Martha's POV

On our wedding anniversary, my husband had an affair with my step sister,Simone.

In order to celebrate my second wedding anniversary with Caleb, I put on his favorite red dress and teamed up with the employees of his company to give him a huge surprise.

However, when I opened the door, what happened inside shattered everything - my beloved husband and my most trusted step sister, Simone, were entangled together, their passionate behavior was interrupted by my intrusion, and they looked at me with horror.

My fingers curled into fists as I examined Caleb's body. His orange shirt had red lipstick smeared all over it and his buttons were undone.

‘Red lipstick?’ The thought made my eyes dart towards Simone who was still caressing his shoulders.

Pain twisted my stomach into knots, Simone was also wearing a red dress.

The tears I had been fighting back found their way down my cheeks, the realization that I wasn't the only woman whom Caleb found beautiful in red stabbed at my heart.

My eyes moved back to Caleb whose eyes were already welling up in remorse.

“How-how could you?” I questioned with a voice that was barely above a whisper.

Caleb tried to approach me but Simone kept him still, “Martha, I'm sorry. I know I hurt you, please forgive me. I can explain.”

I parted my lips to speak when Simone interrupted me,”Did you really think I'd let you live in luxury while I wallow in poverty? No way. I played this game from the very beginning! This was all my plot and I'm so glad Caleb is in love with me now!”

My eyes sparkled with unchecked anger, I didn't stop to think before snapping back at her.

“He's not in love with you! You're just a shameless woman who likes to throw herself at rich men!”

Simone scoffed before curling her red hair behind her ears, “I'm shameless but at least I'm not a delusional woman who still believes in true love. I'm glad you're like this, this is how you should always be, in pain.”

Simone’s reply fanned the flame of rage in me, my fists clenched and I started approaching her when Caleb got in the way.

“Martha please. Don't fight with her, this is my mistake and I'm really sorry,” Caleb held my arms in a fit to stop me.

All I could perceive was his minty cologne mixed with Simone’s lavender scent. Disgust twisted my profile as I brushed his hands off my body.

“I'm so disappointed in you! It's our anniversary today and you're here doing this? I was busy getting the house decorated, I spent hours making your favorite dishes and I came to surprise you at the office not knowing you're here cheating with no other woman but my step sister?!” I scowled at him.

Caleb's brows arched, his profile hardened, “I know nothing I say would justify my actions tonight but I wasn't in my right senses. I had some alcohol and she-”

I raised a palm in front of him, “That's enough! Blaming your actions on alcohol? For real? I expected you to be more responsible but it's obvious you're just a man who pretends to be responsible.”

I tilted my head behind Caleb, my eyes landed on Simone who was busy adjusting her red gown. Seeing her in this state, looking exhausted and excited left shattered me even more.

My eyes reddened as I tried to fight back the hot tears threatening to spill down, “Caleb, wasn't I good enough for you? Why'd you hurt me like this?”

Caleb tried to touch me but I raised an index finger in front of him, warning him to not lay his filthy hands on me.

“No, don't say that. You were the best wife. I just didn't think before acting, please give me a chance to explain and make things clear.”

I feigned a smile as I stared at him, “You already made things clear from this act. There's nothing to be said or done now. I respect your decision and I do hope that you enjoy your new wife.”

And with that I turned on my heels, my feet became too heavy to move. I couldn’t believe our marriage was ending like this. This was far from the dinner night I had pictured for our anniversary.

With a deep breath, I propelled myself forward and out of the building.

The night breeze washed over my skin, making me feel cold but this was nothing compared to the numbness I felt in my heart.

I kicked a stone out of my path as I let out a scream in frustration. My hands held my head, trying to keep my hair away from my face as I walked.

I first lost my mother to cancer, then I lost my father to spinal cord fracture and I just lost my husband to my jealous step sister. What was left for me to live for now?

My swollen eyes squinted as the night breeze grew stronger. I crossed the street to distract myself from my thoughts by staring at the small waves that the stream produced under the road.

As my fingers curled around the rod that served as a barricade between the stream and the road, an urge to jump down surged in my mind.

It wasn't a good thought yet it seemed like the only reasonable thing to do at the moment. After all, if I don't kill myself, I'd die everyday by the pain I was feeling until nature takes its course.

Leaning forward, the stream looked really deep, I lost my resolve to kill myself. I turned back but I couldn't find anyone around. I was by myself.

‘If you don't do it, you'd be lonely till death. Do it and join your parents’

The urge grew stronger, my heart started racing. A sound of a vehicle started blaring into the night from a distance.

The last thing I'd want is to be stopped if I go ahead with this decision.

Without thinking, I crossed over the rod. The crickets' sounds were the last thing I heard before I jumped down but instead of falling, I was hanging in the air.

Alexander's POV

My veins popped out of my temple as I held on to the lady's hand like my life depended on it.

I was on my way home when I noticed a feminine figure hanging onto a rod. I wondered what she was doing there for such an hour but before I could get out of my car, she crossed over the road.

‘Suicide?’ The only thought that came to mind as I quickly plopped out of my car headed towards the lady.

Her actions were the last of things I want to see anyone do. A sense of urgency rushed through my veins as I quickly caught hold of her hand before she jumped out of reach.

Today was one of the times I was thankful for hitting the gym often as my muscles enabled me to lift the lady up until she was back on the road.

“Why-why did you save me?” She questioned the moment I let go of her hand.

My brows pulled together in confusion,”Excuse me? You think I was going to let you kill yourself? What were you even thinking trying to kill yourself by the highway?”

Her eyes glistened with tears before her lips turned downward, making her face wear a frown.

“Well, what do you do when you've lost hope in living? What do you do when you get tired of trying? What do you do when-when the one you love betrays you?” She sobbed profusely as she finished.

It was unusual for me but I felt so concerned about this lady. Her beautiful face looked like it should only wear a smile and seeing her in such a sensitive state made me worried.

I pulled the lady into a warm embrace, her warm body trembled in my arms but she didn't stop crying, “Hey, don't cry. It's okay, I understand.”

Well, technically that was a lie. I had no idea what it felt like to be betrayed or to be tired of living. As a matter of fact, the only thing that frustrated me was my mother's consistent disturbance to get married soon and that was not enough reason for me to want to kill myself.

We stood in each other's arms for some minutes, the only sounds audible enough to hear were her sobbing and cricket sounds. The streetlight standing beside did well to provide a little light in the midst of the darkness.

Seconds ticked into minutes and the lady slowly stopped crying.

She broke the embrace while trying to wipe her tears so I offered her a handkerchief, “Thank you, I really needed that.”

A smile spread across my lips seeing that she was now calm, “I'm glad I was able to help. Well, wanna talk about why you were trying to do that?” I pointed towards the stream beside us.

She stared at me as if trying to see if she could trust me with her problems before looking away, “I just caught my husband cheating on me with my step sister.”

My jaws dropped, “I'm so sorry about that. How long was your relationship with him?”

She crossed her arms as she turned her back on me, “Two years. We had a beautiful marriage for two years and he just decided to-”

I rested a palm on her shoulder, “It's fine. I get it. Did he hurt you so bad that you wanted to end your own life? For a man who isn't even worth it?”

She spun around, “Isn't that enough reason? My dad who were supposed to be there for me died and left me with a stepmother who doesn’t give two fucks about my existence. The only person I considered family has just been taken away from me and you think I should still have a reason to live?”

I sighed softly as I tried to gather my thoughts, “I know it's difficult but I don't think it should be the end of your world. You're a beautiful woman who would sweep anyone off their feet with your smile. You can always have anyone you want if it's about your lover. As for your parents, sometimes we can't control how life works, it happens for the best.”

Her eyes flared up in anger upon my statement which was quite different from what I was expecting.

“If beauty could help me this whole time, why couldn't I pay my father's accumulated debts with my smile? Hell, life would be fucking easy if all I had to do was go around and smile. I mean I'm stranded right now so why don't I just smile at you and have you help me?”

Her question made me smirk, “Go for it.”

Her lips turned upwards and they curved into the most beautiful smile I've seen from a woman different from my mother. Her eyes still sparkled with the sorrow drowning her inside but her cheeks stood prominent, complimenting her pretty set of dentition.

The crazy urge to cup her face surged in my heart so I pocketed my hands in my pocket to bow the pressure.

“How bout I help you get a place to stay?”

She gasped softly, “Really? I'd be so grateful! Thank you so much!”

Guilt welled up in my belly as I stared at the excited lady because I was only taking advantage of her situation even though I did find her attractive.

“On one condition”

Her profile twisted in disappointment,“Oh. What do I have to do?”

I drove my hands into my hair, “Get married to me.”

Martha's POV

I had two options; to walk out on Alexander or accept his proposal.

Neither of those options would help my situation but considering I was a stranded woman, I was bound to choose the latter.

Alexander offered to provide shelter as long as I was his wife and this was why I accepted his offer.

He also made it clear that it was just a contract marriage so it relieved me of wifely duties. Even though it was a fake marriage, Alexander still treated me like the ideal wife.

He initially acted affectionately towards me only when his mother was around but as days passed by, he started acting like that even when we were alone.

I took it as him being just a nice man after all, he was utterly kind towards me the night we met. But deep down, I feared that he might actually be in love with me.

But then again, why would he breach his own contract? The contract stated that we were to act like couples and nothing more.

My phone's vibration snapped me out of my thoughts as I regained consciousness of my surroundings.

I brushed my hands over the texture of the orange gown in my hand, this was Alexander's recent gift. He made it a habit to get me new clothes at least twice a week and this was only one of his gestures towards me.

The others fell along the lines of assisting me in the kitchen, getting me jewelry and taking me out for ice cream. His marrying me offered luxury but none of it could mend the shattered pieces of heart.

Call me dramatic but I can't seem to get over the fact that I was betrayed like that. The thought of giving my all to Caleb only for him to hurt me like that still broke me.

A soft sigh escaped my lips, this is the sole reason that I never let Alexander's actions get to me. I saw it all as nothing but the benefits of being his fake wife.

I rose up from the bed, headed for the dressing room. I changed from my blue shorts and top to the sequined orange dress I came in with.

The dress had a slit that ran up to my thighs with a fluffy top that stopped at my shoulders. My figure was accentuated perfectly by this gown.

My curly blonde was styled into a ponytail with a small hump in front. Makeup wasn't my thing but I did well to apply a little mascara, eyeliner and some lipstick.

My reflection in the mirror was nothing short of gorgeous. A small smile spread across my lips, I was ready for our usual dinner night.

As I walked out of our room, I heard voices from downstairs.

It seemed we had a visitor but why would anyone pay a visit at nine in the night?

Judging from the pitch of the tone I was hearing, I could tell it was a female but it wasn't a familiar voice.

‘Who’s Alexander entertaining?’ The thought increased the curiosity in my mind.

While walking down the stairs, I tried to think of who could have visited by this time but I couldn't place my mind on any of his family members.

The moment I stepped down from the last staircase, my eyes widened in surprise. The scene before me left me in gasps.

Alexander was hugging a strange lady and she pecked him. Her hands curled around Alexander's waist as they broke the embrace after which she giggled softly.

I felt a familiar sense of rage rush through my veins, “What’s going on?” I questioned with a voice that reverberated through the room.

Alexander spun around with a surprised look, “Oh, Martha. You're ready…”

Just before I could speak, the lady beside him dashed towards me, “Alexander, who's she?”

Alexander smiled, “She’s my wife.”

The brown eyed lady suddenly glared daggers at me upon hearing that, she spun around to face Alexander.

“Your wife? How can you be married when you're engaged to me?!”

Were my ears working fine or did I just hear the most crazy question?

Alexander engaged? Why was he now in a contract marriage with me?