Chapter 1 Trapped in Regret

Ava's point of view.

I sighed as I looked at the door, today makes it the 14th day since my husband had showed his face at our house. He always did this, on the night of our wedding, he disappeared and appeared a month later. I shouldn't have ever made this mistake.

What mistake you might ask?

Well, I have always had a crush on Miles since I met him in college. He was everyone's high school sweetheart including me, but he just took me as a sister, despite all the signs I gave him, he still didn't seem to have feelings for me whatsoever.

"You're still up?" The cold, emotionless voice snapped me out of my thoughts as I looked at the door. Miles walked into the house, he looked as breathtaking as ever but that heart-ticking feeling I felt once we first met wasn't there.

"I was waiting for you to come home but I had this feeling you might not be coming home today I'm just trying my luck out," I said nervously as Miles hummed at me, he didn't waste time as he stumbled upstairs, it was as if anytime he went out, he couldn't stay away from alcohol. I shook my head as I ran my fingers through my hair, I looked up the stairs where miles had disappeared. He is like this because of me and I don't even know what to do now.

Miles married me because he was forced to, he never loved me, and I ruined our friendship all because of a stupid obsession. Miles's father wasn't a wealthy man like mine and at that moment when we were in college my dad was an investor in their company. I was jealous of the girl Miles was dating and I knew I wanted to have him, my judgment was clouded by emotions and obsession, so I made Dad force his father to get miles to marry me if not he would pull out his investments. My dad was a feared man, Miles's father couldn't disagree and that was why we are here, in a loveless marriage, a marriage where we couldn't stand each other's presence or we couldn't even kiss.

"Can't you cook anything in this house? I'm so hungry" Miles stumbled down the stairs running his fingers through his hair as he buttoned up his shirt, it looked as if he was going out...again.

"I did cook something but you didn't come back early and I had already stuffed it back into the fridge, it's not my fault you know," I said as I fumbled with the hem of my dress, I couldn't look Miles in the eyes because anytime I did, I felt that immense guiltiness and I always felt tired of everything.

"You're so useless, you're the one who forced me into this marriage and now you want to kill me in this marriage. Heck no" Miles grabbed his car key as he walked out of the room, he shut the door behind him with immense force. I flinched as I heard the loud bang produced by the door, I held my chest through my clothes as I threw my head backward. I didn't like feeling like this, maybe if I could end this marriage it would set us free but was it really okay for me to throw everything away? I couldn't help but wonder as I stood up from my chair, I had work tomorrow and I needed some rest. As I stumbled into bed, I didn't want anything more than to sleep to escape from this world, I'm tired of everything, and maybe if I could just sleep and never wake up could be an option.

The next morning, I woke up to the ringing of my alarm, as I slammed the alarm off. I stood up and I walked to the window, opening the blinds, I saw Miles's car parked downstairs which signifies that Miles was back, I didn't know whether to go greet him or forget about it. Anytime I tried to act like a good wife or at least show some romantic feelings I just got the opposite of what I offered.

I heard a knock outside my door and I couldn't help but frown, Miles would never come knocking on my door. So who was the person knocking? As I opened the door, I was surprised to see a woman standing in front of me arms akimbo, I raised a brow up at her as she rolled her eyes.

"You must be Miles's wife, I need some breakfast," the lady said as I laughed out loud, I couldn't believe the audacity some women had.

"Excuse me, but I didn't know who you are and what you're doing here but you don't have any right whatsoever to ask me for breakfast in my house," I said as the lady frowned.

"I'm Ciara, I'm the lady who feeds your husband and satisfies his needs. Since his so-called wife can't do that" Ciara said with an eye roll and I felt my cheeks blush as I looked down. So this lady was either a prostitute or Miles's lover. I felt hurt that he would allow another woman into our matrimonial home and even allow her to come to our room to ask me to prepare breakfast for her.

"I don't care who you are. If Miles brought you here go ask him for breakfast and not the other way around" I glared at her as I walked into my room slamming the door shut in her face. I couldn't believe what was happening, had it gotten to this extent?

I'm done, I can't believe this, after everything we've been through, even though I forced him into this, I regretted it but he didn't seem to care how I felt at home. I quickly showered and I threw in something casual, I wasn't in the mood for anything fancy or makeup, grabbing my purse and car keys I stomped out of the house, as I passed the living room. Miles was busy kissing Ciara and he didn't even look at me, I started my car and I drove out of the house.

Chapter 2 The Road to Freedom

Ava's point of view.

I had about an hour or two to get out of town, so I decided to visit our lawyer. It was time I put a stop to all of this and stop going back and forth with Miles. Kenneth was my father's former lawyer and my best friend. When I left home to get married to Miles, my dad asked him to be our lawyer in case if anything happened and I was glad because I trusted Kenneth to get everything done within two days and I could finally go home. I hadn't eaten before leaving the house, and I was hungry, so I decided to get something to eat after I had settled everything out. As I parked my car in front of Kenneth's office, I took a deep breath trying to compose myself as I got out of the car.

The calm scenery of Kenneth's firm made me smile as I walked in, the receptionist welcomed me with a bright smile. "Hi, is Kenneth in?" I asked, I needed to get done with this and head back to work. I wasn't sure about my plan after this divorce but I was sure it had nothing to do with Miles.

"Yeah, he just arrived but I'd say you need to rush on before his client for today walks in" Anna the receptionist said as I smiled at her before walking into Kenneth's office. Kenneth was at least two years older than me, he had a crush on me but I was so blinded by obsession I didn't get to see that I had someone here who truly loved me.

"Hi Ken," I said as he turned to face me, he had a surprised look on his face as he sipped his coffee. He hasn't changed one bit, he just grew his hair longer.

"Hello Ava, what brings you here?" Kenneth asked as he set his coffee down, I felt awkward being in his office to ask for a divorce but I trusted him. "Take a seat," he said as he took his own seat, I sat in front of him as I wiped my sweaty palms on my jeans and I plastered a fake smile on my face.

"Drop the smile, you look like you're holding in a fart. Now tell me what happened to you" Kenneth said as he sipped his coffee, I could never lie to Ken, I just realized it now.

"I want to file a divorce ken, I'm tired" I sighed out but I wasn't done, he was the only one I could genuinely speak to now, no one else. "He treats me like I'm trash. Even if I forced him into this, I apologized numerous times but when I thought we were cool he'd do something more crazy. This morning he brought a prostitute into our house and asked her to come ask me for breakfast. I felt like bursting into tears Kenneth" I said as I felt tears rolling down my cheeks, Kenneth stood up and he walked around to where I was seated as he squatted cleaning my cheeks.

"Don't cry, I'll help you with the divorce papers and send it over to your place. But after the divorce what next?" Kenneth asked as I thought, he was right but I had only one plan that was in my head and I knew that was the only option I had.

"Head back home, that's the only thing that can make me happy, if I stay here I'll just keep getting hurt," I said as Kenneth caressed my cheek, he gave me the warmth I needed but I couldn't stay with Kenneth. I'm broken and shattered if we end up being together I'd be using him as a rebound.

I stayed with Kenneth for a while and we got to catch up on some things and I even got to have some breakfast before leaving. I got to work and I just got some important things to do because after the divorce I'd quit and go back home to start over.

I wrapped up work as I looked around, I was the only one here and I somehow relished in the feeling of loneliness. I grabbed my bag as I walked out of the office, clicking the lights off before I left. I stopped my car in front of a bar, maybe alcohol was my only comfort right now.

"I'd like a glass of whiskey," I said to the bartender as he nodded. I pulled out my phone as I surfed on the internet. I looked around the club and I don't know why I had a bad feeling at the bottom of my stomach. As the bartender passed me my drink, I drank it in one go and the hot taste hit the back of my throat. I felt slightly irritated but I kept asking for refills.

"Hit me again," I said to the bartender but he didn't even answer me, he looked worried and I couldn't blame him. I paid for the drinks as I stood up, I was a bit unsteady on my feet but I could see well. As I walked out of the bar, I heard that deep voice from a corner, as my eyes met with that of Miles, his eyes widened. A girl was sitting on his lap and he stared at me with happiness in his eyes. I just smiled at him as I walked out of the club.

I didn't want to feel hurt for anyone, I was more than that and Miles didn't deserve me. As I drove home, I just kept listening to music that could comfort me. When I arrived home, I couldn't even take off my shoes as I fell on the floor crying, I thought I could take it but I was so wrong.

Chapter 3 The Road to Freedom ||