Married to Destroy You

Chapter 2

Crystal chandeliers hung low on the ceiling of the bar, casting a dim glow throughout the room that was filled with the beat of smooth jazz music. The smell of alcohol mixed with expensive perfumes drifted through the air, while the sounds of chatter could be heard faintly amongst the laughter of the guests enjoying their evening.

Anna sat on one of the barstools, her delicate fingers wrapped around a crystal glass filled with whiskey. The amber liquid swirled slowly in time with her unsteady hand movements.

Her eyes stared blankly at her reflection in the shiny bar surface that made her face appear paler than usual. Her breathing grew heavier, her mind a jumbled mess, relentlessly recalling the images she had seen moments ago. Joshua, the man leaving the hotel with Isabelle.

Anna could clearly see how Joshua's hand curled around Isabelle's waist,

pulling her closer to his side before helping her into the car. A touch she had never felt during their marriage. Even in their cold togetherness, Joshua always kept his distance, as if touching her was unnecessary. But tonight, in front of everyone, he easily let Isabelle cling to him.

Anna gulped down her whiskey in one gulp. The liquid burned her throat, but the pain was nothing compared to the wound that tore at her heart.

Joshua and Isabelle looked so perfect together, like a happily married couple. Joshua was even smiling. Not the faint smile he usually showed in business meetings or small talk, but a genuine smile. A smile full of meaning. A smile that Joshua had never given to her as his wife in all these years.

Her hand holding the glass trembled slightly. The effects of alcohol were starting to creep into her consciousness, making her head feel heavy and her thoughts increasingly fuzzy. She glanced at the phone screen lying on the bar table. It was already one o'clock in the morning.

And Joshua wasn't looking for her.

She laughed softly, the sound bitter even to his own ears.

Of course he didn't. Why would she expect him to care?

Her other hand touched her chest, trying to ease the pain that kept hitting her like relentless waves.

Her eyes felt hot, but no tears fell. She was already too tired. After gulping down the liquid in her glass non-stop for a while, her head began to feel light, the world around her spinning slightly.

Anna blinked, trying to focus on the bottle of whiskey in front of her. She wanted to drink more, to drown herself in a sea of drunkenness that would help her forget everything, forget Joshua's smile, his touch with Isabelle, and the fact that all this time she was just a secret wife who was never really wanted.

***

The taxi drove slowly through the crowded city streets. Tonight's drizzling rain covered the city, creating a light mist on all sides of the windows of the taxi Anna was riding in.

Anna leaned her head against the cold window, her eyes staring blankly outside, tracing the glints of light running down the wet road.

Her head felt heavy, softly pounding from the alcohol she had sipped too quickly. Her intention was only one... to drown out all the painful feelings. But instead of forgetting, Joshua's image lingered in her head.

Anna slowly massaged her head which was starting to feel dizzy, and her breathing sounded rough as she started to lean her back on the cold taxi seat.

Was it time for her to leave?

All this time she had been hanging on, trying to be a part of Joshua's life, thinking that one day he would see her as more than just a tool in their family business marriage. But in fact Joshua never needed her in the first place.

Her hands clutched at her wrinkled dress. A small sob escaped her lips, but she quickly swallowed it back. No, she couldn't cry anymore.

She just needed to make a decision. And for the first time in three years, it might finally be time for her to leave.

The 30-minute taxi ride soon brought Anna to the grand mansion she called home.

The glow of the garden lights illuminated the spacious courtyard with its perfectly arranged trees, while the shadow of the classic building loomed majestically in the stillness of the night. Lifting her head with difficulty, her heavy eyes caught the familiar figure of a black car parked on the lawn, Joshua's car.

So, he's already home? Anna let out a small chuckle, her voice sounding more like a stifled sob.

She reached into her small bag, pulled out a bill and handed it to the driver with a shaky motion. "Thank you," she muttered softly before getting out of the car.

As soon as her feet hit the ground, she almost lost her balance. She held on to a small post near the stairs to steady herself as she headed towards the main door of the mansion, her satin dress brushing the floor as she slowly stepped through the large doorway.

Once inside, the house was as usual quiet. At this hour the usual servants had gone to bed. Anna hobbled towards the second floor, passing through the long, cold hallway. Along the way, her mind still drifted to one thing, to the man who had been mercilessly occupying her thoughts ever since.

Before opening the door to her room, she stopped. Her gaze was drawn to the tightly closed door next to hers—Joshua's room. Anna looked at it with a sad expression, her trembling fingers lifting, almost touching the doorknob... before stopping in mid-air.

Was he already asleep?

Should she knock and talk to him?

Maybe she could ask Joshua to explain—why he humiliated her like that, why he made her feel so invisible. But really, what right did she have?

If he couldn't even acknowledge her in public, what made her think he'd offer honesty behind closed doors?

Anna swallowed, her heart growing even heavier.

Slowly, she lowered her hand and let her fingers clutch the folds of her own dress. She took a deep breath, trying to calm her agonizing heartbeat.

Her hands felt cold as she hesitated in front of the familiar door. Finally, she sighed and, with slow movements, opened it.

But the moment the door creaked open, Anna's world stopped.

She froze in the doorway. Her alcohol-blurred eyes saw the scene all too clearly—Joshua and Isabelle, their bodies tangled on the bed, the sound of heavy breathing and muffled moans filling the space.

Her heart pounded, her head throbbed. Her hands trembled as she tried to steady herself.

"You two..." she croaked, her voice hoarse and broken.

Their heated moment came to an abrupt halt.

Joshua, who had been kissing Isabelle, turned his head sharply toward the voice. His expression briefly hardened the moment he saw Anna standing there.

Isabelle grabbed the blanket in a rush to cover herself, but Joshua didn't move. He just stared at Anna—cold as ever, though something unplaceable flickered in his eyes. A brief glint of something that vanished too quickly to read.

"You should’ve knocked, Anna," he said, his tone flat, lacking its usual sharpness. "A little privacy isn’t too much to ask for, is it?"

That sentence hit her harder than she could have imagined.

Her fists clenched at her sides, the fabric of her dress wrinkling in her damp palms.

Before she could respond, Isabelle leaned into Joshua’s shoulder, her fingers tracing circles on his chest. "Baby... why stop? I still need you so much," she purred, then turned to Anna with feigned surprise.

"Oh, Anna... you’re here? I hope you’re not too... bothered."

Anna’s hands balled into fists. "Bothered?" She let out a dry chuckle that sounded more like a swallowed sob. "You really are shameless, Isabelle."

Isabelle just offered a soft smile. "I'm just being true to my feelings, Anna. Something you probably don’t know how to do."

Joshua sighed lazily. He looked at Anna with a bored expression. "Anna, stop embarrassing yourself."

"Embarrass myself? I'm your wife, Joshua!" Anna's voice rose, her eyes shaking violently with tears. "At least, just a little, show some respect-"

Joshua grinned coldly. "Wife? Since when do you think we're actually married?"

Anna's chest felt like it had been hit by a hammer repeatedly at this, her lips trembling as she tried to open her voice. "What do you mean?"

"You know how this relationship started, Anna. Don't pretend it's about love." The words slid from his lips cruelly. "You know this marriage was never real. So, stop acting like you're the victim here. After all this time... I never thought you existed..."

Anna took a step back, her legs feeling weak. She looked at Joshua, searching for the slightest trace of the man she once thought she could love. However, there was none. There was only a cold man who never really considered her to exist.

Isabelle let out a long breath, then touched Joshua's chest with her fingertips. "Honey, you were too harsh on her," she whispered in a tone of feigned concern. Then she turned to Anna with an expression full of fake sympathy.

"Anna... I know this must be hard for you. But isn't it better for you to let him go? You deserve someone who really wants you, not just because of a business deal."

Anna almost lost control. "Oh, you're really talented at playing roles, Isabelle. Do you think I'm that stupid to believe your concern?"

Isabelle just smiled, then took Joshua's hand and pulled his body closer to hers. "Honey, I'm not comfortable with anyone else being here," she said after casting a triumphant look at Anna

Joshua's cold gaze softened as he turned to Isabelle. He rubbed her cheek gently, his facial expression difficult to read. Isabelle turned to Anna, then casually kissed Joshua on the lips. A spoiled moan slipped from her lips, and Joshua... didn't shy away. Instead, he returned it with a faint smile that felt unfamiliar. And from the corner of his not-fully-closed eyes, he still glanced at Anna briefly.

The sound of soft moans and kisses again filled the room, and Anna foolishly stayed to watch them until they were done kissing. She froze there, like a fool, like a woman with no self-respect whatsoever...

After the kiss was over, Joshua turned back to Anna, who was still standing in her place.

Joshua took a deep breath. He looked at Anna, as if her presence was something he never expected in that room.

"Anna..." his voice was low with almost no intonation. "You shouldn't be here." He took his eyes off Anna after that, looked down and back at Isabelle, but the corners of his cold eyes glanced at Anna. "Come out. And... close the door when you leave."

Anna stared at him blankly. Joshua's words were like a strong buzzing in her ears, her eyes heated up, the warmth in her eyes faded away, her heart was melted by her anger.

Gradually the scenery she saw blurred, but the sound of Isabelle's spoiled laughter was still so clearly heard. Her body began to lose its balance. Before she could say anything else, her legs went limp and her vision darkened.

The only thing she heard before everything disappeared was Isabelle's softly whispered voice and Joshua's cold, indifferent voice.

"Poor girl..."

"Just leave her alone, pretend that person never showed up here..."