ONE

Recalling how numb my limbs suddenly were that night made me feel so uncomfortable. Unable, I was, to even utter a single word as I walked into the room, to see with my two eyes, the worst sight to ever behold. 

I couldn't ever forget it. How my husband lay naked on the bed with another woman on him, the both of them being wrapped under the duvet, with the rest of the white sheets, ruffled up, and heavy with passion, the both of them were getting at it. 

Tears had welled in my eyes and I couldn't control it. Disgusted, I stormed out of the room, making sure to slam the door behind me.

Storming out the event center, I made sure to use the back. The last thing I wanted was for anyone to see I was crying. I needed no sympathy from anyone, and I was on the verge of throwing a punch into someone's face. 

.

As soon as I made it out of the building, I headed straight for my car.

“Take me to the beach house.”

My personal driver was apt and quick to obedience, and Home was the last place I wanted to be at that moment. I did not want anything reminding me of my cheating husband, Daniel Carter. 

All through the ride, I wasn't myself one bit. My thoughts were going wild, as tears ran down my cheeks. I couldn't understand it. Why my husband would choose to cheat on me at an event that he took me to. He was the one who talked me into being there and told me that it would be a nice way to spend our weekend, and this was what I got at the end of the day.

He didn't even run after me. It tore me to pieces. I didn't think this was how things were going to end. One of the reasons I made sure to establish myself with the amount of reputation and wealth I had was because no man would have the audacity to look down on me. My husband was equally successful, we were a famous couple that the entire world knew, loved, and talked about. That kind of celebrity couple that everyone loved and admired, having that the both of them, man and woman, were an icon of status and wealth, on their own. 

I never thought that Daniel fucking Carter would have wanted to lose me. 

And seeing he didn't even run after me, he didn't even care about letting me go. 

It hurt even worse. 

“Madam. We’re here,” Steven drew me out of my thoughts and turned off the car engine. 

The beach house was there, in front of me. My personal home and the only place I found solace right now. I stepped out of the car, and onto the tarmac ground, my eyes rising towards the magnificent building, decorated with pools and fountains all around. 

Picking up my silver heels that were in my hands the entire time, I shut the door, saying not a word to the driver, and stepped out, walking barefoot into the house.

One of the reasons I hated this beach house, despite the fact that it was luxurious and a sight for sore eyes beautiful and fucking expensive too, was the fact that it was so, so lonely. I lived in this place, alone, before I met and got married to Daniel Carter. 

Tired, I threw my shoes to the side before; my heart was sore. I avoided the mirror because I knew how gorgeous I looked for my husband today. I was so happy to have him see me when he insisted on going to the Event Centre. So, my black hair was packed in a neat ponytail, gelled at the edges, and my make-up was on fleek: perfect long expensive lashes, red rosy lips, and the most wings eyeliner makeup, one I made intentionally to be thick. Daniel always said that my eyes were his favorite, he liked how sassy they looked, and the hazel color of my pupils could intimidate anyone. So, when I wore those cat eye makeup and winged eyeliners, he literally adored me.

I dressed up for the man. Even down to the Silver, body con dress I wore and the silver-glass stilettos too. Look where it got me at the end of the day. 

 I was face flat on the bed, crying and staining my entire white and gold sheets with makeup.

That was how it happened. 

I had filed for divorce not too long after that day, and two months later, we went our separate ways. With the nonchalant attitude back at the event center, I thought he cared little to avoid our marriage. I was surprised when he was reluctant to sign the papers and if my bodyguards didn't hold me back, I was ready to throw hands at that man.

It wasn’t easy getting him to sign the papers, but, fortunately, he eventually did.

We were a happily married couple for about three months; those three months felt like they were the happiest moments of my life, until the night Daniel Carter threw it all away, by cheating on me and they turned to my worst. As each day went by, I started to realize how much of a liar the bastard was.

During our marriage, he never ceased to remind me of how much he loved me. At least, he claimed to. No one cheats on who they love, and also lets them intentionally catch them in the act. If it wasn’t his intention to be caught, that means he must be very dumb. And I knew for a fact that Daniel Carter was far from that. Ever since the day I caught him cheating, my hatred for him grew with time.

In shorter words, I regretted the day I met him.

I was nineteen years old at that time when my grandfather had just passed down the Shimmer Jewelry line as my inheritance. That was when my life turned around. Billions were gotten off that business, but when he started to fear that he was getting too old to manage a company that was doing so well like that, he passed it to me.

Having I was the closest next heir since my parents were no more, he had no choice. I was as young as 19 when I started to manage a multi-million dollar company. It was a mad flex. 

The jewelry line got me my first car, my first mansion at 19, a life of luxury and wealth, and of course, a lot of enemies who hated me for my wealth.

My Grandfather threw a party for me to celebrate officially signing the jewelry line in my name. He saw the party also as an opportunity for me to make great business deals, because a lot of successful businessmen who were friends and acquaintances of my grandfather, were all going to be there.

I remembered that day as though it were yesterday. I wore a long dark purple dress which complimented my figure, beautiful heals my grandfather gifted me two days before the event just for the occasion, a silver necklace and a pair of tear drop earring that suited my neck piece and my dress.

I was so excited on my way to the Event Center for the occasion. When I entered the party hall, I was dazed by the decorations of the hall and the appearance of the guests. The gentlemen looking dashing in their cooperate tuxedos that screamed expensive, and the ladies, in dinner dresses, varying in color and length, and rare and costly fabric material; they all looked stunning.

"There are so many guests," I remember thinking that night. The place was full, and it looked absolutely amazing. 

Trying to seek out my grandfather by getting on my tiptoes and narrowing my eyes to search and find him in the crowd, I hustled my way into the crowd. 

That was how I had bumped into a stunning stranger. 

“Oh my gosh!" I exclaimed, "Oh my gosh, I’m so s-sorry!” I struggled to get the last word out of my mouth as my lower jaw slightly dropped.

I remember muttering 'Fuck'.

My eyes had trailed from his crystal-like green eyes which twinkled a bit as the chandelier lights blobs reflected on them to his sharp, if not perfect jawline, then to his broad wide shoulders as he hovered, practically towered over my smaller frame.

“Watch your step,” He had said, his tone condescending, and I had backed up, shocked at the audacity of the attitude.

This was my party, remember?

“I should say the same for you,” I had fired right back at the man who failed me to give me a good impression. 

With that, I scoffed, and cornered the side of his body, walking past him and away. 

It was unfortunate that someone so handsome was so rude. Thank you, Next. I remember thinking.

I was already walking away until I heard him say something that stopped me dead on my track.

"Whatever," I had ignored that, "Who does she even think she is? Mid."

I turned around in that second, to meet the face of the bastard that just insulted me.

“What did you just say?”

I asked, hoping I didn’t hear him correctly.

“You heard me.”

That was his response. 

It was clear he was one of those people who grew to hate my guts from my riches. And he had the audacity to show up at my party. 

“Just wanted to clarify,” I smiled sickly as I walked back to be in front of him. 

He didn't see it coming.

I reeled my hands back and landed a strong fist on his nose, feeling satisfied when it crunched beautifully against my fingers. 

"Ahh!" He shoved himself back, stunned by my assault and holding his bloody nose, and my sick smile widened when the entire party was thrown into chaos. 

“Mariah is the name," I told him as he reeled in pain, "And, Next time, learn how to talk to a lady, bloody asshole."

My smile never left my face and I walked through the crowd, a space demarcated for me to pass through as I did, leaving the entire Hall stunned. 

That was how I met my cheating husband, Daniel Carter.