ARIANNASIX MONTHS LATER "I'd be donating a sum of five million dollars to this foundation as my own way of empowering women to become stronger, more independent, more resilient in the face of challenges because....."I had barely even completed my speech on the stage when a wave of ovation took the air.Every one was cheering for me, calling my name and the cameras were flashing at I and Simon's direction.I stared down at Simon who seemed enthralled by the various lights flashing at him. I waited for the applaud to die down before I began speaking again."I had never things easy for me when growing up. And I know it's not easy for you all out there too, struggling in the face of economic challenges, marital issues, personal challenges and the likes but I do not want you to ever give up. Yes this is for all of you..." the ovation swept the air once more but I still kept on speaking."Don't ever give up. Because when life throws you lemons, you know what you do with it? You make fuc
ARIANNAThe blaring sound of the car horn shot through my ears in an instant. Quickly, I stood up from the bed in a bid to arrange the bed and dress the duvet properly.My heart thumped immensely within me and my regular anxiety began spreading through out my body once more. One would be wondering why I had become so tensed just by the sound of a car horn. Well any normal married woman in my shoes would be happy knowing that her husband was back home after his daily activities but not me.His mere name ignited fear in me and him being around caused me immeasurable pain and discomfort. I was married to the Business tycoon, Lucas Hilton. He was the CEO of "RED", a multimillion dollar wine company which had sales all around the world.Any woman would have loved to be known as the wife of Lucas Hilton. He commanded power, wealth and authority any where he went.But my marriage to this man was not the rainbows and roses that I pictured.He was initially engaged to Sabrina Riss, an inter
ARIANNA I rolled over to the other side of the bed with my eyes still shut, expecting to meet with the warm body of the man whom I called my husband. But unfortunately it was cold. As cold as ice. As if nobody had ever, ever laid on that part of the bed before. Wanting to not believe my guts, I used a hand and tapped on the side but I was only met with an empty bed space. The reality caused me to fly my eyes open, my chest heaving.Slowly I sat up, my eyes now darting to where Lucas would have laid on if he did spend the entire night with me. It was empty as expected. I stared at it in a daze, expecting Lucas to magically appear out of thin air on the bed but it was all just in my head. I thought it was a very horrible nightmare but this was my reality.Sadness washed upon my face and I snivelled, trying so hard to not even shed a drop of tear. I stood up dejectedly and walked into the spacious shower room. I needed to clear my head and a hot shower would probably do that. Pon
ARIANNAI sat on my matrimonial bed, my body was stiff as hell and my blood ran cold.Momentarily, I would shiver as a result of the chilly wind which seeped its way in through the partially thrown apart curtains.The lacy night gown I wore did justice in exposing a mild part of my bossomsMy hands would nervously trail to drag a part of the gown up to cover up my bossoms time and time again.My mum had picked it for me earlier when I went to my parents house. In her words, she said that I needed to look so sexy and alluring for my husband. I did not want to put this on but mum had insisted saying it will make Lucas realise what he was missing by not treating me well as his wife.I still could not believe what my married life had turned to.I never imagined to be married to a man who completely detests me and loathes me.He did not even have the decency to spend the entire night with me the last time we got intimate. It felt like a taboo to him.I had a feeling there was another woma
ARIANNA Marriage they say is the union of two souls, who would then become one.It was even orchestrated by God; a three fold cord with God as a witness with the numerous vows the husband would make to his wife and vice versa. If I remembered clearly, on the day of my marriage, Lucas vowed to always love me in every way irrespective of the trials we might face. He promised to also accord me with all the respect a husband would give to his wife.I was clearly overjoyed honestly. I thought we could build a family and those vows we took would keep us everlastingly tied to each other but I was such a big fool. Lucas shattered every ounce of hope I had in me that very day when he revealed how he truly felt about me.To him, I was nothing but a gold digger and a beggar.Well all that happened two years ago.And ever since then, we related like strangers in our own house. A lone tear slipped down my cheek as I reminisced about my past.I quickly cleaned it with the back of my palms
ARIANNA "What the hell are you doing here!?" Lucas thundered upon being interrupted by the sound of the food flask hitting the ground. The lady who he was having a hot make out with quickly averted her eyes from mine and tried buttoning up her shirt and adjusting her skirt. Filled with anger, I walked towards the door and banged it tight shut before facing my attention back at the disgusting site I just beheld."Now the only reason I locked that door is because mother is around and I do not want her to see the disgusting scene you are indulging in as a married man" I spoke through gritted teeth. Lucas had his nostrils flaring and his eyes were like balls of flames. "How dare you Arianna!? You literally brought my mother here with you huh? How many times have I warned you not to ever step feet in my company!? You come here for what reason? To spread your badluck and negative aura all over my workspace right?!" "Are you even listening to yourself at all Lucas?" I fought to co
ARIANNA It was a very bad idea again wasn't it? I just knew it was from the second mother suggested it. My heart drummed in my ears, a million fanatical inconsistent beats playing within me. Why did I even agree to going there? What was I even expecting in the first place?Did I really imagine that Lucas would welcome me with open arms? The same man forbade me from ever coming to his office and just the sight of my face irritates him to the core. A sound of displeasure left my lips as I pondered over what took place earlier this morning in Lucas' office.My own husband was caught red handed making out with a human and he showed no sign of remorse to it. Anxiety filled up my senses and nausea set in. What usually went on between him and his mistresses?Mistresses wow. A pained smile carved on my lips. I was sharing my husband with multiple women.No form of decency or respect for me as his wife whatsoever.Is this a marriage or hell in disguise of a marriage?How many more lover
ARIANNA Salty watery tears, fueled up in my ears as I stared at my reflection in the horizontal mirror in my closet. My fixed tourmaline gaze was on the awful beetroot red mark that Lucas slap had left engraved on my skin. My pain clogged my lungs, making it quite difficult for me to breathe for a brief moment.Slowly, my slender fingers caressed the mark and I winced in pain, shutting my eyes tight. Bruises which I got from his nails were still very much fresh, dried blood smearing their surface.Pushing back the clog that was in my throat, I let out a bright smile, one that was capable of hiding my pain. I was practicing on how I would react when I ran into Lucas again. I do not even think I would be able to face anyone this morning but I can not keep sulking about my unfortunate fate up here in my room. No. I will hold my head up high and walk down the stairs like nothing happened. As I thought of it all, tears struggled to break through the barrier of my eyelids but I bli