Selfless bride

CHAPTER 3

In the heat of the moment, as their bodies intertwined and their passion escalated, Emily's internal struggle intensified.

The sensations were real, the chemistry undeniable. But with each touch, each kiss, she was reminded of the genuine connection she was unintentionally building with Martin, a connection that was threatened by her hidden motives.

As the breath – taking moments unfolded, Emily found herself torn between the pleasure she was experiencing and the weight of her deceit. Martin's actions were genuine, his desire for her evident in every touch.

And as their organs of pleasure effortlessly mingled together, she felt a sense of intimacy that went beyond her original intentions.

As they lay tangled in each other's arms afterward, Emily's mind was a whirlwind of emotions. She had successfully launched her plans. She only had to wait for the appropriate time now, to announce to Billionaire Martin that she was carrying his child.

Guilt gnawed at her, but so did the realisation that she was sharing a true moment of connection with the man she had married.

She couldn't help but question her original motives, wondering if she had made a grave mistake in allowing herself to experience this night of passion.

Martin's soft breaths and contented smile offered no hint of the internal struggle Emily was facing. She knew she had embarked on a path that was difficult to turn away from, and her secret weighed heavily on her conscience.

Amid Emily's internal struggle, Michael and Anna navigated their own challenges.

Michael's phone lay neglected on the coffee table, an innocent bystander caught in the crossfire of their mounting issues.

It had become more than just a device; it was Pandora's box of suspicion and unease, a trigger for their endless quarrels.

Morning light filtered through the curtains, casting elongated shadows across the room. Michael, uncharacteristically absent-minded, vanished into the bathroom, leaving his phone behind as if inviting fate to play its hand. Anna's eyes darted towards the device, a mix of curiosity and dread fluttering in her chest.

Resisting the urge was futile, as her fingers betrayed her better judgement and reached for the phone. Scrolling through the messages, she was treated on familiar but treacherous ground.

The contact’s list was a minefield of female names, each one like a dagger twisting in her heart. Then she found it: "Ms. Anderson," his boss. Suspicion erupted like a volcano, fueled by her well-honed skill in extracting worry from thin air.

Anna's breath caught in her throat as the phone started to ring. The caller ID confirmed her worst fear – it was indeed Ms. Anderson. A cocktail of insecurity, jealousy, and adrenaline coursed through her veins, making her grip the phone tighter.

Summoning all the bravado she could muster, she answered with a mix of defiance and vulnerability, "Hello?"

"Is this Michael?" The voice on the other end was crisp, professional.

Anna's grip tightened further, her knuckles turning white as her emotions roiled beneath the surface. "No, he's not available right now. Can I take a message?" Her words oozed with a bitter disdain, as if she held the world's record for the longest grudge.

A pause followed, and then a composed request, "Could you let him know that Ms. Anderson called? It's regarding the upcoming project."

A smirk tugged at the corner of Anna's lips, the scent of suspicion now strong enough to attract bloodhounds. "Ah, another 'project,' I assume?" Her tone dripped with scepticism, like a master detective savouring the flavour of a fresh lead.

Ms. Anderson's voice retained its professionalism, albeit with a hint of confusion, "I'm sorry if there's been a misunderstanding. It's strictly business."

Anna was in too deep to back down now. Her sarcasm was like armour, shielding her from the uncertainty gnawing at her. "Of course, 'strictly business.' Tell me, does he usually work so closely with his female colleagues? Or is this a new 'business' venture?" Her words were laced with a mixture of doubt and bravado, like a poker player trying to read her opponent's hand.

An awkward pause hung between them, a virtual ping-pong match of suspicion and reassurance.

Anna could almost visualise Ms. Anderson's arched eyebrow on the other side of the line, her professionalism momentarily disrupted by this unexpected line of questioning. "I assure you this is purely professional. If you could let him know I called, I'd appreciate it."

Anna's grip on the phone tightened to the point of discomfort as her determination reached its zenith. "Oh, I'll let him know alright. Maybe you should find someone else to discuss your 'projects' with."

Her voice dripped with a mix of defiance and vulnerability, a simmering blend of emotions that had been building up for far too long.

And just like that, the call abruptly ended, as if Anna had slammed a door shut. She tossed the phone onto the couch with a huff, her eyes blazing with a potent mixture of anger and insecurity.

Anna's words on the phone were a scalding torrent that flowed from a place of jealousy, suspicion, and anger. Little did she know, those words would set in motion a series of events that would ultimately unravel Michael's professional life.

Indeed, it was not long after Michael had left for work that morning that she was served with the devastating results of her rashness; Regret oozed from Michael's heart, contemplating his past decisions as he entered the living room gloomily, almost lacking the energy to close the door behind him.

Michael's unexpected return from work had Anna glancing up with curiosity, obviously, the look on his face painted a picture of turmoil.

"Michael, you're home early. How was your day?" Anna asked, her voice a mix of innocence and concern.

He exhaled deeply, his frustration palpable as he replied, "You really want to know? I got fired, Anna. Fired!"

The shock that swept across Anna's face was evident as she stammered, "What? How did that happen?"

Michael's frustration brimmed, his anger finding a voice as he retorted, "Because of your little phone call, accusing me of things I didn't do. Ms. Anderson fired me, all thanks to you."

The weight of his words landed like a heavy blow, and Anna's face contorted with guilt. "Michael, I didn't think it would go this far. I was just upset," she admitted, her voice tinged with remorse.

The bitterness in his tone was hard to miss as he continued, "Well, congratulations, Anna. Your insecurity and jealousy just cost me my job.

Sitting in their dimly lit living room, his gaze wandered aimlessly as he muttered, "I can't believe I let Emily go. She was everything I needed."

Anna, seated across from him on the worn-out couch, responded with an annoyed tone, "Well, maybe if you had a spine and stood up for yourself, we wouldn't be in this mess." Her eyes were cold, reflecting the resentment that had gradually built up between them.

His fingers rubbed his temples, a habit he'd developed since things started going downhill. "I can't deny that you played a part in all of this," he sighed, "and that phone call with my boss... that was the last straw."

Anna rolled her eyes dismissively. "Oh please, Michael. Don't act like it's all my fault. You were already on thin ice at work. I just spoke my mind, that's all."

He clenched his jaw, frustration bubbling up. "Speaking your mind? You insulted my boss, called her names! How could you not see that would lead to trouble?"

Anna waved a hand dismissively, her voice dripping with sarcasm. "Well, I'm sorry I'm not as good at sugarcoating things as Emily probably was. But let's not pretend she was perfect either."

Michael's eyes flashed with a mix of anger and longing. "Emily was a good person. She supported me, understood me. We had a partnership, something I can't say about us."

Anna shot back defensively, "Partnership? You mean financial dependency. She was probably just using you for stability."

Michael's frustration reached a breaking point. His voice trembled with a mix of anger and sadness as he stood up abruptly. "You know what, Anna? You have no idea what Emily did for me.

She practically paid for my mother's cancer treatments when we were struggling. She supported me emotionally and financially in ways you never did."

Anna's eyes widened in surprise at his words, her confidence faltering for a moment. "What? That can't be true..."

Michael's voice rose, fueled by a long-buried resentment. "It is true! She stood by my side when my mother was sick, helping us navigate through the toughest times. And what did you do? You've only brought chaos and misery into my life."

Anna felt a sinking feeling in her chest, a realisation that her actions had paled in comparison to the selfless support Michael had received from Emily. As the weight of his words settled in, her anger turned to regret. She slumped back on the couch, her defiance waning.

He glared at her, his eyes burning with a mixture of anger and hurt. "I can't believe I let you back into my life. I thought things would be different this time, that maybe we could work things out. But all you've done is tear us apart even further."

Anna's gaze dropped to the floor, her voice barely above a whisper. "I didn't expect things to turn out this way... I didn't want this either."

Without another word, he turned and stormed out of the house, the door slamming shut behind him. Anna sat there in the dimly lit room, a heavy silence enveloping her. As his footsteps faded in the distance, her regret deepened, and tears welled up in her eyes.

As the minutes turned into hours, Anna sat in the quiet house, the weight of her mistakes pressing down on her. She replayed their argument in her mind, the hurtful words exchanged, and the undeniable truth that she had been a destructive force in their relationship.

She had returned to Michael's life and displaced Emily, hoping for a fresh start, hoping to rekindle something that had once been special.

But now, faced with the reality of the pain she had caused and the comparison to Emily's selflessness, Anna couldn't help but feel a profound sense of loss.

Her mind oscillated between regret and a nagging hope that maybe, just maybe, there was a way to make things right. But as the hours stretched on and the sun dipped below the horizon, a sinking feeling settled within her.

The sound of the front door opening and closing brought her back to reality – She knew it couldn’t be Michael that just entered the house. But who else could it be?