Chapter 1

GINA

I stepped out of my car and moved toward the main building, my heart trembling with a joy born of longing; six months without my son, six months without home, now dissolving into the promise of his arms wrapped around me. I couldn't help but imagine how happy Daniel, my son, would be to see me.

And mostly how Darius would react to me finally winning him that multimillion dollar contract; the biggest his company has had since inception. He had sent me off six months ago to do everything possible to win that business deal, and I succeeded. My experience in the boardroom before marrying him came very handy. I couldn't help but smile to myself as I realized I was about to finally establish the kind of marriage I had always desired with Alpha Darius.

I clenched the file in excitement as I slowly found myself pushing open the door; not just to enter into the house I had not stepped foot in for six months, but because of the good news I was taking in and the excitement to relay the news to him.

I was now so positive that it would make him see me in a different light and that our marriage would strengthen.

But as I got closer to the main sitting room doorway, I heard sounds. Sounds of a female that wasn't mine. The smell of the air was different. Clasping sounds. What was this? Who could have the audacity to even have something close to intimacy inside my house? I found my way slowly, not making a sound with my heels, as I stood in front of what I couldn't believe was happening. My greatest shock.

Alpha Darius, the man I had toiled for, for six months was having sex with the househelp, Malia. And just when I thought it would end there, just when I thought it would end with him cheating on me, he actually marked her. I couldn't help but cover my mouth with the file I was holding.

The contact documents I was happy to bring back home.

I slowly made my way towards them, clicking my heels loudly so they would know someone was there. I had planned to surprise both Darius and Daniel by not telling them I was returning today. So the surprise was now on me!

Immediately Malia saw me and she stood up. But Darius, he wasn't resentful at all. Instead, he looked enraged at my sudden appearance, like he was expecting me to come back at all.

I stared at him speechless. I couldn't shout or push him away. I was so shocked and angry. All I could do was stand and hope deep within me that he would beg for forgiveness. He would try to explain himself or come up with something, even a lie, anything for the shame. But he didn't. Instead, he looked at me and made a ticking sound with his tongue.

"What are you doing here? Why did you come unannounced?" he said as I looked puzzled.

"Huh? You have the audacity to say I came in here unannounced, Darius? You are cheating on me with the househelp!" I finally said angrily.

Of course, he wasn't remorseful at all. He felt like maybe he did something he was expecting to get caught in.

"And so what? Should I shake in fright? Or do I need to remind you of your place in my house? Of your place in my life? You have no place here. I only married you because I had to. Because tradition betrothed us, because I needed you to become the alpha. And it just turned out you were also good with business," he said, his voice so plain, no ounce of remorse in it.

How much it hurts. How much it broke my heart to hear this from him.

"How can you say something like that, Darius? How can you turn the table around?" I said. I couldn't even shout because I thought I was not even worthy of shouting at him.

"As far as I know, as far as anything concerns me, you were meant to be nothing but a tool to me. The only thing I can say is I'm sorry I didn't let you know on time. I didn't let you know the truth, and I just pretended to you that the househelp was nothing but help. She is my mate and my true love," he said offhandedly.

“What?” I shrieked as my head suddenly made a banging sound. I felt stupid at that moment because I suspected it, giving their connection, but turned a blind eye like a fool. I felt stupid because for six years he didn't touch me more than once, yet I kept hope.

I kept hoping. He never smiled at me, he never cared about me. Instead, all he did was smile back at this stupid househelp. He did all he could for this so-called househelp. He gave excuses for her not to work many times. It enraged me knowing I saw the signs, yet I behaved like I didn't.

"How could you?” I turned to Malia and started saying. “You are nothing but just a useless househelp fooling around. You think you can fool me?" I yelled back at her, hoping I could regain my authority.

But she was fast to pour back at me. "Hey, you. Don't you come here and say gibberish to me and expect me to not answer you back. You chose to be a fool. It isn't my fault," she said, rolling her eyes as I felt even more enraged.

Darius soon stepped up to me, stood right in front of me, and warned me. "Don't you ever talk back to Malia again. Next time you do, you wouldn't like the outcome," he bellowed in anger.

"There won't be a next time," I said, already so fueled with anger as I slapped the files in his face. "Let's get a divorce. I am divorcing you right now and right here," I said, angry, hoping to shatter all his dreams.

Yet, to my utmost surprise, he agreed immediately, saying, "I had already intended to break off our bond and switch to my true love as soon as you return," he said. He gave me a condescending look and continued, "I reject you on my own. You don't even have to make the first initiative.”

"I wouldn't accept your rejection.” I stopped him, raising a hand. “Don't even start with it. I want my son first. I will only agree to your rejection if you let me have my son," I said to him as he scoffed.

"No, you wouldn't," he said with an evil grin. "I dare you to wage a war with me," he said fiercely.

"I would not accept all your threats without my son. I won't accept your rejection," I said and stormed off angrily.

I went back straight to my son, Daniel's room, and he was there with some other kids playing video games. But to my surprise, he looked up at me and didn't even make any signs of recognizing. I walked slowly towards him.

"Daniel," I said, emotions oozing out of my tone even though I was trying to hold it in and just act calm for my son.

"Why did you come back?" he asked, so coldly I didn't know how to answer him.

Before he retaliated again, "You left for so long without connecting to me," he muttered again.

I didn't even know what to say. I couldn't process the right words, like he was waiting for me just so he could pour out all this anger.

"I came back because of you. It's your birthday tomorrow," I said, hoping he would give me a chance to explain myself.

"Forget it. You won't get to attend," those words sent a huge shockwave to my head.

"What?”