CHAPTER 1: HER FATHER'S DEATH

They say grief comes in stages, but no one had warned Nadia about the rage and heartache she was going to experience, probably forever. She stared at her father's death certificate through a haze of tears, listening to her husband flirt with another woman in what used to be their living room. Two days. Papa had been dead for two days, and Asha couldn't even pretend to care.

Nadia grabbed the document that shattered her entire life with just a single headline, heading downstairs. Asha was running around, playing lovey-dovey with the mysterious woman he brought home even before her father passed away.

It was the first time she'd ever see him playful. His face was always hard like a rock whenever he was around her or whenever he reminded her of how much of a spoiled brat she was or complained that she couldn't do basic things.

Her thoughts clouded her movements, she bumped into the woman, causing both of them to fall on their buttocks.

“Asha,” the woman cried out, holding the part of her body that wasn't even in the collision, pushing out fake tears.

“Are you blind?” Asha growled, running in her direction and helping her out. “Can't you watch where you are going?”

The death certificate fell from Nadia's hands and she rushed to pick it up, ignoring whatever Asha was saying. “It's been 2 days, Asha. 2 days since my father passed away and you couldn't even have the slightest shame to honor him.”

“Honor him for what? For allowing me to marry a spoiled brat like you? A spoiled brat who only got whatever she wanted.”

“He helped you. He helped your business,” she cried out. Her tears started to roll out without any notice to stop. “Why are you only focused on the part where you were asked to marry me?”

With a single step, he towered over her. Her small body disappeared in his body frame. “At what cost?”

“The only mistake I ever made was loving you too much,” she sniffed. “And it hurts differently because I still love you.”

“You are wrong, that wasn't your only mistake,” he said, returning to the woman who sat watching the drama between the couple. He cupped her face, leaning in closely, just enough to be able to kiss her.

“The only mistake you made was making me stay away from her. The love of my life. The girl who saved me years ago from that fire. I love you so much Victoria.”

“I love you too Asha,” her sweet stalky voice renting the air a little higher.

Nadia stared across the room like he spoke gibberish, her head turning, just to be able to catch a better view of the said woman. “Excuse me?”

“You heard me right. And you will pay for every second that I spent without her.”

“Asha–”

“You will get the divorce papers by tomorrow. This charade of a marriage is over.”

Without waiting for another word, he stormed out with Victoria.

Nadia stood frozen in the empty living room, her father's death certificate crumpled in her trembling hands. The woman who saved him years ago? Her mind raced, trying to make sense of his words. What woman? How? The front door slammed shut, and she could hear their muffled voices through the window.

Dejected, she laid on the couch with the crumpled certificate still in her hands. Her mind raced back on how she begged her father to marry Asha Ashton all because she was in love with him. He was a billionaire but her father, Elliot Gray, was a business tycoon. One of the richest to have ever lived. Using the past tense to talk about her father broke her heart in pieces.

Asha had agreed to marry her in order to save his business. Her heart was all fluttery and her face was all shiny when they walked the aisle together. Rings exchanged. She thought within 2 years he'd change towards her. She was wrong. He remained defiant. Still that same cold look on his face, and a little more on his attitude. A little honor for the man that she called father and saved his business was all she asked. Instead he brought home another woman even before her father was pronounced dead. Like he knew something she didn't.

The door opened. She didn't bother to check who it was. Believing it was Asha and Victoria, she laid on her back with the certificate straightened out on her chest.

“Mrs Ashton,” she turned her head slowly. Asha never called her that. Nobody ever did except a few people when it came to business. Her father's lawyer was standing with a stack of documents in his hands. “I'm here on the occasion of your father's death.”

She stood up, not without secretly wiping her tears away. She pointed to a chair, not very far away from her. “Please sit.”

“I'm sorry for your loss. Please accept my condolences.

“Thank you,” she sniffed. Both because of her current marriage situation and the current loss she was experiencing.

“This is in regards to your father's properties but I've been instructed not to do this without your husband's presence,” he said. “Can we call him in?”

“I don't understand?”

“Your husband has to be present before I can say whatever I'm here to say,” he calmly repeated. “Instructions were given by the late Elliot Gray.”

Asha barged in with her, flaunting her effortlessly even in the presence of the lawyer. “You don't have to worry, I'm here.”

He took a seat, allowing Victoria to sit on his lap. “Let's proceed.”

“The condition to the property sharing states that you, Nadia Ashton, daughter of Elliot Gray must be happily married with a child before his properties are to be handed over to you. In which whoever your husband is, is to have a share in his properties as well.”

Confused, Nadia rose up immediately, going behind the lawyer to see if he was reading right. “What kind of ridiculous condition is that? Are you sure my father wrote that and signed off on it?”

“I'm sorry Mrs Ashton, that was the instructions given to me before he passed.” The lawyer gathered his things, bowing. “Have a good day Mr and Mrs Ashton.”

Nadia slumped to the couch, defeated. A pin drop silence echoed through every corner in the room. No one was saying anything. Not Asha, not Victoria.

Asha made his way to her, wearing a wicked smile. Her face contorted into disappointment and fear of the unknown. Life without her father was going to hit hard in so many places. He leaned to her level, smirking already. “Dear wife, you still love me, right? Let's have a baby and make the world believe we are happy.”