2|First Love

My eyes heated up at her insult. I held back my hand that used to touch my left cheek reflexively whenever someone mentioned the scar. I refused to be affected by people’s bad words about the condition of my face.

“Blaze married me because he loved me. This wound was never a problem for him.” I defended myself. “You must have seduced him to fall for your trick.”

In my entire life, I never dreamed there would be a man who fell in love with me. I even stopped expecting to marry a man who adored me. Little did I know that God was so good to me. He gave me a miracle named Blaze Knightley.

I didn’t immediately believe all this was reality. His words of love, kisses, and hugs still felt like a dream. But his coming to our house and proposing to me in front of my parents dismissed all my doubts.

Darcy cruelly told me to cancel our wedding at our big family dinner. Of course, I refused. I only had Blaze. He was a gift I would not waste, and I loved him dearly.

She chuckled. “Love? Blaze never loved you.” That sentence pierced my chest deeply. She looked at me with pity. “My poor sister. He married you just to be close to me again.”

“That’s not true!” I exclaimed in disbelief.

“Let me ask,” she crossed her arms over her chest, “did you ever sleep together after you married? When did he last come home to your magnificent house?”

I clenched my fists at her question. No one knew about my relationship with Blaze other than the servants in the mansion. If she did, was it he who had told her everything?

“He’s with me whenever he’s not with you, Heather.” Darcy smiled widely, not caring about hurting me with those words. “He comes to my house to keep me company and comfort my loneliness. Tell me, does that mean I was the one who seduced him?”

“No. You’re lying!” I covered my ears while shaking my head.

She placed her phone on the counter for me to see the screen, which showed a picture. She and Blaze pressed their cheeks together and smiled happily at the camera. She swiped the screen to show me photo after photo of their intimacy.

My whole body was shaking with anger. I clenched my fists to keep from doing something I would regret. They had so many pictures together, while Blaze and I only had one prenuptial photo. We wouldn’t have a portrait together if the wedding invitation didn’t need one.

“Blaze is my first love.” She caressed his cheek on her phone screen.

“What?” I asked in surprise.

First love? I never knew they had met before. Why didn’t Darcy tell me the truth when they met on family introduction day? She just forbade me to marry Blaze without mentioning the reason.

“He took my first kiss, my virginity... You know first love is unforgettable, Heather.” She smiled with concern. “The fire that was once extinguished was rekindled. I couldn’t resist. Ah, I’m sorry. You must not know what it’s like to struggle with him in bed and hear him scream your name during climax.”

My lips trembled, and the water pooling in my eyes finally fell on my cheeks. I tried to ignore yet the proof was on her phone. The man I loved so much, the one I chose to be my lifelong partner, betrayed me by choosing my sister, the person who had repeatedly taken mine.

“Please, don’t complicate your divorce. Sign the document. Free him. You won’t be able to stop us from being together,” she said arrogantly. Darcy turned around and exited the restroom.

It was a hard slap on my cheek. Her knowing Blaze intended to divorce me meant she wasn’t lying. But she was wrong if she thought I would easily give up my husband. She might deceive Blaze, but I would save our marriage. I would tell him who Darcy was.

Blaze and I didn’t say anything on the way home. I was busy thinking of what to say to him. I didn’t know what Darcy had said to him. So, I had to choose my words carefully. My sister’s statements were not easy to counter.

“What happened to us?” I asked when he stopped the car in front of the house. “Everything is fine so far, so why do you want a divorce?”

I extended my hand to touch his on the steering wheel, but he moved it away from me. My heart almost stopped at that. “If there’s anything I did wrong, please tell me. I promise I’ll try to make things right. I love you, Blaze. Our marriage can still be saved.”

Rejection was something I was used to. Because of that, I was never the one to take the initiative in our intimacy. I never instigated touches, kisses, or hugs during our time together because I feared rejection. He was the one who started it all.

Besides, I had no experience in romance. Blaze was my first love, and I hoped he would be my last. But as I tried to change, my fears were proven right. For the first time, he didn’t want to be touched.

Remembering their intimacy in the garden earlier, my body trembled again. Their loving glances towards each other, Darcy’s foot rubbing his calf under the table, and Blaze’s cold demeanor towards me throughout the event played in my head. I quickly brushed it off.

“Why are you silent?” I asked, not giving up yet. “Are you serious about this divorce? You flirted, seduced, and said all those sweet words when you approached me. Why are you silent when you want to separate?”

He turned his head and returned my gaze. I felt the back of my neck shudder at that cold, emotionless stare. “Didn’t the document represent enough?” he asked.

“Give me a reason. Why do you want us to divorce?” I begged. Seeing his silence, I couldn’t hold back any longer. “Don’t tell me you’re going to marry Darcy. Don’t you know she—”

“If you intend to demonize her in front of me, save your energy. I know her much better than you do,” he interrupted without looking at me.

I closed my eyes, trying to calm myself as anger tried to take over my composure. “Blaze, please. If you’re only playing around with her, I understand. I’ll wait until you—”

“Get out. I have more important things to do,” he said coldly.

My whole body trembled at his words. “Something more important than our marriage? You mean Darcy?” I demanded. “You don’t even want to look at me anymore. Is my face now repulsive to you?”

He just silently stares straight ahead. My chest was torn apart as I realized he was answering my question by ignoring me. The face he used to kiss affectionately and caress lovingly, he was now unwilling to look at it. Foolishly, I had believed he was sincere with his attitude.

I understood his cold demeanor then. He wasn’t busy with his business affairs but didn’t want to be here with me. All his words of love were to trap me into his plan to get close to his first love.

“What you’re doing is disgusting. If you want Darcy, just approach her. Leave me out of it. You’re going to regret doing this to me, Blaze Knightley. We’ll see. You and Darcy will never be happy!” I got out of the car and closed the door.

Without looking back again, I walked up the porch steps and entered the house. I didn’t delay and went straight into the study. The folder was still on the table in the same position I left last night. I had read the contents, and he had made it according to the terms of our prenuptial agreement.

I signed the file before I changed my mind and gave it to the butler to send to Blaze. I took off my wedding ring with tears in my eyes, then packed all my personal belongings but left the jewelry and gifts in their places.

During our marriage, he often gave expensive presents as an apology. I thought he was rarely home because he was busy with his work. But it turned out he was cheating on me. Let them be my wedding gift to Darcy.

“Miss Bailey, good evening,” greeted Mr. Madden, the security guard at my flower shop. “You didn’t say you’d be spending the night here.” He quickly took charge of my suitcase.

“I meant it as a surprise,” I joked.

“But I didn’t have time to ask someone to clean your suite,” he regretted.

“That’s okay. I’m sure the room is clean.”

After the kind man placed my suitcase in the room, I closed the door. I let out a long sigh before turning around and looking at the condition of my apartment. Since owning this flower shop, I’d never sleep in my parents’ house.

Dad and Mom might be disappointed if they found out that Blaze and I were getting divorced. I’d better avoid them for some time until the divorce was finalized. I didn’t want to see them saddened by the loss of their two best sons-in-law.

Even if they only lose Cullen because Darcy would marry Blaze. My chest felt like it was being stabbed by a sharp object again at the thought. How evil. What they did behind my back was so cruel. I never thought Blaze would be this vicious to me.

I didn’t see any signs of it at all. Our relationship over the past year hadn’t changed. So, I had never thought Blaze was planning to divorce me. We didn’t see each other as often as other couples because we were busy. But I knew he loved me.

“Blaze, where did I go wrong? I can’t believe you just dumped me. Where is the man who used to approach me and be so sincere?” I sobbed, alone in my room.

I was used to sleeping alone. Even during our marriage, we didn't sleep in the same room. But it felt different this time. I felt so lonely, with a wide gaping hole in my heart. Was this what it felt like to lose a soulmate?

Waking up in the morning, I felt my eyes stinging. I had cried too much, but a few drops of eye medicine helped clear my eyes. Life had to go on. I couldn't just lie crying in my room.

Working as usual in the morning, I ignored the questioning stares of the employees who saw me enter from the suite instead of the front door. They must have been wondering when they saw my car parked outside since morning.

“Good morning, Miss Bailey,” greeted my assistant. “Mr. Channing is waiting for you in the office. I have placed all the files that need your signature on your desk. Is there anything else you need?”

“Did you serve the guest drinks and snacks?” I asked. She nodded. “Good. I’ll call if I need anything.”

I opened the door to my office and greeted the guest inside. The man stood up with a friendly smile. His piercing gray eyes looked at me professionally, not evasively like usual. What did Darcy’s ex-husband want from me?