Rejected By One Hartway, Claimed By Another.

Diana took a deep breath, her back pressed hard against the door as Carla watched her like a hawk.

“So you want to work?” Carla asked gently, as if telling her to think this through.

Diana stared at her, trying to calm down from the betrayal. She knew how tough it will be winning a case against James Hartway, a billionaire who had posed as the perfect husband to the public.

Also getting a divorce won’t be easy due to the financial aspect involved.

James gave her a monthly allowance of $20000 dollars monthly and she had always been saying $15000 in a locked account. James never asked her what she was using money for so it made saving easier.

Her hands trembled as she paced the room. “I have some savings, Carla. I’ll depend on that for now while searching for a job.”

“It’s not so easy, di.”

“I know, but I need to try. I just can’t stay here. I can’t.”

A surprised Carla heaved a deep sigh, “I still can’t believe James could stoop so low. I mean with his secretary? That’s ridiculous.”

Diana bit her lower lips, fighting back the tears that had pooled at her eyes. It still felt like a dream to her. Her perfect marriage of 3 years going down the drain all thanks to her husband’s infidelity and betrayal.

“You can stay with me for the meantime actually.”

“Oh Carla,” Diana whispered, hugging her. “You are such a great human. What would I have done without you.”

“Oh common, you do not deserve this betrayal di. I’ll always have your back.”

Diana and Carla discussed about her plans and after Carla left, she felt relief flood over her. She walked into their bedroom, took a long look and pulled out her suitcase then started packing.

As she packed, her eyes fell on the framed photograph they had taken on their honeymoon during winter.

The photo brought back painful memories and sweetness which left her nauseous. How could she be so stupid to not see through his schemes?

She stared down at her finger and on it was her ten thousand dollar diamond wedding ring, shining brightly, a stark contrast to the darkness looming all over her heart.

Tears dropped down her face, dropping on the dresser and with trembling hands, removed the ring and placed it inside his side of the wardrobe then went back to packing.

Halfway through, the roaring engines of james Mercedes benz echoed through the mansion. Diana quickly put the suitcase away. James mustn’t know she’s packing, not yet.

The door swung open and james walked in with a bouquet of red roses, her favorite, and placed them on her palms, sweeping her up.

“Once again, sorry for not coming home on your birthday night.”

Diana forced a smile. Before, she would have fell into his arms, kissed his neck and praised him for being the perfect husband but this time, his presence alone made her sick.

“Thank you,” she muttered, placing the rose on the bed. Her nose caught an unfamiliar scent, she nearly puked. Images of him sucking Erica’s breasts flooded her mind again and she pushed him away gently.

“What’s wrong, Diana?” James asked, touching her forehead.

“I’m fine, just a fever.”

“Then let’s go to the doctor…”

His pretentious care and concern was already getting on Diana’s nerves. She gently took his hands off her body and walked to the bathroom. “I need to take a shower.”

She could feel James’ eyes on her as she turned and walked away. Once inside the shower, she scrubbed her skin till bruises appeared, washing off the unfamiliar scent he came home with.

Sitting in the shower, staring blankly at the wall, Diana couldn’t help but think about the moments James had been her safest haven. Now all she felt was disgust.

“Are you done showering, sweetheart?” James voice came through, making Diana’s muscles tensed.

“Almost.” She turned off the shower, wrapped the towel around her chest and walked out drying her hair.

“You look breathtaking, Diana. Why don’t we have some hot sex right now?”

Sex? Diana’s heart skipped a beat. She resisted the urge to lash at him and tell him to take his filthy public penis away from her. “Not now, James. I’m tired.”

“Didn’t you miss me?” James flirted, wrapping his arms around her waist, his chest pressed against her back.

“I said, not now James. Please.” Her voice sounded hollow. She just wanted to be far away from him, to stop perceiving that unfamiliar scent.

James didn’t push further. Just kissed her forehead and went into the shower.

Diana noticed he was taking too long but she cared less. She soon heard someone trying to stifle a moan. She tiptoe to the bathroom which was covered in steam but she still could see what was going inside.

On the glowing screen of his phone was the photo of Erica fully named and james on the other hand held his penis with one hand stroking it, the other on the wall, moaning.

“Yessssssss, yess Erica.”

Her body went rigid as she watched him stroke his cock to orgasm and after he was done, kissed the photo on the screen.

Diana wobbly walked back and fell on the bed, disgust crashing through her entire body.

“You’ll pay for everything, James.” She muttered, her eyes burning with tears.

Chapter 3 “Diana darling,” James voice cut through the silence the following morning during breakfast, his fingers on the cutleries. “My family company is organising a dinner party to mark the company’s tenth year anniversary, you should come.”

Diana dropped her cutlery midway and stared at her food like it was something alien. James had never invited her to anything before regarding his family. He had always insisted it was a trouble and wouldn’t want her to go through such stress.

“Do I really have to come? I mean… you’ve never invited me to any family event before, so….”

“Diana,” james smiled, taking her hand. “I just didn’t want you to go through stress but I feel you will be bored when im away…”

“Hmm, bored.” Diana whispered. James can’t know of her plans to leave, not yet. So that means she still has to act the cool wife and do his bidding.

Diana nodded. “No problem. We’ll go. When is it?”

“Perfect.” James clapped, kissing her hand. “We leave by 2pm.”

2pm came and they both soon arrived at the Hartway’s prestigious mansion. James’ hands wrapped around her waist, his other hand carrying her bag like the perfect husband he was portrayed to be. Diana was sick and couldn’t wait to be away from his and his gimmicks.

Everyone in the family welcomed James but Diana didn’t fail to see the distasteful look on her in-laws’ faces. She was used to the condescending looks and awful comments.

“Look who finally showed up,” Madam Margaret, Diana’s mother-in-law sneered. “So you still know the route to this mansion.”

Diana didn’t say a word but she didn’t fail to notice a pair of brown eyes staring right at her. James seemed to notice too and took her hand asserting dominance. “Good day, Uncle Max.”

Max scoffed, shrugged his shoulders and walked away. He was madam Margaret’s youngest brother and the first billionaire of the family.

Older than James with five years, they had always been rivals due to james nasty attitude and reckless life and maxwell had always made sure james knew to keep off.

“Pay him no attention. That’s my uncle Maxwell. Just older than me with six years old yet acts like he’s some big guy.” James hands wrapped around Diana’s wrist. “Just stay off his lane.”

Diana was left all alone through out the dinner. Her eyes searched around the elegant mansion for James but he was nowhere to be seen.

‘The number you have dialled is not reachable…’ was the response she got every time she dialed his number.

She stared at the last message he had sent before disappearing: Urgent work, see you later, Diana.

Diana’s cheek burned with anger. She sipped the wine slowly while gazing around the mansion like some stranger.

An hour passed by and James was still not back. Diana felt it was time to go home and he had the car keys with him. She stood up decisively, and searched around the house whispering his name.

“When are you going to tell her james?” Diana stopped in her tracks the moment she heard this coming from the guest room on the right wing of the mansion. She placed her ears to the walls gently, listening.

“She doesn’t have to know, Erica.”

Know what? Diana felt a surge of anger rush over her. A part of her wanted to push the door open and finally confront them but another part wanted to listen to the entire conversation and get the whole talk.

“What if she finds out about the court wedding?”

“finds out?” James scoffed. “Oh common, Diana is so naive she wouldn’t figure out a thing.”

Diana grabbed her gown tighter as she listened to their conversation, hot tears pooling at her eyes. The thought of James making nasty remarks about her to his mistress made her sick.

“Enough of Diana, let’s have some fun together.”

Diana peeped through the door left slightly ajar. James was bare chested and his trousers were unzipped. Erica was sitting on his waist, her hands caressing his nipples.

Diana’s knees went weak at the scene. James had left her all alone under the pretense of work only to find him entangled with his mistress or rather his new wife.

Everything made Diana sick. She placed her palms flat on the wall steadying herself as the faint sounds of James groans and Erica’s moans filled her ears.

“If I were you, I won’t be listening to that…”

Diana turned immediately to find Maxwell standing with his legs crossed and right arm against the wall smirking.

“Get away from me.” Diana took several steps back trying to hide her smudged mascara but Maxwell only smiled and handed her a tissue.

“Thank you,” she murmured, taking the tissue from him and trying hard not to break in his presence.

She started to walk away briskly but stopped dead in her tracks as she heard the loud bang of a door being pushed down.

“Uncle Maxwell… what the hell?” She heard James’ voice. Maxwell had pushed the door down and dragged James out by the collar punching his face.

“You left your wife out there only tk come here frolicking with this cheap whore.” Maxwell deep voice vibrated around the room as he landed another punch on James’ face.

“It’s none of your business…” James grunted from pain, trying to dodge another punch. By now, the whole family had gathered and not even a single person had anything tangible to say to Diana.

She turned to catch a glimpse at James who looked horrified. “Diana, please wait…” but he didnt finish the sentence before Maxwell landed another punch on his already bruised and swollen face.

“Thats enough,” madam Margaret shouted, separating her brother and son. “How dare you hit him like this, Maxwell?”

Madam Margaret casted a disdainful look at Diana and sneered, “James has every right to be with whoever he wants to be with.”

That was the final statement that gave Diana the cue that she was never wanted in this family. She turned and walked away ignoring the tears that fell and soaked her gown.

As soon as she stepped outside the Hartway’s mansion, she took a long deep breath as the scent of rain hit her nose. She didn’t bother to run away from it or hail a cab but stood and allowed the heavy rain soaked through her shirt and messed up her perfectly made hair.

“You’ll get a cold standing in the rain.” Diana turned to look at the intruder and was met with Maxwell’s sharp, piercing, brown eyes.

She was trying to protest when her entire legs grew weak. But before she landed on the ground, a strong pair of arms suddenly held her.