Chapter 3

• 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.