Chapter Two

Pearl’s POV

“What the fuck?” I screeched as my phone slipped out of my trembling hands and crashed onto the floor.

I was certain that the screen had shattered, but that was the least of my concerns. I had more pressing matters to attend to, like the fact that my husband was buried deep---and pounding---in my sister, Corrine.

I still couldn’t believe it, my brain hadn’t processed any of that. Damn, it was hard to. My fists were tightly clenched on either side of my body and I bit down on my jaw with so much force.

Ashton turned around and to his amazement, there I was. Watching at the scene like a bystander. His eyes widened as he reached out for the sheets, wrapping it quickly around his body. “Corrine, I can explain.”

“Save it, Ashton. I’ve seen more than enough.” I held a finger up and closed my eyes, taking a shaky breath. My hands began to tremble and I broke out into a cold sweat.

“No, please. This isn’t what you think it is.” He continued, stepping forward to close the distance between us. I wrinkled my nose. He smelt like a mixture of cum and sweat, the signature scent of fornication.

I swiftly stepped back, and fluttered my eyes open. Maybe it was all just a dream. But no, it wasn’t. When my eyes opened once more, they were still standing there, Corinne wrapped in a blanket on the bed, and Ashton standing next to me.

“So this is what you’ve been up to, Ashton?”My tiny voice wavered betraying me, as I burst into uncontrollable tears. It felt like my heart was being shattered into a million pieces. ‘You’ve been in our home, on our bed, fucking my sister?”

“Pearl, you have to understand--”

“Understand what, Ashton?”My voice went an octave higher, cracking with each breath I took, “The fact that you’ve cheated on me or what?” I moved closer to him, hitting his chest. “Why are you doing this to me?” I cried out, punching him with all my strength.

“Pearl, I’m so sorry.” Corinne finally managed to speak, her fragile body still tangled in the sheets.

Her mouth said one thing, but the expression on her face didn’t match her words. She looked calm and composed, almost as if she had all this planned out. “I can’t believe you’d do such a thing to me, Corrine.” Rage bubbled through me, blurring my vision.

My cheeks heat up with embarrassment and shame. I was the one who looked like a fool here. What was I thinking interrupting their intimate session? I scoffed unbelievably, glancing between the two. “After everything we’ve been through Ashton! What does she have that I don’t?”

Ashton snorted, “Let’s just say a lot.” He smirked as if he had just won a trophy. His words landed like a slap on my face and my resolve wavered a bit. Just moments ago, he’d been pleading--pretending to care. Now I could see who he really was.

I wiped my face with the back of my hands as tears came streaming down, leaving me filled with devastation. “So, I mean nothing to you?” My voice cracked as I managed to choke the question out.

Ashton remained mute, with a smug smirk on his face. I stood still, my heart pounding in my chest so loud that I could hear it in my ears. “I can’t believe you. And to think that I had good news to come deliver to you, but here we are, standing in the midst of chaos.” I shook my head, my voice hollow as I stepped out of the room.

“I’ll be back. And by the time I am, I swear you are going to regret this!” I said with a sharp edge to my voice, one that sounded menacing.

My chest tightened and blood rushed through my ears. “Madam, is anything the matter?” Hilda asked, rushing to my side. I quickly wiped my eyes, and sniffled. “You knew Matilda. Yet, you didn’t stop and think to tell me…” I shook my head in disappointment as she looked down at the ground. “As soon as they come out of that room, I want those sheets washed, and that place like brand new.” I warned, before stepping out and getting back into my car.

There was no way that this was happening to me right now. “Nope, it’s all a dream.” I chuckled, mumbling under my breath as I drove to my attorney’s office.

I parked and entered her office straight away, “I want divorce papers, Michelle.” I demanded, looking down at her. I really hoped that behind this strong facade, she wouldn’t notice my tired eyes and my trembling body.

“Wait, what for, Pearl? What’s going on here?” Michelle stopped in her tracks, putting some files down. Her brows creased in worry and the corner of her lips turned downwards. “Do you need to know what for? I want divorce papers, and I want them now.”

“Okay, just give me a second, alright?” She mumbled, looking around for my file. She slipped it out and printed out the document, giving it her stamp of approval. “Thank you,” I murmured, slipping out of her office before she could even say another word.

I placed the divorce papers on my passenger seat, before starting my short drive back home. It was boring holes into me as I drove. My stomach twisted in uneasy knots as I pulled up to the house once again, preparing myself for what what about to come.

I stepped down from the car, grabbing the documents along with me and storming into the house. I went over to the dining table and sat patiently, waiting for Ashton and his new wife to come downstairs.

As they came down the stairs, I couldn’t help but think to myself where I went wrong. “What is going on here?” Ashton asked as his brows furrowed in confusion.

“What do you think is going on?” I stood up, clearing my throat.

He moved closer to me, looking down at the papers on the table. His eyes skimmed through each and every one of them, as he muttered incomprehensible words under his breath.

“Divorce? You can’t divorce me, I made you who you are.” Ashton growled, his eyes now red. He yelled so loudly that his veins almost popped out of his neck.

I scoffed, “If only you knew who I really was, Ashton.” I slid the papers across the table and over to him. “Sign the papers, Ashton.”

“No, you don’t get to divorce me. I call the shots here!”

“No, Ashton! You’re the monster here. Maybe if I hadn’t caught you fucking my sister, we’d have been telling a different story right now, but you caused this yourself.”

“You bitch!” He spat with no remorse.

And with that final sentence, he did the one thing I never thought he’d do to me.