Imperfect Marriage

' Beep, Beep '

Bella was awakened by the sound of the heart monitor. The first thing she noticed was the ache in her head, the pain was so severe that she was finding it hard to open her eyes. The person beside her seemed to have noticed that she was awake.

" Call the Nurse "

Bella felt relief flood her when she heard her husband's voice. It seemed that she wasn't in as much pain as before when he held her hands. She didn't know how she had ended up injured, all she remembered was the last few days of her honeymoon. Going to bed in the embrace of her husband and thinking that her life couldn't get any better. But despite this, she also knew of her Amnesia, and as long as Vaughn was by her side, she knew she was safe.

" Calm down baby, I got you "

" My head hurts "

" I know, I'm so sorry. The Nurse will be here soon, "he said. Bella smiled and held his hand tighter. Because her eyes were close, she didn't see the cold look in Vaughn's eyes as he regarded her injured body on the bed. As expected, this disabled wife of his was back to normal. He wanted to pull his hand away and go back to his office, but he didn't want her to go snooping around again. He still hadn't caught the person who sent her those photos, so he needed to be around her for the time being.

The Nurse came into the room, with one look from Vaughn, she knew what to do. She injected Bella with some painkillers and Anaesthetic that would make her slow throughout the rest of the day. After some moments, Bella was finally able to pry her eyes open. She looked around her and found that she was still in her bedroom, she met her husband's worried gaze.

" How do you feel?" He asked. The Nurse beside him was stunned at how flawlessly he was able to change his personality completely. He had been cold just now, but now when faced with his wife he acted like a protective and loving husband.

She looked at Bella with some pity, however she knew that there was nothing she could do. Slowly she retreated from the room.

Bella didn't notice the Nurse's strange behaviour, she was just happy to have Vaughn beside her. " My head hurts a bit, but I'm fine. What happened?"

" Oh, you fell down the stairs and hit your head. I was worried about you, but thank God you are alright "

" I see " She didn't think anything of it. She accepted Vaughn's explanation. " I'm sorry for making you worry. You missed your work because of me "

" You are my darling wife. I would give everything to be by your side " He tells her. Vaughn placed a loving kiss on her forehead and Bella felt her heart melt. She still couldn't believe how lucky she was to have him by her side.

* * *

The medication she was given was strong, and Bella was able to get back on her feet a few hours after waking up. She saw Vaughn off to his car and returned inside the house. She became bored after sitting around and decided to clean Vaughn's room. Usually, this part of the house was off limits to the Helps, as Vaughn had important files stored in his bedroom which would affect his business if it got in the wrong hands. So Bella always cleaned his room herself.

She swept the floor, made his bed and was folding his clothes when she first took in the odd scent on one of his jackets. Bella brought the fabric to her nose and sniffed, she frowned when she confirmed that the perfume on the coat was different from the Cologne her husband used. This scent was of Lavender, A feminine scent.

Bella folded the jacket, she didn't think too much of it, after all her Husband worked with females all the time, even his assistant was a woman. Plus, she was certain Vaughn loved her the most and he never cheated on her. She didn't even entertain the thought of him being disloyal. Afterall, how many men could remain married to a woman who only had memories of three years of her life? She and Vaughn had been together for Nine years. She trusted him wholeheartedly.

She was going downstairs to get something to eat when she got a call from her sister.

" Bell, Meet me at the Cafeteria downtown. I have something to tell you "

" Alright. I'll be there "

She went and got dressed, then had her personal driver take her to the location where she would meet Jessica, her younger sister.

Jess was already waiting for her. She hugged Bella when she came. Jessica, unlike her, had inherited their mother's long blond hair, had beautiful blue eyes and a slender figure. She worked as a Model in a famous Company. The moment Bella hugged her sister, she took in the familiar scent of Lavender she had found on Vaughn's Jacket.

" I heard about what happened, I'm glad You are feeling better, sis" Jessica said, not even paying notice to the slight frown on Bella's face. " I would have come to see you, but I had a Shoot today "

" Of course, I get it "

" I called you here because I've been trying to contact Vaughn, but he's not picking my calls, he must be too busy. Ever since our trip to Malibu, he's been prioritising his work too much. Doesn't even have time for his favourite sister in-law " Jessica complained with a pout

" You went to Malibu with Vaughn?"

" Yeah, two days ago. He must have mentioned it to you, but you can't remember "

Bella wasn't feeling comfortable with what Jessica said, she thought it was odd that Vaughn had gone to Malibu with Jessica without telling her. She would have forgotten of course, but he could have at least written it down for her in the journal she kept on her bedside cabinet.

After her Lunch with Jessica, she went back home. She went through her phone in hopes of seeing any text message or photos that would suggest she knew about the outing between her sister and husband, but there was nothing.

" Maybe he forgot to mention " She would just have to ask him when he comes home.

Bella waited for Vaughn's return, though it was late she didn't want to go to bed without confronting him.

Vaughn returned by 11 pm. He was surprised to see her still awake. " You shouldn't be moving around, you haven't recovered yet "

" I'll be fine. I had to see you before going to sleep " She goes to hug him, Vaughn wraps an arm around her waist in a dismissive embrace. Bella was once again hit with the unfamiliar scent of female perfume, this time a different one clinging to his clothes. And she could almost swear she saw lipstick stain on the skin of his neck, it was very faint. Her heart felt heavy.

She pulls back and tries to kiss him like she always did during the days of their Honeymoon. She was hoping the kiss would help clear all the negative thoughts in her mind. She didn't expect Vaughn to evade her touch.

" I'm tired " He says and bypasses her " Let's talk tomorrow. Goodnight baby "

" Night "

Bella watches him walk upstairs. She goes to sit on the Living Room sofa and ponders over everything. Could it be possible that Vaughn was having an affair with not just her sister but other women as well? No, Vaughn wouldn't do that to her. But how would she know unless she found out herself?

Her mind was made up as she scurried upstairs to her husband's room. She pried the door open, just as she had expected, Vaughn was still in the shower and his Phone and nightwear were placed on his bed. Bella went for the phone, she typed in the password which was her birthday. Vaughn had boldly input her birthday as his password on their wedding night, claiming that he would never hide anything from her. After so many years, he hadn't changed it. But Bella didn't think she had ever had a reason to look into his phone. And even if she had, she wouldn't have known.

When she first went through his gallery, she only found a few pictures of his secretary and his assistant. It was odd that he had those, but not enough proof that he was cheating. She went to his messages next, and that was where she found the confirmation she was looking for.

The sext messages between him and Jessica, his Assistant and dozens of other women. The nudes sent to him. Her heart sank lower until she felt like her body would give out.

" What are you doing?"

Bella was so startled that the phone fell from her hands. She turned to find Vaughn staring at her, then his gaze went to his phone on the ground.

" Damnit " He ran his hand through his wet hair with a heavy sigh. " I was hoping I wouldn't have to fuck you up again "