LOVING IN THE QUEST

Episode 1

ANASTASIA'S POV

I stood in front of the door, my heart nervous as I waited for him to make his entrance. I watched him park the car outside, running my hand through my hair in hopes of looking presentable.

It had been months since that dreadful day and I hoped he was finally going to act normal again and not like we were just strangers living in the same house.

It was all my fault. I had wanted things to be like this, at least for a while. I wanted to punish him but now loneliness silently ate at me.

I tugged at my finger nails, my heart racing at what I was about to do. He pushed the door open and I pasted a sweet smile on my face.

"Welcome home, Honey," I said in a syrupy sweet tone. I tried to plant a kiss on his cheek but he pulled away and I took his bag instead.

"How was work?" I asked but he never answered, heading towards his room.

"Honey?" I called out, my voice cracking but he ignored me, pushing his door open

"Honey, I made dinner and it's your favorite!" I yelled, hoping it would do the trick.

"I'm not hungry," he muttered, giving me a side glance. I let out a sad breath, dropping his bag down.

"Please talk to me," I whispered, slowly placing my hand on his biceps. As if being stung by a bee, he jerked up, staring at me with disgust.

"What do you want?!" He yelled at me, taking me by surprise.

"I just came back Ana! Why must you be so difficult?!" He yelled and I swallowed, staring at him.

"I'm sorry, my love," I said, trying to ignore the growing lump in my throat.

Don't cry, he's just tired from working.

"I just thought…" I muttered avoiding his gaze. I felt Darius' eyes on me and he scoffed. "What is it?" He grumbled

"Well you just came back so I wanted to have dinner with you," I whispered, feeling a little embarrassed.

"And it's been so long since you even looked at me, not to mention touching me-" he cut me off, a laugh escaping his lips.

"You actually have the guts to ask me such a silly thing? Have you taken a look at yourself?" He mocked me and I felt my cheeks burn in embarrassment.

I hated this

Summoning courage, I met his gaze and my heart dropped. The eyes that once stared at me like I was the most beautiful woman looked at me with sheer disgust.

"Is this because of Hazel?" I questioned and Darius cursed under his breath, turning away.

"It is because of her, isn't it?" I pushed, my voice shaky as tears filled my eyes. "I know she's so perfect. She's sexy and young and probably makes you feel better."

"But I'm your wife!" I yelled and he stared at me, his blue eyes glowing.

"Don't you ever mention her name. What else do you want?" He yelled back, stepping closer. "Can you please stop throwing tantrums and making scenes?”

“Or would you like to remind you how you embarrassed me that night?"

His words felt like salt to my wound and I lowered my head in pain. Salty tears fell to my hands as I recalled the dreadful night.

I had decided to do some cleaning in the house and stumbled on a box in his room. It had a pink wrapper and something about it seemed to call to me.

Even though it was never my moral to pry into someone's life. My curiosity got the better of me. Taking out the box, I took in deep breaths, placing it on the bed.

"Don't worry, he probably got you a gift," I told myself, pulling the lid open. I stared at the contents and my heart fell. With shaky hands, I grabbed a picture and it turned out to be one of a lady.

No doubt, she was younger than me and far more beautiful. I took in her golden locs, they fell down her shoulders and her smile seemed so pure and innocent. I couldn't help but feel a little insecure.

Taking a deep breath, I went through every picture, my heart sinking with each one. They were all of her.

It's nothing

I assured myself, picking up the lid. About to cover the box my eyes caught sight of a paper. Voices yelled at me to ignore it but again, my curiosity got the better of me and I picked it up, unfolding it.

A tear slid down my face and I covered my mouth in shock. It was a love letter. Darius had been writing love letters. Darius who I was married to for seven years. Who I was convinced was a simple man had been writing love letters to someone and it wasn't me.

It finally made sense. This was the reason he had been away from home so much. He had been having an affair. The sound of my heart cracking filled my ears and I fell to the ground.

After several hours of crying, my head hurt and my chest felt numb. All the pain transformed into an emotion more powerful.

Anger.

And I made the most undignified decision. I was going to pay her a visit. I did a little digging and found out where she worked. It was a fancy restaurant mostly used to hold meetings.

I applied my makeup with shaky fingers, putting on the first dress I laid my hands on and once I was satisfied, I walked out of the house, ready to confront my husband's mistress.

I stepped into the guest area, its elegant patronizers and flawless decor fading into the background as my eyes scanned the crowd for one person.

Laying my eyes on her, my painted lips stretched into a sinister smile and I walked towards her. She wore a waitress uniform and had a tray of drinks in hand, having small talk with her customers.

She turned to me, smiling, and my anger only grew. Before I could stop myself, I took a glass of champagne from her tray, pouring it on her.

She let out a shocked scream as the cold liquid made contact with her face and my smirk grew into a wide grin. But that only lasted for so long as a cup was thrown my way, hitting me on the face.

I let out a pained grunt as pain exploded on my left eyebrow, and the warm liquid oozed out, a clear sign that I was bleeding.

The hall went dead silent and I peeled my eyes open to find Hazel in my husband's arms and his colleagues staring at me with disgust.

I froze in shock not expecting him to be here. Who was I kidding? He probably got her the job or wants to be closer to her.

There was no doubt one of them had been responsible for my injury.

"What are you doing here?!" Darius yelled and I stared at him in shock. Anger had not been part of what I expected from him.

He had cheated on me and he was upset?

"You! You cheated on me with this w***e!" I yelled and gasps filled the ballroom. Darius looked around, his face painted with embarrassment.

"Don't you call her that!" he yelled and my heart broke again.

He was still defending her?

"Let's go home," he muttered in a tone that told me not to argue but I played the stubborn card.

"No! I'm not leaving. How long has this been?" I asked and whispers filled the room but I had no regrets.

"That doesn't matter. The love between me and her transcends the physical world. We have nothing but a platonic bond. The mate bond can testify," he explained, walking towards her.

"Now come home with me. Don't embarrass me again and don't hurt anyone," he said and I turned to see everyone staring at me with either pity or disbelief.

My face grew red in embarrassment and I suddenly realized how stupid they had made me look.

It had been four months and even though I knew he never slept with her, my heart still ached.

He never apologized but he avoided all social places, staying at home most of the time. He even agreed to stay in a separate room but my heart still ached. Deep down, it still felt like he was seeing her.