Every Man I Have Loved Betrayed Me

My husband, Damien, loved me deeply—so deeply it felt like I was his whole world. Everyone said he was the perfect husband. Yet, he betrayed me. Not once, not twice, but three times. The first time was three years ago. His closest friend, Aaron, died saving him. Damien kept it from me and secretly married Aaron’s girlfriend, Vivian—on paper. I was heartbroken and ready to leave him. That night, he sent her abroad and fell to his knees, begging me. “Estelle, Aaron gave his life for me. I must take care of his widow. That marriage certificate is just a promise of security for Vivian. Once I’ve avenged Aaron, I’ll divorce her. The only woman I love is you.” I forgave him. The second time came the following year. At a press conference, Damien publicly introduced Vivian as the Mafia leader’s wife. He pulled me aside to explain. “Vivian is the only daughter of the Young family—the Mafia. Our two families joined forces for one reason only: to get revenge for Aaron. I’ve already made arrangements with her. Once we’ve dealt with our enemies, I’ll divorce her and marry you right away.” Once again, I believed him. Then came the third time. Someone drugged Damien at a banquet, and he spent the night with Vivian. He hid it from me until just two weeks ago, when I caught him at the hospital, sitting beside her during a prenatal checkup. That was when I finally learned the truth. He lowered his head, unable to meet my eyes, and spoke in a low voice. “Estelle, it was an accident. Once she gives birth, I’ll send her away. My parents will raise the child, and I swear—neither of them will ever appear in your life again.” In the name of love, Damien pushed me to compromise again and again. Yet now I know. There’s no future left for us. It’s time for me to walk away.

The three Cavalli heirs once acted as if I were the center of their world. They fought over me, made enemies for me, and swore no one would ever force me into a marriage I did not want. For years, I believed them. Then I was diagnosed with a malignant brain tumor. The surgeons warned me that saving my life might cost me my memories. I was terrified of forgetting the three men I had loved for so long, yet when I needed them most, all I got back was anger. Later, Viola sent me a video of fireworks bursting over the coast, her name written across the sky, while the three silver saint medals I had once begged for in their names gleamed at her throat. That was when I finally let go. I left the country, had the surgery, and built a life that did not include them. Much later, three strangers ended up on their knees outside my door, begging me to remember them.

I used to be so happy with my husband, Ian Shaw, until his first love got too drunk one day and was taken away by five strange men for an entire night. To protect her reputation, he told everyone that I was the one who was kidnapped that night. Everyone criticized me, calling the baby in my belly a child of shame. I questioned Ian hysterically, but he said nonchalantly, "Ruby isn’t married yet. People will laugh at her if the news spreads." I looked icily at the man I had loved for six years, shock taking over as I realized he had probably never loved me back.

I was in love with a man who was already married to another woman. When he divorced her and married me, I thought I had won, only to find out later I was a tool he had been using to produce his heir, his wife couldn't. By the time I saw his true face, I was already pregnant with his child. But he isn't going to get his hands on my baby. I won't let it happen. Later he forced me to stay at his mother's residence while he was busy in spending time with his ex-wife. Despite my desperate pleas against his abusive mother, he rejected all my calls. And by the time he returned, holding hands of his ex-wife, it was too late. The child he was so desperately waiting for... was gone.

I married him without love. I never knew he despised me… or that I would be blamed for a tragedy I didn’t cause. In a house full of secrets and lies, can I survive a husband who sees me as his enemy and maybe, just maybe, make him love me?

When I caught Christian Helmley cheating on me for the tenth time, he dragged his lover over without any hesitation and let me decide her fate. When I caught him cheating for the 28th time, he cried and groveled and begged for my forgiveness. The man went so far as to curse his bloodline for that. By the ninety-eighth time, nothing he did could touch me anymore. I was numb. All I did was crouch beyond the door of his study while he and his lover were going at it like animals. Then it was the last time I caught him cheating. He came back and kissed me right after sleeping with another woman. One day before I left, he barged in with a crying girl in his arms. Christian berated me, accusing me of killing his son. "I can't believe you! You're not the woman I know!" He pressed the tip of a fountain pen against my belly, and I forced my tears back. "I don't want any other woman carrying my children. I only want Jasmine! God, can you stop being possessive for one second? You're practically a hag now, Natasha. Pull this again, and I'll send you to an asylum!" All that elicited from me was a bitter smile. I had no strength left to argue. "Yes, yes, I envy her. She took my husband from me, but I guess I should say goodbye and bless your relationship on the way out now." Then I jumped into the rolling sea right before his eyes. Only one thought remained in my mind. 'That's the last of the love I had for you, Christian.'