002

Almyra's POV

My eyes widened in horror as I felt a wave of nausea wash over me. I thought she was sick and had to be flown out?

How could he do this to me? This was the last straw, and there was no way in hell I would change my mind. 

I held back my tears, but the realization that I was letting go caused tears to flow freely from my eyes. While I waited and prayed for our union, he lay with Kitara…I felt so much like a fool for staying and entertaining his wade of cash.

My sniffs soon turned into sobs, and I don’t know how long I cried, but when I finally got a hold of my emotions, Ben was long gone, and thankfully, he had given me enough time to cry in solace.

Xavier wasn’t back yet, so I walked my walk of shame into the house with the gifts Malum had given the rest of the waitresses to gift me; upon entering the room, I stacked them away before entering the shower.

In there, another set of tears threatened, but I was done crying for a man who didn’t value me enough. It was funny how many out there would die to have me, but I was stuck in my fantasy of loving a man who didn’t feel the same.

He had made me forget who I was: Almyra Stone, the heiress of the Stone Empire and the founder of Quantum Sphere, the number one tech company.

I wasn’t even all alone, so was love my excuse?

I had Malum, the face of my company and best friend since we were little. My triplet brothers still stalked me but were too angry with me to speak to me, and I didn’t blame them though; being recognized as football players, it was sickening that they allowed me to be subjected to this, so seeing that they couldn't stop me, they looked the other way.

 Just as I lay in bed, I texted Malum and the three of them that my decision involving them meant that no matter what happens between now and tomorrow, they were still going to fish my pathetic ass out.

A loud bang got me jumping out of bed.

My hand located a vase that was beside the bedstand, and I grabbed it tight, not knowing what to expect,

Just then, Xavier stumbled through the door, already half-naked, meaning all that stumbling was his drunken self undressing as he clumsily found his way here.

It was funny to see him like this; I was used to seeing him arrogant and rude to me, not this carefree drunk. I dropped the vase and rushed to him as he lost his footing.

“Al..” he groggily said as he held my face, stroking it as I helped him to the bed.

I wondered why he had so much to drink, especially after his time with Kitara. He slumped on the bed and held me back from moving; something in his gaze shifted as he stared at me like he hadn’t seen me in a long while.

Subconsciously, my hands trailed down my silky nightie, which may have shown too much skin than I had expected.

His keys dropped to the floor, and his movements were slow and deliberate as he pulled me loose. I felt a flutter in my chest. His eyes fixed on mine with an intensity that made my heart race.

As I collapsed beside him, his hand stroked my cheek again.

“I'm sorry,” he whispered, his voice slurred.

“I'm so sorry, and I know I've messed up a lot of times, but let me make it up to you.” my heart ached, and I knew he had mastered the buttons to toy with to make me take back all my words.

Just then, my mind recalled the image of himself and Kitara, but before I could leave his warmth, his lips captured mine…. hungrily holding it in place.

I struggled against his kiss before sinking into it.

‘One last time,’ my body wanted this, and knowing I would leave, I subdued to my want.

Xavier's fingers traced my jawline, sending shivers down my spine as his touch trailed down before slowly sliding down the frail hand of my gown.

A gasp escaped my lips as his hands covered my nipple, and so did a tear…

His lips kissed away the tears as he whispered another apology before trailing kisses down from my neck, making sure to leave a mark there down to my ached breasts.

‘One last time,’ I convinced myself.

A loud moan escaped my lips, and so did more tears, and shutting off my thoughts, I let myself become lost in sweet sensation as my dress was flung away.

 When we reached climax, he snuggled into my arms for the first time since the first night we spent together.

Sleepily but coldly, he whispered; his voice grew cold. “I am sorry, Kitara”

I felt a stinging sensation in my chest as if he had slapped me; disgust washed down my naked body as I pulled away from him.

“What the fuck did you just say, Xavier?” I asked, feeling the tears prick at the corners of my eyes, but he just rolled over before his soft snores filled the room.

Angrily wiping away my tears, I picked up a robe and began packing my things.

Xavier didn’t deserve me!

The following day, Xavier was already up and getting dressed, preparing to leave me once again. But as he reached for the door handle, I called out to him.

I hadn’t slept a wink at night as I lay awake waiting for morning to dawn; spending more time here irked me. In the early morning hours, I was already dressed and waiting for the day to dawn.

“Xavier, wait.” He turned to me, a hint of annoyance in his eyes. If he was surprised to see me all dressed up, his facial expressions gave out nothing.

“What is it, Almyra?” I took a deep breath and stopped myself from cursing him. He had the nerve to act impatient after offering me a dinner out and standing me up to meet his side trash.

“Yesterday, I told you that I wanted a divorce.” The words hung in the air like a challenge, and for a moment, Xavier just stared at me, his expression unreadable.

Then, a cold smile spread across his face. “Fine,” he said, his voice dripping with indifference.

“If that's what you want.” And with that, he turned and walked out the door.

"'Fine?' I repeated, taken aback by his casual agreement…three years of my life wasted, and that was his reply.

 Three years of my life, and it meant nothing?

“No, Xavier, you don't get to agree to a divorce without even asking why I want one.” I crossed my arms, my eyes narrowing as I stood before him, stopping him from leaving.

The plan was to rub it in his face and not get shrugged off.

“What's going on, Almyra? You're not lacking anything. I give you money, I satisfy your...needs.” He raised an eyebrow, his tone dripping with arrogance.

“What more could you possibly want?”.

I burst into laughter, the sound surprising even myself.

“You are clueless, aren't you?” I shook my head, still chuckling. I heard the door burst open, but I didn’t even care.

“MONEY! MONEY! MONEY, is that what this marriage is all about?”

“Do you even know what marriage is? Three years of my life, and you didn’t even know yesterday was my fucking birthday!”

“Your money meant nothing to me and …” My words were cut short as I felt the sting of Gina's palm against my cheeks. 

"You ungrateful woman!” Gina spat.

“To bore your bastard for my son, you drugged him, but we took you in, helped you, and this is how you repay us?”

“By leaving Xavier when he needs you most?” Hilda, his mother, chimed in, her voice shrill.

“How could you be so selfish? Xavier is about to close the biggest deal of his career, and you'll walk out on him?”

Xavier remained silent, his eyes fixed on me while his mother and sister made a mockery of their cheap self.

I had let this charade go on for far too long.

“You're not thinking about anyone but yourself, are you?” Gina sneered.

“We had let it go when you killed your...”

“Enough! You don’t get to speak to her that way!” Xavier finally cut in, thankfully, before I let all hell loose.

“I am not going to stay in a marriage that's suffocating me, no matter how convenient it is for you all,” I shot back, my voice firm. Without waiting for their comeback, I turned my back on them and walked into the room to bring out what I had brought to enter this house.

“You are making a huge mistake, Almyra!” His pathetic mom shrieked, following me.

“You'll regret this, your selfish bitch because You're nothing without us, nothing!” Gina joined in, her voice venomous. I wondered what I had ever done to them, but I didn’t care anymore.

While pulling the last of my luggage, I mistakenly hit Gina, and once again, she raised her hand one more time to smack me.

I caught her wrist mid-air, “I had let it slide the first time, but Don’t. You. Ever. Touch me.” I hissed, my voice low and deadly while gripping her wrist tightly.

“Let me go"

"Xavier?” she shrieked like a fucking child as she struggled to remove her wrist from my hold with her eyes widened and face pale.

Xavier still said nothing. I released her wrist and walked; their nasty remarks were reduced to a whisper this time.

 As I reached the door, I turned back to Xavier, my eyes locked on his. I then pulled out my phone and returned the vast money he had given me.

His eyes widened in shock.

“You don't need to buy me, Xavier, and I don't need your money…never did to begin with.”

With that, I turned and walked out the door, leaving behind the toxic and suffocating grip of our failed marriage.

I didn't look back until he finally found his voice.

 "Almyra, where are you going? You have no money and family,” he asked. The realization that I was leaving must have dawned on him now.

But before I could respond, two luxurious cars pulled up before us.

I smiled sweetly at Xavier's stunned expression and his mother's skeptical gaze and wide-open mouth.

“That shouldn’t bother you. I'm leaving, Xavier, and I am pretty sure I will be alright,” I said, my voice dripping with satisfaction.

With that, I walked down the steps, my things already packed in the trunk of the sleek, black Bentley Mulsanne.

This must be new; knowing Malum, I didn’t remember purchasing these.

Just as I was about to step into the car, Malum, with a smirk, came down from the other car before running over to where I stood.

He hugged me and whispered, “I almost thought you would not walk out that door.”

“I am so proud of you. Thank you for leaving this toxic marriage!” he whispered loudly, as if Xavier and his family couldn't already hear it.

Xavier's face darkened, but he knew better than to act out now by the amount of guards that stood around us.

As Malum released me, I turned to step into the car, but Xavier suddenly moved, reaching out to grab my arm.

 However, before he could touch me, one of the guards appeared out of nowhere, his hand clamping down on Xavier's wrist. “I don't think so, sir,” the guard said firmly.

“Who are these men, Almyra?” he yelled, but Malum had shut the door.

“I didn’t sign that shit...”

“Tell that to her lawyers,” I heard Malum shout back as he turned to join me.

 Xavier's face twisted in anger, and he yelled profanities as the car zoomed away. My petty driver made sure to bathe him with dust.

Never have I seen him so angry as he ran after us. Imagine a fully-suited man running after dust.

With a final glance at him, I slid into Malum's warmth, feeling a sense of relief wash over me.

I was finally free.