Chapter 2

Carla~

I was restless.

Tossing and turning on the bed for God knows how long was beginning to get frustrating, and no matter how hard I tried, sleep seemed to be very far from me.

Every time I closed my eyes, the scene from earlier today replayed itself mercilessly.

Xavier stepping out of his car.

Another woman’s hands wrapped possessively around him. God, it made me sick.

The way they smiled at each other...easy, familiar, almost like they shared something I had never been part of. I clenched my jaw at the memory. Xavier rarely ever smiled at me.

The feeling curling in my chest wasn't just jealousy at this point.

It was rage.

I shut my eyes tighter, forcing in a deep breath to steady my nerves. For a brief moment, I considered marching straight to the guest room and confronting the redhead woman. But reason stopped me just as quickly.

No.

That would only make things worse.

Xavier had to have a reason. He must have a reason for bringing another woman into our home. All I had to do was ask him nicely.

Speaking of Xavier, the emptiness beside me on the bed made my chest ache. Perhaps that was part of the reason I couldn't sleep.

He wasn't here.

I'd endured sleeping alone while he was away, counting nights, convincing myself it would be different once he returned. I hadn't expected to be abandoned in the dark again, with him just a few rooms away.

With a sigh, I pushed back the covers and slid off the bed. My feet met the cold floor and instantly, I was met with a slight wave of light-headedness.

My vision blurred for a second but I easily shook it off.

Making my way out of the bedroom, I headed toward the study. I was certain he would be there.

And I found the study very easily like I'd done for over a hundred times before, my heart racing in my chest.

But just as I lifted my hand to knock, the doorknob twisted on its own.

The door opened.

And my breath caught in my throat.

It was her.

The same redhead woman Xavier had brought home.

She stepped out of the study in a provocative nightwear that left little to the imagination. Her hair was disheveled, her lipstick slightly smudged.

My eyes widened instantly, my mind racing with images I didn't want to acknowledge.

What the hell was she doing here?

Why was she coming out of his study looking like that?

Before I could say a word, she spoke.

"You must be Carla. The woman I've been hearing so much about."

I blinked at her, momentarily confused.

"You're cute." She chuckled, leaning closer, her height making the gesture feel deliberate.

It almost felt like she was trying to intimidate me.

I ignored her comment, sidestepping her and moving to enter the study.

But...

"The name’s Estelle."

I stopped short in my track.

"Estelle Rodriguez."

My body went rigid, eyes widening in disbelief.

Estelle?

The name wasn't new to me. I’d heard it in whispers and rumors; Xavier’s first lover. The woman who left the country years ago. The one they claimed was the only person who ever made him truly happy.

And her name had been Estelle.

Was this really her?

"What are you doing here, Estelle?" I asked, my voice calm despite the irritation simmering beneath the surface.

She smirked and folded her arms leisurely. "Let's just say… I'm not exactly a stranger around here."

My fears solidified.

"I haven't even been gone long enough for Xavy to suddenly get himself a… wife," she added, eyes flicking over me. "Is that what you are?"

I frowned, hating the nickname on her lips. Hating the way she looked down as she talked to me.

"Listen here, ginger." I hissed, stepping closer and looking up at her.

"This is my home, and whatever game you think you're playing, I won't fucking allow it."

I leaned in, my voice low and firm. "I'll also advise that you keep your hands off my man."

Her grin widened.

"You're right. My bad." She muttered in a mock apology.

"I'll keep my hands off him."

Then she leaned closer, her lips brushing my ear as she whispered, "But honey, I can't guarantee he'll do the same."

That was it.

Everything went red.

But before I could react, the study door opened again.

Xavier stepped out.

He was shirtless, dressed in nothing but loose sweatpants. My heart sank, suspicion flaring violently as Estelle's gaze turned openly flirtatious.

"I’ll leave you two to it," she said, eyes lingering on him far too long.

Then she walked away, hips swaying in deliberate seduction.

I stood there, jaw clenched, chest heaving.

Then Xavier spoke.

"Shouldn't you be asleep by now?"

I frowned, slowly turning to face him. "Why?" I shot back.

"So you can have some time with your lover?"

He rolled his eyes and began walking back into the study, like I was just some mere disturbance.

"Estelle is just a friend," he muttered nonchalantly.

"She isn't like that."

I scoffed. "Really? Because I could have sworn she just admitted otherwise."

"You're overreacting." He replied flatly.

I froze.

"What?"

"If you don't trust me enough to take my word for it," Xavier said, settling into his seat, "then this conversation is pointless."

I stood there, lips parted, unable to find my voice.

"Xavier…"

"If you don't mind, Carla. I have a lot of work to do."

He didn't look up.

"We can continue this in the morning."

And with that, he just went back to working on his computer like I wasn't even there. He casually ignored me like I meant absolutely nothing.

And deep down, maybe that was the truth I could never bring myself to face until now. I meant nothing to Xavier, only a placeholder for his actual lover.

I was just some wife he married due to an arrangement between our families. And all I could do was hope for something more from him.

I was never going to get that, was I?

The entire room suddenly began to spin around me, making me sway on my feet.

Tiny dots filled my sight, blurring my vision again.

This time, it wasn't so easily to shake off.

"Xavier..." I whispered, instinctively reaching for him.

My knees buckled and the next thing I knew, I was falling. Hard.

Darkness followed.

And for some reason, I let it take me.