CH002

Jasmine's eyes opened and the sharp scent of antiseptic filled her nostrils.

She didn't need anyone to tell her that she was in a hospital, the chains that binded her hands and legs to the bed were enough indication.

"Jasmineeeee!!!!" She heard her name and she slowly turned to the entrance.

The voice was unmistakenly familiar, the only voice that could offer her comfort amidst the turmoil within her soul.

It was Mia, her best friend since childhood. They had carried their friendship to their adult ages after the death of their mother's, the tears in her eyes made a tear fall from hers as well.

But Mia was not allowed in the ward she was in, so she stood at the entrance. Jasmine already knew why. She has fainted the time of her hearing and had been rushed to the hospital.

Say, anytime soon, she would be discharged on the doctor's word and that would be it for her. Her judgement would be pronounced and she would rot in jail for years for a crime her husband, or should she say ex husband committed.

"I warned you Jasmine, I warned you" Mia's words came in between her sobs. Her voice was laced with the sadness she felt, as if she were the one in her shoes. She was supposed to lash at her for not taking her advice, if only she had, if only she hadn't been blinded by love, she wouldn't be in this situation.

Jasmine turned her face to the other side of the wall, away from Mia who stood at the entrance of the door crying.

She didn't want to see her tears anymore, she didn't want to behold her lamenting face.

"I love you Jasmine Jaiswal" the voice echoed in her head. The voice she was beginning to dread.

"I love you Jasmine Jaiswal" she heard again and this time she couldn't control the tears that began to cloud her eyes yet again.

If only she hadn't believed that voice five years ago.

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"Are you going to sit down there and let him treat you like shit?" Marshall Yugo asked.

Jasmine looked up at him from the stairs she sat. She stood up abruptly, not wanting him to see her in such a vulnerable state.

Arun had just given her a slap in the presence of the other staff. Maya, her step sister was the reason but she didn't take it to heart because she was Arun's secretary and they were at the workplace. The slap was his way of disciplining her who was his employee because she had committed an offence.

"Good day Mr. Marshall" she greeted and extended her hand out to him for a handshake, which he accepted not wanting to leave her hand hanging in the air.

"What brings you here sir? Your secretary didn't call to inform me of your arrival" she added to divert his attentions, as she used the back of her left hand to clean the tears in her eyes.

" I came here for you" he mouthed staring at her in the eyes. The staircase she stood on made them be of equal height.

Jasmine immediately shrugged off his flirting words and retreated her hand from his, sensing that he was unable to let them go.

"I will inform my boss of your arrival sir" she said and turned to walk away but stopped midway when she heard him speak again.

" How much longer are you going to gaslight yourself into believing that nothing is wrong with your marriage Jasmine? I'm not trying to sound too desperate for your attention, but it would do you alot of good if you say back to watch and make the right decision now while there is still time"

" Excuse me?" Jasmine scuffed.

It wasn't enough for him to be hitting on her even as she was a married woman, betrothed to wed her step sister Maya in a few months time and her husband's enemy and competitor, he was now also trying to give her life advices? What happened to acting on those advices himself before giving them out to others?

"I am a man of few words Miss. Jaiswal"

"It's Mrs Ruge to you" she corrected.

"Jasmine Jaiswal Ruge" she repeated, making sure to add her husband's surname within..

"Arun my husband and I are still married to each other and still love each other very much, you can take your opinions on our marriage somewhere else" she said with a resolute voice, maintaining her steeze and composure.

" Think about what I have said now that there is still time" he repeated and bowed to her, turning to walk away when he saw Arun approaching.

Jasmine stood still brooding over the tone of his voice.

It hadn't been long since they knew each other. He was Maya's fiance, so it was natural for her to know him.

But he had seemed like a player from the first day she met him at the family dinner. He didn't take his eyes off her, almost as if he was staring at a painting the entire time the dinner lasted.

And then it didn't take weeks before he started hitting on her, offering unsolicited advice to her about ending her marriage with her husband, whom he saw as undeserving of her.

But she always talked him off each time he started. He was incomparable to her Arun even though his business was booming more than his'.

They just needed one leap and they'd be bigger than him. The leap was on its way, he would soon stop disrespecting her husband. Just who the fuck did he even think he was.

"What are you doing there?"

Jasmine got snapped out of her thoughts when she turned and saw Arun standing in front of her.

A tear wanted to escape her eyes but she bottled it in.

She hadn't pushed Maya. Inshort Maya had been the one who pushed her but fell instead.

She didn't complain the numerous times she sent photos of her and her husband in close up positions to her, nor even when they rode in the same car, ate the same foods at the same restaurant or attended business conferences together.

She was his ex and it was understandable that they might share certain likes and dislikes but it had already been five whole years, why was she, her sister, sending her images of the time she spends with her husband to her?

She had confronted her about it and they had argued. No, she didn't argue with her. It was Maya who did. She was used to not arguing with her because of their childhood, so she just lets her be.

She just warned her to stay away from her husband and to stop sending images of them to her and focus on her fiancee but instead, Maya pushed her but because she stood firm with the flat shoes she wore, Maya took the fall when she lost balance on her heels

And what then? She ended up getting slapped by her own husband in the presence of the other staff for pushing her? Thinking about it still embarrassed her.

"Don't ever try what you did with Maya today ever again. I don't think I'd be kind enough then. I'd have you arrested" he threatened

She swallowed the lump that formed in her throat.

If the others got to know that she was his wife, how would they look at her considering all the mean things he did and said to her while they're at work.

She should be thankful that he let her work and not just anywhere, but as a secretary to him in his own company, but then, other husband's did that for their wives as well. Was it too much asking for descent treatments and a piece of respect for her person from him.

She didn't give an answer to his words she didn't know whether to take as a threat or a warning.

Maya was just an Investor and all that to him. She had no place in his heart and he had embarrassed her who was his employee in front of others for her self respect to remain intact as a dignified Investor she was, she continued to tell herself, wanting to believe without giving heed to the voices in her head.

She looked up and stared at him. Eyes never lied. That was what was said, eyes did never lie but she couldn't tell what was in his as she stared at him.

Those weren't the same doting eyes he used to stare at Maya whenever he saw her pass by. Nor how he looked at her when they attended business conferences.

There was something different with the way he stared at her, but she didn't want to believe.

Arun belonged to her and he had vowed he did as well. He wouldn't change and definitely not for anything, lest his ex who broke him five years ago.

"Was she that very important of an Investor that you had to disrespect me for her sake?" She finally asked after countless times of holding the question back in.

Arun gave her no answer, instead he walked away on seeing another employee approaching.

No one needed to know that they were married, definitely not his employees.

Jasmine heaved a sigh of relief. She didn't get an answer but at least, she was able to ask the question that burdened her the most.

Was Maya still that important to him that he had to disrespect her for her sake?

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"Jasmine Jaiswal????" An officer called.

Jasmine turned to face the door with her tear clogged eyes she couldn't wipe away because her hands were restricted.

"Get ready, the judges are waiting for you at the court" she mouthed and the next voices she could hear were the uncontrollable sobs let out by her only person.... Mia Cajetan.

If only she had listened to her in the beginning..... If only wishes were horses...