Chapter 1 - A happy marriage turned sour.

Big camera light flashed as Matilda signed on the paper works in front of her. She hushed out a small air when she was done and faced the cameras with a big smile. No doubts she was slightly nervous. But she was fully confident of what she had just done.

A loud ovation followed immediately her husband finished signing his parts on the paper works and he smiled at her lovingly, pressing her body deeper into his reassuringly.

Matilda Smith, married to Eduardo Smith, could not have asked for anything else. He showed up in her weakest moment in life and has ever since being her source of hope. Their five years of marriage filled with joy, love, and peace could attest to that.

The couple lifted the paper works briefly as the medias took pictures. Their relationship was what everyone envied, and as they dropped the paper works to the table in front of them, another round of applause followed. Then they stepped down, still in each other's embrace.

“Congratulations Mr. and Mrs. Smith.” Some of their business partners walked up to them to say in big smiles, and they returned the gesture with a bright smile.

“You both are the sweetest couple ever. You don't just make all of us envious but also acts like a role model to so many young couples.” Mrs. Sebastian, a business partner said with a flattering smile and others agreed with a nod.

Matilda chuckled lightly and shot her husband a glance, “we're truly honored, and we'll continue to be considered a role model, right sweetheart?” She lifted her gaze to stare at Eduardo with so much love.

“Of course, darling! You're the only one for me after all.” He nodded and placed a gentle peck on her lips, which left everyone 'wowed'. The media inclusive as they didn't fail to get shots of that.

A delicate pink hue spread across Matilda's face, and she lowered her face to hide it a bit. The more reason she loved him. He was usually so good with his words and knew when and how to use them on her. That was why she would never regret what she did today.

Handing over all her inheritance to him, she had saved his company from falling totally bankrupt. A mistake from her husband's financial manager had almost destroyed their company and that was why, she increased their assets by giving all of hers.

“Please, excuse us.”

It was almost as if the reporters were all waiting for them to be alone. They enclosed their space immediately with different questions emanating from them each. All the questions were referred to Matilda, so she decided to answer the last one.

“Mrs. Smith, how do you feel after what you've just done today?”

“I feel accomplished as a good wife. In my years of marriage, my husband has been the best so far and not exempting his family. Beginning from my mother-in-law, they've all been so good to me. So, I've decided to repay them.”

“Besides, whatever belongs to my husband is mine.” She added almost immediately as her lips curled into a bright smile.

More questions originated from the reporters, and she answered the ones within her capacity. There were majorly questions similar to earlier.

Matilda paused and waved when her eyes met her best friend's. She was standing not too far in the crowd, sipping from a glass of champagne. She waved back before walking out of the crowd.

“Darling, please excuse me for a while. I will be right back.” Eduardo left and Matilda answered all the questions herself.

Eventually, she was able to move away from the reporters after some time of questions and answers session, but her husband was yet to return. As she collected a glass of champagne for herself, her eyes looked out for him, but he was still nowhere to be seen. They still had other business partners to greet before the party was over.

“Did something happen on his way back?” She asked herself, gulping down the last content of champagne in the glass, then returned it. “This won't do.” She added, and took the same route she had seen him taking earlier.

Asking a few people of her husband's whereabouts, she heard some backbiting words, but she wasn't concerned about what she heard. All she wanted was to find him.

She got to the hallway, leading to different rooms but still no trace of him.

“Where could he be?” She mumbled quietly, staring back and forth at the space but still nothing.

Almost close to giving up, she heard strange noises in one of the rooms, more of moans. Initially, it didn't concern her as she decided to leave the people to their dirty business until she heard,

“Fuck you, Tiffany! I'm about to cum.”

“Cum baby! I'm all yours.” Then the voices subsided.

If she had heard correctly, those voices belonged to her husband and best friend and the name as well was her best friend's but it was so impossible that it was happening.

Curiosity led her nearer to the door, and she waited to confirm whom she heard. She knew those she heard, but her heart refused to believe. It was like a battle between her brain and heart.

“How did you get that leech off your side? Saw you both earlier, and she craved too much of your attention that it almost got me sick.”

“I just gave a simple excuse and, naively, she agreed.”

“Now, that you have all of her inheritance, shouldn't we proceed with the initial plan? I mean, I can't stand her being by your side anymore.”

“Matilda might start looking for me soon, so get dressed. We'll continue this conversation later.”

And that was it. Matilda didn't realize when her hands twisted the knob open and her jaws dropped at the sight in front of her. She took a few steps forward and immediately, her tears began to roll down.

Eduardo and Tiffany flinched at her sudden appearance and Tiffany quickly wrapped the duvet around herself. Eduardo was still dressed. Only his pants were hanging down his feet, but his brief was still on him.

“You bitch! Can't you knock?” Tiffany cussed infuriatingly while holding the duvet tight to her chest.

“What is going on here?” Matilda asked, more tears rolling down her cheeks.

“How could you both do this to me?” Matilda's voice trembled as her eyes darted from her best friend to her husband, whose sweats were still dripping, obviously from the adulterous act he just committed.

Her disappointed self wanted to hear an explanation, an excuse, or something and wished all was just a mistake but.....

“You came in just in time.” He uttered with no iota of remorse as he fixed his pants and belt.

“What? Eduardo!”

“You've seen and heard it all, so what now? Want me to start telling some boring story and silly excuse? Hell no, young lady!” He raised a brow, and Matilda couldn't believe her eyes and ears.

In their years of marriage, he had never been this harsh on her. Not especially when he was at fault. She could sense from his tone, reaction and recent conversation that she had been played all this while. All for what? Her inheritance? No way.