3 - Cheating Wife

Simon just stared at the retreating back of Ash. The moment that she was out of his sight, he went to the nearest chair and sat exhaustedly. He rubbed his face a few times, in the hopes to get his mind to think straight, but he was totally confused and distracted by their arguments. 

Did she really went on a date with Gregory Holt? He knew the man. He was one of the richest bachelors in the country. His reputation as a playboy exceeds him. He couldn’t understand why Ash would want someone like Gregory. He's trash. 

There are tons of scenarios floating in his mind. And he refused to be bothered by those. 

Does his wife love that man? Gregory Holt was a very capable man, in terms of money and power. Something that he doesn't have. Yet. 

“No, I won’t allow this.”

He needs to talk to Ash to clear things out. He knew she didn't love her anymore. Or did she ever love him in the first place? 

What they had was just an arranged marriage, she was just forced to marry him because her grandfather said so. Ashley was too weak to refuse her grandfather’s request.  

Simon stood and went to look for Ash. 

He found her in their bedroom.

His brows knitted when he saw the papers she was holding. She was reading it, and it looks important. 

When Ashley noticed him standing by the door, she gave him a smug look. She raised the papers she was holding. “Did you see this? I prepared this a long time ago. I am so caught up with your incompetence, and I can’t take this anymore.” 

Simon’s heart raced as he listened to every word Ash was throwing at him. He already had an idea what those papers are for, but his mind refused to believe it. He thought Ashley would not do this, but he was wrong. 

“What are you talking about, Ash? I just want to talk to you, and hope to make things between us work. Grandpa will be happy to know that.” Simon's voice was laced with sadness. He was deeply hurt by what Ash did. But he loves her, and he’s willing to make things between them work. 

Ashley mockingly laughed at him. She was truly disgusted at him and Simon saw it in her face. 

“No, I don’t want this marriage in the first place. I was forced to marry you at my grandfather's request. I never thought I would be marrying some useless piece of shit like you. I thought he arrange me to someone like Gregory, or any other wealthy man in the country.” 

Simon felt like his whole world came crashing down his feet. He can’t believe that after years of being married to Ash, he would hear those insulting words from her mouth. It was so painful to take. 

Yes, their marriage had been an arranged one. But, Simon never thought Ashley would think of him this low. 

Simon tried to step closer but Ash held her hand high, so Simon stopped in his tracks. “Stop! Don’t you dare come closer!” 

Again she held the papers high, “This is our divorce papers. Sign it, I want out of this trash marriage. Gregory was willing to marry, only if I divorce you. He is willing to help the company regain its name again. He will make Diamond Hotels a success again, he promised me that.” Ash stood, her head held high as she declared how capable and wealthy Gregory Holt is. “I finally found the man who could give me the world.”

Simon's hands balled into a fist. He was bleeding from the insult from his own wife. Why had this happened to him? He’s been a good husband to her. He was faithful to her despite lots of women who tried to seduce him. 

With desperate strides, Simon got hold of the divorce papers. He shook his head. “No, I am not going to sign these papers. We are not going to divorce.” 

He shredded the papers in front of her. A mixture of pain, disbelief, humiliation, and desperation enveloped his whole being as he tore the papers that threatened his marriage. 

What Ash had said made a huge impact on him, especially on his heart. It was shredded to pieces. 

Ash's face turned crimson red at the sight of the ripped papers that were scattered on the floor. Without any warning. Ashley landed her palms right directly on Simon’s cheeks, making him turn his head to the other side with the impact of her slap. 

Simon winced at the pain. It’s not enough for his wife to hurt him emotionally, she had gone to the extent of hurting him physically. 

Ashley was heaving in anger when Simon turned to look at her. 

His face stung from the intensity of her slap. It added to the insult that he was enduring. 

Ash was about to hit him again on the other side, but he was fast enough to catch her wrist. 

“How dare you tear those papers?!” Ash screamed at him, her eyes flared with undeniable rage. She tried to struggle free from his grip but he held it tightly. 

Ashley shouted hysterically. “Get out! Get the fuck out of my house! I will never think of you as my husband, you only had a handsome face but you are lousy in bed. I want a man like Gregory, he’s wealthy, powerful, and a beast in bed. He satisfied me many times, and I still can’t get enough of him!” 

Simon’s grip on Ashley’s wrist loosened. To say that he was shocked was an understatement. He was baffled by the fact that his wife already had sex with another guy. It feels like a million shards of glass pierced through his heart, slicing him painfully. 

He stared at her angry face. Everything in the background disappeared, what he saw was his wife shouting profanities at him. He couldn’t hear it. It was like his mind shut all of his senses. 

Ashley left him in the room. He just watched her as she grabbed her bag and went straight to the door. 

Simon clutched the fabric near his heart. 

“Damn! He cursed as his body almost went limp, sending him down to the floor. 

“Why?” he asked absentmindedly. No one was there to witness him break down, he was left alone in their apartment. 

He grabbed his hair and bent down as he was in extreme pain, which he really was, only that it was another kind of pain. One that was so hard to heal. “Why? Where did I go wrong?” 

Simon shook his head. A bitter smile appeared on his face, and his eyes were full of sadness, but there was a shadow of anger behind his sad eyes. 

He can’t believe all of this was happening. He just hoped that all of these were just bad dreams, and when he woke up in the morning, what had transpired in this very room was nothing but a nightmare. 

But Simon knew these were not dreams, it’s reality.