Lovers to Enemies

Astra's POV

"You look stunning, ma'am!" Maria cooed at my dress as I stepped out of my room. Thank God all she saw was my dress, not my reddened eyes. I cried while I dressed, did my hair, and put on makeup. 

"Thanks, Maria." I feigned a smile.

"Are you alright ma'am?" Maria's eyes caught mine. 

I quickly looked away. "Oh, I'm great, Maria." I sniffled and smiled quickly. Maria was the only staff member here who was nice to me. Others treated me like the dirtbag Cherry and Lucien assumed me to be. "How's the preparation for Cherry's fiancé's coming?" 

"The table is set ma'am. All the food courses will start rolling in once he sits on the table. We…”

There I zoned out again. My mind filled with horrid thoughts of what would happen next, now that I've been served with a divorce. My life is over, yet here I am, tucked in a party dress, smiling like a fool. 

"Excuse me, Maria." My voice cuts through hers, and I push myself forward, walking away. I wish I could run, hide, or just be invisible. Why will Lucien be so cruel to me?

Tears threatened to stream down my eyes, but I held myself together. I need to confront Lucien. If he wishes to serve me divorce papers, the least he could do is give me some explanation.

I walked up to the study area, where Lucien usually cools off after being away from home. He was on the phone, so I stood at the door.

"...finally, I'm doing it. I'm getting rid of that bitch for you, my darling. I served her the divorce papers this evening," Lucien's voice echoed through the room.

I gasp.

"Yes, yes, it took me long enough...I know my darling," He said with a sickly grin. "You know you're the only one for me...I'd worship the floor you step on and treat you like a queen."

I held my chest and shut my eyes, keeping myself from crying.

"...I know you're untainted like Astra. I didn't even meet her as a virgin. That cheap slut thinks she's all that when I met her. Too bad she'd be back in the streets where she belongs soon..." Lucien chuckled.

I couldn't take it anymore. I ran off anywhere my leg could take me, my eyes blinded with tears. I ran through the dining room where workers were busy making the tables, barking orders at each other in preparation for Miss Cherry's fiancé. No one cared to notice me running off. 

I found my way into the kitchen, where, for some reason, every staff member had vacated. It's right here I got the courage to cry. Hot tears rolled down my face, and I clenched my fist. 

Lucien was right. I wasn't a virgin anymore when I got married. Though I wish I were. The first man I was ever with was a man I fell in love with at the spot. I didn't even know his name.

My parents had just died in a ghastly fire accident, and I had no one, no home, no money, nothing to my name. I roamed the street one night, hoping for a miracle. I barely survived on a meal that day and was getting desperate. It was easy for a woman to make money on the street. A one-night stand or a blow job could get me a couple of dollars for the week, but I wasn't that type of girl. I've never been with a man all my life until…

His car stopped beside me as I roamed the street. He was like the angel in my dream: mysterious blue eyes, dark suit, blonde hair styled with elegance. I knew this wasn't just any random man, but why was he staring at me through his car window? 

"You're gonna get cold standing there too long." He said coldly, his eyes on the road. "I could get you somewhere to rest for the night." 

I hesitated at first, but my instinct had a better judgment of him. I agreed, and as he drove me to a safe place, I couldn't get my eyes off him. I was moved by the strikingly handsome man driving me in his car. He soon noticed I was staring at him, and somehow we clicked from there. 

I told him about my parents dying in a house fire and how I lost everything. He, stoic as he seemed, opened up to me about his troubles with his father, who never listens to him, while sympathizing with me about the loss of my parents.

He drove me to the most luxurious hotel I've ever been in, asking me to stay as long as I wanted and eat to my fill. But as he made to leave me that night, I held him back. We must have been so caught in each other's world, because in that split second, our lips met in a passionate kiss. He took my clothes off, and I took his off, feeling the warmth of our bare forms together for a moment. 

"You sure about this?" He whispered into my ear. 

"Yes," I said, leaving no room for doubts. They say the first time hurts, but that was the best night of my life. He was gentle and soft, like I was a precious ornament he wouldn't want to break. While I grabbed onto his bare chiseled form, leaning over me, asking for more and more.

That was my first time. The first man I've ever been with.

At the last thrust, we both collapsed into each other. I fell in love with him at first sight. I wanted this moment forever, so I handed him my mother's priceless handkerchief with the rare blue cherry scent. A scent I still wear to this day. This was the only thing I could save from my old house when it burned down with my parents. It was the only treasure of theirs I had left. 

I handed everything to him that night. The handkerchief and my virginity.

And what did I get in return?

He was gone the next morning. 

No goodbyes, no address, no numbers. The only thing he left for me was a bag of cash and a short note. "For you." 

It felt like a cruel dream. 

What does he think I am? A prostitute?!

I wanted to peel my skin off my body in shame.

I was such a fool!

But I couldn't cry forever. I picked myself up from my despair and decided that the next man I would be with would work ten times as hard to win my heart.

I was heartbroken, but I wouldn't drown in my despair. So I made something of myself with the money. I built a thriving fashion business from scratch. While I excelled at my business, I fought getting over my love for this stranger I met for so long, I thought I'd never love any other man again. 

It was that moment Lucien came knocking at my door to beg for the love I once gave freely to a stranger. 

It's too bad Lucien is no different from other men. A tear rolled down my cheek. He made me think our marriage would last forever.

I got several warnings from my high-end customers about Lucien, but I ignored them all because I was in love. "Lucien Gregory Damaris is a brutal con artist." One of them warned.  

"How do you think he took over all these businesses he has? He sweet-talks people into submission and then drags them through the mud once they are subservient to him. That's how he treats all his seven divorced wives," another said.

I should have seen the signs all this time.

He didn't even wait to conclude the divorce before getting my replacement.

That greedy bastard!

Knock! Knock!

Startled by the knock, I quickly wiped my tears, feigning a smile. Maria swung the kitchen door open.

"Cherry's fiancé is here ma'am. They are all waiting for you."

"Oh…" I sniffled, drying the tears I'm trying to hide. 

Maria stood still, noticing me, her eyes compassionate. "Are you sure you're okay, ma'am?"

"Yes, yes." I nodded quickly. "All I have to do is stand and wave like the trophy that I am." I forced a smile and walked out of the kitchen. 

A heavy feeling settled in my guts as I walked out. Anger? No, it's rage? I could hear the chuckling and laughter of Cherry and Lucien in the living room I approached. All I wanted was to make them feel an ounce of the pain I feel right now. I was nothing but loyal and faithful to them, yet this is what I get in return?

How do I survive from here? How do I pick myself up? Lucien intentionally picked me out of my stability to fling me back into the mud. 

Yet they think I'd give up without a fight.

Never!

"Oh, there she is." Cherry's voice interrupted my thoughts. I was here already, right in front of them. Lucien nodded at me, the-soon-to-be-discarded-trophy, his eyes cold and distant. But Lucien didn't catch my eye as much as the tall man in the room did. 

That blonde hair. Those cold, icy blue eyes look way too familiar. His gaze was on Lucien as they both conversed.

Cherry stepped forward to me, pulling the man so close to her that you'd think she wanted to absorb him into her body. He looked irritated, like he didn't want to be here. "Astra, meet my fiancée, Roman Kaelen Drevon," She sang gleefully.

And then he turned, slowly like time had stopped. 

Our eyes met, and an instant recognition sparked between us. We both froze. 

It's him! 

It's the man I met that night on the street!

The first man I was ever with!

He is Cherry's fiancé?!

What was the fuck?!