The illusion Of Happily Ever After

Aria’s POV:

It’s been more than ten minutes, and I kept flipping through my wedding album with my manager, Isa, who was in tears; she couldn’t contain the emotions from the pictures and switched to crying.

Finally I was on the last page and placed the album on the table. “I know, it’s the perfect fairytale,” I chuckled and stared at my wedding ring, one which was given to me by my husband, Caleb. He was the best thing that happened to me and was the biggest inspiration behind my books.

I noticed Isa clutch her chest. “Breathe, honey,” I joked, and she rolled her eyes. “My heart is beating just fine; how about you and Caleb recreate these moments? “It will be a good promo for your new book,” she added, and it was indeed a good idea, but I didn’t like the fact that I was doing this because of a promotion; I just wanted to do something that didn’t involve the public.

Today was my fifth wedding anniversary with Caleb and also the day I released the first part of my novel “Under the Sunlight with Mr. Right,” so yeah, it was the best day of my life. My fans were curious about the book, as I already dropped some hints, like if a man doesn’t get you flowers every time he comes back home, then charge him.

“Hey.” My best friend Ava walked to me with the cufflinks I had ordered; they were worth a lot and also the best gift idea I could come up with.

“Thanks,” I smiled at her and noticed she was staring at me with her tight look, one that says she has something to say but is scared I will get upset.

“Just say it,” I snorted, and she sat next to me.

“You are making a lot of preparations for your anniversary, but your husband doesn’t even know it’s your anniversary. I mean, should you really be renewing your vows today?” She questioned, and I smacked my lips.

“He is busy with work; you know he just got a new case, right?” I questioned, Caleb had a law firm and was also an experienced lawyer. Recently he got a big case and rarely shows up at home.

“Busy? Oh my… I am done talking.” Ava sneered and got busy with her phone.

“Don’t listen to Ava; a happy marriage is all just about satisfaction. If he comes back every night to fuck you, then what else do you expect?” Isa teased, but I shook my head in denial; I don't believe marriage was all just about the sex. I wanted a date on the beach, midnight laughter with my partner, and just random arguments with me trying to be cute, one that I fantasise about every day and was bold enough to write down…one that I know Caleb will offer me once he is well established in his business.

I didn’t want a marriage where the couples barely exchanged words. I had been busy with my book, and Caleb’s law firm recently received a big client, so he has been very busy.

Well, he has always been busy, and the only love language we have is getting intimate, but he never missed the chance to remind me how much he loved me; he really does, and that’s why we have been married for this long.

Isa moved and sat next to me. “I am so proud of you, Aria,” she said.

“Do you remember your dream? To be a bestseller, and here you are today; people buy your book because you direct them on how to have a perfect marriage,” she explained and placed a hand on my thighs.

“You have been working on this book for long; people love your marriage and will keep buying your books as long as you keep on showing them what they want,” Isa added before she shoved her iPad to me; it displayed pictures of a romantic setup.

“So we will do everything as planned; you will get dressed, surprise Caleb at the office with roses, and I will have a limousine pick you both up, and you will both have the perfect dinner at the beach. Romantic, right?”

“Yeah, it would have moved me to tears if Caleb was the one making plans and not her.” Ava snorted, and I glared at her. It was my day, and I was supposed to be happy, so why was she trying to ruin it with such words and trying to make me believe my husband didn’t love me?

I brushed my hair using my fingers and sighed heavily, choosing to ignore Ava’s words, “Fine, I will freshen up.”

“Great, the makeup team will be here shortly,” Isa said excitedly; she had everything planned out.

I walked upstairs to my bedroom and closed the door behind me. I stood before the portrait of me and Caleb; we had taken this picture on our honeymoon, and the smiles on our faces were priceless. I remembered how we walked down the sand at the beach, and anyone who passed by us would stop to let us know we were the best couple. Caleb was the perfect man.

“Can’t wait to recreate these moments with you.” I muttered and checked my message box; Caleb still hadn’t replied to my message, and I didn’t want to be a pain in his ass by calling him while he was working.

Soon, I was all dolled up and stared at my reflection in the mirror. I was dressed in a long sleeveless red gown, my hair held in a tight bun with two strands falling to my face.

Isa was going extra today; it was my anniversary, but she was the one who looked stressed and nervous and also paranoid.

“My girl is so pretty,” I heard Ava’s voice from the door. I knew she was appreciating her art, as she had designed my gown.

“Here,” she handed a bouquet to me. “Isa asked I hand it to you.”

I smiled weakly while staring at the flowers. “Hey, you don’t have to do all this if you don’t want to. I mean, it’s not like Caleb was making any efforts,” she added, and I shook my head to the negative. Why was Ava being so negative today?

“I want to, and if Caleb were less busy, then he would have done it as well,” I explained and turned to Ava.

“Why are you being so negative? Do you expect me to let my five years of marriage go down the drain just because I couldn’t be an understandable wife?” I questioned her, and she bit her lip; her lips parted to say something, but she swallowed her words and walked away.

“Well, you have always known what you wanted. The camera team is ready, so your movements from the moment you step out of this bedroom will be broadcasted.”

“Yeah.”

Ava clung to my arm before we both walked out of the bedroom, and there were indeed cameras. I smiled at the camera before going downstairs.

I got to the car with Ava, and it drove out. This wasn’t my first time going to Caleb’s law firm, but I somehow felt nervous while Ava was busy reading the comments online.

“Someone said you have grown pale; they are crazy.” Ava snorted, and I chuckled.

“Did they expect you to be glowing after you spent a year typing your book?” She scoffed, and I stared out of the window. There was a billboard with my face on it; it was an announcement for my new book, one I had poured all my heart and fantasies into…I should be happy about it, but here I was, with a knot in my stomach.

“Did you finish reading the book?” I asked Ava. She was the first to receive a copy of the book, with my mum, of course.

“I did, and I got wet reading the sex scenes. Is Caleb that good?” She teased, and I bit my lip. He was… He was right?

“We are here,” Ava said. We had arrived at Caleb’s company, and I received a text from Isa.

“Do you plan on selling all those printed books with a fake smile?”

I rolled my eyes; my smile wasn’t fake. I got that a lot; people always comment about my smile being fake, but this was the best I could do. I stepped out of the car while displaying a wide smile and walked into the company with the camera team behind me.

“Aria is so nervous about her husband’s reaction; let’s hope he doesn’t shed tears,” Ava said while facing the camera, and I chuckled.

Now all the employees’ gazes were on me. I ignored them and walked straight to Caleb’s office and spotted his secretary.

“Mrs. Thompson,” she hurried to me urgently, and I raised a brow. Was she that surprised to see me?

“Mr. Thompson is in a very important meeting,” she added, and I turned to face Ava, inquiring about our next move.

“Even better, the more the merrier.” Ava encouraged me, and I turned to walk in, but the secretary stood in front of me, blocking my path.

“You can’t go in,” the secretary added, and I folded my hand in disbelief.

“Can you get out of my way?”

“Ma’am, listen to me…” she was saying, but I shoved her to the side and walked to Caleb’s office with the camera team still behind me.

I sighed heavily. “Here we go,” I said excitedly and pushed the door open.

“Surprise…” i screamed and my eyes widened in shock, Caleb was on his knee rubbing Olivia’s thighs with his head deep into her pussy.

He jerked his head and stared at me as Olivia quickly stood up, straightening her gown.

“Aria,” he called, his lips still wet from Olivia’s cumming, and I stood there feeling numb.

“Turn off the cameras and delete the video,” I heard Ava scream at the camera team.

“The video is being broadcasted; we can’t delete it,” the head of the camera team explained, but they quickly turned off the camera; after all, they wouldn’t want to lose their jobs after this.

“Broadcasted?” Olivia questioned in disbelief; she was just a small-time actress, so why was she so worried? She wasn’t the one being humiliated in a live video.

“Aria, listen to me, this is a one-time thing, and it has never happened,” Caleb explained shamelessly.

A one-time thing? Give it up to the man of the year.