Craved By Mr. Russell

Beautiful Mariage

MALIYAH

~~

Someone once told me that betrayal hurt not because of the knife that was used to deliver the wound but because of the love we have for the person who inflicted the wound of betrayal on us. I thought I understood that saying but god was I wrong.

I didn’t understand the full picture until I found my husband of two years, the man I have loved with every fiber of my being, cheating on me.

After Ryder shouted at me, demanding to know why I came to his office unannounced, I realized that my beautiful marriage had fallen apart, within a twinkle of an eye.

“H-how could you, Ryder?” I shook my head, hoping that this bad dream would end and I would wake up. Tears trickled down my cheeks. “Why would you do this to me? To us!”

Anger mixed with fear as I snapped at my supposed husband and the man who I wanted to share the news of our baby with.

Ryder apologized to the tiny woman he was with as he pulled out of her. He kissed her in my presence and helped her sit comfortably on his desk before looking at me again. He responded, “Why can’t I do this to you, Liyah? It’s not like you have anyone that can stop me. You don’t have a rich father or a heiress for a mother. You can’t afford to live without me–”

“Ryder…” I cried.

He was hurting me. Deliberately.

Yet he wasn’t done. He continued with a snarl as he adjusted his trousers, taking steps towards me like I was prey, not his wife, “My family doesn’t like you but I chose you because I thought you would be perfect and that our love would be enough but guess what, Liyah, the love isn’t enough.”

The tiny woman chuckled, “When has love ever been enough in our world, Ryder? You should have married me and merged our family asset.”

Her voice was oddly familiar despite my devastated state. She had the body of a model and her features were sharp, alluring in fact, but when I looked at her closely, I realized she was the popular artist who I have seen on billboards many times.

She was Clara, the only daughter of the founder of the Bank’s Technological Industry. Although she has made way for herself in the music industry–

“I should have, baby. I was foolish.” Ryder, my legal husband, answered his mistress sweetly.

Stupidly, I told myself that Clara was a snake and Ryder’s parents must have forced him to start a relationship with her so they could become richer. I made myself believe that because my husband was still himself up until now.

I walked closer to Ryder, thinking this was the time to fight for my family instead of crying while some rich-ass brat took him in her claws. I touched his face as I muttered softly, “We’ve love, Ryder and you know I’m very talented. My designs have been selling—”

“I don’t want to hear about your silly designs, Liyah..” Ryder snapped at me, yanking my hands off him. “You are not as special as you think you are. Rather than help me, you are draining me. Your mother is draining me and I can’t do this anymore–”

“But we have to do this, Ryder. I’m pregnant with our child.” I interjected, begging him to look at me, to listen to me, and to see how scared I was.

My announcement took words out of Ryder’s mouth. He has always wanted to be a father and this baby that Dr. Hurrel asked me to terminate might just save my marriage.

“Dr. Hurrel confirmed the pregnancy and she said I needed to rest, Ryder. Please take me home and let’s talk about this. I forgive you for cheating and I’ll never hold it against you.” Tears rolled down my cheeks as I said those words to my husband.

I was desperate, yes because I couldn’t bear to lose Ryder too.

“I believe it’s time you give her the divorce papers and let’s get this over with, Ry. You can’t let her hold you down in an unbeneficial marriage just because she is pregnant. She doesn’t need you to rest and you certainly do not need her.” Clara stated maliciously, taking steps towards Ryder who looked at me like he was torn between two worlds.

It was painful enough to see him cheating and now he couldn’t choose the baby and I?

“I need you, Ryder.” I blurted, wiping the tears on my face with my fingers. “The baby is in a critical condition. I’m in a critical condition, baby. We need you to survive.”

That was my way of telling Ryder that I could die but rather than feel sorry and scoop me in his arms, my husband scoffed, “So you can’t even get pregnant properly. Is that what you are saying? This pregnancy will cost me more money and drain me like your mom?”

I was short of words.

My heart broke but that wasn’t as painful as the sharp pain I felt in my stomach. I held my stomach as the pain began to intensify but Ryder didn’t seem to notice. He stormed to his desk, grabbed a file from one of his drawers, and hissed, “I thought I could save you the horror, Liyah but barging into my office means we have to face this.”

“N-no, Ryder. Please–” I shook my head, stepping away from him as he moved closer with the file in his hand.

I knew that was the divorce papers Clara mentioned earlier and I just couldn’t take it from him.

“Go back to Dr. Hurrel, terminate the pregnancy, and sign the divorce papers.” Ryder spelled out his wishes. “This isn’t personal, Liyah. This is business and I need to protect my family…”

But I was his family… the baby and I were his family for goodness’s sake!

My mouth trembled as my husband squeezed the divorce papers in my hand. My life was crashing before my eyes and I was paralyzed by pain. I couldn’t think properly even as Ryder shut the door in my face after telling me he would give me the rest of the week to move out of our home.

This was the same man I wanted to build a family with.

This was the same man who adored me and showered me with gifts?

I could feel eyes on me as I staggered out of the building after almost collapsing in the elevator. I felt ashamed but the intense pain in my stomach didn’t let the shame sink in fully. I tried to reach the parking lot before giving in.

However, a white foggy cast settled over my sight. I became dizzy and lost my balance all too suddenly.

“Aahhh…” I screamed but couldn’t hear my own voice as something within my stomach twisted, causing unbearable pain to course through my body.

I didn’t realize I was falling fast until I felt someone’s arms wrapping around my lower back, saving me from hitting the floor.

“Ry-Ryder, I k-knew you would come for me,” I muttered in tears, blinking rapidly so I could see my husband’s face.

An unfamiliar deep voice hit my eardrums, “Oops! Sorry to disappoint you, damsel but I’m no Ryder.”

Disappointment slammed into me but the stranger held me tightly. I still was too dizzy to make out his features but his voice stuck to my brain when he queried, “Do you need to sit?”

“M-my car. I need to get to my car.” I stuttered, my heart racing as pain ate me raw from my insides.

“You shouldn’t drive in this state.” There was concern in his voice, one that my husband’s voice lacked when he kicked me out of his office and probably went back to cheating on me.

I couldn’t help but sob as that thought crossed my mind. Thankfully, Collins found me, and together with the stranger, he helped me to the car.

Still unable to see clearly, I muttered my appreciation to the stranger who responded by saying, “Don’t break down for a man, beautiful. We don’t deserve it. Trust me.”

My fuzzy mind didn’t understand how he knew I was breaking down because of a man until he placed the divorce papers on my lap. I desperately wanted to see his face clearly but all I got was the color of his hair– brown.

He closed my car door after calling me beautiful despite my state and Collins zoomed to the hospital where I passed out after screaming my lungs out due to stomach-eating pain.