Chapter 0003

WASHINGTON, SEATTLE 2022

 ~ANASTASIA~

I felt my head spin, so I moved back to the bed and sat down as my heart was in pain too.

“I did you a favor by packing your bag; I could have just scattered your things,” Jimena said, and I ignored her as I calmed myself down but failed as my chest was uncontrollably moving up and down.

“Y-you… You can't be pregnant; William will—he won't accept it.”

“Wait, are you calling me a liar?” I don't know what was wrong with her, but I knew I couldn't show her how much she was hurting me. I was William's wife; she was just his mistress. It didn't matter if he loved her or not; the law and the public knew I was Mrs. Rogers, not her.

“Yes.” I said as I stood up from the bed, “You have always loved my husband, so I'm sure you made this up.”

“No Anastasia,” she said and came closer to me. I looked at her confused. “Liam has always loved me; you are the one who came between us; you are the one who tricked him; I will never–”

“It doesn't matter.” I cut her, and she eyed me confusedly. She was probably shocked at my reaction; maybe she was expecting me to cowardly cry, “I'm his wife, and that's all that matters.”

“He's going to divorce you.” She said in a trembling voice. “He loves me.”

“Until he does, I'm still his wife. The lady of the house, now remove your filthy clothes from my spot before I do something you will regret.” I warned, but she didn't move. I've never seen Jimena so quiet; she always had something to say.

"Oh, out of words? I'm not surprised; you're just a mistress; all you know is to steal other women's–” I didn't finish my sentence as she caught my attention with what she was doing. 

She raised her hands with a wicked smile on her face, then poured the juice on herself. Before I could speak, she started screaming like a crazy bitch, then shoved the glass in my hands.

It happened so fast that the door opened and William rushed in.

“What the fuck?!” William quickly took Jimena in his arms as she pretended to shiver.

"She's crazy; I didn't do anything, Willy. I..." She sobbed, which made William rub her back as he nodded and repeatedly apologized. I was amused; I couldn't even find the words to say.

“She's going to pay for this.” William gritted his teeth, dangerously looking at me.

"No, please don't; she's just upset, I understand and–”

“Please go to the guest room.” William cut her. 

“What?” 

“Go clean up; I will join you shortly.” He said, and she nodded before looking at me and faking a sympathetic smile. 

“I understand what you're going through; I promise I do, but you know how much William and I love each other.”

“You don't owe her any explanation, Jimena," William said, and she nodded her head before she walked to the door. I watched her every step; I still couldn't believe she just did what she did. 

When she reached the door she shot me a scornful look before walking out, as if she’d won some unspoken game. 

“Why the fuck did you do that for?!”

“I didn't do it; she's lying.”

“Don't you dare accuse Jimena; she is not like you.”

“Wait, so you're calling me a liar?” 

“Yes, now get your things and prepare to apologize to Jimena; you know how sensitive Jimena is.”

“Are you fucking serious right now?!” I raised my voice; I've never raised my voice at him.

“W-what?” He probably didn't expect me to raise my voice.

“Can you hear yourself now? I should pack my things and go where exactly?”

“To one of the guest rooms or Ivy's room, we are getting a divorce, and this is my house.”

“But I'm still your wife, and as long as we are married, this is my room; I will not give it up for...”

“Fuck!” He rubbed his forehead. “You're just a fucking headache; haven't you tortured me enough?”

“Seriously?”

“All fucking four years of misery, what have I done to deserve this?” Yes, he was doing it again, acting like the victim.

“William?” I shook my head. How did I even fall for someone like this, so selfish?

“I’m going down to check on Jimena; I don’t even know what the poor girl is going through with this mentality; I want you out when I come back.” He said and then walked to the door. I watched him, but as he reached the door, he stopped at the question I asked him.

“Have you ever imagined loving me, even just a little?” I asked through tears; my heart was beating faster; it was like it was going to stop at any moment. I tightened my grip around the glass.

“What?”

“Answer me, William, have you ever imagined loving me, maybe in five years, even just a little?” I repeated, I needed to know.

He turned, his face serious, “Never. I will never love you, not even in the next life. The last four years were hell on earth. I hate you, Anastasia; I fucking hate you.” His words rang in my head.

He hated me.

He slammed the door, and I sniffed before I wiped my tears, as that was all I needed to hear.

I tried. I swear I tried.

I turned and saw my packed bag. I didn’t care if everything I needed was there; I just needed to leave. This was it. I couldn’t do it anymore.

I walked to the bedside drawer and took the document his mother brought to me a few days ago.

“Fucking sign the papers you leech!” I remembered her words; she never wanted me for her son; just like him, she hated me.

Without wasting time, I took the pen from the table and placed my full name on the dotted line.

A tear fell on the document blurring the ink as a sharp, stinging pain gripped my chest.

I stared at my blurred name for a moment before I carefully placed the divorce agreement document on the bed, and taking my bag, I walked out of the room–ignoring the pain in my chest, I would cry but not here.

I didn’t even want to look back; I didn’t want to regret anything while I was still here.

I quickened my steps down the stairs but reaching the lower steps, I stopped as I watched William tickling Jimena; he was laughing. William had never smiled, not even in the photos.

I don’t know how I could be able to fix my heart from here, as it was more than a million pieces now.

Tears naturally found their way to my cheeks as William bent down to kiss her flat belly; he never even did that even when I was carrying his child.

Wiping them away, I walked down and reached them, I stared for a moment before I cleared my throat, which they noticed.

“What’s this?” William annoyedly asked, “Don’t tell me you don’t know which room to choose.” His whole mood changed; yes, I irritated him.

“I’m leaving.”

“What?” He sprang to his feet, turning to face me. Jimena, on the other hand, picked the magazine from the table and started paging through, clearly enjoying the drama.

“I’m leaving; I already signed the divorce agreement.“

“What agreement?!” William raised his voice as he came closer to me.

“Submit them after you put your signature on. I want it finalized as soon as possible.” I said, but upon finishing my sentence, William grabbed me by my arm and forced me to face him.

“I didn’t ask you to leave.”

“I don't need your permission.”

“You leave when I say so!” He raised his voice, and his grip on my wrist tightened; it was starting to hurt.

“You can’t stop me.”

“I’m your husband, and what I say goes.” For the first time our eyes met, his dark green eyes were staring into mine; I couldn’t tell what he was trying or why he was against me leaving.

“Oh my God, William, let her go.”

“Shut up, Jimena!” He raised his voice, which was the first time as he had never raised his voice at her, not even when they fought.

“And you listen to me,” he pulled me closer to him, “you don’t leave this house until I ask you to; is that clear?!”