CHAPTER 2

I staggered back to the living room, hands gripping the stair railings as i walked past. Collapsing on the sofa with hot unbridled tears brewing in my eyes.

Hadn't my life always been perfect?.

So why?. Why did it look like I'd been living in an illusion?.

A small chuckle escaped my lips - not the hearty kind, it was heavy and self deprecating.

For how long has this been going on?. And how could i be so blind that...... I couldn't see all of this happening right underneath my nose.

I sat alone in the silence , asking myself questions that i never once knew needed answering.

What else was Jason hiding from me?. And how much of these secrets were already hidden from me?.

My hands gripped the hem of my dress tightly, my knuckles turning a frightening white as i gritted my teeth, pain and anger searing in my chest. Memories long forgotten came back to me, but this time ......they weren't in bits and pieces - it flooded my mind like a tidal wave,making it hard for me to breathe.

Almost as if they had been there the whole time, lurking around and waiting for the perfect moment to haunt me. The horror,the torment, the anger and most importantly...... the empty void i had tried so hard to fill up.

I was immobilized for fifteen minutes. Fifteen minutes of being forever stuck in a never ending, frustrating cycle of disbelief and shock. This was all too sudden.....i couldn't absorb all of this at once.

The sound of my husband's gentle yet steady footsteps descending from the stairs filled my ears. I sat up, wiping the stray tears from my eyes with the back of my palm, not wanting him to find me in such a distraught state.

It could raise his suspicions. At least..... not until I'm able to salvage what i can from the situation. If he knew that his 'secrets' were spilled, i might be the next on his chopping board.

This intricate web of lies and deceit, until i could be able to unravel each thread.....it was better to lay low for the moment, only for the time being.

Before long, my husband's figure came into full view. My eyes lingered on his face for a long time, with his dashing looks and scholarly aura, it's no wonder he could easily decieve me and hold up this facade for so long. He had our eight year old son in his arms,his exquisitely handsome face was adorned with a smile that could swoon any lady off her feet .

I stared at him, noticing the soft halo surrounding him - To think that this was the man whom i had adored fervently and looked up to. To him......i had given my all and as well, given up on my all.

Yet.....what do i get?.

I smiled, my eyes straying from his tall figure before briefly resting on our son's. Edward was like a chibi version of his dad.......cute and really good looking, a child that almost led me to my death. He was very picky with anything i did, at first, i had thought that it was just fine and that it would get better over time.

But now, that didn't seem like the case.

"Why are you staring at me that intently, is there something you want to say?!"

I snapped out of my reverie, quickly mellowing my gaze. There was not a trace on indulgence in his voice, only sternness mixed with a slight agitation.

"Honey...... today is our eighth year wedding anniversary. I was wondering......if you, perhaps.....prepared a present for me." - I bit my lips.

And i know that i shouldn't, but i was unwilling to let it go. I wanted to give him the benefit of a doubt and i prayed to the heavens...... that my assumptions were wrong  and that what i heard overheard earlier was a lie .

His smile faltered for a moment, before returning in a flash, albeit it felt stiffened. Watching his expression change in that moment made my stomach drop, it wasn't a ruse. Jason truly didn't love me, he never did.....i was always the other woman in this marriage.

"Mother, it's either you're dumb or that you no longer have a sense of priority. Why don't you make better use of yourself by doing the house chores instead of daydreaming about a wedding anniversary that's totally not going to happen." - Edward sneered, his hands holding tightly to his father's shirt as humph'ed.

My heart felt like it had been torn to a thousand pieces and it hurt. My chest heaved as i tried to breath, tried to keep calm. To a child i had raised painstakingly, am i really worth less than his father's mistress?.

Jason hmm'ed in accordance, barely sparing me a glance. I stood there, feeling the bitterness rise up to my mouth as i fought back tears, trying to keep my compusure.

I stood aside with my arms folded, playing the role of a housewife - dull, generic, unlikable, lacking in luster and self priority. Jason fumbled with his free hands in his pocket, tossing a bank card on to the coffee table - like he was giving alms to a street beggar.

"You're going to have to celebrate this year's anniversary without me. Take yourself on a shopping date or anything you feel like, it's a compensation." - His voice remained firm and irrefutable, leaving zero rooms for negotiations.

My eyes solemnly settled on the card  that sat on the table, quietly stretching out my arms to reach for it. Then i felt a sharp sting, pain coursed through my arm and i winced.

A pinch. I turned my head, staring at Edward who had some point gotten free from Jason's hold. He grabbed the card with his little hands, a scowl gracing his adorable features.

"Dad, what's truly the use of giving her this much money?. She never actually uses it, isn't it a waste?. All this money and yet she can't afford decent clothings, whenever she comes around me, i find it embarrassing to openly say she's my mother." - He paused.

" She doesn't deserve this, since she prefers her rags...then let's not disturb her. Let's go already!!, Aunt Irina would make better use of this money than she would anyways." - Edward huffed, walking out hurriedly with his small legs.

I stood rooted to the ground in disbelief.

"Selene, Edward is only eight years ago. You as a mother should be more understanding." - He leaned in, pecking me lightly on my forehead.

He picked up his coat, taking big strides towards the door like he was desperate to escape something.......or rather me.

I wiped off his kiss, suddenly overwhelmed with disgust. It's such an irony, I had once yearned for his touch, now, i was repulsed by it.

The house fell silent, only the sound of my steady heartbeat kept me company.

I took a walk back up the stairs, striding towards Jason's study.