up from the bed and walked to the bathroom.I turned on the shower and stood under the cold running water fully dressed.

I closed my eyes and all the memories that I shared with Lucas clouded my mind.He always treated me like a queen.There was no single day that he raised his voice at me even when I wronged him.

The memories of the previous night clouded in my mind too.I recalled everything that he whispered in my ear while making love to me.

Lucas assured me that he would never leave me while he thrusted deeper.He told me that I was the best thing that has ever happened in his life.He promised me that he would never give up on us and that he will be patient…

Why did he impregnate Monalisa if he meant what he said? Does it mean everything that he told me during love making was all a big lie?My stomach twisted at the thought…

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I looked through the window blankly,not looking at anything in particular.My eyes were sore from too much crying and my stomach churned.

Mia prepared my favourite dish because she was so worried about me.However,I couldn't bring myself to eat anything.The darkness had already fallen but Lucas hadn't come back home yet.

My heart ached inside my chest.

I thought that he would come after me when I left the company.I thought that he would be worried about me.However,he didn't show up and all my hopes crashed into tiny pieces.

My mind jolted back to the present when the door clicked open and I stiffened.I didn't need to turn around to know who it was…

His strong cologne hit my nostrils and I almost choked.I couldn't believe that it still turned me on despite the heartache that he had caused me.

I hated it!

“Did you spend the whole day with Monalisa?”I asked, trying my best not to break down.

Slowly,I turned around and we locked eyes.I looked into those azure eyes and for a split second,I got carried away.His brown hair was a mess and I could tell that he had run his fingers in it a couple of times.

He looked exhausted and I wondered what made him look out of place.Was it because of me?I couldn't help but question myself.

“I have been busy working the whole day,”I took a sharp breath when I heard his words.

I think I was just being paranoid.

“So you didn't care about me?That means you didn't care to know how I was doing when I left the company.How heartless can you be,Lucas?”My voice trembled with each question.

“I didn't have that much time, Angelina.You know too well that we have a big event coming soon and everything has to be ready.”His words were so painful that it made my stomach twist.

“All you care about is the company but what about me?Do you care how I'm feeling right now?”My jaw twitched,”Why Lucas? Why are you doing this to me? Why did you sleep with my best friend and get her pregnant?Why?”My voice broke and the last words came out as a whisper.

He was quiet for a while then heaved a deep sigh.

“I need an heir,”I swallowed when I heard his words,it cut so deep.

“We talked about it and I promised you that I will try my best to give you a heir, Lucas.”I reminded him.

”You promised but we are not sure about it.We have been trying for four years, Angelina.I have been patient for four damn years!Are you blaming me for what happened?”

I stared at Lucas, wondering why the sudden change.There was something about him which I couldn't decipher.He had changed entirely.His eyes were not gentle anymore when he looked at me and his voice was not soft.

I looked into those cerulean eyes, trying to wrap my head around the sudden change.

Where was the Lucas who always looked at me with gentle eyes?Where was the Lucas who always whispered sweet words in my ear while making love to me?Where was the Lucas that always talked to me politely and never raised his voice at me?

It felt as though the man standing before me was a completely different person.It was not Lucas that I knew.Something just didn't feel right...

Perhaps it was my fault he was behaving that way…

If I was able to give him an heir, maybe all this couldn't be happening.

Without a word,I walked out of the room.I thought that Lucas would try to stop me from leaving but..he didn't do anything.

“Ma'am,where are you going this late?”Mia asked me with a worried face.I wiped tears from my eyes using the back of my hands.

”I don't know,just anywhere.”The frown on her face deepened when she heard my words…

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“I hate you,Lucas!I hate you!”I picked the port glass and gulped the amber liquid in one go.I closed my eyes as the liquid burned it's way down my throat but that was nothing compared to the ache that I was feeling deep in my heart.

“Another glass please!”I ordered, placing the empty glass back on the bar counter.

I had already drunk three glasses.I felt my head spinning but that was not enough to make me forget about everything that had happened.

I knew drowning my sorrow in alcohol was not a wise decision but I didn't care anymore what was right or wrong.If it would help me forget about the heartache just for a moment.

Why not?

I walked all the way to the club,crossing dangerous streets of Xiaomi city.However,I wasn't afraid about what would happen to me because the worst had already happened.

My husband and best friend had betrayed me.Lucas had fulfilled our dream of starting a family with someone else.All I wanted was to be far away from all the heartache and everything.

I felt like an empty shell as I walked down the streets.There was a void in my heart which nothing could fill.Even though I didn't want to admit it,deep down I hoped that Lucas would come after me but...I was only disappointed instead.

“Here comes your order, beautiful.”The bartender flashed me a smile.I wasn't bothered with his compliment because I knew he was only being nice.

I was wearing a mask so that no one could recognise me because I didn't want unnecessary attention.

Without a word,I picked the glass and gulped the drink.A groan left my lips and I closed my eyes, feeling the cold drink travel down my throat.

I'm not a heavy drinker.However,I wanted to test my limits tonight.

“Damn you Lucas! And fuck you Monalisa!Why would you do this to me?"I slammed the glass on the bar counter,pain ripping my already broken heart.

"Another glass please...”I choked out. I felt tears flowing down my cheeks behind the black mask.

I wasn't drinking my arse off because I liked it.

It's just that…I was trying to get rid of the pain in my chest.The bartender gave me an awkward look but I didn't care.

He poured me another drink.

I stretched my hand to pick the glass.However,a heavy hand landed on the top of my hand, preventing me from reaching the glass of wine.

A frown settled on my face,I looked at the unfamiliar huge hand that covered mine.My hand felt small in his, slowly I turned my head to see who it belonged to.

I squinted my eyes to have a better look because I couldn't see clearly,I think the alcohol was taking a toll on me.

The man was wearing a golden mask on his face.I couldn't see anything except those dark piercing eyes…