Chapter 1.

Chapter 1.

Arya’s POV

It was the date of my third wedding anniversary with my husband, Derek McClain, a date I had been looking forward to all day.

I didn’t think Derek remembers though, seeing the way he hurriedly left for work very early without even a kiss, but I couldn't blame him, I know he's a busy man.

My plan was to buy a few groceries and make a special dinner and I was in the middle of that when my phone rang, the housekeeper’s name flashing across the screen.

“Ma'am, you have to come back home now!” She basically screamed at me through the phone.

“What!? What's going on?” I asked worriedly, trying to remember if I had done anything before I left.

“Your husband has planned a perfect surprise for you for your anniversary, you need to come home immediately.”

Hearing her words, I left my cart in the middle of the aisle, not caring about what people would think about me and I ran out of the supermarket to my car.

I can't believe I actually thought Derek forgot about our anniversary, of course he didn't. He just wanted me to let my guard down so he could plan something without me suspecting.

On impulse, I stopped at a boutique along the way and bought a red lace lingerie set I would normally have dismissed as impractical.

I walked into the house and the warm glow of candlelight hit me first. Candles flickered everywhere, their warm glow casting soft shadows along the walls, and rose petals were scattered across the floor, carefully arranged to form a winding path that led toward the staircase and probably to our bedroom where I could hear my favourite song playing softly from the speakers.

My chest tightened with emotions I couldn't name, and I stood there for a few seconds to calm my racing heart. I couldn't believe Derek did all this for me.

My heart hammered with excitement as I slipped out of my clothes with trembling fingers, replacing them with the red lingerie, and then I followed the trail of petals up the stairs.

What the…. I paused in confusion as the sound of heavy breathing hit my ears when I got halfway up the stairs. But then I realised it's probably Derek panting from his workout routine.

I left my grocery shopping and got back earlier than expected, so this is probably why I caught him working out.

I adjusted my lingerie, took a deep breath, and pushed the door open… only to see Derek on my bed, our bed – his back muscles clenched together as hovered above a woman whose face I knew as well as my own.

Cassidy…my sister, was naked under him and arching into his touch, her eyes closed as she was lost in passion with my husband on my matrimonial bed.

The sound that escaped my mouth didn’t feel human.

“De—Derek…” My voice broke as tears filled my eyes, my vision blurring as the room spun.

Derek froze, then turned toward me slowly, irritation flashing across his face as if I was disturbing him. He gently got off Cassidy, who groaned in frustration and rolled her eyes, not even bothering to cover herself up.

“What the fuck are you doing here?” he snapped at me.

My knees nearly gave way. “W-what am I doing… in my own home?” I whispered, the words barely audible.

“You were supposed to be at his grandmother’s place, dummy,” Cassidy cut in sharply, propping herself up on one elbow. “Who said you could just barge in here and ruin all the fun?”

The tears I had been struggling to hold back started falling down my cheeks.

“Fun?” I choked. “Sleeping with my husband is fun to you? How could you do this to me, Cassidy? We’ve known each other all our lives. How could you betray me like this and not even feel ashamed?”

Derek leaned back against the headboard, a smirk tugging at his lips. “I don’t understand why you’re making such a big deal out of this. Would you prefer it if I cheated with a stranger instead of your sister?”

“Don’t listen to her, baby. She’s just being dramatic. You’ve given her everything she could ever want, and she still failed to give you the one thing you asked for. Yet, she has the audacity to try to dictate who you can and can’t see.” Cassidy’s hand slid possessively along his thigh, taunting me.

“This is about children?” I whispered. “About us not having a baby—” My fingers trembled as the tears multiplied, blurring my vision as I turned to Derek.

“Don’t drag me into your infertility issues, you’re the one who has failed to produce an heir in the last three years of our marriage. How can you even call yourself a woman?” Derek thundered.

I shook my head violently, clutching my chest. “This… this isn't my fault though. Every doctor, every hospital I have ever visited has said I’m fertile. I’ve done every test and every procedure you demanded. I gave up my career, my independence, everything for this marriage. Something should tell you that if I’ve been unable to conceive after all we’ve done, then the problem isn't from me.”

“Oh, Arya. Bold of you to assume we don’t know you’ve been falsifying all those medical records.” Cassidy laughed cruelly.

“I never—”

“That’s enough,” Derek interrupted coldly. “Since you want to shift blame, you should know the truth. Jeremy is my biological son and Cassidy is his mother. I don’t have any problem with impregnating a woman. You’re the barren one.”

What? Jeremy was….

I staggered backwards as I processed what Derek just said, crashing into the wall and falling to my knees as the revelation shattered what little remained of my sanity.

Cassidy’s voice drifted toward me, almost amused as she explained how her so-called master’s program had actually been a pregnancy and how I had unknowingly raised her child for her.

“I know you must have a lot of questions, so let me explain it to you. Do you remember that period I told you I’d be going for a one-year Masters program? Well, that was when I was actually pregnant and had privately delivered our son, Jeremy. You can be a pain in the ass sometimes, Arya, but I guess I should thank you for taking care of my son for the past two years,” she giggled.

“My entire marriage was a lie,” I whispered under my breath as every memory and sacrifice I had invested in my marriage seemed to dissolve in front of me.

I stood up dejectedly, grabbing a suitcase as I mechanically started packing my things.

“Where the hell do you think you’re going?” Derek barked, finally getting out of the bed.

“Somewhere far away from you.” I said as I stuffed more clothes into the suitcase, but he grabbed my hand and shot a terrifying glare at me.

“You don’t leave unless I say so.”

“You can't betray me like this and expect me to stay. You both deserve each other, expect my lawyers to contact you soon.” I spat at him.

“In case you've forgotten, Arya, you're my wife. You can't leave until I say it's over.”

I met his gaze through my tears. “Then say it’s over,” I said quietly. “Because I would never forgive you, Derek.”

“No one said anything about forgiveness.” He smirked at me. “This is an open marriage, everyone does it these days so why do you need to leave? Just keep being Mrs McClain and I'll keep providing for you like I always have.”

“I. Am. Leaving.” I forced through gritted teeth, wrenching my hand from his grip.

“Get the fuck out then.” Derek screamed. “But you can't take anything that wasn't bought with your money. And last I checked…you used my money for everything.

I moved away from the suitcase, removed all the jewellery I had on, including my wedding band and flung it in his face.

“Goodbye, Mr McClain. And you,” I turned to Cassidy. “I hope you enjoy my leftovers. You've always had a thing for them.”

And with that, I turned around and walked away from the life I once thought was mine, trying to ignore the feeling of my heart shattering into pieces.