Chapter 6. MISERABLE MARRIAGE

(Freya's POV)

"Married?" I smiled wryly. "Are you referring to that miserable marriage?"

All I remember of that marriage is hell-like suffering. Even I can still feel the pain, disappointment, and betrayal Ash inflicted on me. So, why did he have to bring up that fucking marriage when we had been separated for so long.

And he was the one who had ditched me in favor of one shameless bitch. I was really getting sick of watching him act all smug while he didn't seem to have any guilt at all.

"Miserable marriage," he muttered as he clenched his fists.

"You should understand it better since you were the one who was involved in the incident," I snapped, "and stop bringing up the past unnecessarily. Because that won't make me go easy on you."

"Even if I tell them that they are my children?"

"Watch your language!" I snapped. I stepped forward toward him while glaring at him sharply. "Stop talking nonsense in front of my children. If you try to mess up our lives, I won't hesitate to destroy your cheap company," I hissed.

"Seeing you being tough like this, they must be my kids. You know that back then you were the one who was most adamant about not aborting them."

My jaw hardened. My hands clenched into fists. "Don't mess with me, Mr. Ash. They're not your children. Don't you remember? It was you who killed them all those years ago. So, don't speak as if they are your children because they are my children with another man." I smiled mockingly. "Did you think that all this time I would live alone without the company of a man? Don't be ridiculous!"

I could see the anger in his eyes. His pride must have felt trampled on by me. But it gives me pleasure that I have managed to stand up after weathering the storm and crushed the storm itself into helplessness before me.

This is my revenge because you have ruined my life. And it won't end until I'm satisfied.

"You'd better get out of here while I ask nicely," I said as I folded my arms across my chest. I gave him a haughty look. "That is if you don't want to be dragged away by the guards and humiliated in front of everyone. I'm sure that would hurt your pride, Mr. Ash!"

"You think I'd be afraid of your threats? Try it if you can do it."

"You seem to forget that I am the main character at this party. You're just an intruder who came here with no shame. Hm ... I thought your company was really going bankrupt so you came here to beg for cooperation," I taunted.

"That's enough, Freya. Try saying it one more time and I'll...."

"Will what?" I cut him off. Raising my chin in a bold and haughty manner. "What can you do, huh? If you dare to seek trouble with me, I'll make sure your cheap company and everyone who works there lose their livelihood."

"You ... are you going to continue acting like this in front of me?"

"You started it!" I shouted. "You've dared to bully my children and you think I'll keep quiet?!"

I had lived a miserable life during my time with him. Discarded, uncared for, not even any good in it. I cannot be broken twice by the same person. I'm not the old Freya who can be trampled on so easily. If anyone dares to try to make trouble with me, I will not hesitate to retaliate against them.

"Then, do something for me and I won't bother you."

I chuckled. "Something? Who do you think you are to ask me for something? Remember that we no longer have any relationship, Mr. Ash."

"Are you sure? I think you still love me considering you used to be crazy about me." He grinned. Stepped closer to me and whispered something that made my eyes widen. "You used to be crazy about me, Freya. If everyone here knew about it, they'd be very surprised."

I shoved him roughly. "You must have lost your mind!" I shouted angrily.

"M-Mom, are you okay?" asked Hazel.

I immediately turned to my children who were still standing behind me, staring with scared and confused faces when they saw my fight with Ash.

My face immediately paled. I was so angry at Ash that I forgot that Hazel and Violet were still there. So I let them see this kind of thing.

"Yes, my dear. I'm fine," I said with a smile. I then turned around and gave Ash a sharp look, giving him a warning. "You'd better get out of here, Mr. Ash. And don't ever bother me again."

"Where are you going, Freya!" he suddenly grabbed my hand as I was about to leave, and I brushed him off roughly.

"What are you doing?!"

"Our conversation isn't over yet. You can't just leave," he hissed. His grip on my wrist was so tight that I winced in pain.

"Mind your manners. Don't you see what the kids are watching?" I snapped.

"Then let's find a quiet place to talk one-on-one," he said, "and that's if you don't want the kids to see their mom fighting with her ex-husband."

Damn it. I cursed at myself.

From then until now, he hasn't changed at all. He's always been selfish and doesn't care about other people's feelings. His focus is only on the goal he wants. And he will do whatever it takes to achieve what he wants.

If I don't do what he wants, he'll definitely cause trouble. I don't want Hazel and Violet to be bothered by him. I didn't want them to find out that they were actually Ash's children.

"All right. But I'll only give you five minutes to talk," I said to Ash. I then turned to look at Hazel and Violet. "Honey, just stay here and don't go anywhere, okay? I'm going to talk to my client first to discuss a work matter," I told them.

"Um, okay!" they exclaimed.

I smiled at them before I walked away without looking back at Ash. I climbed the stairs and was on the second floor, deliberately avoiding the guests on the main floor. I didn't want anyone to know that I used to have a relationship with him, because that would definitely make Ash arrogant.

"Now, say what you want to say. You have five minutes," I said as I crossed my arms over my chest.

"What's the rush? We can still be alone before talking about workー"

"Are you out of your mind?!" I yelled and pushed him away quickly as he tried to hug and kiss me. My eyes glared at him with exploding anger. "Don't mess with me, Mr. Ash!" I snapped warningly.

"Why? Don't you love it when you see me again? I know you missed me, Freya. I still remember how crazy you were about me in the past," he spoke with a smirk. And it disgusted me.

Especially when he tried to approach me again, but I pushed him hard and stepped on his foot.

"Stay where you are if you don't want to get hurt, Mr. Ash," I threatened. "I may have seemed like a foolish woman in the past, but not anymore."

He growled in annoyance while looking at me. I could tell he was feeling so angry with my attitude, but somehow he seemed to be deliberately controlling his emotions.

"If you don't have anything else you want to talk about, then I'll leaveー"

"I want to propose a coorperation with you," he cut me off.

"Cooperation? Didn't I hear it wrong?"

"No, you didn't. I want our company to cooperate with the new project I'm going to handle."

I looked at him sharply. Is this his trick to keep his nearly bankrupt company afloat? But let's see what he can do.

"Well, I have quite complicated specifications for accepting cooperation from other companies. You can come to my company, but before that, you must prepare your best proposal!"

Just as I was about to leave, I gasped in shock as I felt someone hug me from behind.

"Freya, my love. I've been looking for you everywhere."