Chapter 2 DIVORCE

(FREYA'S POV)

It's been 2 weeks since Ash and I had that hurtful argument.  I threw myself into my work. It was my way of escaping the pain and the silence at home. He ignored me completely, always coming back late or drunk. He even moved his room to avoid seeing me. It felt like he didn't want anything to do with me.

I kept wondering why he wouldn't give our marriage a chance. His actions made me feel rejected and alone. Our marriage seemed like it was just for show, not real at all. It hurt a lot.

I sighed heavily, when my phone rang. It was Clara, my friend from college. I smiled as I answered, "Hey, Clara! What's up?"

Clara's voice sounded annoyed."Freya, I just got an invitation to a welcome party."

"Oh?" I replied, curious. "Whose party?"

"It's Stella's," Clara said cautiously.

Stella. My half-younger sister, who had always seemed to resent me. "Stella's back?" I asked, trying to hide the unease in my voice.

"Yeah, she's back in town," Clara confirmed. "I thought you should know."

My heart sank. Stella's return could only mean trouble. From childhood, she had been resentful of me, feeling like everything she didn't want was given to me, including attention and opportunities. Now, with her back, I couldn't help but wonder what new challenges she might bring into my life.

“Be cautious from your bitch sister.She may try to destroy your marriage life,” She was the one who knew very well what I had gone through since childhood. 

How should I tell her the truth—that Ash and I were barely more than strangers under the same roof.

I felt that I couldn't breathe, like I felt I would lose everything again soon.  As I stepped out of the office to breathe fresh air. My eyes stopped on the opposite building billboard, where a picture of Ash hugging my younger sister, Stella. They looked too close for comfort. My heart broke into pieces.

I stood there, staring at the screen in shock. Was our marriage just for show to him? Would he leave me and go back to Stella? The thought hurt me deeply. Could our marriage be over before it really began?

Tears rolled down from my cheek and everything turned blurred in front of me. But my steps couldn't stop as far as I wanted to go from the betrayal.

A car screeched to a stop just before hitting me. In the confusion, I stumbled and hit my head. Everything went black.

As I opened my eyes and found myself in the hospital bed, surrounded by the sterile white walls and the soft hum of medical equipment. 

A doctor approached, his expression kind yet concerned.

"You're awake," he said gently. "You sustained a minor head injury, but thankfully, there's no harm to the baby."

“The baby?" I asked in a trembling voice., my mind struggling to grasp the meaning of his words. “I'm pregnant?”

“Yes, You're probably in your 2 weeks of pregnancy with baby. We run a few tests and its confirmed that you are pregnant.” He confirmed for me with his soothing voice. 

“It's early, but to avoid complications further. Take it easy and get plenty of rest."

My heart was beating so fast that it made me feel claustrophobic. I gripped the edge of the bed with trembling hands. I couldn't say anything, just stared at him with a surprised look.

"Are you kidding me?! We don't even live together! How could I Pregー" I shut up by myself as I recalled the moment of my first night with him. The beginning of this fake marriage. That's-that's impossible."

I covered my mouth in disbelief. We only had sex once, but how could I get pregnant with his child? That's Impossible.

"No, it's Impossible." I shook my head with a horrified expression on my face. I felt an overwhelming fear like I was drowning in the ocean that made me unable to breathe. My chest felt tight and hurt terribly.

I didn't know what to do. Confusion engulfed me as I drove home.

Should I tell Ash about my pregnancy?

That question kept swirling in my head. But I also had a fear that he wouldn't accept this fact. But still, I have to tell him because this is our child.

Though our marriage was just a condition, still this is our blood, our baby. I can’t let my baby live the life of an illegitimate child just as I lived my entire life.

“ I will tell him this good news and hope he will give a second chance to our marriage life and us,” I ran my fingers around my stomach with happiness. 

I didn't waste a minute and went to the Ash office directly from the hospital. 

I bit my lower lip with an uneasy feeling at the office. Even my steps felt heavy as I approached the door of Ash's office. I took a deep breath before I turned the door knob. The squeaking sound made my heart beat even faster.

Just as I entered and stood in the doorway, I widened my eyes in surprise as I saw Ash kissing a woman. The woman was no other, but my younger sister, Stella. It looked so intimate on the sofa with the buttons of his shirt already open.

I clenched my fists against the anger and pain I felt. Feeling so betrayed by what he had done to me. I walked with a loud stomp of my foot towards her.

The woman immediately rushed to her feet and tried to tidy up her appearance, while Ash looked so calm without even buttoning up his open shirt.

That made my anger rise even more. He didn't care about my feelings.

"What the hell are you doing?" I asked in a cold tone.

"As you can see. We were making out and your arrival interrupted our time." She had no shame left, while a smirk played on her lips.

"What?" I smiled sadly. I turned to Ash, because he is my husband, and I could expect loyalty from him.

 "Have you forgotten that you already have a wife?! You're married, Ash Knight!"

"Wife? Married?" he laughed mockingly, "Don't be silly! You should know better that none of that matters to me. I warned you from the first time that I would never accept this marriage. So don't expect me to act like we're really lovers."

My eyes heated up. I squeezed the hem of my clothes with a stabbing pain in my chest. It felt like a huge hammer had slammed into my chest. His words are true but stil,l I am expecting that he would accept this child.

"I came here to inform you that..I.. I'm pregnant,” I bit my lip as I told her. In such a low voice, but I knew that he heard it from the look of surprise on his face.

"I don't care. Don't try to tell me to take responsibility because I never will. I never loved you. Never!"

"Do you have to be this cruel to me? We're married. And I'm pregnant with your child!"

"Are you deaf?! I don't care!" he shouted in a burst of anger. His hatred could be reflected in his words. 

“You only took the replacement of mine, and you are nothing but my replacement as you could see that I am back now. He doesn’t need you anymore.” Stella said while hugging Ash into her arms.

Ash walked past me and grabbed something from his desk drawer in a hurry. Then stood back in front of me. Throwing documents at my face. I winced in pain and embarrassment as he treated me harshly.

"Those are the divorce papers. Sign it right now."

"Wh-what?" I was even more shocked at his words. My eyes were now brimming with tears.

"This marriage is no longer useful to me. Grandmother is in a coma and I married you because of her request. So, this marriage should end too."

"No, you can't do this to me, Ash!"

"Yes, I can. I have a woman whom I love, whom I desperately want to marry. So, sign the divorce papers. And another thing, the baby you're carrying. That's none of my business!"