CHAPTER 1: THE AFFAIR

"Good afternoon, Madam," greeted the middle-aged man in a tailcoat as a woman descended the stairs. Victoria Ashbourne is the beautiful wife of the only son of the Ashbourne family. She has long golden curls and a delicate, doll-like face. "Good afternoon, Jamie." She replied, her smile faint. "Is what I requested ready?" He nodded. "Yes, Madam, it's all ready." Victoria smiled. "Thank you, Jamie. Please tell the driver to get the car ready. I'm heading to Prague Castle. I'm having afternoon tea with my husband." "Yes, madam," Jamie replied. "Remember, it's a surprise, Jamie," Victoria called after him. "Edmund must not know about it." Jamie gave her a small smile. "Yes, Madam." Victoria's smile widened as she made her way to the living room. She had been married to her husband, Edmund, for over half a year, and they barely spent time together. He was either at work or on some business-related trip. She needed to take this opportunity to spend this time with him, especially with her mother-in-law's urge to bear an heir for the Ashbourne family. "Madam," Jamie said. The car is ready for you. Everything you need for the tea has also been packed and placed in the car. Arriving at Edmund's office, Victoria ensured she had covered her face correctly to avoid being detected by the security. If Edmund found out she was coming, he would find some random excuse to cancel her plans. She arrived on the top floor and didn't meet his secretary at her desk. "I wonder where Martha went to?" Victoria muttered as she headed to Edmund's office. The door was slightly ajar, but Victoria still knocked since Edmund was keen on that. "Martha, I thought I told you to clear my schedule and leave me alone for a while." Edmund snapped. A female voice giggled. "Don't be mean; she's just being a secretary. Martha darling, could you get me a coffee?! I'm so tired right now." "You shouldn't be tired around me," Edmund said, his tone low and hoarse. Victoria wanted to push the door open, but something kept her frozen. "Oh, please." The lady said, sounding amused. "By the way, Edmund, when are you going to kick your tramp of a wife out of your house?" "Careful with your words, Laura," Edmund said and dropped a kiss on her lips. "I hate it when you refer to that lady as my wife." Laura looped her hands around Edmund. "But she is your wife." "Only because my mother said so." Edmund groaned. "Up to me, I'd kick Victoria out today. But my mother wouldn't let me; she really liked her for some weird reason." "I hate the fact that she's in your Manor; it's supposed to be just you and me." Laura pulled him closer and kissed him. Victoria kicked the door open when she couldn't take their words anymore. "Are you both done?!" She yelled, her hands fisted. Laura pulled away from Edmund lazily and glared at Victoria. "Speak of the devil. What do you want?" "What do I want?!" Victoria yelled. "You are in the hands of my husband, discussing getting rid of me, and you are asking me what I want?!" Edmund rolled his eyes. "Enough with the dramatics, Victoria; what do you want?" Victoria scoffed. "Are you kidding me? Are you both crazy?! Edmund, you are having an affair, and you're both acting like it's normal." "Affair?" Laura asked. "Edmund and I are genuinely in love. It's because of your stupid appearance that we broke up. So, this isn't an affair, Victoria; we're just freely in love." "Are you just naturally dumb?" Victoria snapped. "When you sleep with someone else's husband, it's called an affair." "You're just a hateful person." Laura sneered. "He's my husband. I'm his legal wife!" Victoria retorted. "No, you're just a despicable girl who tricked Lady Eleanor by shameless means. I mean, if you didn't, how else would you get married into a prestigious family." Driven by anger, Victoria threw the nearest vase at Laura and Edmund, who ducked. "Are you crazy?!" Laura yelled. "Are you okay?" Edmund asked Laura, his face masked with worry. "So, you care for her that much?" Victoria asked, her voice filled with hurt. "Shut your filthy mouth." Edmund snapped at her. "How dare you come here to make a scene in my office?! Let me make this clear, Victoria: you are nothing to me. Your veins carry dirty blood, so I despise you. I don't want to have anything to do with you, let alone have children with you." Victoria finally understood why Edmund often didn't come home. Every time he did, he just had dinner and then left on the pretext of something urgent. "Disgusting!" Victoria approached them with the basket filled with snacks that Jamie had packed. "I hope you're both happy." She threw the contents of the two of them. Laura was furious. "Are you crazy?! I'm going to kill you!" She yelled and tried to get up, but Edmund held her down. "That's enough. Don't stoop down to her level of love." Edmund said and glared at Victoria. "You have done enough, and I will not tolerate your disrespect. Let's get a divorce. I'll give you ten million dollars, and you will leave my Manor and get out of my life without a trace. If my mother asked, this divorce is your idea and choice, are we clear?" Victoria crossed her hands on her chest. "And if I say no?" "Then I'll make your living hell." He said, his voice cold. "Trust me, Victoria, I will." Victoria sighed. "Let me know when it's time to go to court. I don't want to have anything to do with you anyway; you can enjoy your stupid affair." Laura grinned. "Coward." "Says the person who lives off someone's husband. What do you do, Laura, apart from living off someone's husband?" Victoria retorted. Laura shrugged. "Like you're any better." Victoria shook her head. "Like you'd understand, I'm working with Mr. Harry Woods." The room was silent before Edmund and Laura burst out laughing. "Where in the world did you meet Harry Woods?" Edmund asked. "She's bluffing, Eddie." Laura giggled. Victoria shrugged. "Believe whatever." She turned around and left, her mind reeling with what had just happened. Edmund had cheated and had even had the guts to threaten her and ask her for a divorce so he could be with that measly gold digger. She couldn't be called Victoria Ashburne; she was a free woman without ties to that family. She had to move out before Edmund made any more reckless decisions because of Laura. Beep Beep!! A honking had interrupted Victoria's thoughts. Instinctively, she moved out of the way, careful not to get hit by the car. The car stopped, and a tall bodyguard got out of the vehicle. He opened the passenger's seat, bowing his head a little as someone else stepped out. Victoria's eyes widened in surprise that it was no other than Harry Woods, the man she had just bragged about working with when she was only getting to know him.