Cruel Boss, You Are My Destiny

Valeria's POV I've been married to William Cruz for two years. He's one of the most important, handsome, and wealthiest men in the country. However, he's also a cruel, distant, and intimidating man who can't stand me for the simple fact that I'm his wife. «Knowing it was for family business» My father owned the best textile factory in the country, and as an only child, I was his heir. When my father died, there was only one condition. To take possession of my inheritance, I had to marry William Cruz. Dad always knew that I had been in love with him since I met him in college. He was the most handsome and popular guy in school, with a millionaire family like ours, but without the same prestigious last name. So, he made deals with William's father, and through tricks I don't know, he got him to marry me. «The worst thing that could have happened to me in life» He hasn't looked at me since we got married. I'm just another piece of furniture in this huge house, and what's more, in the years we've been married, he's never laid a finger on me. All that comes out of his mouth are insults. He calls me useless, a gold digger, a deceiver, and arrogant. «And he may be right in a way» But what's not true is that I never forced him to marry me. It was my father's will, who, believing that when he died, he was leaving me in the hands of the man I loved so much, the man I always dreamed of marrying and the one who was going to "protect" me, when it has been the complete opposite. «He hates me» And he never misses an opportunity to remind me of it. Since I married him and became Mrs. Cruz, my life has been one of total confinement. William took possession of the textile factory as well as all of my father's businesses and forbade me from working. «But I do it anyway» I work at Planeta Publishing as a romance and drama editor, and although I don't need to, I do it to get out of the hell my life has become since I married him. The man everyone admires for being kind and friendly, the man who poses for the best magazines showing off his best smile. «The smile he's never given me» I pull my hair into a high ponytail and let a few black strands frame my face. Although I'm twenty-one years old and have a good body, my face is like that of a fifteen-year-old girl, with big blue eyes, a small nose, and very pink lips. «The perfect woman for any man». Except for him, because although I have been a complacent, affectionate woman and have tried to be submissive, he does nothing but look at me with contempt. I spray a little perfume on my neck and smooth down my black dress before grabbing my purse and heading out to the living room for breakfast. There I see him, sitting with a cup of tea in his hand while reading the morning paper. "Good morning," I say and sit down across from him. As always, there's no response from him. I ignore his arrogance with a pang in my chest because his indifference really hurts, and I try to eat breakfast in silence. A few minutes later, I see him stand up and grab his car keys. He turns around and, like every day, heads off to my textile factory, but not before informing me: "There's a dinner tonight at your mother's house. I'll see you there at six. Don't be late, it's important," he states. I try to say something, but he leaves me speechless. I watch him walk out, showing me his broad back, and I immediately swallow hard. «I don't like the tone of his voice» I wait for the sound of his car to let me know he's gone, and then I do the same.The drive to the publishing house is short since it’s near the area where we live. I get out of the car and start my day in the only place where I feel fulfilled. At six o'clock in the evening, I drive to my "mother's" house like a bat out of hell, but not because of William. Since he doesn't sleep at home most of the time, and when he does, he doesn't even realize I'm not there. «I'm invisible to him» I start the car and head toward the house of my "mother," if that arrogant, overbearing woman can be called that. Martina de Ordóñez is the woman who raised me since I was five years old, after my father married her. She and my stepsister, Laura, are the only people I have in this world. «Although I can't stand either of them» I park the car at the mansion that used to be my father's and hand the keys to one of the security guards before walking inside. I press my lips together and take a deep breath, a knot forming in my throat. Nevertheless, I stop in front of the white wooden door and knock. Carmen, the housekeeper, immediately opens the door with a frown. "Niña, you've arrived!" she exclaims, more worried than anything. "Yes, is my husband here yet?" I ask, handing her my jacket. "Yes, yes, he's waiting for you in the dining room," she explains. I walk with my hands clenched into fists and arrive at the dining room with a fake smile, a smile that fades from my lips when I see my stepsister sitting on my husband's lap. He's holding her by the waist while Laura's haughty gaze examines me. "What are you doing sitting on top of my husband, Laura?" I ask, dreading her answer. "On top of my fiancé, you mean," she clarifies, showing off the ring on her ring finger. I squeeze my eyes shut so that tears don't spill down my cheeks and take a deep breath so I can speak again. "Someone explain to me what's going on," my voice cracks. "You're married to me, William. You can't marry my sister. The textile factory…" "The textile factory…" he rolls his eyes in annoyance. "The textile factory is mine, Valeria. Remember the papers you signed last year?" he asks me with a smirk. "Well, it was the relinquishment of your assets." My soul breaks, remembering that day all too well. He had come back from a trip and brought me several gifts. I thought that finally, my marriage was going to change and that maybe William had realized that even though we got married out of convenience, I loved him. But he tricked me, the bastard tricked me, and made me sign those papers, making me believe they were for the betterment of the company. "You can't do this to me, William. You know perfectly well that I've always loved you." I look at him, tears streaming down my face. "Mother, say something…" I look at Martina, my stepmother, and she immediately stands up. Her brown hair is perfectly combed back, and the streak of gray hair forming in one lock makes her look like Cruella de Vil. «And she really is» "It's for the best, Valeria. Laura is better for business than you. Besides, it was she whom your father should have left everything to from the beginning." She looks me up and down. "Look at you. You spend your time reading books and giving your opinion. You don't even deserve to call yourself William's wife. That's why they're getting married." I sob and cover my mouth with my hands, trying not to scream, but it's impossible. The only two people I have are taking everything that belongs to me, right in front of me. "I want a divorce," William says arrogantly. "And I want it now, Valeria."