Chapter 1

YSABELLE

I hastily walk back and forth at the doorway, waiting for my husband to come home. His phone was turned off and his secretary said that Ronan left the company before sunset.

Worries delved into me that it was already midnight, but still, he hadn't returned home.

The food is already cold and I'm starving but I don't have an appetite because my anxiety grew as time passed by.

What if something bad happened to him?

The ring on my finger suddenly fell on the floor. I immediately picked it up before it went too far. 

I let out a devastating sigh while I was removing the dirt from the ring. The ring might have come off easily because I lost too much weight.

I heard a crash from a distance that distracted me. I ran towards the gate and saw Ronan’s car crashing at the steel gate.

I hope he's alright! 

“A-Are you okay?” I worriedly asked as he got out of the car, staggering.

The crash didn't cause much damage, though.

He ignored my presence as he walked past me. Since he didn't like being touched by me, I followed him behind, making sure he could go to his room without injury.

“It's late. Where were you?” I questioned.

“None of your business.”

“Ronan, I'm still your wife. I should know what you have been up to–” 

“In papers, so don't act like a real one.” He coldly spoke out. 

A pain flashed inside my chest.

Almost two years… we've been married for almost two years without love. I mean… one-sided love. 

He's not attracted to me but I do. 

He doesn't love me but I do. 

Having a normal conversation with him is impossible and it's always been like that.

When we reached his room, he tripped but I immediately helped him until he laid down on his bed with a grunt. 

I was about to get away from him but he suddenly wrapped his arms around my waist, causing me to fall into his chest.

This is the first time I feel his warmth.

Heat gushed in my cheeks and my heart pounded wildly as I tried to unwrap his arms but Ronan started to devour my mouth.

My eyes widened in shock as he kissed me aggressively. His lips were soft and warm. I can even taste the strong liquor from his mouth, causing me to feel intoxicated too.

I closed my eyes as he laid me down on the bed and started taking off my shirt.

I just let him.

I just let him claim me.

If this is what makes him happy… I will give my soul to him. That's what I promised him when I said ‘I do’.

***

I woke up, feeling sore all over my body. My neck, my back, my arm, and my thigh were all in pain, especially in between them. I groaned as I moved on the bed.

I scanned my surroundings, and my eyes stopped at the handsome face of Ronan beside me. 

Butterflies in my stomach went wild as my heart fluttered at what we did last night. 

I stared at his frowning face. Even when he's sleeping, he's still wearing a frown. I smiled at the fact that even though he was frowning, he was still handsome.

I touch the frown in between his brows and massage them slowly, enough not to wake him up. He hates being touched by me, and if he finds out that I'm sleeping next to him, on his bed, he will be fuming in madness again. 

But what if he won't? He initiated the sex last night, so… maybe, he will look at me differently from now on.

I'm not sure if I should be pleased about it because something deep inside of me was cut in pain because of how he treated me as his wife during our almost two years of marriage. 

But I still love him.

I've been loving him since grade school. He's always been my first love, and I don't know why I still feel the same, even though it's obvious that he hates me the most.

My finger stops when I remember something.

Right, it's our second wedding anniversary today. I should do something to make him feel better.

I carefully got down from the bed but before I could, Ronan took hold of my arm. 

I braced myself with the thought he was awake, but instead, I heard him saying a name. 

“Candice…” 

I frown and look back at him.

His eyes were shut. He's sleep talking, but the name he said… Candice. 

Who the hell is Candice?

Pain starts to build up in my chest again upon hearing him saying the name of another woman while being with me. It's probably a woman's name.

When will he fully accept me as his wife? I've been hoping that he will look at me with loving eyes and a genuine smile on his face but… it's pretty impossible.

I slowly pulled my arm from his loosened grip and took my clothes on the floor. But something caught my eyes on the floor, under his black coat.

A paper…

My heart was pounding frantically when I took a step closer to read what was written in the upper part of the paper.

DNA Test Report?