A World She Never Belonged To
1583 Words
The room fell silent.
“Someone tried to kill her?”
I looked from the security officer to Damien, convinced I had heard wrong.
“Me?”
The officer nodded grimly.
“Yes, ma’am.”
I let out a shaky laugh.
“There must be some mistake.”
Nobody laughed with me. Damien’s expression didn’t change.
“What happened?” he asked.
“Our security team found a loose brake line on the vehicle prepared to take Mrs. Ashford to the hospital.”
My blood ran cold. My fists clenched, and my face turned red. My heart raced.
“A mechanic confirmed it wasn’t an accident.”
I couldn’t speak. I wasn’t rich. I wasn’t important.
“Who would want me dead?”
Damien’s voice was calm.
“Replace every vehicle.”
“Already done.”
“The driver?”
“Being questioned.”
Damien nodded once.
“Good.”
He turned to me.
“We’re leaving.”
Ten minutes later, I sat inside a black armored SUV. My hands were vibrating. I couldn’t stop staring at my hands. They wouldn’t stop shaking.
Damien sat across from me, reading documents as if someone hadn’t just announced an attempt on my life.
I finally spoke.
“Are you always this calm?” I asked, my voice tight.
He looked up.
“No.” He replied calmly.
“You seem calm.”
“I’ve learned the difference between panic and action.”
I frowned.
“Aren’t you worried?”
“I am.”
“You don’t look worried.”
“Looking worried solves nothing.”
I looked out the window.
“I don’t understand any of this.”
“You don’t need to.”
“I think I do.”
His eyes met mine.
“Being connected to me makes you a target.”
The words settled heavily inside me.
“So whoever did this…”
“May not even know you.”
“They just know you’re my wife.”
“Exactly.”
A strange sadness crept over me. Yesterday Nobody cared whether I lived or died.
But Today Someone wanted me dead simply because of the man sitting across from me.
The SUV stopped before a massive iron gate. The gates opened automatically. I stared through the window.
“This is your house?”
“My home.”
It looked more like a private estate than a home. Gardens stretched endlessly. Fountains lined the driveway. Security guards stood at every entrance.
I whispered without thinking.
“How many people live here?”
“Twenty-three.”
“What?”
“Staff.”
“Oh.”
He almost smiled.
“I live alone.”
That somehow sounded lonelier.The front door opened before we reached it. A middle aged woman greeted us.
“Welcome home, sir.”
She turned around toward me.
“And welcome home, Mrs. Ashford.”
The title felt strange. I wasn’t anyone’s wife.Not really.
“I’m Helen.”
She smiled warmly.
“I’ve managed this household for fifteen years.”
“It’s nice to meet you.”
She noticed my hesitation immediately.
“Don’t worry.”
Her voice softened.
“We’ve all been told this marriage is private.”
Something relaxed inside me. At least someone wasn’t judging me. Helen looked toward Damien.
“I’ve prepared the east wing.”
“Good.”
She smiled again.
“If you need anything, anything at all, please tell me.”
It sounded genuine. Not forced. I hadn’t realized how badly I needed kindness until someone offered it.
Helen showed me my room I noticed something immediately. Two separate bedrooms connected by a private sitting room.
I turned toward Helen.
“We’re sleeping separately?”
She nodded.
“Mr. Ashford requested it.”
I couldn’t explain why that relieved me.
“He said your comfort comes first.”
That surprised me. Maybe he wasn’t as cold as he appeared. Before leaving, Helen hesitated.
“Mrs. Ashford…”
“Yes?”
“I’ve worked for Mr. Ashford a long time.”
“And?”
“People misunderstand him.”
“What do you mean? They see money.They see power. They never notice how lonely he is.”
Before I could ask another question, she quietly left.
I stood alone inside the bedroom. I looked around every corner. Everything felt expensive.
Everything felt unfamiliar. Everything reminded me I didn’t belong here. I opened my suitcase.
Two sweaters. Three shirts. One pair of jeans. The clothes looked ridiculous inside the enormous walk in closet.
I laughed quietly.
“This closet is bigger than my old apartment.”
A knock interrupted me.Evelyn stepped inside carrying several shopping bags.
“I brought some essentials.”
“I can’t accept these.”
“You have to.”
“They’re too expensive.”
“They’re required.”
“What do you mean?”
“The board expects Mrs. Ashford to attend tomorrow night’s charity gala.”
“What?”
“You’ll meet the directors.”
“I don’t know how to attend galas.”
“You’ll learn.”
“I don’t belong there.”
Evelyn smiled.
“Neither did I.”
“You?”
“I grew up in foster care.”
I stared at her.
“You did?”
She nodded.
“My first day working here, I held the wine glass upside down.”
I laughed.
“So?”
“So now I teach billionaires which fork to use.”
We both laughed. For the first time since everything fell apart. I didn’t feel completely alone.
Later that evening Damien called me into his study.
“Sit.”
I obeyed. He slid another folder across the desk.
“Read.”
Curious I opened it. It wasn’t another contract. It was information containing Photographs. Names. Family trees.
“The Ashford board.”
He pointed at each face.
“These people will smile at you.”
I nodded.
“They’ll insult you behind your back.”
I nodded again.
“They’ll test you.”
“I understand.”
“No.”
He shook his head.
“You don’t.”
He pointed toward one photograph.
“Catherine Sterling.”
The woman was beautiful. Elegant. Confident.
“She expected to become my wife.”
“Oh.”
“She won’t take your existence well.”
He pointed at another picture.
“Richard Hale.”
“A board member?”
“My uncle.”
“You don’t trust him?”
“I trust almost no one.”
He looked directly at me.
“Especially inside this house.”
A chill ran through me. My expression hardened.
“What aren’t you telling me?”
“Enough to keep you alive.”
That answer only created more questions. The next morning Helen and Evelyn transformed me.
I stared at my reflection in the mirror, I barely recognized myself. The simple dress fit perfectly.
My hair rested neatly over my shoulders. When I looked in the mirror again, I finally understood something. Money didn’t make people beautiful.
It simply gave them access to opportunities people like me never had. I still looked like Marisol. Just happier Until my phone rang. The caller ID showed Grandma.
“Sweetheart. How are you? The hospital called.”
My heart skipped.
“What happened?”
“They said someone paid everything.”
I smiled.
“That’s wonderful.”
“But…”
Her voice became worried.
“They also said I now belong under Ashford Medical.”
I froze.
“What?”
“What exactly have you gotten yourself into?”
I couldn’t answer Because I wasn’t sure anymore.
That evening we arrived at the charity gala. The charity gala overflowed with powerful people.
Politicians. Business owners. Celebrities. Everyone seemed to know Damien.
I was bombarded by flashes from the cameras of journalists and reporters waiting outside. Everyone stared at me. The whispers started immediately.
“That’s her?”
“She doesn’t look special.”
“Where did he find her?”
“I heard she’s poor.”
I kept smiling Even though every word hurt. Damien quietly offered me his arm.
“Don’t react.”
“I’m trying.”
“They want you uncomfortable.”
“They’re succeeding.”
“No.”
He looked ahead.
“They’re testing whether you deserve to stand beside me.”
Before I could respond, a familiar voice spoke behind me.
“Marisol?”
My entire body froze. Slowly I turned around. Victor stood there wearing an expensive tuxedo.
Chloe was standing Beside him. Victor’s face had completely drained of color.
“You’re…”
His eyes dropped to my hand. The wedding ring Then to Damien standing beside me. He laughed in disbelief.
“No.” He murmured.
Chloe forced a smile.
“This has to be some joke.”
I wished it were.
Victor stepped closer.
“What are you doing here?”
Before I could answer, Damien calmly placed a possessive hand against my back. His voice remained steady.
“My wife.”
The color disappeared from Victor’s face.
“My… what?”
“My wife.”
Damien repeated the words without taking his eyes off Victor. Silence Then Victor slowly smiled. Not with surprise.bWith recognition. He looked directly at Damien.
“So…”
“You really married her.”
Damien’s expression hardened.
“You knew each other?”
Victor laughed softly.
“Oh, we know each other very well.”
I looked between them in confusion. Damien slowly turned around toward me.
“You never told me your ex-fiancé worked for my company.”
- Writer
