CHAPTER 1

Martin's eyes held mine, steady and full of something deeper than words. “I look at you and see my future. Your smile brings me happiness, and I promise to always hold you tight and never leave your side.” Martin said earnestly

My heart swelled, warmth spreading through me. This was it–the man I loved, the man I want to do forever with.

“Then, let's prove to the world that forever exists,” I whispered before pressing my lips softly against his.

His arms wrapped around me, pulling me close. Safe. Loved. Home

Then, crack. A sudden burst of thunder outside jolted me back to reality.

My phone was still playing the video – Martin, surrounded by three of his friends. Their laughter still echoing in the room.

“ I still can't believe you did it, You are the boss for a reason.” One of them said, “And for all this time, you deserve a trophy”

With a smirk on Martin's face, he leaned back into the chair. “Of course, I told you guys I can get anything in this world unless I choose not to.”

The room erupted into more cheers and laughter

“It's been two years of me playing this game, and never, not even once, had she suspected a thing.”

As the laughter died down, Martin leaned forward, his expression darkening. “I think we need to end this bet already. I am done wasting my time on that useless thing.” he added, his frustration evident. “So, like I said, it's time for you all to pay what you promised.”

One of his friends smirked and leaned back. “Not so fast, you need to give us the details on how you were able to pull this off.”

“Yeah…” the others added, nodding eagerly

Martin leaned back, shaking his head, “She wasn't hard to fool. I told her what she wanted to hear, played the lover boy until she agreed to become my wife. And for all I know, she believes I am the perfect husband, the one she brags about to her friends.”

As the laughter grew louder, my breath ceased. Each word felt like I was being stabbed with a knife. I felt a sharp ache replace the love I once felt.

I immediately turned off the screen, not wanting to listen to whatever was left for them to say. The room seemed to spin, and my fingers began to tremble as I staggered back, my vision blurring from the sting of unshed tears. The words still linger in my mind. A bet? My marriage — my entire life– turns out to be just a sick game to Martin.

A cruel game.

I clenched my fists, my nails digging into the flesh of my palm as I sank to the floor, gasping for air as though oxygen had been stolen from the room. I couldn't specify if it was the words he spoke or how his friends were making fun of it that made my heart ache or maybe both

To him, I was a “useless thing”–a burden.

I bit my lip and squeezed my eyes shut, fighting off the pain that threatened to consume me. I wiped the tears that had unknowingly spilt with the back of my hand.

I had so many questions and Martin was going to answer them.

I bolted into the car, ignoring the downpour as the rain soaked through my clothes.

I want to know how he could look into my eyes every day and lie to me. I want to know what I ever did to him to deserve this.

By the time I pulled up into the office, my heart was raging inside me.

“Mrs Lancaster, you can't go in there” his secretary screamed out

But I wasn't ready to listen to her. I strode past her

“Mrs……, Mr Lancaster is in a meeting……you can't go in there”

I ignored her, I didn't care.

He was going to pause whatever meeting it was and answer me first.

I shoved the door open before she could get to me and immediately, the air in my lungs turned to ice

Martin's hands were wrapped around a woman's hair, his lips busily crushing hers. For a second, everything went silent.

Then the door slammed against the wall behind me, breaking them apart and making me catch a full glimpse of the lady.

Sophia Adams.

My college colleague. Now a socialite and a supermodel. The kind Martin once told me he hated. Women who were everywhere, women who posted half-naked pictures of themselves on social media. Women who worked, In general–which was why he insisted I become a stay-at-home wife.

Yet here he was, wrapped in her arms.

He didn't look guilty, he looked almost surprised and then pissed.

“What the hell are you doing here looking like this?” he snapped, adjusting his rumpled tie and wiping his lips as if that could erase what had already been done.

I blinked. “Excuse me?”

“I have told you not to show up at my office without an invitation” he added, his voice sharp and accusing

“So you can keep screwing around and make me believe you love me.” My voice wavered. “Was it true all along?” I asked, my voice below a whisper

He took a few steps closer, trying to touch me but I pulled away

“Don't you dare touch me, just answer me. Have you been screwing her all this while?” I asked raising my voice

“Just lower your damn voice. This is my office.” He hissed, his eyes narrowing with irritation

“Isabella, Martin and I...”

“I don't recall speaking to you. So just do yourself a favour and keep quiet.” I shot back at Sophia before she could finish her sentence

Martin's eyes darkened with anger “If you were smart enough, you would have realized it a long time ago.”

A sharp pain shot through my chest, “Martin, I asked you time and time again, If the rumours about you and Sophia were true, you denied each one of it. You even swore you hated her…”

“And that is your problem”. He retorted

Sophia let out a soft laugh, grazing her fingers between his arms

“You always act so naive”

“I only trusted you, Martin, and perhaps that was my mistake

“Oh please, drop the act. You didn't expect me to tell you something else. Did you? I only told you what I knew you wanted to hear.”

My heart sank. “But why, Martin. Why did you do this to me?”

“Do I need to have reasons to do what my heart desires?”

It felt as if my whole world had come to an end.

“Look at you, you don’t even deserve to be called my wife. Now, Get out,” he took a few steps toward me, lifting my chin with two fingers, forcing me to look into his empty, soulless eyes. “Go home and cry, or do whatever pathetic women like you do in situations like these.”

I stared at him, my heart shattering into pieces.

And without another word, he stepped back and walked out with Sophia's arm still looped around his as if I didn't exist.

I stood there frozen, hoping someone would just wake me up from this nightmare. I always believed every word Martin told me; even when a nagging voice inside me whispered warnings, I chose to ignore. For the first time in my life, I felt completely powerless and helpless.

I felt trapped—with no idea how to escape.