DEAR EX HUSBAND, I AM NOT A REBOUND!

Lily's POV “Get dressed and let's go home,” this familiar voice resounded in my ears as I tried to adjust to the light in the room. My lashes flickered continuously till my eyes became wide open.“Aaron, where is this?” I asked, looking around the room that looked nothing like our room back home.“Stop asking silly questions, get dressed and let's leave immediately!” His tone became stern and I squinted my gaze at him.I lifted the duvet off my body and realised I was naked. I shot him a glance of befuddlement, gripping the sheets to my chest tightly. ‘I hope this isn't what I'm thinking?’ I wondered as several thoughts ran through my head.“Aaron, where is this and why am I naked?” I inquired with a serious gaze but he remained nonchalant. He leaned against the wall, clad in a black suit, his hair neatly styled and shoes perfectly polished. Why then was I naked?“If you don't get dressed now, I'll leave you here and you'll find your way home!” He yelled, shooting me a glare and I attempted to get off the bed. My legs wobbled immediately and I felt sore in my core. “Aaron, did we have s*x last night? Or did you—- Hold on, Aaron, I hope it isn't what I'm thinking?” I asked, trying to connect the dots but he looked away, making me more confused.His silence was getting me furious and I wrapped the duvet around myself before charging towards him.“Aaron, did you let Mr. Sullivan have his way with me just to get the Stardust internship?” I asked with a deadly glare, clawing at his sleeves.“I didn't do anything,” He denied but I wasn't stupid, though in love.“Then why am I naked?” He tried to break free from my hold but I lost every fragment of my sanity the moment everything began to make sense. “Stop making a big deal out of this, Lily. You've been nothing but a burden and liability to me. Just an opportunity you got, to do me a favour, you declined without a second thought? I'm sorry I had to do what was best for both of us. Get dressed and let's leave.” He reeled off in his defence, but each word he uttered went further to rip my already broken heart into shreds.I lost the strength to keep gripping his sleeve and stumbled backwards, landing on the bed with the duvet still wrapped around me. The events from the previous night suddenly came flooding my memory and I felt stupid for blindly trusting Aaron. Some time ago, I met Mr. Sullivan at the mall and he indicated his interest in me. I politely declined, telling him I was married, only for him to show up in my living room as my husband's business partner a few days later.He offered Aaron a business proposal on the condition that I spent a night with him. I slapped Aaron across the cheek for considering such atrocity and declined head-on. I never knew Aaron still harboured the thoughts until yesterday when he told me he finally offered him the job without making any request.He suggested we go on a date to celebrate and I followed him. I could remember feeling drowsy when sipping the drink, but Aaron urged me to drink further, which I did without doubting.“Aaron, you drugged and offered me to your fellow man just to curry favour?” I asked, unable to believe all that occurred as tears rolled uncontrollably down my cheeks.“Listen dear, it's not a big deal. You didn't cheat, I made you do it. I still love you and that's what matters. No one's gonna know this ever happened. Get dressed and—--”“Shut up! Just shut the f**k up!!” I hollered at the top of my voice as I reached out for my dress and put it on.“I'll sue you for this. And as for that bastard, he's going in for r**e!” I yelled as I put on my dress.“You won't do such. Just let's go back home; let's not take actions we're both gonna regret,” he uttered, and I was irritated to the core.“Then, watch me do it, you sick, greedy and pathetic bastard!!” I panted heavily as I cursed and stepped into my heels that were beside the bed.“Don't even attempt to take legal actions. Mr. Sullivan is extremely rich and you won't win. If you attempt to tarnish his image, he'll make sure you don't live to see the light of another day. Remember your sick mother, I'm still paying for her weekly dialysis. The moment I stop, forget about her kidney transplant because I won't pay a dime for it.” I gnashed my teeth and burst into a maniacal laughter. “Really Aaron?” “Yes, really. I wanted us to do this the easy way but since you've decided to be immature, we can do it the hard way.” He said, stepping away from the wall as he approached me slowly. “Don't take another step closer to me. I'm getting a divorce and this sham you call marriages is over!” I retorted with anger blazing in my eyes.“Divorce? That sounds interesting. Are you sure you want that? If you leave, do you think you'll have a roof over your head? Have you forgotten what the loan sharks did after your father's death?” He rubbed salt on my injury by reminding me of an ugly incident I wanted to forget, and I got on my feet and channelled enough energy to my palm, ready to land a resounding slap across his cheek, but he grabbed my wrist firmly and glared daggers at me, his eyes holding a deadly glint.“The next time you attempt to lay your hands on me, I'll make sure you don't use them again.” He threatened and I shuddered. He tossed me on the bed and turned around to stride out of the room. I watched his retreating figure and it felt like a knife was being drilled into my chest.The burning sensation became unbearable and I laid on the bed, letting my warm tears soak the sheets. My world came crumbling and I felt cheap and dirty.‘How could Aaron be so heartless and ruthless?’ I loved and trusted him foolishly and all he could repay my faithfulness with was this shameful and embarrassing betrayal. I got on my feet and took sluggish steps out of the room. The ache I felt down there was unbearable. Aaron and I have had rough s*x in the past but the pain wasn't this intense. It felt like a furnace was ignited in my core and I had to take penguin steps as I walked towards the elevator of what I assumed to be a hotel from the look of the surroundings. I stepped out of the elevator when it reached the ground floor and as I walked out through the reception, I saw Aaron's car leaving the parking lot. He zoomed off without pausing to glance back and the tears I was trying to hold back streamed down unendingly. I left the hotel in tears and flagged down a taxi. The first destination that came to my mind was Cassie's place. Going back to Aaron's house was the last thing on my mind and I would rather die than go back to him.As the taxi got in motion, I shut my eyes and tried to clear my head but it wasn't helping. The pain only got worse and my head was burning with a throbbing ache. If someone had told me Aaron would hurt me so badly, I wouldn't have believed it. After 3 years together, he was ready to throw all we shared to the wind for monetary favours.The driver pulled up before Cassie's house and I alighted with no money to pay. He stretched forth his hand for his money and squinted his gaze when I gave him none. I quickly went into the house to get a few bucks from Cassie.“What's wrong dear? You have tear stains on your cheeks.” She asked worriedly the moment I returned and I slumped into the couch, unable to narrate my ordeal.“Is your mum around?” I asked to be sure her mum wouldn't come in to get me engaged in an interrogative section.“No, she's out of the country to buy items for the jewellery shop,” She informed me, and I breathed a sigh.“What’s wrong? Did you have a fight with Aaron?” She asked with worry etched on her face but I wasn't ready, rather too ashamed to talk about it.“I'm fine, Cass. I just need to clear my head,” I said amidst sobs.“No, you don't seem fine, darling. You're crying. What's the issue?” She pressed further.“I had a slight misunderstanding with Aaron, it's nothing to worry about.” I lied, knowing she wouldn't stop asking.“That contrasts with what you're saying,” She said with a sheepish smile, pointing at my neck and I grabbed my phone to check what she was pointing at.