Chapter 005:

Alicia's POV

“Andrew will always love one person, Alicia, and we both know that it'll always be me! After all, you saw the photos… he had me in his arms all night!”

Veronica's taunts hurt me deeply. All I could do was lie in bed, tossing and turning, replaying her cruel words in my mind. Her words made me both angry and heartbroken.

For years, Andrew had never touched me or shown me any real affection. Yet now, he was lying on the same bed as Veronica, his stepsister.

Did you really need to go this far to show how much you hate me? Did you really need to go this far to make me feel like I disgust you, Andrew? I bit my lip hard, trying to hold back the tears that were threatening to fall down my ashen cheeks.

The sadness I felt, knowing that Andrew had always cherished and wanted Veronica more than me, made it almost impossible for me to sleep after a long, exhausting day at the hospital.

As dawn approached, I was still wide awake, with dark circles forming under my eyes. The night seemed endless, and every minute stretched into a painful reminder of my frustration and hurt.

I sat up in bed, my head throbbing with the weight of my thoughts. I clutched my temples, trying to shut out the pain, and then turned to the nightstand. Seeing my phone there, I was consumed by a surge of hopelessness.

Andrew hadn’t called. I couldn’t help but mutter, “Who knows, he might just be in her arms right now.” My voice was barely audible, but the pain in my words was sharp and clear.

In that moment, I felt a deep, gnawing sense of betrayal.

Suddenly, I felt a wave of nausea hit me, almost making me vomit.

I stumbled out of bed and rushed into the bathroom, desperate to escape the discomfort in my mind. I reached the sink just in time and heaved, my body wracked with tremors as the bile surged up.

The lack of sleep and the throbbing ache in my head only intensified my sense of pain and misery. Every heave was a painful recollection of the loveless marriage I was trapped in.

Despite the chaos inside me, I knew I couldn’t stay in the bathroom forever. I had responsibilities to face, especially caring for my mother once she woke up. The thought of it felt like an additional burden, but it was one I had to bear.

With heavy eyes and a leaden heart, I made my way to the kitchen. My movements were slow and deliberate as I made breakfast for my mom.

I prepared quickly and headed out. Dropping the food bag and clothes at the back of the car, I turned on the engine and sped out of sight. Veronica's words, still etched in my mind, ruined my day completely.

Just as I was headed to the hospital, I caught sight of Silver Fang Company, Andrew's company.

I didn’t want to think about him anymore because he didn’t think about me, nor my child. He just didn't care about his own family.

I couldn’t ignore the gnawing curiosity and pain any longer. With a surge of determination, I slammed the brakes of the car, my mind racing.

"I need to find out for myself. If he won’t come to me, then I have to go to him…" I muttered, the words heavy with desperation as I parked the car and stepped out.

As I stood before the towering building, its name glaringly bold at the entrance, I gripped the strap of my bag tightly, trying to steady myself.

The weight of my frustration and exhaustion was almost unbearable. I was drained from the relentless strain of a loveless marriage, where public appearances masked the truth of the pain I felt.

I was weary of being the person he displayed in public, while at home, I felt utterly worthless. The photographs of him and his stepsister in bed, intimate, had shattered any remaining illusions of affection.

I was done with the façade. I needed answers, and I was ready to get them.

I was done making excuses for you, Andrew. If what Veronica said is true, then it was time for me to make a decision. With that, I walked towards the entrance of the company.

Everyone who saw me bowed to greet me, but one thing they didn’t understand at this point was the fact that I wasn’t their usual Luna—the kind that would smile just to please them.

With a scowl etched deeply on my face, I stormed into Andrew's office, the atmosphere thick with tension.

The instant his gaze fell on me, there was a moment of surprise in his eyes, but it soon turned into indifference. Just like I was a stranger.

“What are you doing here, Alicia? I don’t remember asking for your presence!” he demanded, his voice laced with a chilling coldness.

He hadn’t come home the night before, hadn’t bothered to call or check on me, or our daughter, or even returned my desperate calls.

His nonchalance to my well-being and my mother’s health felt like a betrayal of the highest order. And now, here he was, glaring at me as if I were the problem. Who was this man I had fallen for?

A bitter laugh escaped my lips as I took a deliberate step toward his desk, my eyes locking onto his with a mix of courage and hurt.

“I’ll ask you this just once, Andrew, and I expect a response. A genuine response!” I stated as I took my phone out of my bag. I scrolled through, and the second I caught sight of the photo that was sent to me, my grip tightened around the phone.

You had to do this, Alicia. You had to see for yourself the kind of beast you married.

With a heavy sigh, I turned the phone screen to him, showing him the intimate pictures again.

“What is the meaning of this, Alicia?” he asked with a raised brow.

“Is the woman in this photo Veronica? Are you cheating on me with your stepsister, Andrew? Have you always loved Veronica?” I inquired, my tone bitter and angry.

His eyebrows frowned. Then he raised his face and looked at me as if I was a fool.

“What does this have to do with Veronica?”

“Don’t try to cheat on me again. Veronica told me that she slept with you.”

“I never knew you to be such a stupid person, Alicia.” Andrew laughed at my question and even disrespected me.

I took a deep breath; my head was about to explode. “Just answer my question,” I emphasized.

“I have the right not to answer your foolish damn questions.” Andrew’s tone was dismissive, his gaze already shifting back to the files spread out before him.

My tears were about to wash out, but I held them back.

Before I confronted him again, there was a moment of darkness in my vision.

My legs got weak, and I was about to fall.

But just then, a firm hand suddenly grabbed my waist tightly.