The door swung open and my gaze fell upon the familiar figure of Lilian, our househelp.
"Good evening, Mrs. Wills," she greeted me, a polite smile on her lips. A thin wavw of relief coursed through me as it turned out to be Lilian, our househelp, and not Tyler. To be honest, I didn't think I had gathered the courage to break the news yet. "Mrs. Wills," Lilian broke the short silence, her voice warm and gentle. "Mr. Wills said he wants to see you in his study when you get back," she said. I started to panic. My heart was beating very fast, like an animal that was trapped. See me in his study? Why? Was he finally willing to talk, to reconcile? He never calls to talk to me privately. Well, he hasn't done that in two years. I nodded to Lilian, my throat tight, my heart beating so hard I felt like it was visible through my chest. "Thanks for the message," I managed to let out. My mind was spinning, and I tried to steady myself, to remember that this moment had to come. "I should head to the study, I guess," I said, in an attempt to seem normal, but my voice was unsteady, betraying my inner confusion. "Is everything all right, Mrs. Wills?" Lilian asked, her brows furrowed with anxiety. Lilian's question hung in the air as I faked a smile that seemed weak, and shook my head. "I'm not sure, to be honest. But thanks for asking." "If you need anything, Mrs. Wills, I'm here," she said. Her words were honest and kind. "I will be in the kitchen if you need me." I pushed my feet to carry me to Tyler's study. My legs felt like they were very heavy, and my palms were shaking a lot. I raised my fist and knocked on the door as I got ready for what was going to happen next. "Come in," Tyler said. His voice was very cold, and it made me feel somehow. The door flung open, and there he was, Tyler Wills. He stood tall with broad shoulders and a lean, athletic frame. His chiseled jawline and prominent cheekbones gave him a very attractive appearance. Thick lashes encircled his piercing blue eyes, and his well-groomed dark hair only enhanced his beauty. He had a sun-kissed, warm skin, and his well-groomed stubble gave him a rugged look. He projected confidence and authority despite his casual dress of t-shirt and trousers. His small smirk, along with his deep voice, made him the type of man who instinctively attracted attention and left an impression. As I opened my mouth to say hi, Tyler cut me off with holding out his PC holding a cold, firm gaze at me. I felt the test result, still gripped in my hand, begin to collapse as my hold tightened. "Explain this," his said, still holding the PC, his voice calm but distant, as if he were already done with me. Confused, I accepted the PC from him with shaky hands. My heart hammered, my eyes scarcely daring to look at the screen as I flipped the PC to face me. And there it was, like a punch to the belly, an image of me and Owen, my colleague from the Art Gallery where I work. "No," I gasped, my head racing and my eyes darting from the PC to Tyler's face. “I-I don't understand Tyler.. what's this for?” I stammered. I could feel Tyler's hard glare digging into me, his mouth set in a straight line. "Explain," he said again, his voice low and even. "Tyler, I promise it isn't what it seems like. This was just a few days ago," I muttered, the words pouring out in a hurry. "I ran into Owen at a bar," I said, desperation creeping into my voice as I tried to explain. "He kinda sensed I wasn't okay, so he asked me what was wrong. He's a coworker from the art gallery, so I confided in him. It was just an innocent, friendly hug.. nothing more!" Tyler's face remained impassive, his eyes unmoving as they fixed them on me. "And you expect me to believe that?" he finally broke the silence that had taken over, his tone twisted with irritation. "It's the truth, I swear," I said, my throat dry. Tyler laughed. It was a bitter laughter. It sounded mean and sarcastic, like a knife in the air. "I should've known better," he said. His eyes showed anger. "I have always known you are a harlot since the day we met," he said, his gaze still fixed on me. My face burned as I tried to explain myself, but no words came out. How could he? Harlot? Me? This bastard took my virginity! Tyler's gaze didn't move as he added, "You always had that desperate look in your eyes, like you were just waiting for any excuse to throw yourself at another man. I guess I should have expected this from someone like you.” My eyes widened in shock. "How dare you say that!" I couldn't keep the pain out of my voice, anger surging through me. "You have no right to judge me, Tyler. You call me a harlot when you were the one who took my viginity??." My hands folded into fists, shaking with anger and pain. "I..I can't believe you'd stoop so low." I swallowed hard, fighting back tears. "After everything, you still think so little of me? You, who said you loved me?!” I shook with anger, my hands clinched at my sides as I peered into Tyler's hard, unfeeling eyes.. I won't back down, I still had more to spill. "You don't deserve to treat me like dirt after all we've been through. You don't get to transform me into a monster simply to make yourself feel better about whatever it is you're hiding," I growled, my voice quivering with furious pain. Tyler's icy silence only increased my anger. He stood there like a statue, his hard glare appearing to bore through me, as if he were trying to drain away every ounce of dignity I had left. "Why, Tyler?!" I yelled out, my voice trembling but forceful. "Why won't you listen to me? Why did you agree to marry me if you weren't ready to get married?" Tyler's lips twisted into a sneer, a nasty glitter in his eye. "Listen to you? Listen to what? Your lame excuses? Your lies?" I took a step forward, rebellion in my stance as I proceeded. "What did I do wrong, Tyler? Was it a crime to fall in love with you? To devote myself to this marriage? To trust you? Just what happened Tyler, please tell me!” Tyler's eyes narrowed, his attitude darkening even deeper. "What happened, Samantha, is that I recognized you for what you truly are.. a deceptive, manipulative woman. A lady who will manipulate anybody and everything to achieve what she wants." His comments were like slaps, every one hitting me harder than the last. I could feel the tears burning in my eyes now, ready to spill over and betray me, but no, I wouldn't back down. “Really?” I asked, a bitter smile escaped my lips.He growled, his words full of anger. "I should have seen it at the beginning. But I didn't. I was blind. Blinded by your...charms."His words hurt me, but something inside me snapped. "How dare you?" I said. "If you didn't want me, why did you ask for my parents blessings to marry me?”Tyler let out a dry laughter. “Blessings?" he spat, his lip twisting in disgust. "You think I was happy with this arranged marriage either? I did it for the sake of our families, for the sake of tradition. And what did I get in return? A wife who can't even keep her legs closed."My eyes narrowed, rage scorching through my veins. "Don't attempt to twist this around, Tyler. You were the one who agreed to marry me, who made all those promises. And now you're blaming me for your own mistakes?""Mistakes?” Tyler asked, his brows furrowed. "Yes, mistakes," I yelled, my voice rising with wrath. "You married me because you thought it was the right thing to do," I said. "But now it is clear. You never really
Upstairs, I made my way to the bedroom I had been banished to.The room that had once been my comfort zone now felt cold and empty, a mirror of the future Tyler had left me with.I spotted my charger on the bed and remembered I needed to power my phone. I rushed to plug it in, knowing I needed to call Ann, my friend. She was the person I could always count on and right now, I really needed her.When the phone lit up, I felt a tiny bit of relief. I knew that I was not alone in this, even if only for a moment. With that small comfort, I turned to face the rest of the room. The sight of my belongings scattered around the room felt almost unreal, like remnants of a life that had become a stranger to me. I walked to the closet and pulled out a suitcase, the reality of leaving sinking in with every item I packed.My phone buzzed, breaking the calm of the room.. I pulled it up to saw a new message from Anna."Hey girl! What's wrong with your phone?! Call me, it's important."I couldn't ign
“Samantha! Oh my God Sam.. Sam please open your eyes! Sam please!” This familiar voice kept echoing in my ears but sounded far away. My head was banging so hard.. the pestle hitting a mortar kind of bang. I tried to open my eyes but couldn't.. couldn't move. What was happening? A dream maybe?.. Then I felt a soft grip on my hand, a sound like a sob? I tried opening my eyes again and this time, they opened slightly.. It was blurry at first but gradually became clear, taking in the sight of the crystal white painting of the wall before me. The atmosphere felt unusually bright and cold.. turning my head slightly, my gaze met Anna seated beside me. Her eyes were filled with tears, she had obviously cried too much. As our eyes met, there was a flicker of hope.. of relief. “You stupid bitch! How dare you fuckin scare me like that!” Anna said, her voice a mixture of relief, happiness, pain, sadness. “I thought you were really gon’ die!.. Are you okay now? How are you feeling?” I tr
He should feel relieved. He thought he'd feel relieved with her finally gone yet he felt anything but. The woman he'd been forced to marry two years ago, the source of many frustrations, was finally gone, and the mansion now felt cold and empty. He should be breathing a sigh of relief right now yeah but what was this weird feeling? Why does the mansion suddenly have this empty, cold vibe to it? “Hey Ty, didn't get Champagne from the wine stand, I think it's out of stock, I got this instead” Julie, Tyler's 'sweetheart’ and new secretary, was all smiles as she approached him in the living room, raising a bottle of Prosecco, the popular Italian sparkling wine and two wine glasses. She was a vibrant blondie with a naughty sparkle in her eye. The type of girl who made heads turn wherever she went, with her pixie-like features, slim figure, and sharp wit that frequently left him struggling to keep up. “Let’s toast to freedom!” She said as she poured wine in the two glas
Tyler's car came to a halt in the hospital’s parking lot, leaving behind a path of dust and exhaust fumes. He rushed out, locked the door in the same pace and headed towards the gigantic building, his attention entirely focused on Samantha.“Omg.. isn't that Tyler Wills”, “Gosh he's so handsome!”, “Why is he here, is she sick?” The reception area came alive with quiet whispers as soon as Tyler got in. “Where is my wife?” Tyler demanded on getting to the counter, ignoring the curious stares and inaudible whispers flying around. The receptionist, a middle aged nurse who had been engrossed in her computer and initially didn't notice the drama happening in the reception, gazed up almost immediately at the sound of the voice. She was immediately taken aback by the sight she caught before her that she forgot what she was just asked.. Tyler Wills?!, He really came. “Where is my wife?!” Tyler demanded again, his frustration was growing now. The nurse adjusted her glasses as she gather
Tyler tried all he could to get my attention, to get me to talk, or at least say a word to him but I wasn't having it.Seeing him stand before me alone kept sending hot blood flowing through my veins, I was boiling with anger so bad. How dare he come here acting all so concerned. Like he cares?! Did he not just call his mistress to come over, wasting no time replacing me?! He's wanted me out of his life badly so why the fuck was he here?! These thoughts and more kept flowing through my head as I lay down there keeping my hard gaze at my worst nightmare - Tyler. I had told Ann earlier, even though deep within me, I had doubts about him coming but should he come, that I didn't want to see him, or talk more of having a conversation with him. It was funny though. Seeing Tyler like this, all caring, concerned.. about me? It felt like a movie. Tyler's voice finally broke the brief silence that had taken over the room post my miscarriage announcement. “Look, Sam.. I..I know I messe
Julie braced herself up in preparation for the confrontation she had planned as she walked towards the entrance after seeing Tyler's car pulling into the car park through the window. After a few minutes, Tyler stepped out and briskly approached the mansion's entrance.“Ty, I don't get it, what's going on?” She questioned, her brows furrowed, as soon as Tyler stepped into his massive living room. Lost in his own mind, he barely acknowledged Julie's presence and walked directly to the living room bar. With an armful of wine and glass in hand, Tyler poured himself a drink, downing it in one gulp.The burning sensation of the drink provided some relief. At least, he felt a bit calmer than he had been at the hospital.Julie’s eyes widened with a mixture of anger and shock.She crossed her arms, her voice rising. “Tyler, really? You come home, don’t even look at me, and just down a glass of wine like it’s nothing?”“Shut the hell up please, will you?!” Tyler snapped as he hit the empty
I could finally feel it, I could sense the freedom. I took a final glance at Ann, my best friend, and Owen, my colleague from the Design shop, the one Tyler accused me of cheating with, waving at me from the airport terminal as I ascended the stairs to board my flight.. I caught sight of Ann whispering something while my gaze was on her. “Take care of yourself!!” I read her lips and I'm most certain it was what she said. I smiled, nodded, and waved back then turned my gaze back to the plane's entryway taking a deep breath. I was finally leaving. Leaving behind the harsh memories, the pain, heartbreaks, crying to bed almost every night, wishing one day my dad would come looking for me, and most importantly, away from Tyler. The past three days had helped a lot, giving me strength and solace, especially with Ann by my side, helping me recover from both my physical and emotional wounds. I took my seat by the window, breathed a sigh of relief, and secured my seatbelt.