Bound By Secret Ties

chapter 2

Security was called when I was "not fast enough," and I was promptly escorted out with my belongings. I was still confused by the turn of events, but I calmly made my way to the car and drove home. I tried Alister’s number, but it wouldn’t go through.

I reached home and made my way to the house. I had to speak to Alister to understand what was going on. He hadn’t been at the office at the time of my dismissal, and I hoped he was at home. My heart was in my throat with each step I took. All I hoped for was a reasonable explanation for why I had been fired from a job to which I had devoted four years of my life, at a company headed by my own husband.

I reached the front door and saw the guards. It was odd; they were usually more discreet about their posts in the house, always around but rarely visible.

I approached them and tried to get to the door, but they blocked my path. I looked up at them, astounded. “Nate,” I addressed the one I knew best. “What happened? What is this about?”

“The master ordered that you not be allowed entry,” he replied coldly. “If you do not comply, you will be removed by force.”

My jaw dropped as his words sank in. “There must be a mistake,” I mumbled.

“I don’t believe there is, ma’am,” he replied.

Then the door of our home opened, revealing not Alister but his mother—Patricia Blackwell. My heart caught in my throat. She had never truly liked me, always viewing me as an unworthy “charity case” for her son.

“There is no mistake, girl,” she spat. “You are not allowed here. You never belonged here.”

“Mother…” I began, but she interrupted me, striking me hard across the face.

“I am not your mother! And from today onward, I am not even your mother-in-law.”

I took a step back, my cheek stinging from the slap. “I…I…I…” I was too stunned to speak.

“Leave my son alone. Leave us alone. He deserves better than a freeloader like you.” With that, she slammed the door shut. I didn’t need any more of a warning. I left immediately, trying Alister’s number repeatedly on my way to the hotel, but it wouldn’t go through. Had he blocked me? Why would he do that?

I reached the hotel and went to the reception. I asked for a room and handed over my card to pay. All the while, my mind whirled with scenarios trying to explain why this was happening today.

A loud, obnoxious beep pulled me out of my reverie.

“Your card was declined, ma’am,” the receptionist informed me, confirming my worst fear.

I gulped, my tongue feeling thick in my throat. “Could you try it again?”

The receptionist looked doubtful but swiped my card two more times. Each time, the same loud beep followed.

With each beep, my embarrassment grew. Without another word, I took my card and left the hotel lobby.

I stepped outside, realizing it was getting dark. Night was approaching, and I still had no answers. Then I remembered the anniversary party Alister and I had planned for today, and I knew exactly where I had to go. I jumped into my car and sped toward the venue. Would the party still be held if the wife wasn’t there? I needed to find out.

I reached the city’s most luxurious hotel, where the party was being held.

There were cars parked outside, and some belonged to friends from my social circle. I’d been right; the party was happening. I made my way inside and through security, who recognized me and let me through without question. The moment I was in the lobby, I broke into a sprint, not caring who saw me. I entered the elevator and rode up to the floor where the party was being held, my heart pounding with pressure.

When the elevator stopped, I stepped out with trepidation. Maybe this was all a cruel joke. A twisted prank that I doubted I could ever forgive Alister for, no matter how much I loved him.

I approached the hall and pushed open the double doors. The party came to a standstill, and everyone turned to stare at me. A lump formed in my throat as I took in their piercing gazes. I must have looked insane—my hair disheveled, my clothes wrinkled and sweaty, my eyes bloodshot.

The spotlight suddenly turned on me, and for a moment, I forgot why I had come. Until I heard my name.

“Aurelia.” I would recognize his voice anywhere, even if I were dying.

I turned to see my husband walk out of the crowd. He was in a tuxedo, just as handsome as he was last night when he made love to me.

“Alister,” I said, my voice coming out breathless.

“You made it,” he said, looking me over.

He looked the same—he was my Alister. But something had changed. There was no warmth in his tone, no softness in his gaze. He looked down at me as though I were a stranger and not his wife.

“Alister, what is going on?” I asked, unable to hold back my questions any longer.

“What do you mean, Aurelia?” He spat my name as if it were poison.

“The office, the house, everything…” I hadn’t expected the words to come pouring out.

Then he grinned cruelly. “I heard you lost your job.”

I blinked up at him.

“And your home and even your bank accounts are frozen,” he continued.

“You…”

“I did it? Yes, I did. It’s high time you knew your place,” he said dispassionately. “It’s time to end this sham. It’s time I put you in your place.”

I was speechless. Then a piece of paper was thrown in front of me. I looked up to see who had thrown it, and my stomach dropped.

“Eva.” My stepsister stood before me, her arm hooked through Alister’s. The sight made bile rise in my throat.

“Miss me?” she mocked. “Why don’t we get this over with? Sign the papers and free my darling Alister.”

“Divorce?!” I asked, flabbergasted.

“Read what’s at your feet,” my stepmother’s voice cut through my confusion. She was there too, sneering at me just as she always had.

“I don’t understand…”

“As dense as you are pathetic,” my father sneered as he stepped forward to stand beside my stepmother. “Sign it and get this over with.”

I looked at Alister, searching for the man who had told me he loved me just last night. “Alister,” I whimpered.

His features hardened with disgust. “Don’t look at me. You heard your own family. Sign the papers.”

Tears streamed down my face as my stepmother tossed me a pen. My heart broke with each passing second, with every word. I picked up the pen and signed the papers.

“You chose her in the end,” I murmured, the thought alone hurting unbearably. After all the promises, after all the apologies, he chose her.

Alister took the paper. “You were always a nobody. Why would I choose you when I have Eva? You were never even a choice.”

That was all it took. I got to my feet, aware of the murmurs from the guests around me. I walked toward the exit but paused as I reached the entrance. I turned back for one last glance. “Did you ever even love me?” I asked Alister.

He let out a low, malicious chuckle. “I could have, but you’d have to be worthy of it first. Which, of course, you are not.” Then he turned to the guests still watching and pulled Eva closer, lowering his head to share a passionate kiss with her.

I wanted to die, but I couldn’t look away. It all felt like a horrible nightmare.

“I want to announce my marriage,” he said when he finally pulled away. “To the beautiful Evaline Hanson.”

The wedding announcement was the final blow. I turned on my heels and ran, away from the humiliation, away from the man I had loved.