He was never mine

Avery’s PovI checked my reflection one last time, smoothing down the navy blue dress.His favorite color with my hair down the way he once mentioned he liked, back when he looked at me once. The diamond bracelet from christmas glinted under the light, probably picked by his assistant, but I wore it anyway.Tonight had to be perfect. Richard, my father-in-law, was bringing fourteen important guests, and I was going to be exactly what they expected, the graceful hostess, the perfect wife.Maybe if I tried hard enough, he’d finally see me. Pathetic yes, I know that.I’m Avery Monroe Sterling, twenty-four. Married fourteen months to a man who keeps me in a separate bedroom and barely speaks to me. We signed a contract, one year to save his company’s image and fulfill his father's wishes. The year ended two months ago and I’m still here.Before Nate, my husband, I was engaged to someone else. I caught him cheating with someone I trusted. The betrayal sent me running into traffic, straight

Avery’s PovThe sounds echoed through the wall didn’t stop for hours.Her moans, his groans and the sound of his bed creaking.I lay there, staring at the ceiling, hands pressed over my ears. But I could still hear everything. Every whispered word. Every sound of pleasure he’d never made with me.When it finally went quiet, I rolled onto my side and cried into my pillow, silent and broken until there was nothing left.The doctor had come after the dinner party, after the guests had left. Richard and his wife had also left. Dr. Matthews examined me in my room. Not pregnant, just exhausted and stressed. He’d recommended I should rest and he left within twenty minutes.Nate never asked about the results, never came to check on me.He’d been too busy with her.Three days had passed and Nate didn’t come home.I knew where he was, at her hotel, finally living the life he’d always wanted without me in it.And the house, it felt different, bigger and colder like it was rejecting me too.I st

Nate’s PovThe blood stains on the sheets stayed with me for months. It's been months since Avery left, six months and I still see it. Dark red blood against the white sheet, something I took when I had no right to take anything from her.I took those sheets off and burned them myself. I couldn't let the staff know I just slept with my wife of fourteen months. But the image remained, seared in my mind like a brand.The first two months after she left had been fine, good even. Celeste and I got engaged, planning our future we once dreamed about. For a while, I convinced my self this was what happiness looked like.By the third month, things changed. Small things at first. I would wake up reaching for someone who wasn't there. I see her face in crowds, and I hear her quiet voice in an empty room.By the fourth month, it got worse and Celeste noticed. She started asking questions I had no answer to. I blamed work, stress, anything but the truth.Five to six months were worse. Constant a

I didn’t remember leaving the hospital as Celeste’s words kept playing in my head.“Disappear, Avery or I make you.”The threat wasn’t some empty threat. She was dead serious.By the time I got to my apartment, my hands were shaking so badly I dropped the keys twice before I could manage to open the door.I unlocked the door, got inside and shut the door behind me. I pressed my back against it to get my balance, trying to calm myself down.I got up minutes later and walked to the closet, dragged out my duffel bag, and I started throwing clothes inside. I didn’t fold them, I didn't have the time. My vitamins, ultrasound photos and phone charger.But where would I even go? How far is far enough?I was reaching for my jacket when someone knocked on the door.And I froze“Avery?” Nina’s voice called in a low muffled tone. “You in there? Mrs. Woods said you left early from your appointment and she could not reach you after that.”Relief washed over me hearing it was her. I took a deep brea

Nate’s POVThe morning after I had overheard my father’s phone call, I headed straight to his office. I needed answers about what I’d heard. About the woman he’d been talking about, about whether it was Avery or maybe it was someone elseHe shut me down completely. He told me it was a confidential business, none of my concern. Even when I pushed harder asking for any information he could give, if he’d been talking to my ex-wife, his expression was cold and stern. He reminded me that she wasn’t my wife anymore and he walked out of his own office, leaving me standing there with nothing but more questions running through my mind.Weeks went by after that conversation. The wedding was now two weeks and some days away and I was going around like a fucking zombie.Sleep didn’t come anymore. When it did, all I dreamed about was her. Guilt sat on my chest like concrete.I’d sent my investigators everywhere to check hospitals under fake names, called shelters pretending to look for a friend,