Chapter 003

Aneeka’s pov

For the first time in years, I've found the courage to leave my loveless marriage.

The weight of this decision was heavy, like a stone pressing down on my chest, but it also exited me. I was choosing myself for the first time- my happiness, my peace.

The thought of starting again, of rediscovering who I was, terrified me. But what else could I do?

Who said good things came easy? No one.

Two hours have passed since my lawyer's call, and my headache hasn't gone away.

The news he shared disturbed me. It brought up things I had tried to bury deep inside. Memories I had wanted to forget came back, dragging me to a place where I felt trapped all over again.

My mother was a control freak. We never had much of a relationship because she always needed to dominate, to criticize, to demand the impossible. Her death was bittersweet. It was strange to admit, but the truth was her death gave me freedom.

But guess whose mother couldn't let go of control, even in death?

That's right. Mine.

For the first time since her death, I broke down. Not because I missed her, I didn't, but because the weight of what she had done to me still haunted me.

The constant shame, the daily poison of "you're not good enough" and "no man will ever want you like this". The pills, the starvation, the extreme exercise routines… all of it. It stopped when my body shut down, but the scars remained.

She was a complicated woman, a hard woman, but she left me well provided for. I would give her that.

I stepped into the walk-in closet. The familiar scent of Damon's cologne hit me like a punch. His fragrance lingered in the air - a painful reminder of the years I had wasted with him. 

I stopped before his grooming table, now empty except for a few items. The collection of expensive perfumes I had bought for him as an apology was gone.

Twelve bottles. A gesture I thought would make up for burning his favorite shirt - an accident that had sent me into a panic. I had given him the best, thinking it would erase my mistakes, that somehow it would heal the gap between us.

I sucked in a breath and let it out slowly.

Being in a loveless marriage had ruined my life. The romance, the adventure, the dreams I once wrote about in journals seemed like they belonged to someone else. Someone who didn't have to live this suffocating reality.

I was a prisoner, and I wanted out.

With determination, I headed to my lawyer's office. This was the first step toward my freedom.

But when I saw Damon's car in the driveway, my pulse quickened.

"Hi Anne," Lily's voice grated on my nerves.

"It's Aneeka," I corrected, my tone sharp.

Damon opened his mouth to say something, but I cut him off. "Save it, Mr. Smith."

His face fell. Surprise and shock covered his features. I smirked inside. My inner voice whispered smugly, pleased with the way I had taken control.

I blew a strand of hair from my face and walked past them with newfound purpose.

Minutes passed, and I found myself forced to watch the disgusting display of affection between Damon and Lily. My stomach turned, but I stayed silent. Then, just as I thought I couldn't stomach another second of their act, the door opened. Damon's mother walked in.

My heart skipped.

Nobody had mentioned she would be coming.

And whenever she showed up, something always went horribly wrong.

"Son," his mother cooed as she crossed the room and kissed his cheek. I couldn't hold back a small laugh. Like mother, like son. The apple didn't fall far from this tree.

Damon's mother was just like him - greedy, manipulative, and controlling.

"Mr. and Mrs. Smith," my lawyer began, his voice professional.

"Just Aneeka, please," I said, my voice crisp, cutting him off before Damon could say anything.

The smirk on Damon's lips faded as he watched me. He had never expected this version of me - the one who was finally done, who wasn't begging for his approval anymore.

My lawyer continued. "Your mother's will stated that Blue Horizon belongs to both of you, to be split equally after the divorce."

My eyes shot up, wide with disbelief. My chest tightened, and my fists clenched at my sides. Anger bubbled up inside me. Damon's smug expression was unbearable, as though this was his victory, his win. I had given him everything - my heart, my life. And this was how it ended?

I sucked in a breath, steadying myself. My voice was firm but low. "I know my mother too well. There's a loophole in that contract, and I want it found."

Damon's smile froze. His eyes narrowed, confused. My inner voice danced again. Yes, that's right. You never saw this coming.

My lawyer nodded slowly. "Yes, there is a clause. It states that if you marry again within twenty-four hours of your divorce being finalized, Blue Horizon's ownership transfers to your new family."

The words hung in the air like a bomb ready to explode. I saw Damon's face freeze in shock, then his lips parted in mock laughter. First soft chuckles, then louder, more mocking, until Lily and his mother joined in. Their laughter surrounded me.

I stood frozen, every part of me screaming to keep my composure, to not let their laughter break me.

It wasn't the first time I had felt humiliated by Damon and his family. My mother had always demanded something of me, controlled me even in death, but now, in this moment, I was taking back control. And it felt good. Too good.

With a smile that didn't reach my eyes, I turned to Damon. My gaze was sharp, predatory. "Then it's a good thing my new husband is here."

I flung open the door and stepped into the hallway. There he was. I reached up and kissed him - fierce, possessive, the kind of kiss I had never given Damon.

When I pulled away, I saw Damon's jaw drop. His face showed disbelief and fury.

Good. Let him burn.