7: Is My Husband Home?

Ever since I married Alexander Sterling, it was impossible to visit public spaces without the scene turning into a small theater as going about my normal shopping routine seemed to put on an impressive performance for people.

They stared and whispered from a distance, taking unauthorized photos, their eyes waiting for me to misstep or snap at the slightest inconvenience to make headlines.

Good thing Alex hired one of the best bodyguards—Michael “Mick” Craver—who shadowed me everywhere, blocking their futile attempts to get closer. I wasn't even a singer or an actress, I was an ordinary wife.

Pulling out two ties from a rack, I rubbed my thumb against the fabric to determine the better quality. “Which one would suit Alex?” I asked Sophia who stood next to me, our shopping bags multiplying with each store we entered.

The first tie was olive green and the second was warm copper but I needed a color that would bring out his striking grey eyes.

Sophia rolled her eyes, more annoyed than interested. “Are you really talking about a tie right now?” She nudged me. “Continue the story from where you left off as Alex texted you.”

“Oh—” I laughed, recalling I’d been filling her in on Alex’s recent flare-up. “He was so angry, I thought he had figured out about my secret social media account,” I whispered the last part out of Mick’s earshot.

“I told you to be careful about keeping secrets from him, who knows what he’d do to you again.”

“Sophia, can we just forget about what happened before,” I begged of her, deciding to buy both ties for my husband. “In the end, Alex was only worried because I told Mr. Richards to go and leave me behind.”

“Yeah, however you wanna call it.” Sophia shook her head in disagreement as we strolled to the checkout counter.

“Good afternoon, Mrs. Sterling.” The young salesgirl greeted me. “Attorney Sophia Lin.” She turned to my best friend with a smile.

“Good day,” I replied while Sophia sufficed with a curt nod. The salesgirl scanned and totaled our purchase and I paid with Alex’s infinite gold card.

Alex gave me access to his bank cards before we even got married. It often disturbed me that he could trust me with his money but not with his heart.

“Oof, I have a meeting this afternoon.” Sophia glanced at her wrist watch. “I need to be at the office now.”

“Another meeting? When you left the office you just had one.” I said, a jealous feeling stirring in my chest but I pushed it aside.

I admired Sophia for having a career, especially one she’s excellently great at but I was grateful to have the Sterling name, especially since Alex forbade me from working, believing I couldn’t handle stress.

“Yeah, a lot of clients have been assigned to me.” Sophia huffed a breath. “I promise to make up for today.” She linked her arm with mine as we made our way to the mall’s exit.

“Bye, babe. Take care of yourself.” She kissed my cheek.

“Bye.” I smiled, watching Sophia sashay towards her car like a fierce boss lady.

“Ma’am this way.” Mick led me to my ride where Mr. Richards waited in the driver's seat. Mick opened the door to the backseat and I gently slipped in, settling my bags next to me.

“Shall we go home, Mrs. Sterling?” Mr. Richards asked me, his voice tender beneath the formality.

“Yes, Mr. Richards.” I said, excited to go home to my husband.

The evening breeze became light with the smell of rain in the air, the thick clouds turning grey ahead. We arrived at the mansion and the maids rushed to the courtyard, helping with my bags.

“Clara, is my husband home?” I asked the housekeeper.

“Yes, ma’am. He’s in his study with a guest.”

“A guest?” I raised my brows in surprise as Alex never brought guests home. I glanced around the courtyard for the car of the guest but couldn’t see any unfamiliar vehicles.

“Mr. Sterling and his guest came together from the office,” Clara said as if reading my mind.

I made my way through the front door, my pinpoint heels clicking as I scurried towards Alex’s study, grabbing the knob when I heard muffled voices.

“Oh, Alex!” A woman moaned from the other side of the door. “Please don’t stop. Fuck me harder, Alex.”

My hands went limp on the knob and I clasped a hand to my mouth, unable to believe my ears. Was Alex cheating on me? No wait. . .Alex can’t cheat.

I twisted the knob to see for myself what sort of act was happening when I heard Alex, his voice low and guttural like an animal. “Ugh, you’re so good.”

Good? Alex thought the slut pleasuring him was good when he hadn’t even slept with me, his own wife.

Cracking a slim gap through the door, I feed my eyes with the truth—Alex having sex with his secretary, Isabel on his study table, his pants pulled completely down to his feet as he shoved himself into that. . .that. . .that bitch!

The whole world seemed to rearrange itself in front of me, the floor moved further beneath my feet and I sank to the ground, broken and torn into pieces, a numbness consuming my mind.

I fought the overwhelming urge to barge in, to stop them, and break everything inside the study, but I couldn't because my actions would only make everything more real.

Without thinking, I ran upstairs to our room and opened my drawer, taking the keys to the Mercedes-Benz Alex got for me as a gift, on our third week of dating.

I had never taken the car out of the driveway before but today I was going to drive myself over a damn bridge.

I left the mansion in haste, ignoring the questions asked by my housekeepers as I raced to the car and slipped into the driver’s seat. I strapped on my seatbelt, my fingers wrapped around the steering as I start the ignition.

Driving out of the mansion, I kept my eyes on the road with my heart beating against my ribcage, the woman’s moans still in my ears as hot tears streamed down my face, smearing my makeup.

A thunder broke out in the sky and the rain began to drizzle, tiny droplets tapping against the windshield and blurring my vision as multiple cars honked at me to speed up from their way.

I clutched the steering wheel tighter and cut off the highway's exit, slamming my feet on the accelerator and firing onto the long bridge that overlooked a great body of water on the city’s outskirts.

“This was it,” I whispered, one sharp turn and I’d be over the edge, everything would be over, my pains would be gone. Finally, I’d get to be with my Papa again. I'm so sorry Mama and Sophia.

But I couldn't do it.

I hit the brakes with force, swerving the car across the empty and lonely bridge, coming to an abrupt stop as my seatbelt yanked me back from smashing my head on the steering wheel.

“Alex, I hate you!” I screamed out my lungs, slapping the steering wheel repeatedly, my cries filling the silence as the light drizzle turned into a heavy downpour. “I hate you so much!”

I unlocked my seatbelt and climbed out of the car, leaving the door open and ignoring the dinging sound with the engine on.

The rain soaked me from head to toe within minutes, flattening the waves in my hair, my clothes heavy and clinging to my body.

I dragged my cold feet toward the bridge, holding onto the barricade and stepped onto the panel, ready to throw myself over.

"If you dropped something in the water, I'm sure my brother can get you another one!" Someone yelled over the heavy drum of the rain.

I quickly turned to my side and saw him— Julien Raines.

Out of everyone in the world who could see me in such a miserable state it had to be him. He stood there with a black umbrella in his hand, a dry island amidst the storm, unmoved like he wasn’t about to witness my suicide.

Or maybe he didn't care if I died or not.

I slowly descended the panels and wrapped an arm around myself, self-conscious as my drenched blouse revealed the outline of my bra, exposing the skin of my breast.

“What do you want?” I asked him, my teeth clattering from the cold biting at my open toes from my pinpointed heels.

His dark brown eyes studied my face and he pushed forward in a long stride, standing close to me. . .so close I could breathe in his manly cedar cologne and see the tiny scar by his right eyebrow.

Julien held his umbrella high over our heads, an unmistakable smirk tugging at his lips. "Nice to finally meet you, sister-in-law."