CHAPTER ONE

“ Congratulations Mrs Wells, you are two weeks pregnant.”

The doctor’s words repeated played on my head as I headed out of the hospital.

“Oh my God! Lance and I are having a baby, this is officially the best day ever!”

I sequeled in happiness as it was so hard for me to believe that something this amazing could happen to me after everything that I had went through in my marriage with Lance.

At the thought of Lance, a slight frown flashed across my face. Lance has been acting totally weird over the last couple of months. He’s getting distance, more angrier at me for making a slight mistake and even hit me few times.

It's been four good years since I married Lance. I gave up him everything and abandoned so much for him but he gave me nothing except pain and despair. I knew Lance had always loved another woman; Ashely Miller, the woman who abandoned him. But with this child, I knew everything would change between us.

Putting tthe test results on my bag, I walked down the hospital parking lot and headed to my car as I couldn't wait to share the joyous news with my husband.

Entering my car, I pulled out onto the highway and headed to his office as there's definitely no way I could hold it in until tonight’s party which was our fourth wedding anniversary.

I was certain this news would cheer Lance up.

*****

“ Excuse me, Ma'am, you need an appointment to see the CEO.” Lance secretary said, blocking the entrance to the office door but I insisted on entering as this was a supposed to be surprise visit. “Or do you want me to call the security on you?”

She raised her haunty brow at me, acting like I was some sort of weirdo.

Well, I would not blame her for her actions as she must have thought I was one of Lance's cheap whore. I already knew Lance has many of them who used to disturb him with calls in the middle of the night.

No one actually knows me as Lance Wells’ wife. I was a full-time housewife who hardly goes out and had only the duty of taking care of my husband, household and his family; but that's just an excuse as Lance was the one who warned me to stay off his company.

But this news cannot wait.

“ Actually, I'm his wife.” i replied with a wide smile on my face.

The secretary's face suddenly change to shock as her eyes widen. I actually thought she was surprised to see his boss' wife but she looked at me from head to toes and then suddenly burst out into a heavy laughter.

I was surprised by her attitude and I gave at myself another glance trying to see what was making her laugh and then….. I realised the reason why she was acting like this.

I was completely different from all the ladies Lance has always been dating.

“ You mean you?” she asked pointing at me, “Are you seriously joking with me right now? I know how all the ladies he had dated looked like and you……” she laughed out loud, holding her belly.

As I wanted to reply her, the multi-lime phone on her desk rang and she stopped laughing immediately, composing herself. “ Stay right here and do not think of doing anything funny.” She mouthed as she quickly rushed to answer the call.

After receiving the call, she suddenly hit her head against the desk in frustration. Slowly, she turned around with her two hands on her stomach and a bright smile on her face.

If I could guess correctly, Lance was the one who just called to inform her about me. As she wanted to apologize for her actions, I walked past her and smiled at her smugly.

Entering Lance's office, it felt like a strange place as this was the first time I would be here. Lance was seated on his desk, engrossed with some paperwork with his glasses on and I admired how he looked so hot when working.

I had never seen him like this.

“ Close the door.” His thick husky voice brought me out of my thoughts and I realized I was still holding the door knob.

I actually thought he would be angry that I came without a notice but seeing him not minding my presence here, made me happy.

I quickly close the door behind me and take a deep breath, as I was already imagining his expression when I break the news to him.

He will be very excited!

“ Honey,” I called as I slowly walked closer to him. “ I've got some news for you.”

“ Really? “ He asked as he look up from the paper on his desk.

I nodded with a wide smile.

“ Ok, let's hear it but I also have something I have to say,” Lance said without any expression on his face and I could not say what exactly was going on his mind.

“ Then you can go on, first.” I suggested.

His hand paused for a while before he nodded in agreement. Lance stood up from his seat and walked over to the floor-to-ceiling window, staring outside with his two hands in his pocket. I watched him from behind as his gazed out.

“ Is it something bad?” I asked as I noticed his silence for a while now.

“ You see, when I met you that night, you were like an angel sent from above, to save me from my despair,” he began and I smiled as I recounted how the two of us met for the first time. “ You saved me from the worst embarrassment of public rejection and also help me with my inheritance.”

“ Why are you like this? You are making me shy.” I blushed as I remember vividly how his ex-girlfriend had publicly rejected him that fateful night and I consoled him. “ It's all in the past, so…”

“ But I really love her despite what she did to me,” he mumbled with a loud sigh, turning back to me. “ And now, she’s back,”

“What?” I asked with widened eyes as I couldn't grasp what he just said.

“ I am sorry, Maya. I can't do this anymore.”

Wait, what did he mean by that?

“ Hone..”

“ I want a divorce.”

Time seems to have frozen as the word ‘’ divorce ‘’ rang in my ear. My body went weak that I didn't even realize when my handbag slipped from my grasp, dropping to the ground. its fall shattered the silence between us.

I know this marriage was never perfect from the beginning but in the years I had been married to Lance, I had tried so hard to make it perfect and gave him no reason to regret ever marrying me.

“ But… why?” Tears welled up in my eyes..

“ Come on, Maya. Did you really think this marriage was going to last? He asked in a cold voice and stoic expression. “ You know I was vulnerable at that time. I was publicly rejected by my girlfriend and I need to get married quickly to sort out my inheritance! So what other choice do I have other than to marry you?”

I shake my head, “ No, Lance! You told me that night that you loved me. You said it was love at first sight! I…I remember everything!”

“And you believed that? You believe the words of a desperate man? That sounds quite stupid.” He scoffed and I lowered my gaze in embarrassment. “ You know what? All this doesn't matter anymore. I've got what I wanted and you……” he trailed off as he could not bring himself to even list one thing that I gained in this marriage. Waving his hand off, “ Whatever, just let us end this quickly and I will pay you well.”

“But I gave my life to this marriage.” I slowly raise up my gaze. “ I dropped out of school just to marry you! I abandoned my dream, my everything just because of this darn marriage!”

“ And did I force you to do all that? He asked. “ you chose to. Everything you did was never my decision but yours and even if you graduated, what could an orphan with no connection, achieved?”

I could not believe I was hearing this right now. Did he just ask me what I could have achieved? Four years that we had been married, I could have achieved a lot, lot more than him. But I chose to stick by his side despite the fact that he hardly shows me any affection and the harsh treatment from his mother and sister. My marriage to him was not a perfect marriage but I have never for once expected this from him.

I shook my head as I found it hard to control the tears that streamed down my face. I realize that no matter what I say or do, he would never changed his mind as he had made up his mind.

“ You tricked me into this marriage. Made me believe that you loved me but……after the secret wedding, I became the imperfect wife. Have you ever….ever for once love me?”

Lance's face remains relentless as he stares back at me, “Love?” He chuckled as he slightly used his hand to cover his mouth, “ Have you always thought that I loved you? When was the last time you even checked the mirror? Sweetheart, falling in love with someone is all about beauty and a perfect curvy figure. Which you obviously lack. So, how exactly am I going to fall in love with you?”

I inhaled deeply. It was painfully obvious that the man I had desperately loved for seven years and married for four years had never for once loved me back for a single second.

Lance gestured to his table and my eyes trailed after his hand and landed on a brown folder. “ Let's do this quitely as no one knows about our marriage. So, sign it.”

Seeing how well he had prepared everything shows that he must have been preparing to divorce me for a while now or maybe he had even been preparing from the first day of our marriage. But why did he wait for four years before this? He got his inheritance immediately after our marriage registration, so why didn't he divorce me then?

I wiped the tears on my cheeks as I struggled to compose myself. Without saying a word, I picked up the divorce papers and signed them. Lance handed me a check and I looked at him in disdain.

I slowly stood up from my seat, facing him while my eyes locked with his.

Lance Wells, I need you to mark my words. You will definitely regret this!

Taking the check from his hand, I saw a smirk on his face as he thought he had bought me off but I tore the cheque into pieces and threw it at his face, letting them scatter like falling leaves and he looked at me in surprise.

I turned away from him, picked up my bag and walked outside his office. Opening the door, I saw his secretary quickly rushing away as if she had been totally glued to the door, listening to our conversation. I felt embarrassed as I knew that she might have heard everything that Lance and I talked about.

“ Goodbye, my dear ex madam.” She said in a mocking tone as she waved her hand at me.

I sighed in frustration as I quickly rushed out with tears streaming down my face.