Watching him act as if nothing had happened was eating me alive. A burning rage coursed through my body as I watched my father take my sister and stepmother by the hand and leave together, abandoning me with Alexander.

He looked me up and down like I was a mere insect, an insignificant presence. His coldness only intensified the pain inside me. Without thinking, I followed him into the mansion, my chest burning with indignation.

“You’re a bastard,” I snapped, my voice breaking with fury. “How could you sleep with my sister on the same day as our wedding? Don’t you have any shame, Alexander?”

He stopped cold. When he turned to face me, his gaze pierced through me like a dagger, making me tremble. With an unshaken expression, he slid his hands into his pockets and spoke with a calmness that only made my pain more unbearable.

“I didn’t want you to find out like this, but now that you’ve seen us in the room together, I have no choice but to tell you the truth,” he said without hesitation. “Arlette and I have been in a relationship for six years.”

His words hit me like an avalanche. I felt the tears well up in my eyes as my entire world crumbled in an instant.

“She’s the woman I truly love,” he continued, not a hint of remorse in his voice. “This marriage means nothing to me. It never did. I’m sorry you got your hopes up.”

His indifference was cruel, merciless.

“Stop it!” I screamed, unable to take it anymore. My legs gave out, and I collapsed to the floor, tears blurring my vision. “You’re hurting me too much, Alexander…”

He sighed, clearly annoyed.

“I’m sorry if this disappoints you, Aslin, but the sooner you accept the truth, the better. This marriage will last only two years. After that, you’ll be free to leave and rebuild your life. I, on the other hand, will marry Arlette as soon as it’s over.”

I couldn’t believe what I was hearing.

“My mother cares for you deeply,” he continued. “She doesn’t have much time left, and an immediate divorce would only cause her pain. That’s why we need to keep up this charade for a while. But don’t worry, once we sign the divorce papers, you’ll receive a compensation of 150 million dollars. That should be enough for you to live comfortably.”

He looked at me with the same coldness one would use to sign a business contract. As if my pain meant nothing.

“And one more thing, Aslin,” he added. “I expect you to behave and keep up appearances in front of the press and everyone else.”

I clenched my fists, filled with a mix of rage and humiliation.

“I thought I knew you, Alexander. But now I see you’ve always been a heartless monster hiding behind that upright and imposing facade,” I spat with contempt.

He didn’t even blink.

“I don’t care what you think of me,” he replied indifferently. “I just want to make sure you understand what I’ve said.”

Without another word, he turned and walked out of the mansion.

“You’ll regret this, Alexander! I’ll never forgive you!” I shouted with all the strength I had, but he didn’t stop.

His silhouette disappeared, and I was left there, lying on the floor, paralyzed by pain. How had everything turned out this way? Why was fate playing with me like this? Just when I thought I could finally be happy, everything was falling apart around me.

Now I understood. Now it all made sense. The years Alexander and Arlette would disappear for long periods, the dinners where my sister barely spoke to me but always had a knowing smile for him… I had been a complete fool.

Footsteps echoed in the room, pulling me out of my trance.

“Ma’am, please, get up. You’re soaking wet, you’ll catch a cold,” said a soft voice.

I looked up and saw a woman around 55 years old.

“Who are you?” I asked, wiping my tears with the back of my hand.

“I’m the housekeeper. You may call me Mary, if you wish. Now, please get up. I’ll take you to your room.”

She offered me her hand, and I took it without hesitation. We climbed the stairs, but as I realized where we were headed, panic gripped me.

“No… I don’t want to sleep in that room,” I stopped abruptly, backing away from the door like it was on fire.

Mary looked at me in confusion.

“Ma’am, what’s wrong? Why don’t you want to stay here? I prepared this room especially for you and the gentleman.”

I shook my head quickly.

“I’d rather sleep in the garden than enter that room.”

She observed me for a moment before nodding with understanding.

“All right, I’ll take you to the room next door. I’ll ask the maids to move your things.”

I entered the new room, which was cozy, with pastel colors and a king-size bed covered in white sheets. It was simple but had everything I needed.

Mary helped me take off the dress.

“I’ll send it to the dry cleaners and then to the designer. It’ll look like new,” she assured me.

I immediately shook my head.

“Throw it away. I never want to see that thing again.”

Her kind expression turned to surprise, but I ignored her and headed to the bathroom. I let the hot water wash over me, trying to rinse the pain from my skin. When I came out, I found a sexy silk pajama laid out on the bed.

Anger surged inside me. I grabbed it and tore it to shreds without a second thought.

Mary entered just then with a cup of tea in her hands.

“Ma’am, what happened? Didn’t you like the pajama?”

I took a deep breath before answering.

“I appreciate the gesture, Mary, but I prefer another pajama. Throw this one away along with the dress.”

I grabbed a panda bear pajama from the wardrobe and drank the tea she gave me. It made me feel a little better.

I lay down on the bed and, exhausted from everything that had happened, I drifted into a deep sleep.

---

The next morning, I woke up with a sharp pain in my back. I looked around the room with nostalgia. I had imagined that my first morning as a married woman would be spent in Alexander’s arms, not in this loneliness.

After taking a shower and putting on the first thing I found, I went downstairs to the dining room. Breakfast was perfectly served, but I had little appetite. Still, I forced myself to eat.

But just as I brought the first spoonful of fruit to my mouth, I saw Alexander and Arlette walk in holding hands.

The spoon fell from my hands.

I tried to stand up and leave, but Arlette’s voice stopped me.

“Sister, I see you’re having breakfast,” she said with a hypocritical smile. “I came with Alexander for some papers.”

I

didn’t want to waste my time with her. I started heading up the stairs, but her next words made me freeze in place.