Chapter one

Evelyn 's pov

"Jade Holland?!" I read out the invitation list one last time. 

The name was not on the list the last time I checked. And the fact that it was this particular name, the name I disliked even though I knew nothing of the owner.

"Kate, do you have any idea who put this name on the list?" I asked my personal assistant.

"Mr. Byers gave me the list earlier," she hinted and I paused from this disbelief.

I turned on my heels, trudging over to my husband's study, a place he found solace than the comfort of my company.

He was on a phone call when I walked in, his back to the room.

Sensing my presence, he momentarily glanced over his shoulders and continued with his discussion over the phone ignoring that I had come to see him.

This was his routine and I always made sure to be invisible to him.

After he was done with his call, he cleared his throat and turned to with a questioning look.

"Is there a problem, Evelyn?" He dryly asked.

"Did you taper with the list before now?" I returned with a question.

He furrowed his brows and twisted his mouth to the side, trying to remember if he did.

"Yes, is there something wrong with it?" He replied.

"Of course, there is a problem. You removed a potential guest from the list and replaced it with... Jade Holland. Please, have the name erased. I have already sent out the invitation cards weeks ago and it will be a problem if this guest..." I was still saying but he cut me off.

"Then make an accommodation for one more guest. It is not that difficult to do," he coldly said.

I pinched my palm with my nails as he uttered those words. He deliberately tapered with the list just because of his ex.

"But I thought this was my party and you said I get to choose who I want my guests to be. Why the sudden change?" I asked with a quiet voice to indicate my displeasure in his choice.

"Evelyn, what I did is simple. All you have to do is accommodate one more person. Is that too much for you to do?" He continued to act like a peacock without a flaw.

I couldn't hold back my emotions in front of him and made the biggest mistake for the first time since our three year marriage.

"And that one person had to be your ex?!" I yelled at him and his eyes changed to shock and later deemed with anger.

I closed my mouth with my hand in surprise for what I had done. My outburst was not intentional but my husband got it the other way around.

"What did you just say?" He closed the space between us and grabbed my neck with his firm hand.

"I am sorry...Landon. it was not my intention to..."

"Good, then do the needful. I don't want to argue with you on this matter again, understood?" He demanded with a domineering voice that made me quiver.

Never for once have I dared to get my husband angry because his tamper was so bad for me to handle.

I have seen him deploy his rage on people who got on his shoes but never for once did I think that he would do the same to me.

He let go of my neck and I coughed out from the pressure he exerted  on my throat.

I wanted to cry but dared not to. The last thing I want was to humiliate myself in front of him. No matter the kind of situation.

"Evelyn?"

"I understand. You don't have to remind me," I answered quietly before leaving his presence.

Landon has always been like this, never trusting me or opening up to me. If he had a chance to divorce me, I have no doubt that he would go for it.

Our marriage was based on his grandfather's last dying wish. After my parents died in a fatal car accident, his grandfather took care of me.

I fell in love with Landon ever since but he never looked at me. Not even for once until we got married.

The worst part of everything was him calling me by that woman's name whenever we were in the bedroom.

Yet, I chose to stand by his side because I still love him. But he doesn't value my feelings. Now he was having the same woman attend my party. 

I went up to my room and met my stylist.

"Ma'am, what type of look would you like?" 

"Make look unbeatable," I requested with fury in my eyes.

Once she was done, I was more than satisfied with the look she gave. My confidence went from zero to hundred as I stared at myself in the mirror.

"You look beautiful, ma'am," my stylist said and I graced her with a gentle smile. 

"It is all thanks to you," I replied and she giggled happily.

I went down to the ballroom and searched for my husband. But he was nowhere to be seen, some guests had arrived but I stayed out of their sight because I wanted Landon to see me first.

"Where is my husband, Kate?" I asked my personal assistant. She pressed her lips tight and gave me a pitiful look before she pointed at the direction my husband was.

Through the glass, I saw him passionately hugging another woman in a bright red dress.

I pressed my nails into my palms as the heat of betrayal steamed all over my body. My face turned green with jealousy as I watched the scene playing before me.

Landon was hugging his ex-girlfriend in a passionate way . Some guests began to gossip and I became the center of pity.

She clinged to him like she was meant for him regardless of his marriage status.

I trudged over to them puffing with anger. As I approached them, a man called for Landon and he left to answer him.

His ex-girlfriend was now alone, giving me the opportunity to confront her.

"Excuse me, can you stop throwing yourself at my husband? He is happily married and does not need an extra affair," I bluntly said and she snickered like a glutton witch.

"Happily married? I doubt that. You must be the wife. Originally, Lan belongs to me and everyone knows that. You are just a replacement for me. So do well to pack your things because I have come back to claim what's mine," she muttered with a smirk on her face.

I boiled with anger on hearing her audacious words and lifted my hand to smack her. She caught my hand and sneered at me with an evil glint in her eyes.

"Let's see if you can redeem yourself this time around," she said and fell into the pool beside us.

I was confused at her sudden drama and stayed unbothered until she remained under the water for twenty minutes.

"She is drowning!" Someone yelled and I panicked.

"Someone should help her!" Some people began to gather, adding more pressure to the situation. 

Troubled by the scene, I jumped into the water regardless of my inability to swim. I tried to reach out to her but I was pulled down by the water, my heart hammered against my chest as panic took over my body.

I struggled for air as water flowed into my lungs making it unbearable to breathe. 

"Landon..." I mumbled as I lost consciousness.