Chapter 1- Goodbye Zander

Elvie was shivering in the rain, and her mind was nowhere near sane. She was hurt, betrayed, and alone. But then she realised there was something in the rain that made her forget who she was—that she was nothing more than her husband's enemy. And, yes, her best friend was right; it was difficult to be a wife willing to sacrifice her heart for a husband who doesn't love her back.

A few minutes later, she arrived at Stanton’s mansion.

Elvie knocked on her husband’s door. "Zander!"

"What the hell do you want?" His irritated voice came as he opened the door.

Elvie sighed. "I've been married to you for a year, but we've never really been a couple."

"So?"

"I'll sign the divorce papers; you and your lover may proceed with your affair by calling it quits on our marriage."

Zander frowned. "What do you mean?"

"You're free to go. You can marry her. But for now, could y-you um, make love to me?"

"What?"

"This is my last and only request; please make up for my love for you throughout the year."

"Are you out of your mind?"

Elvie knew it was a heinous act, but she had loved him for far too long. She had suffered immensely over the years, and now all she needed was some solace. "This is my only request before I'll sign the divorce—"

"Elvie, how dare you! Are you losing your mind?" Zander Stanton’s jaw gritted as his rage erupted. His beautiful face was as dark as thunder as he watched her.

"You love Kristal, right? Then do this to me before I'll let you go. That's the only thing I ask—"

The heat in Zander’s eyes scorched her, captivated her, and held her spellbound, but she knew there was hatred too.

"You're really out of your mind, Elvie."

Before she could blink, he hauled her into his arms and kissed her deeply.

The kiss they’d shared at the wedding day had been exploratory, tender, and achingly poignant. Yet there was nothing remotely sweet or gentle about his mouth crushing hers now. He was punishing her. But then, a few seconds later, their lips clashed in a frantic, hungry union—a fusion of tongues, a meshing of desire—that left her reeling.

She should have been immune to him by now. She should’ve pushed him away and laughed it off as a quick reacquainting peck between arranged husband and wife for old times’ sake.

Should’ve, should’ve, as she stood on tiptoes, leaned into him, and wrapped her arms around his neck, hanging on as if her life depended on it.

As Zander softened the kiss, plying her with the skilled precision he’d always had, her resolve to push him away melted, just as it had one year earlier when she’d acted on all the bottled-up feelings she’d harboured for him for years.

So what the heck was she doing, kissing him like this? Asking him to make love to her?

As her belated common sense kicked in, Zander broke the kiss, untangling her hands from behind his neck and setting them firmly at her side before glaring at her, as if she’d been the one to instigate their clinch in the first place.

"Don’t expect me to be sorry for that," he said, running a hand through his wavy hair, sending it in all directions.

Elvie pressed her hands to her flushed cheeks as Zander stepped away. Never leaving his eyes on her.

The woman was a menace. He thought to himself. In less than a few seconds, she’d managed to unbalance him, unhinge him, and undermine him. How could she demand he sleep with her? Was she that desperate?

"I gave up expecting anything from you a long time ago." Elvie shrugged, aiming for nonchalance while her insides churned, and ran a finger along her bottom lip, wondering if it looked as bruised as it felt.

He’d kissed her, and she liked it! So much for the cold ice. She looked as if her hard-fought, emotion-free veneer had melted the minute he’d lip-locked her.

"F*ck!" Zander muttered a curse and turned away from Elvie before he made another blunder and hauled her right back into his arms.

She felt good—better than he remembered, and he had a damn good memory when it came to this woman. But his hatred was more pronounced than the little voice in his head.

She’d never been the one for him. Zander loathed her. He loathed her family for arranging a marriage he never wanted.

Elvie sighed. She’d had no choice, but a day hadn’t gone by when she hadn’t replayed memories of the man who’d captured her heart without trying. Here she was, just as stupid as she remembered. "I—I'll take a shower, and I'll be b-back," she muttered and left his room immediately. God, what was she doing? Was she this desperate? But that didn’t excuse her eager response, right? Nor did the total and utter meltdown she’d experienced the second his lips touched hers again. As for that kiss, not only had Elvie stood there and let him do it, she’d responded! Like a woman who hadn’t been kissed in a very long time. Which, in all honesty, was probably true considering he’d been so focused on making her life miserable.

Yes. This was her last card. She would make Zander hers for tonight. Just for tonight.

 *****

Elvie awoke bitter the next morning, her heart heavy, wanting nothing more than to mourn over her stupidity. Yes, they made love; too many times and it may have been a show for Zander, but it was real for her. She would remember that moment for the rest of her life.

"I'll set you free, Zander. We'll be going our own ways starting today." She sighed, "We're not going to see each other anymore," Elvie muttered. She examined his bare body beneath the silky sheet. She promised never to return. Never to see him. She winced and signed the divorce papers beside his bed. "You are free now, my love." Elvie withdrew her gaze and walked away. As she stepped out of the Stanton mansion, her heart was filled with regret and despair.

Elvie has been in love with Zander for years. It was naive, but she couldn't stop herself. After all, people become crazy when they’re in love. She had an infatuation with him from her childhood through her university days, since her brother was Zander’s closest friend and her greatest goal was to be married to him one day.

Zander, on the other hand, detested her from the minute she married into his family.

His grandma was gravely ill at the time and wanted Zander to marry someone before she passed away. As fate would have it, she was chosen as Zander's wife and her selfish parents agreed to the marriage right away.

Well, her dreams came true, but it was not all rainbows and sunshine. Very far from it.

Zander ignored her; he never even talked to her.

She could still remember how excited she was as she awaited her wedding night. She wore her sexiest and most alluring nighties, but when Zander showed up, he was drunk and had a disgusted expression on his face.

"What are you doing here? This is my room."

"But—"

"You have your own room, Elvie."

"Zander, we are married. We—"

"Elvie, I'd like you to know that the only person I want to marry is Kristal, understood? She was the one I loved."

Elvie stood dumbfounded at his hurtful words.

"I had no desire to marry you! I hate you. Only Kristal is suitable to be my wife. You're not good enough for me," he asserted emphatically. "I despise you because you are exactly like your parents: selfish and ambitious. I hate you!"

She bit her lips and tried to control her tears. She knew and understood that Zander was under no obligation to love her; after all, their marriages were arranged, and she knew he never loved her. But then she clung to the notion that he would eventually warm up to her. Someday.

By then, she had tried her hardest to be a decent and caring wife in the last year of their marriage.

Elvie's devotion to Zander was an unwavering testament to her boundless love. Every day, she meticulously prepares a warm, home-cooked meal, ensuring that he returns to a haven of comfort and nourishment. Regardless of the hour, her heart remains at ease only after his safe return. Yes, it was stupid of her to wait and hope that maybe someday he’d learn to like her back. But he never did. And her unrelenting dedication was clear in Zander's restful slumber that followed, yet he never once thanked her or even looked at her.

If Zander overindulged at social occasions, it was Elvie who catered to him with exceptional care, never relinquishing her duty even in those vulnerable moments. She never asked for anything in return. Whenever he was unwell or sick, her care outweighed all others, her devotion and compassion providing a daily reminder of her love. But it was all in vain.

Nonetheless, he never loved her and never would. She knew for sure that a harsh reality remained: Zander's heart had never truly embraced the love she offered, and the future held no promise of change. This painful truth was etched in her mind for months—a heavy burden she carried silently.

In fact, their anniversary was the day before yesterday, but Zander was away with Kristal. He's forgotten her and ignored her too many times to count. And she couldn't take it anymore. She was done.

Elvie realised then that her one-sided love would never be reciprocated. It was time to end her foolishness. It was time to give up. It's time to let him go. To set him free.

She would never make Zander fall for her since his heart belonged to another woman. That was the hardest truth.

As a result, Elvie made the decision to give up.

"Goodbye Zander."

*****

Six hours later, Zander awoke.

After getting up, the first thing he wanted to do was talk.

Talk about how wrong he was and how regretful he was for what happened to them.

How could he give in to her enticement? How could he answer the door when she knocked a few minutes earlier after punishing her with a kiss he never imagined could be so amazing?

How could he be so naive?

And damn him for remembering it so vividly.

When he opened the door last night. He decided to tell her to get the hell out of his room, but when he saw her in her amazing red nighties, he was a goner. He thought he could ignore her, but he couldn't when Elvie bit her lips. Her eyes were shy and unsure, but she stepped into his room slowly. So he pulled off his shoes and slid over her, pressing his body against every inch of hers. Their lips were near, but he hadn't kissed her.

"Forget everything tonight, Zander. Tonight I am yours!" she exclaimed before biting her lips again. Nerves. So she wasn't as sure of herself as she said.

How cute, Zander thought to himself.

"Okay, let's forget everything; tonight it's just the two of us," he said with a lustful gaze. Elvie raised her head and smiled at him.

"Is that a very hard, huge rock in your pocket, or are you really just thrilled to kiss me?" she asked quietly.

He almost burst out laughing. "I'm just..." He moved his mouth a quarter inch closer to hers. "Well, I'm just... thrilled... to..." His mouth was hovering directly over hers, so near that he could feel her breath on his face. "See... you with this beautiful nightdress," he moaned, then brought his lips to hers and claimed her mouth in his.

Again, it tasted as good as it looked. The pink gloss had a caramel smell to it. Spicy and hot. Sweet and sticky. He kissed her, and the warmth of her body pressing against his was so intense that he couldn't think properly. He shouldn't have done this, but he was lost to her beauty, to her warmth, and to her sweetness.

Just for tonight, he thought to himself.

Elvie kissed him back with passion, rubbing her body slowly and sensually against his.

"God, you tasted so sweet," he whispered between kisses and a small thrust on her lower body, which earned Elvie a small moan.

Zander carried her to the bed as he seized the kiss from her and didn't even give her the opportunity to breathe before moving on to the next. His hands began to wander. He had to brush up against her breasts. Those breasts had bothered him from the first time he saw them, when she flashed him while dancing. He'd imagined how it would feel to touch and taste them.

His fingers slipped to the clasp at the back of her bra as he went on kissing her. It was open in seconds. He then glided his fingers around to her front, up and beneath the red satin.

"Ahhhh! Zander!" Elvie moaned his name.

He grasped her breast and teased the stiff nipple with his thumb and fingertip, causing her to whimper beneath his tongue. He broke their kiss and went down her body, seizing that firm nipple in his mouth and tugging hard.

When he took her nipple into his mouth, Elvie almost shot up off the couch.

She was in big trouble. This man could get more mileage out of a kiss than most men could out of an entire night. Those first two long, slow kisses had almost rendered her totally immobile. Soft. Pliable. Willing. Wanting.

It was then that Zander shook his head as he tried to forget what happened last night. "Damn that woman!"

He was a businessman who could make anyone bow with words, but when it came to his wife, he became stupid.

He was the CEO of Stanton Inc. for a reason; he was the best of the shareholders, known for his expertise and competitiveness. He was Zeus. The one and only.

No one in business could compete with him. As a result, he had never fallen into someone else's trap.

"What a bitch!" he murmured to himself, wondering why he was so angry. Pondering whether he was furious with his wife or with himself for wanting her back to his bed.

He never expected to fall into that woman's trap. How could she trick him into sleeping with her? What an insult. Such.... "Damn it!" he thought to himself. Simmering with frustration, he looked around the room but couldn't find her. Then he paused as he noticed the document on the bedside table out of the corner of his eye.

"What the f*ck—?" As he took up the document with the words. Zander's brow wrinkled. "Damn it! She was serious."

His gaze narrowed dangerously.

She first used that heinous tactic to compel me to spend the night with her, and now she wants a divorce? What the fuck is wrong with her? He thought to himself.

Zander refused to think that Elvie truly wanted to divorce him. That would never be done by a selfish woman who wanted nothing but his money.

He sprang up, pulled on his clothes, and marched downstairs angrily. "Where is my wife?" He inquired of the maid.

The old lady, taken aback, said quickly, "Sir, um—Elvie departed home with her stuff earlier. She told us to—I mean, she said her goodbyes to all—"

"What?!" Zander came to a halt in his tracks when he heard it.