Chapter 3

William's lips moved over hers in a bruising kiss, his tongue probing her mouth in a hungry manner.

It took Lily a second to react, her mind was still fuzzy from sleep. But when it did clear up, her stomach dropped with disgust.

The man whose kiss she had once craved, whose touch she had once longed for was now the same person who had shattered her heart into a million pieces.

Anger consumed her and without thinking, she jerked her head back, breaking the kiss.

"What the hell do you think you're doing? Get off me!" She said, struggling against his hold, but this only made his hold tighten around her.

“Be quiet!” William growled as his lips captured hers again and his tongue found its way into her mouth.

Lily immediately tasted the alcohol and the sickening mix of his and Isabella's scent, which made her gag.

She pushed against him again, harder this time, her anger rising. Successfully, she managed to break the kiss, scurrying away from him.

"What the hell do you think you're doing?" She questioned, glaring his way.

He looked back at her, his expression unreadable. A second passed before he spoke.

"What does it look like I'm doing? What?" He tilted his head and his shoulder length yellow hair fell over his eyes, hiding his expression from her. "Is it wrong to make love to my wife? Especially on our wedding anniversary?"

His tone was low, yet mocking. The question was so ridiculous, it made her laugh.

"Make love?" She shook her head, "Don't make me laugh. Do you even know what the word love means?"

She was angry. She was beyond angry.

But, instead of lashing out, she chose to stay calm, her emotions running wild inside her.

William didn't reply, his silence was the answer to her question.

"You're drunk. You should go rest," Lily muttered, averting her gaze from his.

But, William had other plans, and without hesitation, he grabbed her chin and forced her to face him, leaning in for another kiss.

At that moment, Lily snapped and without hesitation, she pushed him back, her palm colliding with his cheek and leaving a red imprint behind.

The sound echoed in the quietness of the house and William flinched. For once, Lily saw his expression contort into something other than the blank canvas she had looked at for years, as he stared at her.

But, she didn't care what expression was on his face at that moment. She was done playing nice.

"I told you to stop." Her voice trembled with anger as she spoke and her fingers still tingle from the impact.

William didn't respond, his eyes never left hers, his expression still unreadable, yet there was something in his eyes, an emotion Lily couldn't understand.

Then, out of nowhere, he sighed and ran his fingers through his hair, pushing the messy strands back.

"God, this is why you're so fucking undesirable." He muttered underneath his breath, but Lily heard those words as clear as day.

Those words made her heart clench painfully, the same way it did when her dream of having a happy marriage was shattered on the night of their wedding, the same way it did when she had caught him in bed with her best friend.

However, this time, instead of sadness, the pain turned into a wave of anger.

Without thinking, Lily shoved him by the chest, finding her way out from underneath him.

"Undesirable?" She questioned.

William didn't hesitate as he answered. “What, am I wrong?” His lips twisted into a cruel sneer as he spoke and for a second, Lily saw anger cross his features.

“What type of woman turns her husband away when he tries to make love to her?” He continued, clicking his tongue in disgust as he added, “You, of course. You're so frigid, boring and ungrateful that it makes you undesirable. You should be grateful that I tried touching you, because mark my words, no man would want a woman like you.”

The words and his tone sliced through Lily like a dagger and tears burned at her eyes. But she refused to let them fall, instead, she did the only thing she could think of—she raised her hand and slapped him again, harder this time around.

The sound was sharp and final in the heavy silence and the impact this time around, caused William to recoil. His hand immediately went up to his cheek, cupping the place he had been hit, in shock.

For a second, neither of them moved. Both of them stared back at each other, Lily with anger and a new emotion she felt towards William—hatred. And William, his face looked priceless.

For once, his usual put together mask had cracked and the surprise he felt was evident.

Lily would have relished in the situation if not for the fact that she felt like if she stayed any longer, she'd probably end up committing murder.

“You're a fucking asshole.” She spat and didn't wait for his response.

She turned on her heel and stormed down the hallway, the tremors in her legs barely held at bay until she reached the guest bedroom. She slammed the door behind her and leaned against it, her chest heaving.

In the dim room as the events of the day replayed in her mind, she finally let the tears fall freely. Hot, bitter trails slid down her cheeks as she sank to the floor.

How had it come to this?

She thought back to the beginning—how it had all started.

The summer afternoon they met... William had saved her from a group of bullies in her first year of college. It felt like fate. She had looked into his eyes as he offered her his hands and thought she saw her entire future there. Safe. Loved. Cherished.

Now, she knew she had been so wrong and she regretted it.

She had given up so much—her dreams, her career aspirations, even her relationship with her family who hadn’t approved of William. All because she thought that love was enough. That he was enough.

But now? Now she saw the truth with blinding clarity and it hurt more than anything she had ever experienced.

With an aching heart, she curled onto the bed, wrapping her arms around herself as if trying to hold the pieces together.

Sleep came in fragments, broken by dreams of betrayal and years of wasted efforts and sacrifices.

~•~•~•~

The following morning, Lily sat at the kitchen counter, absentmindedly stirring a pot of soup she had started without much thought.

The events of the previous day was still fresh in her mind, making her heart ache every now and then. But she knew better than to succumb to that pain and cry.

She needed to get herself together and take action.

With what William had done and the truth of it all being glaringly clear to her, there was only one thing Lily knew she had to do.

Get a divorce.

But…she had a child to think about.

Leaving William immediately would cause a storm, and deep down, she feared facing that storm alone.

Biting her bottom lip, she fell deeper into her thoughts and barely heard the footsteps approaching until William’s voice broke the silence.

"Lily,"

Startled, she whipped around quickly to find him standing on the other side of the kitchen.

Now that it was morning, she could see him clear, as handsome as day, the very same man she had fallen for. His shoulder-length blonde hair framed his face with an effortless grace, making him look every bit the aristocrat of high society he was born to be. Paired with warm brown eyes—eyes that could swoon any lady who dared meet their gaze—he seemed carved from the very essence of privilege and charm.

Even now, as she looked at him, Lily felt her heart react. But, not from love, from regret.

The regret of having fallen for those looks.

“What do you want?” The words had left her mouth even before she realized it, coated with venom and anger.

William didn't seem the least bit phased by it. Almost as if he took her newest attitude as some kind of phase she was going through.

Crossing the kitchen, he pulled out a single wilted rose and pointed it in her direction as he said.

“I behaved out of term yesterday. I'm sorry.”

Lily's eyes widened upon hearing those words, but soon, they narrowed in confusion and suspicion.

What was he up to? She wondered, after all, the William she knows, never apologizes.

“What are you–” She began, wanting to question him, but before she could even finish, he interrupted her.

“As of late, I've acted out a bit. I'm not sure what has gotten into me, but I want to make it up to you.”

“Make it up to me after screwing my best friend for only God knows how long?” Lily felt those words on the tip of her tongue, but swallowed them back and watched as William took several steps closer.

When she took one of her own back, he stopped.

"Today’s your birthday, isn't it?”

He asked, and only then, did Lily realize that today was indeed her birthday. So many years had passed since she last celebrated it, that the day had practically lost its existence to her.

But now, the very same man who had left her waiting on her birthdays during the early years of their marriage, was now bringing it up himself?

Her eyes narrowed further. If she wasn't curious about the shenanigans he was up to before, now she was.

When her answer didn't come, William continued. “I have a surprise planned out for you."

He extended his hand. “Come on.”

She stared down at his hand and for a second, she hesitated.

A birthday surprise?

For a moment, a foolish part of her—the girl who still longed for the William she once knew—wanted to believe him.

Maybe he realized he was wrong.

Maybe he was trying to fix things.

She said nothing and for the sake of her unborn child, she switched off the gas and stiffly placed her hand in his.

The feel of his hand against hers after so many years felt so good—so natural—it made her temporarily forget all about her pain.

~•~•~•~

The drive there was awkward.

William tried to make small talk, but Lily only answered with noncommittal hums and nods. Her heart still felt heavy in her chest and with every mile they drove, her stomach twisted.

When they finally pulled up to a grand event center, Lily was stunned speechless.

Fancy lights. Red carpet. Dozens of cars lining the parking lot. It looked like a grand occasion was happening.

Speechlessly, Lily turned to William and asked. “This…is this for me?”

William barely smiled as he answered. “Of course it's for you. I want to make up for my recent behavior, remember?”

Lily's heart skipped a beat and against her better judgement, a seed of hope began blooming inside her.

Maybe what she had seen yesterday was a mistake.

Maybe she was overreacting.

Maybe, just maybe, there was still hope of building a family for her unborn child.

“Come on,” William said as he gestured towards the entrance and with an uncertain nod, Lily followed him.

However, the moment they entered the hall her world once again, crumbled.

It wasn’t her name written on the birthday banners. It wasn’t her favorite colors decorating the room.

No. It was Isabella’s.

"Happy Birthday, Isabella!" Right on cue, the crowd shouted.

Confetti rained from the ceiling as Isabella, looking ever like the A Lister actress she is, appeared at the top of a small staircase, her hands covering her mouth in a perfect show of shock.

"Oh my God, is this for me?” She asked, a look of surprise painting her face as she looked around and when her eyes landed on William, she called out. “William! I had no idea you were doing something like this!" she gushed, rushing down the stairs toward him.

She embraced him tightly, their bodies lingering longer than appropriate, even under the guise of celebration.

Lily, witnessing all this, stood frozen at the entrance, feeling invisible and forgotten.

Oh, how stupid she had been; a voice at the back of her mind whispered and her stomach churned violently, not just from the betrayal, but from the utter humiliation of it all.

She felt stupid from believing or even entertaining the thought that she could build a family with William after everything.

At her side, she clenched her fists, nails digging into her palms as she fought back the familiar sting of tears.

As if realizing that they had been in their own world too much, Isabella approached Lily, her smile as fake as the glitter in her hair.

"Lily! I'm so glad you came!” She cried happily, reaching out to grasp her hand warmly as if she hadn't betrayed her.

As if she hadn't joined hands with her husband and destroyed her life just hours ago.

Seeing her acting all innocent, coupled with the pain of betrayal and jealousy, was like adding salt on her wounds and without thinking, Lily jerked her hand away, shoving Isabella’s arm aside.

The action was barely forceful—but suddenly, Isabella gasped dramatically, stumbled backwards, and fell to the floor with a pathetic whimper, surprising Lily.

What…what had just happened?! She wondered.

However, before she could even think to speak, the room fell dead silent and all eyes turned to her.

Suddenly, she felt someone shove her aside. She stumbled, but quickly caught her footing only to see William was already at Isabella’s side, helping her up with a frantic urgency he had never once shown Lily.

Her heart clenched at the scene and the back of her eyes quickly began to sting.

But she knew better to become the pathetic version of herself, especially with so many eyes watching her.

So, drawing in a calming breath, she opened her mouth to speak, but was interrupted.

“What the hell, Lily?!" William shouted, turning on her, his face twisted in anger. Gone for the man who had offered her the rose in the kitchen.

Lily's heart shattered. But William, unaware of her pain, barked. "Apologize to her! Right now!”

“What?” She questioned, blinking back tears.

“Did I stutter? Apologized to Isabella. Do it this very second, or I'll have the guards throw you on your knees and hold you there until you apologize!”