“You slapped me, Aaron? I’m your wife!” I was out of control.

Aaron looked at me with that smirk, I had no idea what was getting into Aaron. I could even see clearly that Aaron had no regrets at all, I could see it clearly from his eyes.

“Then why did you slap my girlfriend, Merry?”

My tears just fell. Stupid! I shouldn’t have cried, I should have been strong and acted okay in front of them!

“She’s my best friend, Aaron.”

“So?”

“I’m your wife! How can you say you’re having a relationship with your own wife’s best friend?!”

I pushed Aaron’s body, but he pushed me back. I fell, and I could clearly see how painful all of this was.

Nadya immediately embraced Aaron’s body, her eyes looking at me with a mocking gaze. Here it was clear that I had lost, lost to my own best friend. I couldn’t imagine how I could compete over my own husband with… my best friend?

“Mommy!” the shout managed to make me turn my head, I could see Miki, Nadya’s son from her boyfriend, came to embrace his mommy. I knew Miki, I loved that five-year-old boy sincerely. Like my own child. “Daddy!”

My eyes opened wide, I was immediately stunned stupidly when Miki hugged Aaron’s body tightly while calling him … Daddy.

Did I hear it right? I didn’t hear it wrong, right?

“What kind of reality is this? Isn’t he … he ….”

“Miki is my son from my boyfriend, and my boyfriend is … your husband. Isn’t all this clear, Merry?”

My heart was broken, I didn’t even want to accept this day at all. I wanted to curse God, how could he give me such a terrible fate? What kind of fate was this?

I lost to those wretched people like Nadya and Aaron, and I didn’t even know what to do now.

“Okay…” I said, I didn’t want to look weak in front of them. I had to prove that I could stand strong, even though my heart was shattered. “Now I know that you two are a perfect match. In fact, a traitor is the most suitable for a shameless thief. You’re so cruel to be the third person in your best friend’s relationship. Yes, congratulations, you are great people. Now, return my family’s wealth, and I will take care of our divorce afterward.”

“Your family’s wealth?” Aaron acted stupid. I still couldn’t understand how a man could be as shameless as him. “Which family wealth are you referring to, Merry? You have nothing left.”

I was shocked to hear that. What did Aaron mean?

“My entire family inheritance that I gave to you. Give it back!”

“You have given it to me consciously, and legally all your family’s wealth is mine. So you have no right to take back something you have given me!”

I could only shake my head, I didn’t know what to do anymore. Especially when Aaron stood in front of me and slapped my cheek so painfully.

“You know, in my eyes you are trash. An old-fashioned woman with old-fashioned thinking, a woman who is not modern and boring. Do you think that all this time I married you for love, or because I was attracted to you?” Aaron laughed, and now he was walking, circling my body. “If I hadn’t been eyeing your family’s inheritance, I would never have wanted to touch, let alone marry you, Merry.”

I could only squeeze my chest that felt sore. In fact, it hurt so much, I couldn’t feel my own pain. Aaron left, holding Miki’s hand while embracing Nadya into the elevator in the apartment’s basement as if he was creating a happy little family, while I was only considered trash by him.

I cried again, screaming like an idiot, not caring if anyone saw me now. I just wanted to let out all my emotions, rather than going crazy alone here.

Because in the end I was dumped, and in the end I was abandoned by a man I loved so much.

I gasped when my fallen coat returned to my body, a tall man hugged me from behind. Like a hero, he led me into his car and made sure I was okay. With eyes still swollen, with cheeks still wet, I could clearly see that Imran was sitting behind the wheel. Yes, that man was Imran, Aaron’s uncle.

“Now you know your husband’s motives, right?” he asked lightly. He was smoking as if he wanted to enjoy the cold atmosphere that had begun to creep into the deepest part of his bones. The black car seat was in harmony with the color of his half-wet hair.

“Since when?” I asked. Imran turned to me, his firm jawline hardening, then he looked away again with a grin.

“Even before you were married.”

Both of my hands gripped the skirt I was wearing tightly again, even to the point that my knuckles turned white. Damn! How long had they been having an affair behind my back? And I stupidly didn't know.

"Why didn’t you just tell me?" I asked again.

"I thought you weren't stupid enough to give your entire family inheritance to him.”

Imran looked back at me. Now his gaze looked very dark, cold, and scary. A sad look from his caramel-colored eyes managed to make me look away, I really didn’t feel comfortable being stared at like that.

“It turns out I was too late.” He continued then. He immediately pressed the butt of his cigarette, and lit another new cigarette.

“Then, why did you tell me now? Isn’t he your nephew?” I asked finally. This was one of the things that confused me about the figure named Imran.

Imran smiled again, now he puffed out his chest. His head came closer to me even until our faces almost met. I couldn’t blink in a situation like this. His warm breath was felt on my cold cheeks.

“Don’t you want to play a game?” he whispered. The distinctive aroma of tobacco from high-class nicotine was so sharp. I turned my face away again while waving my hand. I didn’t like the smell of men who smoked.

“Stop playing with me, Imran.”

I was about to leave, but Imran immediately grabbed my wrist tightly. It hurt so much, I tried to release his grip, but the grip felt even tighter, causing me pain. I stared at Imran fiercely, until he smiled, and released my grip.

“I can take your family inheritance back from Aaron’s hands. It’s a very… easy thing.”

I raised one of my eyebrows, for some reason I suddenly felt uneasy hearing Imran’s words. However, my heart that was already hurt was quite curious. What kind of game did Imran want to play so that I could get my inheritance back? Because I would not want my family’s wealth to be used by Aaron to have fun with Nadya, his mistress.

“How?” I asked finally.

I clearly saw Imran smile again, as if I had fallen into his trap, that’s what I saw from the cunning eyes of Imran Abbas.

“First of all, divorce Aaron.”

“You don’t need to tell me to do that!” I answered quickly. What kind of game was that? I didn’t understand Imran’s way of thinking at all.

“Then marry me.”

Hearing that, I immediately turned to look at Imran. And my eyes widened even more in disbelief right when his lips suddenly started to crush mine. What was Imran trying to do to me?!

“What are you doing, Imran?”

I pushed Imran’s body. The man seemed to click his tongue then he wiped his lips which were probably already full of my lipstick.

Insolent! Who was he to dare do this to me? He kissed me. He was truly a shameless pervert!

I immediately got out of his car, then Imran followed my steps hurriedly. The man seemed reluctant to let me go, that’s what I saw clearly from him.

“Do you think you will get justice in the Abbas family, hm?” Imran spoke again. “And your mother-in-law will defend you after Aaron’s affair was exposed?”

I stopped in my tracks, I saw how Imran smiled as if mocking me. This was really something that made me sick.

Actually what Imran said was true. Mother, no… I mean the Madam who was none other than Aaron’s mother did not really like me from the start. It was clear from her cold attitude, as if… she was indifferent.

Every time Aaron was at home, my mother-in-law put on a perfect show. Like a mother-in-law who cared the most about her daughter-in-law, like the most perfect mother-in-law. But in reality, every time Aaron left the house, that coldness was obvious and I started to feel oppressed. Pain, that's what I felt, but I tried to endure because of a marriage relationship. Damn it, really!

"If you take the opportunity to follow my wishes, then you will get everything. Your inheritance, and your revenge."

"I don't want you to be used as a tool for something that I don't know yet."

After saying that, I hurried away. Because I didn’t care about Imran’s words anyway. For me, the entire Abbas family was not good. Not only my mother-in-law, my husband, but everyone there.

And sure enough, when I was at the main residence of the Abbas family, I was about to tell her about Aaron’s affair with Nadya. However, my steps stopped right when I saw Aaron had come home, he was sitting with his mother in the living room, crossing his legs and both of them were enjoying wine.

“This is a good thing, Aaron! In the end you got an inheritance from that damn woman’s family?”

I clenched my fists tightly, this was truly unimaginable. Did… did that cold woman also know about Aaron’s plan?

“That’s right, Mother. That way we don’t have to beg Uncle anymore. Even though we only get 10% of the Abbas family’s inheritance each, if we are able to process the petroleum from the Merry family’s land, it is certain that our wealth will be comparable to the Abbas family!” the shout was heard loudly, then both of them laughed simultaneously.

Hearing that, my heart was broken. My legs were no longer able to support my body and I just collapsed on the floor. Really, this family is so cruel. They were able to play their roles perfectly as if it looked very beautiful. As if they cared so much, and loved me. But in reality….

“Now I have nothing to do with Merry, and I don’t care whether she wants to divorce me or not, what is clear is that at your birthday party the day after tomorrow, I will bring Nadya and our child to come, Mother. She is your grandson, and I will announce firmly to all members of the Abbas family that we will be engaged right after Merry and I divorce.”

What should I do? I didn’t want to be humiliated! I must take revenge for what they've done to me!

While stumbling, I tried to find Imran. I saw that the broad-backed man was standing in the back garden. With both his hands in the pockets, he finally turned around, as if he knew I was coming to see him.

"How is it? Have you got an answer?"

Both of my hands clenched tightly, I swallowed my saliva with difficulty several times before my voice came out perfectly.

“Before I make a decision, can I ask you a few things?”

The man nodded, inviting me to ask anything. His two long legs stepped forward, then he smiled at me again. His big fingers began to touch my cheeks, feeling me, and brushing aside my hair that covered part of my cheeks.

“You are very beautiful, Maria.” He whispered which made me shiver.

I immediately stepped back, I pushed his hand away, he seemed to laugh. But I didn’t see him angry at all of course.

“Why do you want to help me? Isn’t Aaron your nephew? And his mother is your sister.”

I was really curious about this, that’s why I wanted to ask directly to make sure if the decision I made was right. Because I don’t want to fall into the same hole, because I don’t want to be harmed by anyone again in terms of heart, feelings or material.

“I have wanted to do this for a long time. All this time, that mother and son have been trying their best to bring me down, to shift my position as the owner of the most wealth and the ruler in this family.” Imran seemed to click his tongue, then he sat down on a park bench. I, who was impatient with Imran’s answer, sat down beside him. “By getting married, then being able to seize your family’s inheritance back, then I can work with you personally. That way I can save my position in this family, and you can save your family’s inheritance and Aaron loses everything. Do you understand?”

“Then, why do we have to get married?”

“Because I don’t want to lose, and I want you. Do you think there is any help in this world that is free?”

I swallowed hard again. Indeed, for Imran, his life was the same as business. He would never give in, make an exception. Because according to him, there must be a price to be paid in proportion to everything he would do.

I was silent again for a moment, then I looked at Imran with my confident gaze. Everything was going to be okay, right? Aaron, believed me after this all the games will start soon!

“Okay.”

Imran seemed to pull one eyebrow, he smiled perfectly. He even looked at me with that seductive gaze.

“Say it clearly, Maria.”

“Okay, I am willing to marry you. Do you think my words are not clear to you?”

Imran smiled, then he clapped his hands perfectly. He was very happy with my decision.

“However, before we get married, and before you divorce Aaron, I actually want one more thing from you as proof, Maria.”

I turned again to Imran, the man had even stood up, walking in front of me and that succeeded in making me stand up and follow his steps.

“What is it? Tell me.”

“Just think of it as… proof.” Imran immediately looked at me with that grin, he walked closer to me again, then his thumb pressed my lips, and wiped off the lipstick on my lips. Until then he said, “make love to me tonight, Maria.”

My body froze for a moment, I couldn’t even think straight. Especially when Imran had attacked my lips, and led me into his room.

“Why are you still here, Merry. Shouldn’t you have gone home?”

I, who had just entered the room this morning, was surprised by a surprising question from Aaron. Did he hate me that much? Was he that bad? Or would he give this room to… Nadya?

“Don’t get cocky, Aaron. Do you think I’m willing to stay here? Do you think you deserve to be regretted and begged not to leave?” I started to speak loudly. Luckily my voice didn’t tremble, luckily my voice didn’t sound hoarse.

No matter how broken my heart was, what was clear for now was that I would prove to Aaron and his mother that I was able to stand on my own two feet and I didn’t want to cry in front of their eyes.

“Sorry, Young Master Abbas, I am still here because I am still your wife and I am currently taking care of our divorce papers. Don’t worry, you don’t need to be afraid that I might slow down your path to living with your shameless mistress. Because I also don’t want to keep a cheap man like you.”

“Good.” Aaron answered without even feeling guilty. He immediately opened the closet, threw all my clothes and he looked at me with his cold gaze. “Now move to the guest room, because tonight Nadya will come and stay here. And I also don’t want you to cause trouble with Nadya. Understand?”

Aaron immediately left, in my heart I kept trying to suppress the emotions that were there, trying to put my heart back together that was in shambles. Just wait, okay… just wait, I will make him regret treating me like trash.

And the night of my mother-in-law’s birthday party arrived. Of course this was something that everyone had been waiting for. All members of the Abbas family, all relatives and business relations of the Abbas family came and no exception. Maybe this would be one of the reasons for Aaron to show off the woman he loved, that was why he was waiting for this moment.

Damn it! I never thought that Aaron would be so shameless. When he was still my husband, when we were still married, he would do this annoying thing to me. Was he satisfied? Did he do this on purpose? How barbaric!

"Young Madam, this is a delivery from Mr. Abbas."

I turned my head and saw the servant coming to my room, I saw that he was shocked by the situation in my room, but I didn't care about that. What I cared about was the delivery that the servant delivered. A delivery from... Imran?

“Can you help me move all my stuff in the guest room?” I asked for an offer.

The maid still looked surprised, until finally she nodded and followed my order.

“Yes, Young Madam.”

We finally rushed to move all my things, then I arranged everything in the guest room. A small room that was very far from the main room, and it made me smile bitterly. It was really funny, and it made me think that it was true that there was not a single person in this world who could be trusted at all.

“Young Madam, I’m sorry… I got an order that all these things must be moved to the Master’s room.”

I started to feel confused.

“Why does it have to be like that?”

“We are just following orders, Young Madam.”

I held my breath perfectly and let the servants do everything. While I was still in the guest room, then opened the package that Imran sent me.

There was a red dress, silver high heels, a bag, and jewelry. Everything looked very beautiful and expensive, also… elegant.

Aaron had never bought me anything like this in his entire life. A simple and polite appearance was what I had to do. At first I thought that if he wanted to take care of me, it turned out that I was not considered important enough to be attractive.

“Wear all of these things. All of them are the most expensive from world-famous designers. I make sure that tonight you will be the center of attention as the most expensive woman at the party. Don’t forget to wear red lipstick, walk with your chest puffed out, lift your chin high. Prove to them that you are a woman who is completely untouchable.”

My hands trembled reading the short message written by Imran. A revenge plan that seemed mature. I wiped my tears roughly, I swear this would be the last tear I will shed for Aaron, and for the failure of my household relationship with the man I used to love so much, and now I will make sure to those who hurt and betrayed me if I am able, and if I can stand much higher than them.

“Make sure that useless woman doesn’t come out of the room when my party is going on, Aaron. I’m really sick of that woman! I don’t want that woman to disturb my birthday party.”

“You don’t have to worry at all, Mom. I assure you that everything will go smoothly, even if that woman goes out, there’s nothing she can do except feel ashamed and devastated.”

I could vaguely hear Aaron and his mother discussing me very clearly, and I could hear that the house was already very noisy.

So, they deliberately kept me from leaving the room? Truly, a plan that would definitely fail.

I could see how my room was locked from the outside, and I didn't even have a chance to get out.

I held my breath perfectly, I tried to stay calm. It would be much better if I prepared myself first so that when Imran came I could immediately go with him.

After I made sure that I was ready, there was a knock on my door. There was an argument from outside until finally my door opened wide after being broken down. I could clearly see Imran standing arrogantly, looking at me with his sharp gaze. For some reason, the feeling that had been anxious from the start was now starting to calm down. Was Imran that important now?

“It’s time for you to come out, Maria. Prove to everyone out there, that you are the future Lady of this family.”

Imran extended his hand to me, and I grabbed it firmly. While he was holding my waist possessively, I started to puff out my chest, and lifted my chin. I walked arrogantly and people had started to look at me. I could clearly see how my mother-in-law, Aaron, Nadya and their child were standing in front of the cake, and they looked so happy.

Relax…wait, after this they will be destroyed instantly.

“Why are you in such a hurry to blow out the candles? I haven’t even given you a present yet.” Imran said and everyone immediately looked at us.

I could clearly see how Aaron stared at me with wide eyes, it seemed like he was surprised that I suddenly came with his uncle.

Imran hugged me even tighter, as if he wanted to give me strength. I smiled confidently, while seeing Imran speak again.

“Before I give you a gift, I want to announce something in front of all family members and our family business relations.”

“Imran, what are you doing? Why are you suddenly with that woman?”

“That woman?” Imran said again. I started to feel quite worried about this. “The woman I am embracing will be my wife, we will get married soon after this.”

I immediately turned to look at Imran, he kissed me. I could see from the corner of my eye how Aaron, his mother and Nadya were shocked to death by Imran’s announcement. I smiled, I returned Imran’s kiss to me. I felt my heart win watching how shocked my rotten husband was!