As I waited near the entrance of the mall, a familiar figure approached with an energy that could rival the sun. Sheila practically bounded towards me.
Her curly hair, a riot of chestnut curls, framed her face in a wild halo, bouncing with every step she took. Her eyes, a warm shade of hazel, reflected the joy she found in even the simplest of moments. Sheila was like a ray of sunshine.
"Hey, birthday girl!" she exclaimed, as she linked her arm through mine. "I'm so sorry I couldn't be here on your actual birthday. I had that seminar; you know how it is."
"I understand. Doctors are always busy"
She grinned. "Today, I'm buying you a new dress to make up for missing your birthday!"
"Really? Anything I want?" I teased, knowing full well she wouldn't back down from the challenge.
"Anything!"
"Alright then, I'm choosing something ridiculously expensive.”
To my surprise, she merely pouted. "Fine, be that way," she huffed, before breaking into a giggle. “But not ridiculously expensive, okay?”
We wandered into the nearest clothing store, laughter still ringing in the air as we browsed through racks of dresses. We tried on various dresses, each more extravagant than the last. She dragged me from shop to shop.
Just as I was about to take another dress, my phone buzzed insistently in my purse. Pulling it out, I glanced at the screen and saw an unknown number flashing. With a frown, I answered the call.
“Hello?”
“Hi, is this Miss Anastasia Del Valle?” A voice exclaimed through the receiver.
“Ah, yes. Who’s this?”
A gasp, followed by a muffled exchange of hushed whispers and what sounded suspiciously like a delighted shriek, reached my ears before the voice returned, slightly breathless. “Hi, Ma’am. I’m Miguel Sanchez from Champagne and Roses Company. I am the CEO. We heard you want us to do a project!”
Surprise crosses my features. “Oh, hi. Yeah, yeah,”
My gaze drifted back to the row of designer clothes lining the wall behind Sheila.
“It is an honor to work with you, Miss Del Valle! We never really expected that you would choose us!”
A slow smile spread across my face. “Oh, I’m excited to work with you too. I really like your designs. I saw some pictures on social media of an event you did – it was incredible!”
“Thank you so much, Ma’am! You have no idea what this means to us!”
“I’ll have someone from my team contact you later to discuss the details of the event I have in mind,”
“Sure, sure, Ma’am, no problem!”
“Okay, thank you,” I finished, ending the call with a smile.
Sheila, who had been watching me with a raised eyebrow. “Who was that?” she asked, holding up a pair of shimmering gold sandals.
“Oh, that was the CEO of Champagne and Roses Events,” I explained casually.
“Never heard of them,”
“They’re a local event planning company,” I added with a shrug.
“For what? Are you throwing a party? Gosh, I missed your party! You actually have the best parties.”
I couldn’t help but grin at her. “For Regan’s birthday party, of course, I uh want to throw him a party.”
Sheila’s eyes widened dramatically. “Uh, wow, what a good wife. Bravo for Mrs. Anastasia Montreal Del Valle” she drawled sarcastically, rolling her eyes.
I let out a chuckle. Reaching for the white dress, I give it to the saleslady. “The whole set, please, aside from this one”
“Certainly, Ma’am,” she chirped, whisking the dress away. I glanced back at Sheila. “Tired already?”
“Nah uh. Aside from being a doctor, I am a shopping expert” Sheila grinned at me.
……..
As we delved into the men's section of the mall, my gaze went to the section of ties. Maybe I should buy Regan some new ties. As I looked at the choices in front of me, I focused on the patterns and textures. But suddenly, Sheila's voice reached my ears, her question catching me off guard.
"So, any progress on the relationship front?"
I hesitated, my fingers pausing on a particularly elegant tie. "Not really. Things have been... complicated."
Sheila let out a weary sigh, "You know what you need to do, Tasia. You should file for a divorce."
But the mere thought of severing ties with Regan sent a pang of pain through my heart.
"I can't"
“But Anastasia....."
"I love him, Sheila. I know he can love me back if only given the chance."
"You're only hurting yourself by staying in that marriage.”
I nodded and let out a sigh that seemed to carry the weight of the world. "I know. But I can't give up on him. Not yet”
Sheila shook her head, her fiery curls bouncing in protest. "You're a fool for him, Tasia,"
As we left the boutique, the usual mall buzz seemed to fade into the background. Suddenly, a group of teenagers caught our attention with their excited chatter. They were clustered near a popcorn stand, their words punctuated by bursts of laughter.
"Did you hear? I heard a man rented the whole cinema for his girlfriend!" one exclaimed.
"Really?" another gasped, leaning in closer.
"Yeah!" the young girl gestured towards the escalator. "I think those are the couple right there!"
"That woman is so lucky!"
Curious, Sheila and I followed their gaze, our eyes scanning the moving crowd until they landed on a familiar figure.
But it wasn't just Regan who drew our attention. Walking beside him was a woman so breathtakingly beautiful, she seemed to take my breath away. Her porcelain skin glowed under the harsh mall lighting, flawless and smooth. Her features were soft and delicate, with large, doe-like eyes that sparkled with a vibrancy I hadn't seen in Regan's gaze in years. Framing her heart-shaped face was a cascade of honey-blonde curls that tumbled down her back in loose waves, adding to the angelic aura that surrounded her. She wore a flowing maxi dress in a soft pink that perfectly complemented her smile, a smile that seemed genuine and full of life.
And with a sickening jolt of recognition, I knew exactly who she was. Zarina Andrade. The name echoed in my mind, a ghost from Regan's past. His first love. I had heard rumors of her return from England two years ago, but they had seemed so distant, so irrelevant. In my naivety, I had never considered her a threat.
My gaze darted back and forth between Zarina and Regan. They were huddled close together, their bodies radiating an unmistakable intimacy. Their hands were intertwined.
Sheila gasped beside me, her hand flying to her mouth in shock. "F-fuck! Is…is that Regan?!"
My vision blurred as a mixture of emotions flooded through me – anger, hurt, betrayal, and a cold, icy fear. The happy banter of the teenagers seemed to mock me, a cruel reminder of the love story unfolding before my eyes, a love story that wasn't mine. A love story of my husband.
As Zarina and Regan glanced in our direction, panic shot through me. My stomach churned, churning so violently I thought I might vomit. Without a second thought, I grabbed Sheila's arm, my grip tight and desperate."Come on," I hissed, pulling her away from the scene with a force that surprised even myself.We weaved through the throngs of people, my legs moving on autopilot. I just needed to get away, to escape before I crumbled. Once we were safely hidden behind a pillar, out of sight from the escalator, I finally stopped, my body trembling uncontrollably.Sheila turned to me, her eyes wide with concern. "Did you know they were seeing each other?""No," I croaked, the single word scraping raw against my throat. As we hurried out of the mall, my steps pounded against the floor. My breath hitched in my throat. Hot tears pricked at the back of my eyelids, threatening to spill over. But I wouldn't allow it. Like an instinct, I blinked back the stinging moisture, forcing my vision
Sheila’s gasp was a sharp intake of breath. “Are you crazy, Anastasia?! He betrayed you, and lied to you! How can you even think about protecting something so rotten?”“Maybe I am,”“Tasia, you can’t keep doing this to yourself. You deserve so much more than this. More than a love that makes you feel like this, more than a man who doesn’t cherish you.” She took a deep breath, her voice dropping to a low growl. “You should leave that bastard right now! Pack your bags, walk out that door, and never look back!”“I can’t leave him, Sheila. Not now. I still love him.”“Did you know he was cheating on you?” Sheila asked, her voice laced with a quiet fury.I met her gaze with a heavy heart. “Yes. I knew there might have been someone else, but I never imagined it would be Zarina.” “I can’t believe he did this to you,” Sheila gritted in anger. “That bastard. I swear, I will kill him if I ever see him!”When I remained silent, she sighed, the sound heavy with disappointment. “So, I guess
With a forced smile that felt brittle on my lips, I walked to my designated seat at the far end of the table. The vast expanse of mahogany between us felt like an insurmountable distance. We ate in a tense silence, the only sounds were the clinking of silverware against China and the labored breaths I couldn't quite control.My appetite was nonexistent. But I forced myself to pick at my food. Halfway through the meal, I could feel Regan's gaze burning into me. In the past, I would make any remark designed to draw him into conversation. But tonight, the words wouldn't come. The image of his hand intertwined with Zarina's, the warmth in his eyes that had been absent for far too long, choked the words back down. Finally, he cleared his throat. "Anastasia,"I ignored him, staring intently at the floral pattern on my plate. The urge to scream, to throw my wine glass across the table, warred with the strange paralysis that gripped me.Regan cleared his throat again, louder this time. "A
Days passed in a blur of empty routines and forced smiles. But as the sun rose on another day, I pushed aside the memories of what I saw in the mall. Of what I and Regan talked about. I promised myself I would try everything I have on this marriage.And that involves staying and giving everything I have. Including chances.As I stirred from my fitful slumber, the weight of exhaustion pulling at my limbs, I found myself greeted by the sight of Regan still sleeping beside me. It was a rare occurrence.His features softened. With each rise and fall of his chest, I couldn't help but admire the sculpted contours of his physique, the gentle curve of his jawline and the way his tousled hair fell in disarray across his forehead. Regan slept with a sense of ease, his chest rising and falling in a steady. The absence of a shirt allowed me to appreciate the taut muscles of his torso. As I watched him, a sense of admiration washed over me. I couldn't help but be drawn to him, to the man who is st
As lunchtime approached, I happily packed the food I had lovingly prepared into a lunchbox. Today is a special day.Susan stands beside me, “I think you should just ask Marlon to send it, Miss Anastasia”I shook my head, "It's been a long time since I've done it myself. And I am sure Marlon must be too tired and sick of delivering lunch for Regan. It is his day off today."But Susan still looked concerned for some reason. “Why? Is there something wrong?”“No, nothing, Miss”I nodded and carried the lunch bag. “I should get going.”“Take care on your way, Miss”I walked out of our house, my house clicking on the garage. I don’t ask for drivers. For me, it was nicer to drive on your own. I entered my Red Mercedes-Benz and sped off the Dynastar Enterprises. It is a billion-multinational company owned by Regan.As I parked my car, I looked at the towering building in front of me. Then I walked inside. The guards greeted me with a polite nod, but I couldn't help but notice the unease that
But just as I took a step, a woman's voice pierced the air from inside Regan's office. I froze, my heart skipping a beat, then seemed to stop altogether, as if time itself had paused in that agonizing moment of realization. Every instinct within me screamed to flee, to escape the inevitable pain that awaited me. Yet, despite the overwhelming urge to run, something compelled me to turn around, my eyes narrowing as I faced the trembling secretary."Who is inside?" My voice was cold."No one, Ma’am. Please, just ignore it and leave."Her pitiful expression only fueled my resolve. "Move.""Ma’am, please, just go back later. I swear no one—""I said step aside."Reluctantly, she bowed, her trembling hands opening a path for me to pass.Without hesitation, I pushed past the secretary, my hands trembling as I reached for the door handle. With a deep breath, I pushed it open.As I entered the room, my worst fears were realized in an instant. Zarina stood before me, her cheeks flushed, and her
As the elevator doors slid shut behind me, I leaned heavily against the cool metal wall. Tears streamed down my cheeks unchecked. I lifted a trembling hand to wipe them away, but they seemed to flow endlessly.As I reached my car, I fumbled with the keys, my hands shaking uncontrollably. The engine roared to life as I peeled out of the parking space, the tires screeching against the pavement. My vision blurred with tears as I drove aimlessly through the streets. I didn't know where I was going, but I didn't care. All I wanted was to escape.To get as far with Regan as I can.It was then that I saw it – a bridge in the distance. Without a second thought, I veered off the main road and drove underneath it. The car came to a stop, the engine ticking as it cooled.With trembling legs, I stepped out of the car and leaned against its cool metal frame, the tears flowing freely down my cheeks. Each sob tore through me like a knife. I doubled over, my body wracked with heaving sobs.The memori
Tonight, I wore my best dress—a sleek, black satin maxi dress that hugged my figure perfectly, accentuating my graceful silhouette. The dress had a plunging neckline and a slit up the side that added a touch of elegance and allure. My dark, wavy hair cascaded down my shoulders, framing my face softly. I meticulously painted my lips a bold shade of red, a striking contrast against my fair skin.I sat in the corner of the restaurant, the glow of candlelight forming shadows across the tablecloth. The ambiance was romantic, but my heart was still heavy with dull ache. After my breakdown, I went back to the mansion like nothing happened.I’ll stay with Regan, with my husband no matter what. That’s what I decided three years ago.I wore my best dress and painted my lips a bold shade of red like always.This restaurant held a special significance for me—it was where Regan had first brought me after he saved me ten years ago. I was 17 when I got lost in the pouring rain, terrified by the thund