CHAPTER 1

I bounced my way upstairs with my fingers fiddling around the tips of my hair, unable to hide the beams of excitement bubbling in my eyes.

Today was mine and Jason's eighth year wedding anniversary.

A milestone?!. Yes, i knew.

I wore a yellow polka dotted dress, fully adorned from head to toe. Thoughts of Jason filled my mind and it made it quite hard to sit still.

The house looked desolate and quiet, with not a single person in sight. Oh well!!, i smiled, feeling certain that Jason was probably in his study. Coming up with different surprises that would be sure to leave me in awe.

I balled my fists, shaking as waves of anticipation washed over me in that instant.

Climbing up the stairs, i arrived at his study room, not realizing how soon I'd gotten there while dilly dallying with my wildly vivid fantasies.

A soft sigh casually escaped my lips - I was yet to experience the day, but it was already looking amazing.

I took deep breaths, standing before the grand oakwood door. My eyes lingered on the cold door as i tried arranging my thought process.

Lifeless and unresponsive without a single atom of warmth nor care - i shrugged my shoulders, it would be awry if an inanimate object such as the door could feel or express emotions.

Such could only occur in horror shows......or at best,in live recordings of old medieval haunted houses.

I reached out my hand, grabbing the door by it's knob in an attempt to open it. Then i paused, my ears perking up as i heard sounds from the other side.

Voices..........

I leaned in, pressing my ear against the door, listening to the voices, both of which were most familiar to me, my husband and son.

But there was a third - and it sounded feminine, most likely belonging to a lady.

Worse still, i felt strangely familiar with this highly pitched coquettish voice. Strangely........

Eavesdropping, i held my breath, trying to get the gist of the situation. Possibly, they were planning a big surprise for me.....

What could it be this time?.

A grand party?. A get away trip to some exotic island?. Gifts worth over an astronomical sum from famous designer brands.......or was it going to be a dinner at some fancy five star restaurant with fireworks at the end of the day?.

I really didn't know.

Jason was often fond of lavishing me with gifts, and i knew that it wouldn't be any different this time around.

I let out a low chuckle, leaning back in, with hopes that i hadn't missed an important detail. Luckily,i could give them a surprise of my own, by revealing their secret plans to them later.

And then, i heard it. Those confessions that were bound to break the very illusion i had been desperately holding up to for so many years.

"Honey...... Just how long do you intend to keep flirting around with that miserable limp?. It's so lonely here without you, can't you come visit me?. I miss you so much."

I froze. Questions repeatedly playing in a loop at the back of my mind like a broken tape recorder.

Honey?!

Was Jason seeing another woman, was he cheating on me with another woman?.

I slapped my forehead with my palm, tossing those irrational thoughts in a trash can that could only exist in my mind.

There was no way!!.  Absolutely no way that Jason would cheat on me. He wasn't the type of man to have affairs outside our marital home, he was loyal and faithful.......to me.

We were perfect. A happy family of three, Jason could never cheat on me with some other woman. He always assured me of his unwavering loyalty.......he said i was his one and as well his only.

He promised me a happy life together - forever.

I heard him chuckle lightheartedly, a brief sense of hope filled my chest - certain that he was about to tell the lady off, make it clear to her that he belonged solely to another.

But his next words....... left me disillusioned.

"Sweetheart, I've missed you alot too. And I'm here pulling every string possible, just to make sure that i get to meet you once more."

I stumbled, feeling my legs give way from beneath me. My hands trembled and i wondered if it was from the cold or from the fact that anxiety was beginning to take a hold in my heart

Did he........ did he just call that other woman, Sweetheart?.

"Everything is a work in progress right now, but before things can get settled, i just want to make sure that she doesn't spill anything about that incident that occurred nine years ago." - He paused. " "As the only living witness, it would be risky for us if she decided to spill everything she knew to the investigation bureau."

My eyes darted around frantically, my throat drying up at an alarming speed. Nine years ago......

The only incident that occurred nine years ago was........i winced, a sharp hiss escaping my lips as i held my head in my hands.

Pieces and fragments of memories pieced together, my lips quivered uncontrollably as that old dark haunting memory suddenly came into the light.

A part of my painful past which i had forever sworn never to remember..........it was finally back. The pain clawed at my skin although it never left any scars.

No..... It wasn't that it never left any scars, those wounds had healed and scabbed over time. And now, that memory was back to make me bleed once more.

"Hmph!. I desire the warmth of your touch. Besides, what did i do wrong, i just ran into some old geezers' car, what's really the big deal?" - the lady scoffed, her soft voice holding a huge weight of grievance.

Jason chuckled, his deep throaty laughter reverberating through the room. "That's only because you have no idea how much of a mess you made back then. No one else is going to know about that incident, as long as I'm able to keep it under wraps."

His voice dripped with a heavy sense of indulgence....... something i could only experience in really rare cases.

" Nevermind, once the statute of limitations passes by, I'll be calling off this shirade, because i can only belong to you, Irina."

I stood there, puzzled, hurt and in a daze. Irina......who was this Irina?.

I hissed, another piece of memory stepping into the light.

IRINA WILLIAMS!!!.

The name of that cruel lady who had once stripped me of everything that i had once held dear.

My heart ached in pain, the feeling of betrayal dealing it some brutal blows.

"So...... would you be visiting me today?. I have your something special to show you, it's something you will surely like." - Irina teased seductively.

"Well, today is actually my eighth year wedding anniversary with Selene."

" Ahhh, sounds like you would rather spend the day with that intolerable caricature of a person." - Irina accused sharply.

" No, Aunt Irina..... that dull, generic mother of mine is nothing compared to you. I will rather spend the day with you than have to endure her insufferable teachings on filial piety. If it weren't for dad, i would have gotten rid of her by now."

If my heart was aching before, it had broken now. I had never once thought that a day like this would ever exist.......a day when i would hear my own son speak so ill of me to his father's mistress.

I bit my lips, i had to keep listening. Was it torture?

Yes, it was absolutely and completely.

And yet, it was a cross i had to bear.

Jason chuckled loudly this time and i could just picture it, his gorgeously carved features twisted in a condescending smirk.

I staggered a bit, panting as tears slipped out of my eyes. I had indeed wished for a surprise, but unfortunately, this was more of a nightmare.