CHAPTER ONE

~Aurora

The cake I was carrying, freely fell off my trembling hands as I read the content of the beautifully packaged letter.

Divorce papers?! Adrian was divorcing me, for what? I saw his car outside, so I hit the stairs. My heels clanked on the marble stairs as I walked to our room.

“Hmm… oh Adrian. You fill me up so good.” I heard a female voice moaning and I stopped in my tracks. My stomach twisted into five different knots.

My mind asked me to turn and leave, I didn't need to see it but sheer curiosity took over and I slammed the door open to find the sight before me shattering my world. My husband was ramming into– into. My heart almost stopped.

“Adrian?! What the fuck, it's our anniversary!” I screamed as I walked towards the woman. “Vanessa! You bitch!”

I pulled her from under him and gave her a deafening slap, which sent her rolling on the floor.

“That's my husband. And you're supposed to be my best friend!” I screamed, attempting to pounce on her again, when Adrian’s strong hands pushed me aside as my back hit the wooden bed stand.

“You don't get to touch her after everything you have done?” He said, watching me with cold eyes I never knew he had.

“Ahh.” I winced in pain as I watched him pick her up and console her as she shed crocodile tears. “What are you doing? Adrian! Answer me.”

“Oh, shut up Aurora! Must you always be dramatic?” He said, leading her back to the bed as I slowly got up. My heart was ripping into shreds, slowly, embarrassingly, but I stood ready for anything..

“Don't you dare shut me up. We have been married for five long beautiful years. And you decide to cheat on me with this piece of shit. Along with this wasted ink on paper.” I said as I threw the divorce papers in his face.

“Well, you should have thought of that when you started sleeping with Leonard.” He said, putting his pants back on. Who and what was he talking about? My eyebrows arched in confusion.

“What?! Who is Leonard?” I asked, genuinely, because I also needed to know who I supposedly cheated with.

“Why would you deny him? Remember you almost slapped me for threatening to tell Adrian.” She said, getting up slowly with her hands on her cheeks.

“Haha. I knew you would deny it. But Vanessa here has my back. She wanted my happiness and showed me disgusting images of my loving wife and my cousin rival having sex in one of my hotels!”

My eyes almost popped out of its socket. I stood there, shocked. Not shocked at what he was saying but that he actually believed such things.

“I tried to stop you Aurora. I tried to make you stop sleeping around but this was too much.” She said, as crocodile tears formed in her eyes and her voice trembled.

I looked across to Vanessa, who gave me the most wicked smile I had ever seen before changing back to a sad face.

“Fuck! I have treated you well and I have been a good partner to you. Why did you do this?” He asked, approaching me with slow steps as I noticed his hands rolling into a fist.

I stood there, speechless. “You really believe that? That I cheated on you.” I asked, searching his brown eyes for a hint of doubt.

“Don't even try to manipulate me, the CCTV caught everything and it matches your activities. To think he has been sleeping with you for a long time. Please get out of my house. I have unfinished business to attend to. I don't do harlots.” He said, pushing me out of the room. Our room.

Harlot?! Me. I couldn't believe I just stood there and took all the bullshit he said. I banged on the door as I screamed his name, holding back the tears that were threatening to fall out.

But I was answered by Vanessa's continued moans and the clapping sounds of their bodies.

No! Never! I walked myself down the stairs, gripping the railings like life support. My heart felt it was failing. I wanted to do this day over again. Because what just happened?

I walked out of the building and thoughtlessly moved as my feet dragged on to wherever destination it wanted.

The heavens wept heavily on me as my eyes competed with it. Tears flowed freely even though I had just stopped sobbing. Even though I just fought the most hurtful battle of my life.

I walked down the street, face down, drenched and humiliated. My marriage, my love, my best friend, my everything was gone. Taken by another woman.

What did I do wrong? He had always been loving. I had taken good care of him. I stopped in my tracks, and looked back. I was far from home.

It wasn't safe to call it home anymore. I looked up to the sky as the raindrops hit me violently. Calling me a fool for believing in love in this loveless world.

“Adrian! Why?!” I screamed as I fell on the road. My eyes blurred as people passed by, I didn't look at them. They could die for all I care.

A car began honking loudly beside me. As if the pain and rain wasn't enough, who was this fool?

“Aurora, get in the car!” I heard the voice of my best friend, Rachel. I looked up and she was running towards me with an umbrella.

“Rachel!-” I said, as I heard a loud ringing sound in my heart and my blurry vision turned pitch black.

~~

My eyelashes fluttered. I could hear beeping sounds, and the scent of antiseptic filled my senses.

“Doctor, she's moving.” I heard a familiar voice say. “Aurora.”

“Let's examine her.” A male voice said.

My eyelids slowly opened as the light hit me rapidly, causing me to flinch. Then I slowly opened my eyes again. It was Rachel and the doctor that were speaking.

“R-Rachel..” I tried calling her, but it came out as a whisper.

“I got you, my love.” She said, squeezing my hand softly with that bright smile that could make the rain stop.

“She is doing well, so far. Please Mrs. Aurora, take your healthcare seriously. You almost had a serious complication. I will leave you too now. The nurse will bring medicine for her.” The doctor said before turning to leave.

“How do you feel?” She said, pulling the stool next to me and repacking her long wavy brown hair.

“I feel,” I was about to respond when images of the previous night attacked my memory again. Fresh tears raced down my eyes.

“Oh my. What's wrong, my ginger-haired love?” she asked, her voice filled with worry and concern as her gray eyes searched my black, pain filled eyes for answers.

“Resh. How did I end up in the hospital? And why am I not dead yet?” I asked back, and looked at me with bewilderment.

“Ohk. Calm down. I got an anonymous call that we're in trouble along the streets of your house and luckily I was on my way home.”

“By the time I caught up to you had fallen on the ground and before I could reach you, you fainted. That's why we are here. And as the death part, blame God, he still wants you around.”

She explained and always added her usual level of nonchalance.

“Adrian cheated on me.”

“What?! Oh my darling.” She said, but there was a hint of doubt in her voice. I couldn't blame her. I couldn't even believe it when I saw it.

“He has been…cheating on me.” I sobbed as I spoke.

“What the hell? Is he stupid? Oh, hell no. That's why you almost killed yourself yesterday. No, he would pay for this. Who was the bitch?” She said, getting up now.

“Resh. Please sit down.” I said trying to move my body to get up as I winced in pain at each movement. “Who is Leonard Montgomery?”