CHAPTER 2

Alex POV

I cried and cried non stop till my eyes were all red and swollen.  

I had gone to my safe haven which was a small beautiful garden deep into the vastness of the hundreds of apple trees orchids planted. 

No one comes here since I had instructed them not to. I come here only whenever I am feeling down. The reason was this place seems to brighten up my mood, make me happy and yet the scents of the bright flowers and the comforting sunlight is doing nothing to brighten up the dark storm over my heart. 

I felt betrayed. 

Angry.

And maybe foolish, and stupid and dumb. And many more worthless names I wish to call myself but don't know them. 

"Stupid, stupid, stupid," I chanted to myself, hitting my head with my palm. "How could I have been so blind?"

All the signs had been there. The late-night calls he’d take in his office, the lingering glances between him and Maria at company events, the way he’d suddenly become “busy” whenever I tried to plan anything together.

"He never loved you," I told myself bitterly. "You were just the perfect bride his grandfather picked out. The suitable wife for the Coleman heir."

I wrapped my arms around myself, rocking back and forth as memories flooded my mind.

"I saw how he looked at her," I choked out between sobs. "Every time Maria walked into a room, his eyes would light up. The way they never did for me."

I remembered all the excuses I’d made for him. 

‘He’s grieving his grandfather.’ 

‘The company is putting too much pressure on him.’ 

‘He just needs time.’

A harsh laugh escaped my lips. "And I believed him when he said those business trips were important. What a fool."

My fingers dug into the grass beneath me. "I knew... deep down, I knew. Maria was his first love, the one he never got over. But I thought... I really thought..."

Fresh tears streamed down my face as I remembered how I’d convinced myself that his distance was temporary, that our marriage meant something to him.

"'He’ll come around,'" I mimicked my own naive thoughts. "'He just needs to adjust to married life.' God, I’m such an idiot!"

The pain of losing our baby twisted like a knife in my heart. "I lost our child, and he... he called it a blessing." My voice broke on the last word.

I looked down at my empty stomach, placing a trembling hand there. "I’m sorry, little one. I’m sorry you had such a heartless father. I’m sorry I was too weak, too stupid to see what was happening."

"Pathetic," I spat out. "That’s what you are, Alex. Pathetic for thinking an arranged marriage could turn into love. Pathetic for ignoring all the signs. Pathetic for still loving him even now."

The sun was setting now, casting shadows across my tear-stained face. In this moment, surrounded by the beauty I’d created, I had never felt uglier, never felt more worthless.

"Maria was right," I whispered to the gathering darkness. "I should have known. Everyone probably knew. They were probably all laughing at the stupid, naive wife who couldn’t see what was right in front of her."

The crunch of footsteps on fallen leaves made me stiffen. No one was supposed to come here. Yet there she stood—Maria—wearing a satisfied smirk that made my stomach turn.

"Found you," her voice dripped with false sweetness. "Crying in your little garden? How pathetic."

I quickly wiped my tears, standing up. "How did you find this place?"

"Oh honey, I know everything about you. I had to play the role of your 'friend' so perfectly." Maria walked closer, her designer heels crushing the flowers I had tenderly grown. "Did you really think Michael could ever love someone like you?"

After I and Michael got married, I didn't have anyone to talk to or guide me on how to be a billionaire's wife as everything was a bit overwhelming. 

Maria had reached out and we connected, becoming quick friends. She spoke to me about Michael, his quirks and strength which was fascinating. 

Told me they had dated since middle school before calling it off to leave the country. She said it wasn't just right between them. 

It was when she'd gotten back to the country and was looking for a job did Michael offer the position of being his assistant.

Of course I was worried my husband and his ex were in touch and in close proximity but never wanted to think about it. 

Didn't want to think of the hurt it would cause me. 

Didn't want to get burned, yet here we are, me basking and feeling the raw heat of my own foolishness. 

"Stop it," my voice trembled. "Whatever game you're playing—"

"Game?" She laughed sharply. "This isn’t a game. This was survival. Michael and I were meant to be together before that meddling old man interfered."

"Don’t you dare speak about Mr. Wilson that way!" I shot back, anger finally breaking through my grief. "He was a good man!"

"Good?" She sneered. "He destroyed our lives! Michael and I were planning our wedding when he forced this arranged marriage nonsense. All because you were the 'perfect' choice for the Coleman name."

I shook my head violently. "Michael... he loved me. I know he did—"

"God, you’re delusional!" Maria cut me off. "Every kiss, every touch, every 'I love you', it was all an act. We needed his grandfather to believe Michael was happily married before passing him the CEO position. And you," she gestured mockingly, "played your part beautifully."

"You’re lying," I whispered, but doubt crept into my voice.

"Am I? Why do you think he was always 'working late'? Why do you think I was always around? We were together the whole time, laughing at how blind you were."

Tears streamed down my face again. "Stop..."

"Even today, when you were in the hospital?" Her smile turned cruel. "He was with me, celebrating because I finally gave him what you couldn’t."

My heart stopped. "What?"

Her hand went to her stomach, the gesture deliberate and devastating. "I’m pregnant, Alex. Two months along. Isn’t it perfect timing? Just as your baby dies, mine thrives. The true Coleman heir."

The world spun around me. I stumbled backward, my back hitting an apple tree. "No..."

"Yes," Maria stepped closer, twisting the knife deeper. "And now there’s nothing holding him back. No grandfather to please, no pretense to maintain, and no baby tying him to you. He’s finally free to be with his real family."

"Get out," my voice was barely audible. "Get out of my garden."

"My garden?" She laughed. "Oh sweetie, nothing here belongs to you anymore. Not this garden, not this house, and certainly not Michael. It was never yours to begin with."

As she turned to leave, she paused. "Pack your bags, Alex. Don’t make this more embarrassing than it already is. Though I must thank you, playing your friend while sleeping with your husband? It was the best performance of my life."

I slid down the tree trunk as her footsteps faded away, her words echoing in my head.

It was all an act.