Chapter 1.

Pov; Divorce

Lila looked at her phone for what felt like the hundredth time and frowned at the time on the display. It was odd her mother had not responded to her text messages at all for an entire day. It was weirder her husband of five years had not responded either. They were both attentive and loving towards her and so she found their silence odd. Moreover, her husband Merlin was late. If he is late he always calls or messages her. This felt off somehow, and her stomach flipped nervously, yet again.

She got up from the sofa where she'd been trying to kill her nerves with N*****x on her laptop when she heard the door open. She walked to the edge of the study and looked to see Merlin walking in with a somber expression.

"Hey babe, you're late and didn't answer my messages. Is everything okay?"

"No, he shook his head. Can you come to my office with me?" He motioned her to follow what she often dubbed his inner sanctum.

Considering the fact he'd made love to her for hours the night before, his cold demeanor right now as he led the way, not even pausing to kiss her hello had her thoroughly confused. He motioned her to take a seat in the chair opposite his desk and she made wide eyes.

"Merlin, you're scaring me. What's going on?"

"We're getting divorced, he said bluntly.

She laughed. There was no way he was serious considering in the eight years they had been together, five of them married, he'd never once raised his voice and they've never had a real argument. Their biggest fight ever was the one he'd forgot to put the toilet seat down and she fell into the toilet in the middle of the night. Even then he'd apologized profusely after she stopped freaking out, they ended up having incredible make-up sex in the shower where she'd gone to clean up. She stopped laughing and stared at him. "I'm sorry what?"

"Divorce. I just need your signature on this paper," he slid a stack across the desk." You're welcome to talk to a lawyer of course. The prenup we signed will stand . You get the house and you can keep your car, you'll get a monthly allowance for five years."

"I don't understand."

He held another document in his hand, "this is a paternity test."

"What does this have to do with me?" She was frowning as she looked at the way fingers trembled, just slightly. "What is going on?" She herself was starting to shake now.

"I had an indiscretion at your sister's wedding in Turks and Caicos six weeks ago."

You cheated on me?" She was going to vomit. "At my sister's wedding?"

"Yes."

She got up from her seat and wrapped her arms around her middle. This isn't happening."

"I fucked up and had too much to drink and i didn't wear a condom. She is pregnant. I had a rush down on my paternity. It had come back as mine.

"You told me you didn't want children for another three years!" She turned to face him angrily.

"I did say that, and I stand by what I said. It is unfortunately a done deal. I made an error in judgment, but I can't let another man raise my child. We're getting divorce, and I'll be marrying the mother of my child."

"How can you sit there so coldly and tell me this?"

"Do you think this is easy for me?"

"It's sure as fuck doesn't look like it's all too hard considering how frigil you're being!" I'm not one of your multi-million dollar business transactions Merl, will you simply remove the equation. I'm your wife, your wife!" She had always thought the way he removed emotions during a negotiation was sexy and powerful but right now, being on the receiving end of his harsh, calculating mannerisms felt like agonizing cruelty.

"Not after you sign this."

"If I sign this you get the fuck out right now."

He blinked at her words." Now?"

"Did you not say I get the house?"

"Surely you'll want to see Janka and Elsie while things get sorted?"

"They can come here." I'm not the one who screwed around. You can leave."

"My office is here, and most clear it now."

"You can come on the weekend with a moving truck and take the contents of this office as well as your clothes and toiletries but the rest, all the furniture, dishes, and every fucking knickknack, knife, fork, spoons, stays in the house with me."

"I understand you're angry, Lila. I'm trying to be respectful. I ask the same of you."

"Respectful? You fucked someone else" she screamed at the top of her lungs, gaping for air as her mind swirled. "At my sister's wedding and got her pregnant. Right years, right years you never once touched me without using a condom, and you forgot?" She gripped her stomach as she struggled not to release the contents all over his prize office. "Oh my God," she had a thought and gazed at him, "we had sex every single day we were there, sometimes twice. Did you fuck me after fucking her?"

"Lila, I'm sorry," he said quietly, not breaking his stony face, "it wasn't supposed to happen like this, and the best way I can fix this is by being honest with you by telling you the truth. There is no point in prolonging things. I can't have my child born a bastard. They must have my name. My grandfather's will was specific. Any child born out of wedlock will get nothing. It means the million dollars in thrust of my child will not be touched. I can not punish a child for their father's transgressions.

"And this woman is keen to marry you too? She's all gung-ho, is she?"

She is not thrilled with the prospect but once I explain everything about the money and the benefits, she was more open. She is letting her husband know this evening probably right now, as well, and we will be married between six weeks barring complications.

"How could you do this?" She tried so hard not to cry and angrily brushed the tears streaking her cheeks away. "I thought you loved me, and I thought everything we had was good. Why would you go to someone else? God she groaned and rubbed her forehead, "in all this time i never once considered sleeping with someone else. Not once, I gave up everything for you. Stopped working at the law firm because the hours cut into the time you wanted to be with me. Schedule my time at janka's art gallery around your schedule. I've been at your beck and call her like a bitch mounted and you have been having sex with someone else?".

He was silent as she vented her frustrations.

She waved her hand at him, trying not to let him get the upper hand. If he could be this cold sitting there, so could she. "Just go park what you'll be needing in the next five days and get out.

"It would be easier if you went to one of the girls."

"It's too bad I'm not here to make things easier for you, isn't it?" She turned to face him and when he remained seated, she shrieked so loudly her voice felt scraped, her vocal chords straing, "get the fuck out of my house."

"Lila, for what it's worth, I do love you. This was an error in judgment but unfortunately, a costly one."

"Save your condolences bullshit for the lawyers. I don't need it, get out," she punked down on the leather sofa. She was shaking with unbridled rage, shock and if she was honest, heart break.

"I need your signature."

I'll call Elsie to make sure you're not fucking me over and I'll sign them.

She loved this man with all her might and soul, and he coldly collapsed and ripped her word to shreds without a second thought.

He rose from the desk and slowly walked to the door of his office, and he was almost there when a thought occurred to her.

"I knew every single person at my sister's wedding. Who betrayed me with you?" Which one of my sister whorish girlfriend fucked my husband?"

He paused, his hands on the door frame as he clutched it, for the first time white knuckles as he admitted quietly, "Lolo."

The room spun dangerously, and she gasped for breath, "my sister."

His single nod was all it took for the word he had thought broken to shatter. She slumped off the sofa to the floor, gasping to breathe as she let out an ear-piercing scream of pain and sober her heart out while he walked away.