Prologue.

Riley’s POV

I was on my way home after a stressful day at the company. I work at my husband’s company as his secretary, and regardless of my poor status, Asher has never shown me otherwise.

He loves and cherishes me.

Although these past few days have been tough on us, the constant fights and all, I knew it had to do with the company; we’ve been getting losses, and it was hard on him.

I was trying to be a supportive wife.

I tried to understand.

I did.

His job was important, and he was providing for us. But I couldn't shake the feeling that we were too distant these days.

I growled, walking into the house, the tense air filling my nostrils. The scent that filled the air made my heart drop both in confusion and fear.

I marched to the living room, my gaze falling on feminine clothes scattered all over the floor, clothes that certainly weren’t mine.

They didn't belong to me.

I felt a knot in my stomach as I wondered who they belonged to.

Did someone break into the house or what?

Asher left for a business trip a few days ago, and he wasn’t returning until in the next two days, even if it was him, the last time I checked, my husband was a man.

I tried to tell myself it was just my imagination playing tricks on me.

I took a step forward, my eyes scanning the room. That's when I saw it. A condom wrapper on the floor.

My heart sank, and I felt like I had been punched in the gut.

I tried to breathe, but my lungs felt like they were collapsing. I couldn't believe what I was seeing. I didn't want to believe it.

But I knew I had to face the truth.

No!

My heart rate escalated, and my feet ran cold.

I didn’t want to believe what I was thinking, not until I heard muffled sounds upstairs.

I gasped, hurriedly marching up the stairs.

Please no!

It can’t be.

It couldn’t be what I was thinking.

I really hope it isn’t.

I heard muffled sounds coming from upstairs. My heart rate escalated as I climbed the stairs, each step heavier than the last.

I approached our matrimonial room, my mind racing with worst-case scenarios.

The door was slightly ajar.

I pushed it open.

And my world shattered.

That's when I saw them. Asher and his assistant, Amber, lying in our bed together.

They were naked, wrapped in each other's arms.

I felt like I had been slapped in the face.

My heart broke into a million pieces.

I couldn't believe he would do this to me. I couldn't believe he would betray me like this.

“Yes, baby! Fuck me hard, she moans, riding him hard.

He held on to her meeting her trust, “Fuck Amber, you feel so fucking good,” he grunts.

“Give it to me hard…” she screams.

Tears streamed down as I clutched the doorknob, my whole world crashing down, betrayal hitting me hard.

“Not even your worthless wife can satisfy you the way I can… Give it to me harder. Empty your seeds inside of me! Amber screamed as Asher turned over, taking control.

“You are going to carry my child, the heir to my empire,” Asher states, picking up his pace.

“Yes, baby! Oh... yes, she pants.

"Fuck, baby! You’re taking me so good.”

"Ugh..." Right there”

I couldn’t believe what I was seeing; I didn’t want to believe that Asher would do this to me.

It felt like a nightmare I so badly wanted to wake up from, but who was I kidding? It was reality.

I didn’t know what to do; was I to walk in on them and throw tantrums or stay back and pretend I didn’t see a thing?

I love Asher so much; the thought of losing him frightens me. I have given my all to give up on our marriage.

Asher loves me

Then why is he cheating on me?

With Amber.

I broke into sobs; my feet were getting wobbly; they couldn’t carry me.

“Your barren, good-for-nothing wife is only good at extorting you,” Amber says as their heated session ends.

I didn’t know why I was standing here, but I wanted to hear it all, all of it.

“Fuck, I know. You can only imagine how tired I am. Riley is more like a liability now; I am processing the divorce,” Asher responds.

My heart broke again. Divorce?

I didn’t want to believe what my ears were hearing. It couldn’t be Asher saying all this.

“Well, when you finally get divorced, we can get married,” Amber says excitedly.

He nods, “Yes, my love, I can’t wait to finally make you mine. The thought of waking up next to you every morning makes me want to get over the divorce case.

I can’t wait to publicly make you mine, and announce to everyone that you belong to me.

“Can I ask you something?” Amber says, brushing off his words.

He nods, “Yeah, go on.”

“Why is your marriage kept a secret? I mean, nobody knows about you and Riley, she asked, and he hissed, rubbing on his temples.

“You know we both don’t belong in the same world. I’ve always thought that I was in love with Riley, but the truth is, I am only infatuated with her, and I only figured that out after meeting you. I may have pitied her—“

I couldn’t hear anymore; it felt like my heart was being ripped apart, and right now I wanted nothing more than to escape.

So I ran as fast as I could, making sure to remain unheard.

I walked to the empty streets of New York. It was late, extremely late; the cold air tingled on my skin.

I spotted a club just a few blocks away.

Wiping off my tear-stained face, I approached it wanting to clear my head with a few drinks.

I just wanted to forget. Every single memory I shared with Asher, I wanted it all gone.

I wish I never knew him.

“Ma’am, you’re taking a lot more than you can handle… I think that’s enough for the night, the bartender advised.

I got up offensively, my feet barely able to carry me, pointing my finger at him, “You… You—“

And I fell on a hard figure, his hand holding firmly on my waist.

I turned instantly, my vision blurry.

“Oh Asher, you look so hot and sexy… Why did you have to cheat on me?” I say, clutching the man’s collar, pulling him to me, and claiming his lips.

The last thing I remember was being led to a room with Asher, or so I thought.

And in the morning I woke up to an empty bed in the VIP section of a bar with regret washing over me.

I was no different from my Asher; I had also slept with a man.

A man who changed my life; I was his salvation, and he was my destruction.