Ms. Misunderstood

All she wanted was for people to see her as who she is now, not that once spoiled brat when she was a little girl. Why did she have to be misunderstood when her desire was way too simple? The worse, was by people too close to her.

...

Elyana's POV

"He's finally here!" My heart jumped for joy when I heard a car's engine outside. I was only expecting my husband, whom I knew would arrive that exact night.

It had been nearly a week since he left for a business trip. I immediately rushed outside out of too much excitement and longing for the few days we hadn't seen each other.

I waited for him right at the foot of the grand staircase, barefoot and in a silky black robe to hide a surprise underneath it.

"Honey!" I exclaimed right after I saw him. He was looking down while walking and only raised his head the moment I called him.

I ran like a child to greet him with a tight hug, but when our eyes met, I was surprised to see his reaction-there was no reaction at all.

I tried to ignore that and continued to hug him tightly to let him know that I missed him so much; however, I could not stop noticing that it seemed like I was hugging a stump. The stiffness of his body was too much.

Maybe he was just surprised by what I did, so I let the thought go again.

I raised my head while my arm was wrapped around his body. I caught him looking at me, and it put a smile back on my face. I tiptoed to reach his lips, but I stopped when I didn't get a response to what I did.

I moved away to look at his face.

"I-is there something wrong? The business trip did not go well?" I instantly thought the reason was this-that maybe his father scolded him for it.

"I'm too tired to talk, Elyana," he answered, avoiding my eyes.

My eyebrows met in shock, but the reason was the way he called me because he commonly called me by my nickname or any sweet made-up name.

He walked away and left me standing in the same spot. I wanted to chase him to ask him, but I changed my mind.

I turned around and watched him climb the stairs. He was loosening his necktie while walking, and based on his body movement, he seemed tired.

I decided to follow him, and when I was inside our room, I didn't see him. I heard the strong rush of water coming from our bathroom. He left the door open, but I fought myself not to go in and disturb him. That was why I laid down on the bed first and waited for him to finish.

At the time, the door was pulled wide open. I let out a sly smile and jumped out of bed. Lucas loved those moments when I was the one initiating on times like those.

I jumped out of bed to show him what I needed. I buried my face on the side of his neck; however, the moment I tried to plant kisses on it, he slightly pushed me away.

"I-I already told you I'm tired." He walked away right after pushing me. He went to the walk-in closet and stayed there for a few minutes.

My mood fell to the floor-he instantly killed it. I had no choice but to give up, let out a heavy sigh, and go back to bed.

Lucas went out shirtless, not only wearing boxer shorts with his typical sleeping wear, but he was in pajama pants that night. I found it weird, but I was too embarrassed to give too much attention to it.

I lay on my side while waiting for him to lie down. I waited for him to pull me close, to wrap me around his arms, and to apologize for what he did, but I didn't get any of these until the sun went up the next day.

He was ready when I woke up.

"Where are you going so early?" I asked with a yawn, but Lucas didn't seem to hear me because he was in a rush.

"How about we have breakfast together first before you leave?" I suggested, hoping he would finally hear me.

"I'm leaving now. I have an important meeting," he said without even looking at me.

He continued putting on his necktie by himself when, mostly, I was the one fixing it for him every day, but I couldn't remember the day when he started doing it for himself.

"But you just came-" I was about to object, but then I changed my mind. That could only lead to one thing, and that was an argument.

"O-okay," I answered sluggishly, even though deep inside it felt like something was squeezing my heart.

He left the room without even kissing me or saying goodbye, like before. I felt rejected twice in a row.

He was gone when I noticed he had left other things he usually brings to business meetings. I had so many maybes and what-ifs, yet I let my blind mind choose the good.

'But how if it felt too much already?'

I peered at his moving car from the window of our room and stayed there until I could no longer see it.

I had been married for five years to the only man who made me believe in love and, at the same time-fairy tales.

His family had been known throughout England for having one of the largest real estate companies, with branches in different parts of the globe. My parents are the same, but they are well-known in Turkey in the fields of hotels and tours.

Our only issue was that we were having a hard time conceiving. Having a baby in their family was a big deal because Lucas was an only child, just like me.

There was pressure from both sides, but his father exerted most of the pressure because he wanted an heir as soon as possible.

Because of that reason, I thought Lucas was serious about trying some methods for us to conceive, but later on, he had so many excuses that convinced me to agree with his idea of just staying patient while doing things the natural way.

I could do whatever he thought was best and comfortable for him. I love him immensely, and whatever he liked, I would instantly agree.

I knew what kept my husband busy-only his job-their business, and he spent most of his time away from home meeting with clients and occasionally traveling all alone.

"What is that scent?" I asked, sniffing the strong scent Lucas left.

I didn't often mingle with what he does and where he goes, but that morning my mind was bugging while smelling the strong perfume.

He'd already taken a bath, and his perfume had spread throughout our room. He smelled like he'd used the entire bottle on his body that morning, and it wasn't pleasant at all.

I went straight to the bathroom to take a shower and get ready to go to the office that day. I was working for the same real estate company his family owns as a peer, his father's wish, before we got married.

We were in the same field. We're both civil engineers; that's why we got along easily the first day we met. But our interests were so alike; everything was perfect for us, and that pushed me to love him so much.

I tried to forget my suspicions while letting the lukewarm water from the shower drip down my body. I kept repeating in my head that Lucas was not someone who would do something behind my back, but my heart and mind disagreed with each other at that time.

When I couldn't bear it any longer, I immediately called his secretary, even though I was also going to the same place that day. I checked the time, and he surely reached the office that hour.

I just wanted to confirm something, but before that, I just had to bribe his secretary to get the information I needed.

"Hello, Lucy! Good morning! Can you please order me a coffee? Order yourself too, my treat!"

"Sure, ma'am!" she answered enthusiastically from the other line. I was hoping she wouldn't doubt that because I have my secretary to ask for the same favor.

"Thank you! By the way, can you please check my husband's schedule today? He just came back home. I'm planning to prepare an early dinner for us both, but I'm not sure if it would be possible with his hectic schedule lately," I hurriedly said in a low tone, hoping I could win her sympathy to give me that information.

"About that, ma'am, Sir Lucas canceled all his engagements today, so your plans could be possible," his secretary politely answered.

"Are you sure? I don't want my plans to go to waste. Can you please check if there's something he changed?" I pleaded.

"A moment, ma'am." I waited just like she said.

"His schedule is clean, ma'am."

A grin was already forming on my lips right after hearing what my husband did that day. something he stopped doing for me for a long time now, but he told me he had some important meetings that day.

"That would be great then! Thanks, Lucy! Is he there?"

"Sir Lucas hasn't arrived yet, ma'am," she answered quickly, and my lips parted because the company was not far away from where we lived.

"O-okay, Lucy. Thanks again!"

"No worries, ma'am," she said, and I ended the call.

My heart started pounding. My intuition was telling me something.

A month ago, a trusted person gave me a number as a joke in case I needed a private investigator. I was hesitant at that time, but I decided to keep the number in my phonebook just in case, and I didn't expect I would call at that moment for help.

I dialed the number. The owner immediately answered, giving him all the necessary information he needed.

"It seems my husband is going somewhere today. I want you to follow him. He's alone and using a black car," I informed him without hesitation, and I gave him the exact plate number of the vehicle.

"Right away, ma'am," the guy from the other line answered immediately, without leaving any questions. I was not sure how he was going to find my husband at that time with the information he got from me, but I wanted to trust his ability.

After talking to him, I checked the time on my cellphone. It was just around seven in the morning. I planned to go to the office, but I was having second thoughts about it.

I took a seat for a while to think. I sat there, staring blankly at the king-size bed that I fixed earlier that day. I was slowly tapping one of my fingers on the armrest while waiting for an update, and as a few minutes passed, I heard the message tone on my phone and immediately checked from whom it came.

It was from the person I hired. According to him, my husband was in a coffee shop with a woman.

I sent a reply right away. I asked him to send me some pictures because I wanted to identify the woman. Later on, I received pictures. He sent five pictures from different angles. All the pictures were vivid enough for me to recognize her.

I knew who he was with. His so-called friend

I didn't want to give malice to the way she was looking, giggling, and touching my husband's arm, but there was something off inside me that told me there was something more between them.

My blood was boiling, and my hands were shaking. I told the agent to follow them if they ever decided to leave. I remained sitting. The day felt frustrating already, even though nothing was already happening before my eyes, but not until a few more minutes had come to pass.

Huddled and restless, like my instinct was telling me, there was something absurd going on already-and there it was. Another message came, and it was only a single picture.

I wasn't prepared. My world was shaken in an instant as my knees trembled like jelly. Lucas and Diane were too close in that picture-not just close. They were kissing, and they were still in the parking lot of ​​the famous coffee shop where the agent caught them.

If anyone sees them, the first thing that will come to their mind is that they look like long-lost lovers who missed each other so much.

They were making out in public without fear! They seemed like hungry animals who couldn't wait to relieve the longing they were feeling for each other at that time.

My desire to follow my husband grew stronger when the person I hired gave an update. I wanted to find out where they were going right in the instant. I wanted to be the one to startle them both. To see the fear in both of their eyes once, I suddenly appeared in front of them.

Lucas has much to lose compared to me, and I won't let him get away with this.

"Don't lose sight of them. Follow them wherever they go," I angrily ordered the investigator and ended the call.

I will pay him threefold if he follows my husband and that woman. Money is worthless if my husband will just cheats on me like this.

After I gave the order, I left the room and went down the elegant stairs. A maid rushed to say that breakfast was ready.

"I will not eat, thank you," I told her. I couldn't hide my irritation that morning and that maid was the one who first witnessed it.

I went straight to the door and my driver quickly opened the car door for me. He always parks the car in front early so I don't have to wait for him to get it from the garage, which is far from my shameless husband's mansion.

Seeing the driver made me realize I couldn't drive alone. I don't have a license because I lost it and I agreed with Lucas to hire a driver, but I've been doubting the driver ever since that day. I knew he kept on reporting where I was going and where I had been to my husband, and at that moment I had the plan to go to where Lucas was-I didn't need his service.

When I got into the car, I pretended to forget something. "Oh my! I forgot my phone! Can you just take it for me? I think I left it in my room," I asked him nicely.

"Sure, ma'am," he answered, and right after he got out of the car, I quickly moved to the driver's seat from the back and drove away. I escaped him, and even if he told his boss that I ran away from him, he didn't even know where I was going.

I was on the highway when the private investigator sent another message. Lucas and Diane were about to leave the coffee shop. He also gave me which road they were taking every few minutes and while I was driving, I read the message individually to guide me to which road I'd be heading.

I tried to guess where they were planning to go and I had a great feeling about where exactly.

"You cheated the wrong person, Lucas!" I screamed inside the car, gritting my teeth while my grip on the steering wheel tightened.

I stepped on the accelerator. The car almost flew on the highway, but since I don't have a license, I slowed down again right before I reached the spot where a speed meter was located.

My contact sent a message again, and I was right-at my resthouse.

Yes, it was mine. I also designed the house. Lucas gave me that place as a gift on our first wedding anniversary and I couldn't believe they had been using it.

"Shameless!" I shouted inside the car. It was so hard to control the anger I was feeling. When I got away from the place with the speed meter, I sped up again.

I slowed down when I got close to the rest house so they wouldn't be able to hear the car's engine. I saw a car on the side of the road. The window on the side of the driver's seat slowly opened. I slowed down. A man popped his head out and said, "They're inside." It was the man I hired.

I parked near the resthouse and walked away with only my cellular phone and courage. Lucas's favorite car and one of his favorites to use recently because the glasses were heavily tinted and with the purpose of not being able to see who's inside.

That's why it's a favorite. My husband is brilliant.

I walked straight to the resthouse's front door. Those cheaters left the door wide open. As I entered, I heard a loud bang coming from up the stairs. I followed the noise, accompanied by the soft moans of the shameless people.

The weight of my legs seemed so heavy. My mind and heart were fighting. I had in mind what to expect and while climbing up the stairs; I tried to be prepared. I saw the bedroom door slightly open. The moans were getting louder as I got nearer. The walls of the bedroom were wood, and it was being slammed and the bed was rattling.

I pushed the door and saw the two. Lucas was above her. They seemed like hungry animals. The sight tore my heart into pieces and those years of my marriage with him shattered in front of my eyes as I watched them.

I wanted to cry, but I didn't want to show weakness in front of them. I wanted to cause havoc, pour gasoline on them, and burn them on that same bed, but that would only put me in jail.

"WHAT IS THE MEANING OF THIS, Lucas?" I asked loudly.

I purposely screamed as loudly as I could to let the anger subside that way. They got interrupted by my arrival and my freaking husband, who was on top of Diane, flipped over after Diane pushed him away.

"W-What are you doing here, Elyana?" my shameless husband asked. He quickly pulled the blanket on the floor to hide their nakedness.

"This is my house! Am I not allowed to come here whenever I want? If there's anyone not allowed in here, that's her!" I pointed my finger at Diane, who was already looking away to hide from me.

"What are you two doing here, huh?! For how long have you been cheating on me? A month? A year? Years? TELL ME!" I couldn't stop any longer. I exploded. My tears were flowing down my cheeks.

Lucas couldn't answer my questions. It was obvious from his face that he didn't expect my arrival and, since he didn't seem to have any intention of answering, I quickly picked up their clothes on my feet and thought of throwing them outside.

"W-What are you doing?" he asked when he saw what I was doing.

I was cleaning up the mess-obviously.

I quickly approached the window and threw on the clothes I had picked up. There was a river on that side and their clothes fell right into the water.

I knew it was childish, but they deserved it. There were neighboring houses around and they could see them walking naked.

Lucas was about to approach me. It doesn't matter if I see him naked and his weapon that I thought I was the only one who owned was exposed.

"I don't want him to get near," I thought.

I looked around and saw a glass of wine on the top of a dresser and, even though my vision was blurry from tears, I quickly picked it up and slammed it on the dresser to break it and pointed the broken glass at him.

"Don't go near me, Lucas! I won't think twice about pinning this glass on your freaking skin!" Threatening him, he immediately moved backward.

I kept the broken glass pointed at him and walked towards the door. I was shaking in anger. I couldn't believe what I saw that day, and before I walked out the bedroom door, I glared at Diane.

"Slut-," I murmured. Not that loud, but surely enough for her to hear.

I left the place. Never looked back. I went straight home with tears in my eyes. Fortunately, I got home safe and sound despite my state of mind.

I met the driver at the front door. He tried blocking my way, but after he saw what I looked like, he moved aside. I ran to our room and picked up all the essential things, a few pieces of clothes, and put them inside a bag.

I drove as far as I could away and left my husband's car on the street. From there, I took a cab to take me to a hotel. I paid in cash, I didn't use any cards, so he wouldn't trace where I was.

That same day, I called my lawyer to help me file a divorce immediately. I sent him a copy of the evidence to prove my husband's infidelity. The agent sent more pictures taken at the rest house that he took after I left. I paid him more than enough for him to live a luxurious life for months.

I called my parents to tell them the news. They were both mad at Lucas and throughout that phone call; I was crying.

My parents instantly flew from Turkey to England just to be with me. They arrived early the following day and in the VIP room where I checked in, the three of us slept together.

I felt like a little girl again at that moment. They just let me cry and cry until I get tired. My mommy accompanies my crying, while dad stays quiet, but deep into his eyes, I know how much he was hurting for me.

I felt I was in a safe haven after I fell asleep with my head on my mom's lap. We slept on a huge bed in the VIP room of a five-star hotel where I checked in after I left my shameless husband's house.

I woke up and Dad was nowhere to be found. Mom had just come out of the bathroom when I opened my eyes. Dad left, she said, and Mom told me she didn't know where he would be heading so early.

Our breakfast came and even though I didn't feel like eating, I ate a lot because there was a dragon watching and ready to attack if I didn't obey her. It would be good if Dad were there. He would let me eat a little, but with Mom-she's like a monster when she's mad, so I tried to avoid making her angry.

She's not my mortal enemy, not my best friend, either. She's still my mother, so I love her and that's just how Mom shows her care and love. Unlike my Dad who is showy and sweet all the time.

While we ate, Mom kept telling stories about my childhood and how picky I was when I was young. Until now, I was able to explore different cuisines when I got married to Fi-

Forget it- we are in front of food and my mother's legacy of not saying bad words in front of grace.

I knew mom was just babbling to make noise. To help me not to think about anything that will only hurt my feelings.

It was before lunchtime when Dad arrived. It looked like something bad happened based on the wound in his fist.

"What happened to your hand, dad?" I asked when I noticed that and Mom rushed to check it and immediately asked ice to take it to our room.

He didn't want to say how and where he got it, but because I was convinced that nothing had happened, I didn't stop asking him.

"This is nothing, sweetheart. I promise," he answered with a smile on his face while we waited for the ice to be put on his swelling hand.

He sat on the sofa and Mom went to the bathroom to get a towel. Dad seemed frustrated. My parents are both old, but they are not like their peers who have neglected their bodies. They work out together to maintain their bodies, even though they are about to reach sixty. Though their age is not that obvious.

"D-Dad, tell me what happened?" I asked him again.

"I just punched a wall, not someone else's face," he said later on when he was already annoyed with me.

I still have doubts about his answer, but I don't know-I was a little disappointed that my father only punched a wall and not the face of someone I know.

The ice in the bucket had arrived, so dad soaked his fist in it to numb the tingling pain. It had turned purple and had a small wound. Mom took dad to the clinic just in the hotel's vicinity.

I was left alone in the room for a few hours. I felt I would go insane with the silence.

I lay down and stared at the ceiling. Questioning my worth and what I did wrong to deserve to be cheated. I felt worthless, useless, and ugly. All the hurtful words-I just called myself. I'm not ugly, to be honest, but my husband still cheated on me.

Thinking about him again and the scene I saw-my tears started falling like heavy rain. Being ugly or not sexy is not a valid reason for someone's partner to cheat and I don't remember any serious problems we had for him to do that.

I cried. I took advantage of the time my parents weren't around. I hid in the bathroom and soaked in the warm water in the tub. I stayed there for more than half an hour and I didn't realize that it was night when I went out and my parents hadn't returned yet. I got dressed and when I was done, I suddenly thought of turning on my cellular phone that I had turned off since yesterday. I received a few messages from Lucas, but I didn't bother to read anything. I also received a message from mom, telling me to meet them at a restaurant nearby for dinner and that they would wait for me there.

I didn't want to go out, but I felt like I was going to lose my head being alone inside a room so quiet. I went to the restaurant where they told me to go. I didn't even bother to put anything on my face to hide my pale skin or put on any fancy jewelry. I wore a simple plain black dress paired with flat sandals and that was it.

Since the restaurant was not that far, I walked. It only took me more or less ten minutes. When I entered the restaurant, I immediately saw the table where my parents were and, to my surprise, there were other people with them. Not just one, three, and even though they were far from the entrance, I knew one of those three, even though I couldn't see his face.

The first thing I thought of-was to walk away. I moved my feet and immediately turned around, but before I could-I heard my dad's voice calling my name.

I don't want to look back. I knew that when I turned around, I would see the eyes of those three people at the same table staring at me. I ran away to escape, but dad caught me.

If the car that was about to pass in front of me hadn't honked at me, I would have gone running straight. My father caught me and I didn't have a choice but to face him.

He hugged me and I cried a lot again.

"D-Dad-" I said while my face was on his chest.

"I'm just heart, sweetheart," he whispered, and his voice got broken. He let me cry. He stroked my hair using one hand, and the other hugged me.

"It would be better if you would face him. There's nothing you need to feel afraid or ashamed of, Elyana. Your Mom and I won't let him just get away with this. Your lawyer called us today and sent us the divorce papers for you and Lucas to sign. After that, you're free from him. I know that's what you like too and I agree with that decision of yours," dad said while still hugging me.

My courage seemed to run out when I surprised them the other day, but dad was right, I have nothing to fear and be ashamed of. I didn't do anything shameful. I'm not the one who cheated and I'm not the one with another lover.

Dad convinced me to go with him. Lucas couldn't look directly at me. I saw bruises on the corner of his eye and even his lip seemed to have cracked.

I gave dad a meaningful look when I saw the look on Lucas's face. I felt no pity. I even thought of splashing him with cold water at that moment.

Dad pulled me to a chair. I was face-to-face with Lucas. Mom handed the piece of paper that Lucas and I needed to sign, and I was the first to sign it. When it was his turn, I noticed his hands were shaking. I don't know if it was because he was afraid of Dad. His parents were there in front of us and, like him, they couldn't look at me.

Some photos are scattered on the table. Copies of what I sent to my lawyer yesterday were all there. Lucas's mommy cried a little while sitting next to her son and I couldn't bear to see her like that because she had been good to me for five years. Lucas's father was the only one I didn't like that much, because he was a very strict and perfectionist person. His father was giving me a different vibe at that moment. He still seemed so proud. That made me ask if he was proud that his son cheated on me.

Well, he was also a cheater. His wife knew. He was forgiven a few times and still repeated it.

I'm not stupid to just let Lucas's act of cheating slide. As they say, a cheater will always be a cheater, so let's not give him another chance.

"Can we talk about this first? Just the two of us, Elyana." I was surprised when Lucas put down the ballpen he was holding and asked this.

His parents raised their heads and turned to their son. I saw different emotions on their faces. His mother is hopeful, while his father seems to stop Lucas from what he was asking.

I turned to my parents to check their reactions. They seemed confused and mad at Lucas, but with the look in their eyes, it seemed they wanted me to be in charge of the situation, and that they would respect whatever decision I would make.

I looked back at Lucas and took a deep breath. There was no one else in that restaurant but us. There were only six of us. It seems they were afraid of being embarrassed around other people.

I think they were afraid I would create a scene. As if I was going to do it. Dad had already taught him a lesson.

"I only have a few questions, Lucas. Answer it and we will decide based on your answer, " I uttered, even though I was very nervous about the answer I could get from him.

"I will," he retorted, and he looked straight into my eyes.

"O-Okay-so, for how long have you been cheating on me?" For my first question.

I had a clue how long it had been. It's been almost 6 months since I noticed a change in him, but I was stunned by his confession. It was longer than I knew.

I held on to the table because I felt I would lose my balance. My Dad stepped right next to me when he noticed it to give me support.

"I'm okay, Dad," I whispered, even though it was obvious I wasn't and for the final question, I wanted to know, "What is the reason, Lucas?"

I know he got what exactly I meant by that question. I don't need to elaborate any further. I just needed his answer on that one, so I knew where I was lacking.

"Because you couldn't give me a child-"

He didn't finish his answer, because mom's hand landed on his cheek. He slapped him real hard.

Mom was about to hit him again, but Lucas's father blocked his arm and his arm was the one mom reached instead of Lucas's face.

"Signed this paper! You don't deserve my daughter!" my mother yelled angrily at him.

My world seemed to stop. I could hear my mom and Lucas's father arguing, but I just stood there watching them. I could hear them loud and clear. I wanted to stop them, but I couldn't move my feet. It was like I'm just watching a movie drama. The only difference was, it was life and the star of the show was us.

I just wanted him to sign the divorce papers. I wanted to leave him for good and never see him again.

While they were still fighting, my vision suddenly went blurry, and the next thing I knew-everything turned dark.