Chapter 1: The divorce

“Hey honey, welcome back from work,” Briella said when her husband walked in.

He ignored her greeting. “Meet me at the rooftop by three o clock, we have something to discuss.” He said looking around at the busy staff cleaning the mansion.

What was so special that he couldn't tell her here and now, Briella thought.

Time passed and after Briella finished inspecting the workers, she headed to the rooftop.

Sitting casually on the rooftop sofa, Hayden's eyes were fixed to his phone. Hayden, seeing that Briella had arrived, stretched his hands and handed her a brown envelope.

Briella's eyes narrowed as she took the papers, as she looked at it, The words blurred as tears pooled in her eyes, threatening to spill over. 

He was divorcing her? It felt like her heart was crushed. 

Her sight became blurry but she could still see the very handsome but cold man that would soon be her ex-husband.

Upon noticing that Briella was staring at him. He retorted, his voice cold and detached. “Sign the damn papers, I have signed my part. Be fast with it, I'm expecting someone special.”

Briella tears finally fell. “Someone special” What was she then, a useless person? a time waster? 

“There's no need for you to worry about where you'll stay after you leave here, the assets I have would be divided, you get to take Moon Villa and a compensation of 100 million dollars.”

Brielle wiped her tears and asked was grandma ever aware of this divorce?

“And so what? you think that will change anything, she is dead.”

Briella almost stumbled so she held the wall nearby for support, she never imagined this would happen now? And most of all she didn't know his grandma was dead, no one told her.

“Hayden,” she whispered, her voice breaking. “Please… please don’t do this, I beg you.” 

Hayden Linford looked at her, with his deep brown eyes boring her skin. 

Despite the cold gaze, Briella still felt a flutter in her heart when she looked at him.

“It’s done, Briella. There’s nothing left to discuss.” 

“I still love you Hayden, please consider my feelings.” Briella took the courage to walk closer to him and knelt down holding his arms.

He yanked her hands away as if she was a parasite and she fell flat on the floor

“Love?” he scoffed. “This marriage was never about love. It's been hell and a mistake I'm rectifying.”

Hayden got up, I did this because of grandma.

“Our time together has now expired, I wasted two years with you but it was worth it, Since I found my missing ribs through you.”

Briella looked at him dumbfoundedly.

“Well, Hilda will be back in New York soon, so you better leave.”

Wait, Did he just say Hilda? 

“Hilda Bennett?” Briella asked to clarify.

Hayden saw the shock on her face. 

“Yes Hilda Bennett.” He said sarcastically.

Briella couldn't believe her ears.

The name ‘Hilda’ hit Briella like a slap. Her best friend. The woman she’d confided in, laughed with, trusted. The betrayal cut deeper than the divorce itself. She let out a strangled laugh, the sound hollow and broken.

“Hilda Bennett? You’re leaving me for her?”

Hayden didn’t respond, he looked at her in disgust, adjusted his cufflinks and walked away. Briella remained on the floor, her body numb, her mind racing. 

Hilda had called Hayden earlier to tell him not to bother coming to pick her up but he insisted. He checked his wrist watch, Hilda should be at the airport any moment from now.

Hayden went to his room, took a jacket and when he remembered that he forgot his car keys, he went back to the rooftop.

When he got there, he looked at the sorry state of Briella still on the ground and walked past her like she was a rag.

“You better sign the papers when I get back.” With that he walked out of the rooftop

It was winter, Briella laid on the cold floor of the rooftop. She didn't mind the cold, it wasn't compared to the pain she felt in her heart.

Her heart was aching not only because of the divorce. But the person Hayden loved was Hilda, she felt like a big fool.

After these years of trying to make him fall for her, he chose Hilda.

Lost in thought, she heard a voice shouting and rushed to her side. “Madam Briella. Madam Briella are you okay?”

Briella heard the maid's troubled voice and got up. 

“I'm fine, don't panic,” she said, seeing the maid breathing heavily.

She stood up with the assistance of the maid and walked back inside the mansion.

That evening was Hayden's turn to host his family to dinner.

The fact that she was going to see Hayden's family tonight gave her a sense of hope, maybe she could beg his mother to help her talk to Hayden.

The preparation for the dinner began that afternoon. The villa was busy. Hayden liked to show off and so he instructed his workers to make everything perfect.

Briella loved cooking so she assisted the chef in the kitchen to take her mind off what had happened earlier.

In the evening. The Hayden's family members started coming one after the other. Briella wore an apron setting up the table.

She greeted his sister who walked in but she completely ignored her. She never liked her. She looked at her dress and realized that she wasn't properly dressed so she ran upstairs to refresh up and dress well. she took her time since Hayden wasn't back yet.

As she descended down the stairs, she saw Hayden walk through the door hand in hand with Hilda. Briella halted her steps, her heart thumping.

He held her in his arms. His mom, dad and other siblings whom she didn't realize were already present and sitted I the dining table stood up to welcome them. They all hugged Hilda and welcomed her like a rare gem. 

They knew that Hayden was married but still they supported him bringing home a mistress.

Briella clenched her fists, she felt pain in her heart looking at her two faced best friend. Her nails dug into her palm.

She had been friends with Hilda since she married Hayden. Briella remembered how she and Hilda first met. Hilda was so loving and caring. How could she do this?

She took a deep breath and walked back upstairs and took the divorce papers on the dressing table. Tears fell without her realizing it. 

She signed the divorce papers. Took only her phone and left the mansion. When she walked out no one noticed her, they were all engrossed in their discussion, laughing heartily. 

Hayden's butler suddenly rushed over to Jayden amidst the jolly environment. He was the only one with such privilege.

he whispered close to Hayden.

“Sir, Madam just left this mansion, she looked really terrible.”

Hayden saw the worried look on the butler's face and he scoffed. It was about time she left.

“There was also a black Bugatti parked outside earlier, it seemed to be waiting for her.” the butler added.

Briella is poor from a low class family and she's alway stucked indoors, so how could a car of such pick her up.

He stood up and excused himself.

Hilda sitting next to him asked. “What's wrong babe.”

“I just want to check something," he said, kissing her cheeks.

His long legs stroded upstairs to where his security camera outlet was. And he saw a man open the car door for Briella before the car zoomed off.

He brought out his phone and called his security man stationed outside his gate.

“Find out who's the owner of that car.” He ordered.