Chapter 1

I couldn't help but smile when I saw what was inside the red box—it was a diamond necklace.

My husband came home later last night from work. He didn't wake me up, and when I woke up this morning, one of our maids told me he had already left. I didn’t know how to feel. It’s our third wedding anniversary, and he didn’t even greet me. This is the first time he hasn’t greeted me or given me a gift. Did he forget our anniversary?

I was furious and ready to call him. But when I saw this red paper bag in his office and checked what was inside, I felt so guilty for thinking badly about him. I think this is his gift to me, and maybe he has a surprise planned for later.

I dialed our favorite place and decided to make a reservation.

"Hello! This is Florence Hilton!" I said as soon as the person on the other end picked up. "I would like to make a reservation for two tomorrow in one of your private booths."

I heard the clatter of computer keys in the background and kept my fingers crossed. I wanted my anniversary to be flawless, and I couldn’t afford any disappointments.

I breathed in sigh of relief when a moment later the receptionist speak again. "We have a spot just for you, Ma'am... May I know what is your desire time?"

I told her the time my husband, Lucas, and I would be arriving, and went through other details for the evening. The receptionist assured me I would be getting the VIP treatment when I told her my husband and I were coming again to celebrate our third wedding anniversary. 

I began humming a tune as soon as I hung up. I stood up to get my computer and caught sight of my reflection in the mirror.

There was an excited rush on my cheeks, and a sparkle in my eye. I looked like a school girl who had just gotten her first date to the prom. Only this was better. It had been two years since I had gotten married to Lucas, three years of bliss and perfection.

I got my laptop and surfed the net. After about an hour, I found the perfect gift for him online. I ordered it, paid and gave the exact time that I would want it delivered. I wasn’t bothered about the price because I knew Lucas would get me something more expensive and would even send me a weekly allowance. 

After preparations for the next day was done, I didn't know what to do with myself. In order to resist the temptation of staring at the clock every few minutes, impatiently waiting for Lucas to come home, I went downstairs and started setting up the dining table for dinner. 

I was so attuned to Lucas that I knew the moment he walked through the door. In a flash, I dashed to the front door. With a huge grin on my face, I ran towards him. My steps faltered a bit when I noticed that he looked rather grim. But I didn't let that stop me from going in for a hug.

Perhaps he just had a really stressful day at work?

Just as I reached for him, he moved away and gave me look that sent a chill up my spine. His lips curled in disgust. It was like he had smelled something bad. I froze, frowned, and sniffed myself. I smelled of perfume and strawberry shampoo, and there was nothing offensive about that. 

"Love, what's wrong? What's the matter?" I asked him. "Tell me. Maybe I can help you?" 

Lucas looked at me but didn't respond. He moved as far away from me as possible and dropped his suitcase. I stood rooted to the spot, my mind in a whirl. We hadn't had a quarrel. I had done nothing to offend him, so what was with his sudden coldness?

The sight of the front door opening again interrupted my thoughts. My best friend, Amy, walked into the house like she owned the place.

"Amy, you didn't tell me you were coming?" I approached her with a smile on my face. "What are you doing here?"

Amy's eyes regarded me with contempt. She casually flicked her long, perfectly styled, blonde hair over her shoulder and took a seat. I gaped at her.

What was with her? What was with everyone's weird attitude today? 

I shook my head, deciding to leave Amy's attitude for later, I walked up to Lucas, pitched my voice low so that she couldn't hear.

"Love, listen... I don't know what... this is about, but if I've offended you in any way, I apologize. If there's a real problem, we can talk about it after our anniversary. Look what I—"

Lucas let out a short, bitter laugh. "Anniversary?" he sneered. "I thought you were smart enough to read the handwriting on the wall, Florence? But you're dumber than you look. There isn't going to be any anniversary celebration. Not for you and I anyway." While I stood in stunned silence, he bent, pulled out a sheaf of papers from his briefcase and threw them in my face. "Here. Take a look. Take a look at his."

Slowly, I bent and picked them up. A glance was sufficient to tell me that they were divorce papers and he had already signed them. I instantly felt a tear in my chest and the entire room started spinning around me. I clutched my chest, my breath hot and tears streaming down my face. 

"D-Divorce?" I wailed when I fnally found my voice. "Lucas, what do you mean by divorce? Why do you want... a divorce? What have I done...?"

"I would have thought it was fairly obvious. We've been married for two years and we have no kids, Florence. You can't even boast of having a miscarriage at least. Who's going to inherit all this wealth I built after I'm gone?"

"Lucas. Lucas, please... Think about what you're about to do. I can still give you children. I can give you—"

He made an impatient gesture. "There's no need for that, Florence. I already have a child on the way... with Amy."  Lucas eyes lit up when he said my best friend's name. "Amy is carrying my child as we speak. I'm a father now."

I had entirely forgotten about Amy after Lucas had dropped the bombshell. I stared right at my best friend, hoping and praying that she would smile, laugh and tell me that it was all a sick joke, a prank. 

Amy met my stare and deliberately rubbed her stomach.

God, no... This can't be. This is not true.

I felt a stab of almost physical pain stab through my heart when I realized this was all true. My best friend and husband had been sleeping together. The shock made me stagger back a step. Tears fell unchecked down my cheeks, blurring my vision.

"W-Why... Since when?" I croaked. The pain was eating right through my heart and I thought I would die immediately. "How...?"

Lucas raised a brow. "Want me to describe the whole process of making a baby to you, Florence?"

Amy giggled at his joke. "Florence, we're done. We're done. I want to end this. Let's look at it this way, Amy here is even better suited to bear my children. She's a fast rising fashion designer from a respectably wealthy background. She's wouldn't be a liability like you—You're a nobody. You have no talents, no personality, no charisma. Now, look at Amy and you'll see a woman with the looks and the poise to carry on the Hilton name."

And though what Lucas had done hurt so bad that it felt hard to breathe, I loved him so much and I could not bear the thought of letting him go. I divested myself of my last shred of pride and fell on my knees before him. I put my hands together in a gesture of entreaty. 

"Lucas, please. It's just been a couple of years. We can still sort this whole thing out. I'm hopeful that I can still get pregnant—I'll go see a fertility doctor, I'll eat right... I'll do anything, anything at all. Just give me a little more time."

"Three years is more than enough time! That's enough!" he retorted hotly. "Just sign those papers and get out of my life!"

I heard a snigger and turned once more to Amy, my own best friend.

"You two faced backstabber!" I cried, scrambling to my feet. "What did I ever do to you?! How could you do this to me?!"

Amy let out a laugh and shrugged. "No hard feelings, Flo. I just did what needed to be done. I gave Lucas what you couldn't give him after three shitty years of marriage."

I rushed at her quickly and slapped her hard. "How dare you! I treated you like my own sister, Amy!"

Amy held her reddened face. She was about to slap me back, but I quickly caught her hand.

"That's enough," Lucas interjected. "Florence, go upstairs, pack your things and leave my house."

"Lucas..." I approached him. He jerked back, swore, and ran upstairs. In a couple of minutes, he returned with suitcases crammed full of my clothes. He added the divorce papers on top and wheeled them outside. 

I fell on the floor, sobbing. He came back, pointed at me. "Get out. Leave this house," he thundered. 

"No, Lucas listen..." He grabbed me by the arm, cutting short my protests. “Please, don’t do this to us. Lucas, please..”

"There is no us, Florence!" he barked as he shoved me outside. No matter how hard I cried and struggled, I couldn't break his hold. He dragged me outside the gates, gave me a shove that had me stumbling and I fell to the ground, bruising my elbow and knee.

"Lucas!"

"Shut up and don't ever come back here!" He yelled, and then shut the gate in my face. "I don't wanna see you again, do you understand?!"