Chapter 002

Fatima remained in the car, watching her husband practically undress another woman outside his company building. Luckily, it was a holiday and no one else was around to witness it. The humiliation would have been far worse if people had seen this happening on her supposed wedding day.

She did not move. She kept watching as he picked the woman up, half naked, and carried her inside the building. At that moment, Fatima wanted to step out of the car and follow them in, but something stopped her. Instead, she asked Jonathan to start the car while she cried her eyes out, not even caring that she was in front of her husband’s chauffeur. She was not thinking straight at that moment.

When the car came to a stop and she realized they had arrived at their mansion, she wiped her tears and asked Jonathan for a favor, not to tell her husband that they had seen him.

“I know it is not my place, but I think you should confront him,” Jonathan said. He loved his boss and was grateful to him. His life had changed since working for him. Nicholas was generous and paid far better than others, but this was about morals, and Jonathan truly did not like what his boss was doing.

“Um, Jonathan, right?” Fatima asked, looking at him through the mirror. Her makeup was ruined, but she did not want to walk into the house with tears still falling. Their housemaid would notice.

“Yes, ma’am.”

“If you want to keep this job, you are going to have to learn how to follow orders,” she told him. She appreciated that he cared, but she did not want anyone telling her what to do in such a delicate situation.

“Apologies, ma’am,” he quickly said, realizing she was still hurting. He immediately regretted suggesting it.

Fatima did not respond. She stepped out of the car and headed toward the main entrance.

As soon as she walked in, Mrs. Wilson, her housemaid, rushed toward her.

“Congratulations, Mrs. Ashford. Do you need help removing the gown?” She glanced at the dress. “It looks tricky. And I packed the bags as you instructed. Two dresses, just as you requested.”

Her eyes lingered on Fatima suspiciously. Mrs. Wilson had known Fatima since she was a little girl. She had worked for her parents before her, so she knew her well. Right now, she could tell something was wrong. She hoped it was not that husband of hers. She had never liked him and had always suspected him of being unfaithful, though she could never prove it. Still, she had hoped he would at least behave today, considering they were renewing their vows and Fatima had been so excited.

“Mrs. Wilson,” Fatima said softly, her voice trembling, “please call Madelyn and ask her to have the kids sent here tomorrow.” Madelyn was her older sister. Fatima had sent the children there so she could spend the weekend alone with her husband, but there was no longer a need for that.

“Yes, ma’am,” Mrs. Wilson replied, her heart sinking. She could hear the sadness in Fatima’s voice.

“Also…” Fatima stopped at the stairs and swallowed hard. “The trip is cancelled.”

Mrs. Wilson did not ask questions. She offered to heat dinner, but Fatima declined and asked her to lock up before leaving. Mrs. Wilson lived with them, but Fatima had given her the weekend off so she could be with her own children, which was why Fatima had also sent hers away.

“I can stay,” Mrs. Wilson offered. “The children will be here tomorrow, right?”

“Oh no, I will be fine,” Fatima replied. “I will take care of the kids. You go and be with your family.”

She did not want to inconvenience her. Besides, at least one of them would follow through with their plans. Unlike her, who had been told to go alone and imagine her husband’s presence.

Without another word, Fatima went upstairs to their bedroom, where she began throwing things around. She was not normally like this, but the image of her husband and her maid of honor kissing had pushed her past her limit.

She shouted and destroyed the room. Luckily, it was soundproof. Otherwise, someone might have thought she had lost her mind. Fatima was someone who valued order and perfection. She never wanted anyone to know that her marriage was falling apart, which only made the situation harder to face. She did not know what would happen next or how she would face him, even though she was not the one at fault.

Once she felt satisfied with the mess she had made, she went into the bathroom, removed her now filthy gown, and stepped into the shower. She stayed there for hours, forcing her mind to wander elsewhere. She did not want to think about her husband or his affair. For years, he had seemed like the perfect husband. A loving father, supportive of her career, attentive in every way. Nothing had ever suggested infidelity. That was why she tried to convince herself that what she saw might have been a moment of weakness.

With those thoughts, she eventually left the shower, changed into her pajamas, and went to bed. The room was still in chaos, but thanks to the sleep medication she took, she fell asleep quickly.

The medication knocked her out completely. When she woke, it was around nine in the morning. Her head throbbed painfully. She was about to get out of bed when the door opened and her husband walked in.

“Hi,” he said casually, heading straight into the closet without looking at her. “I am going on a business trip.”

She chuckled bitterly, still sitting on the bed. It amazed her how he had not even noticed the mess in the room. She wondered if he had always been this blind.

Gathering her courage, she stood and walked toward the closet doorway. She crossed her arms and watched him hurriedly pack. He noticed her presence but did not bother to look at her.

“Honey, Leslie is downstairs and I have to make a phone call, so I will be a while,” he said. “Could you make her a cup of coffee?”

Still no glance at her as he reached for his shoes. From what she could see in the bag, this was not a business trip. It was a getaway. She had seen these trips before, but after what she witnessed the night before, doubt consumed her.

“Is Leslie coming with you?” she asked quietly.

He nodded without hesitation. “She is part of the closing deal. Without her, the deal is off.”

Her heart skipped painfully. It finally became clear. He was about to spend their honeymoon with his mistress. Her head began to spin. She grabbed the wall for support, nearly fainting, but he did not notice.

Jonathan’s words echoed in her mind. Confront him.

But what if she did? What if he divorced her? Married Leslie? What would she tell her children? What would the world think?

She turned away silently. As she reached the door, he shouted after her, asking her to make him a cup of coffee as well. That was when her heart finally gave out. Her body followed. She collapsed, hitting her head on the floor.

This time, he stepped out of the closet, phone still pressed to his ear. When he saw her on the floor, he ended the call immediately and rushed to her side.

“Fatima?” he called, kneeling beside her and lifting her head into his arms. He searched for her pulse, panic setting in when he could not feel it. He shouted for help, trying desperately to wake her.

He had been talking to her just minutes ago.

What could have gone so wrong?