005

I was in the middle of balling my eyes out when I heard the doorbell begin to ring continuously, and the housekeeper or butler wasn't around to answer the door, it kept ringing so loudly that the noise agitated me so much that no one answered. I had to drag my leg downstairs to the door.

I opened it slightly to see who it was and was a man wearing a black tuxedo and a pair of black shades on.

“Hello, what do you… who are you?” I asked staring at him intently

“I was sent to pick you up” He answered.

“Who sent you?” I asked waiting to hear who it would be

“Aemond Alistair” he responded, and I shut my eyes immediately in frustration as I ran my palm through my face.

“Why now?” I said to myself

I did not know what to do or how to go about it, I was in no mood to have a fake smile plastered on my face when I was dying inside but there was no way I could ignore the invitation Aemond had stretched out to me. I had to show up even as I was in pain, even as I was hurting, even as I was confused and struggling, thinking of my next solution. I had to show up.

I got dressed lazily and put on whatever I reached for in the closet, being married into the Alistair family came with perks like the unlimited amounts of clothes, bags, accessories and so much more just sitting in the closet half of which I might never ever get to wear but I wouldn’t look bad in any outfit I put on even if I tried because every piece were statement piece.

Throughout the car ride, I felt so nauseous everything around me felt like they were spinning. I wanted to throw up, I wanted to cry, I wanted to scream. There was an agitating scream looming at the edge of my throat, I just wanted nothing else than to let it out, but I had to look put together like the perfect wife everyone saw, I had to look like everything was fine. I hated my life so much that I just wanted it to end.

“How could I continue to live in this misery?” I thought to myself, I have given my all into everything my whole life and I felt trapped I just need to breathe.

As soon as the car ride came to a stop, I rushed down from the car. I needed a breath of fresh air, the car was so suffocating that I was beginning to feel the need to throw up. I bent down at one of the bushes and gorged out my insides. Everything just felt irritating to me.

“Oh my god, darling, what's going on?” I heard Axel's mom’s screeching voice beside me as she held my shoulders.

“I'm fine Rose” I pretended wiping the edge of my mouth immediately

“I'm just a little bit car sick” I lied through my teeth

“All right, let's go inside and let's get you something to drink” she said, and she led me through the garden to the living room.

I sat there with my head thumping, fiddling with my fingers as I tried to avoid eye contact with Axel's mom Rose who had her eyes fixated on me like she was accessing me.

“You look so pale and washed out no drop of color on your skin” she said clicking her tongue as she spoke. I didn’t know how to respond to that so I let out an awkward laugh pinching my cheek awkwardly.

“You need to work on your appearance and look more like Lianna so Axel could be drawn to you” she uttered nonchalantly like it was nothing, her words piercing through my heart hurting me even more than I already was.

Lianna was Axel mistress, or maybe I was the mistress. They had been together before we got married and even after the marriage nothing change they stilled remainded together while I wore the ring and carried his name, she was the one who held his heart. Everywhere I turned I was compared to her from his family, to the press and even the public.

I stood up when Aemond Alistar walked down the stairs, looking as majestic as ever. He was almost like the exact image of Axel, just like he was the older version. He had streaks of gray hair scattered all over his black hair, his eyes were the exact blue color with Axel. They were the same people but the older version. He was a very powerful old man, even as he grew older, he still carried that grit and he was well respected. He walked with so much aura oozing out of him.

“Hello, Rae?” he greeted, speaking calmly and his voice flowing with so much ease

“I'm fine, thank you” I whispered back

“You don't look too good,” he said studying me briefly before taking a seat opposite me

“I said the same thing” Rose chimed

“I should have put more effort into at least wearing makeup,” I thought to myself regretting my decision

“I'm fine. I was just feeling a bit carsick” I told him also

“Where's my son?” he asked

“He-he-” I had no clue where he was and words got lost in my mouth

“I called him to come over also but I got no response still,” he said

“Oh, he is probably busy,” I said

“He left for the office earlier today but I'm sure he will join us” I ended up saying not knowing what else I could say

“This is your third year anniversary of you being married to my son” he said and it was a reminder to me cause it wasn't a date that sat in my heart, it wasn’t significant to me.

“Yes, it is,” I said wearing a big smile

“You have done well” he nodded proudly, when he spoke to me he always spoke like he could resonate with what I was going through and he was also the only person who regarded me with respect, not as someone who was less than them and he was the only one I truly respected

“Thank you” I whispered

“You still have to take him away from that nobody bitch, the blogs are talking people don't know who the wife is anymore,” Rose said

“I have told you to stop looking at the blogs” Aemond rolled his eyes at his wife

“How can I not” she argued

“It is almost like Axel doesn't care anymore to hide it” Aemond said sounding disappointed, I just sat there shifting uncomfortably as they discuss my husband and his mistress.

“You need a child, children bring people together” Rose turned to me making me choke on my saliva

“Get pregnant and I would give twenty percent of my company shares” Aemond’s offer left me speechless, that was worth millions or even billions of dollars but I couldn't bring myself to let them know I was with child. I just couldn't

“When the time is right” I smiled instead

“It has to be quick, I want to meet my grandkids,” Aemond said plainly, it didn't sound like a joke he was dead serious

I did not know how to keep flowing with the conversation, I did not know what to say to make everything sound perfect. I just wanted to get the hell away from that place. Everything looked like they were closing in on me, I wanted to be alone with my thoughts, not with people surrounding me. We waited and waited and waited all day, waiting for Axel to show up. But he was nowhere to be seen, it was so awkward sitting with his parents, having awkward conversation after conversation. But he didn't show up. After waiting like forever, it was time to leave and I left.

By the time I got home it was late, the staffs had retired for the day. Everywhere seemed oddly empty and quiet but I could see Axel's car parked in the garage when I got down from the car. I walked inside slowly because something seemed off as I stepped, I saw clothes scattered everywhere. I began to pick them one after the other wondering what was going on.

Did Axel come home drunk again?

I froze when I saw a red lingerie in front of me. I was confused and I picked it up. Looking at it, it wasn't mine obviously. I kept on walking, with no emotion or reaction. It was no news Axel had someone else he was dealing with but the disrespect to bring his whore to our house was beyond me. I don't know where the rage came from, I stormed upstairs and barged into his room and I saw him deep inside, no one other than Lianna, who was moaning out his name.

“What is this?” I asked, my voice cold

“What does he look like? Shut the door and get out” He spat at me, his face red with anger.

“Has it gotten to this?” I asked disgusted by his sight that I could even hide it

“Are you deaf? Shut the door behind you” He roared angrily

“This is ridiculous. Even if you don't have a sense of respect, how could you? Today is our anniversary” I shot at him

“Since when do you have the audacity to speak to me like that?” He screamed at the top of his voice, throwing a perfume glass that was sitting by the mirror stand at my direction, I watched it shatter at my feet and didn't move an inch.

“Shut the door behind you, I would not repeat myself” he warned his voice filled with venom

“No, I would not. I would not take this disrespect. I don't care how many women you sleep with on a daily. But you do not bring them to our matrimonial home!!!” I screamed at him, I wasn't in control of myself anymore I was filled with rage. It might have been the rage from finding out I was pregnant or the rage through his words that still rang in my head.

But I just couldn't take it, it was the first time ever speaking back to him. And I could see he was evidently shocked by my reaction.

“Our home? You mean my home? My fucking house? Have you forgotten your place?” He threw questions at me his eyes filled with evident anger.

“You can call it whatever you want. I'm married to you. Your house is my house. So I do not care but you do not bring your whores into my house!” I shouted back, not backing down no matter how intimidating he was.

“A whore? Who are you calling a whore?” Lianna asked shooting me daggers with her eyes

I did not even pay any attention to her and faced the man I was talking to.

“Well, if you can't stand it, you get a fucking divorce” He laughed and Lianna joined in as they both laughed in my face and they kept on doing the rubbish they were busy with moaning even louder.

That was the last straw for me I could not take it anymore. The humiliation was too much. I had to get a divorce. I had to choose myself. The first time ever the thought crossed my mind and I was going to go ahead with it.