Love Like Roses, Hurt Like Thorns

Criminally open minded husband left me at the Ob-Gyn to meet up with his childhood best friend, Zara Lenning. He didn't even wait until the pregnancy tests came back.

Turned out, I was pregnant for a month and a half.

My name is Astrid Jenner, now I'm called Astrid Longhan after marrying Kellan Longhan, the CEO of HanK Group.

He was 26 and I was 24 when we got married. I suffered from a congenital disease and needed a liver transplant. Kellan, who was doting on me silently for so long volunteered. But he took advantage of the situation and upper handed me into marrying him.

He was no lesser than a gift from God, however. He took care of every single one of my needs.

I had a traumatic childhood. My surgeon father was having a delirious episode and stabbed my nurse mother to death with a scalpel. I was orphaned and had no one to take care of me until Kellan's family took pity.

Three years ago, Kellan's parents died in a fatal car crash. My husband was a mess. I stayed by his side, even if I had to get over the trauma of my first miscarriage myself.

And then, his God sent best friend showed up. Not once did he speak about her in five years. But when the news of her arrival reached his ears three weeks ago, he couldn't stop talking about Zara Lenning.

Born a billionaire as well, she was sent from London to Kellan so she could learn business from the top businessman.

I stared at the wall, feeling empty inside.

Kellan hasn't come back home in three days. What was he doing out there?

Out of nowhere, my phone started blaring with a specific ringtone. Set specifically for Kellan, it didn't ring for nearly months before that.

"Hello?"

"Baby...I love youuuu!" He slurred his words. It was obvious he was drunk. Tears welled in my eyes as I pleaded.

"Kellan...please come home. I'm all alone." I pleaded. He cut the call immediately.

Right after that, photos of Kellan and Zara hanging out were spread across the internet.

THE INFAMOUS KELLAN LONGHAN AND MODEL ZARA LENNING ARE BEST FRIENDS!?

The post descriptions read aloud. I scoffed. They didn't know the full story.

Zara and Kellan have been more than best friends. They were in a promiscuous relationship before me.

I remembered briefly about Kellan asking for an open relationship. He never claimed to be polygamous. I shot him down quickly, three years ago.

However, more posts from Zara followed. It was her official account with millions of followers.

- Day spent in pride and prunes! Olives in martinis are the WORST. Fight me if you dare! Kellan will protect me! XoXo -

Her post caption read.

I stared at the images. Kellan was incredibly close to her face. Almost kissing her luscious lips. I felt a wave of disgust wash over me.

I cried myself to sleep, and for what?

The next day, Zara's half sober messages felt like multiple slaps on my face,

- Kellan is such a good bed partner! -

- He cuddles so cute too! -

- I can bear his loud snoring if that means I can taste him every nightttt -

My whole body was shaking by the end of it. How dare she text me such things even though she was drunk?

And how dare they do this to me?

They've forced me to underestimated myself.

But I chose not to.

Instead, I wiped my tears harshly and made way to a few destinations. I was tired by the end of the day.

The print out shop owner gazed at me up and down. The titles on papers were questionable for him to give me an indifferent gaze.

'Divorce agreement, House Property/Sale details, Pregnancy tests'

All of them combined, I made way to the mansion. My mansion.

I had to give up everything, even my title as Dr Astrid Jenner after marriage because I did my PhD from Harvard. And the gift I got from Kellan for marrying him?

This billion dollar mansion under my name with no beneficiaries attached. I was the sole owner of the richest mansion in the country.

I briefly remembered Kellan's promise when my parents died - I consider my imprisoned father dead too.

'I will never hurt you, Astrid. Never. I will protect you from the world.'

He was barely ten and I was eight years old. People tend to forget promises made that young. Kellan forgot his too. That's why he hurt me in the most unimaginable way.

When I walked inside the mansion, Kellan greeted me with a big smile, but smelling obnoxiously of strawberry chapstick and bubblegum around his mouth.

I felt like throwing up then and there.

Kellan reached down and grabbed my shoes, replacing them delicately with house slippers.

“I got you a gift, sweetheart. A piece of the moon! You own half of the moon's surface now!” He cheered but I couldn't smile. The image of him on top of Zara's perfect body flashed and ruined my otherwise happy moment. My smile lasted for a millisecond before walking in.

As I entered the mansion, I checked the messages from the woman briefly,

- Do you think he'll stay loyal to you longer than five years? Watch this. -

And the video of their intimacy played silently in my phone. I was crying internally as well, but my face absolutely refused to show emotions.