Chapter 1 Pains And Realisation

~AKIRA~

Who should be blamed for my pain?

I, who had sold myself to Leon after he offered me a silver lining to help me save my late father’s company and also put my ill mother in a good hospital? Or should I blame Leon, my husband who had cheated on me even after I had given him my all?

My breath stuck in my throat, my eyes stung but no tears fell. It was like my eyes were tired of crying, it was tired of being used everyday for no purpose other than seeing painful things and shedding tears.

It got to a point, my legs felt heavy, they didn't want to walk anymore, it seemed they were also tired of everything, my lips parted to cry out, but all I was able to let out were whimpers, but they still tell how much pain I carried in me at this moment.

I slid down the wall, my eyes staring at the other side of the wall in a daze, my body felt so weak, and my brain didn't even think about being seen or meeting danger in this alley where I sat.

I could remember the day I met with Leon after my mother had begged me to, though I didn't want to get involved with him, I also knew there was no other way, and the only person available to solve my family problems was now my husband—Leon Stone, a prominent figure in the country. The CEO of the biggest entertainment industry in the country and the heartthrob of the citizens.

I had thought the marriage was going to be a fairy tale as everyone considered me lucky, including myself, but who knew it would become my nightmare…

My heart hurts so much…

I closed my eyes tightly, my brows furrowed as my heart ached so much making me helpless. I placed my hand on my chest, parted my lips to exhale and take in air, but the more I recalled the memories of how I had suffered and how much pain I had to endure in my marriage with Leon, the more it ached.

“Leon… But—Why?” I muttered as confusion flashed through my eyes.

I had been the perfect wife for him, I endured his emotional and physical abuse and still put up a blissful smile with him whenever we went to events or in the presence of the media.

I have always known he took pleasure in my pains, and the more he hurt me, the happier he became, but I also guessed that he at least had some feeling for me because Leon had always been both cold and passionate, but—

I tried to smile, but only the corner of my lips tugged up.

“How naive, Akira…How silly you are!” I muttered, then burst out in laughter.

The laughter wasn’t anything joyful, but it was filled with self-mockery, pain and self-anger.

How stupid I was to think a man who could let his own wife abort his own child, not just once but so many times could change and love me? How silly and innocent I was to think he had only me in his heart?

I raised my hand and a slap was heard, loud and clear in the alley. The pain wasn't enough, I wished I could beat my silly self up, I wished I could scold and inflict pain I would never forget on myself.

But then, the pain of catching my husband Leon cheating on me with another woman in his office was more than enough pain for me to remember.

I had thought my tears wouldn't fall, but the moment I recalled the image of him slamming deeply into the woman on his work table in his office, the more my tears gushed out.

So painful…

“I hate you, Leon, I hate you so much!” I cried out finally, my trembling body falling to the ground, my chest heaving from intense emotions.

Imagine going to see your husband with a smile on your face, but all you got was humiliation, pain and disappointment.

I could see the picture of his expression when he saw me.

No shock, no regret, just pure coldness and dissatisfaction was all I saw on his face.

“Why didn't you knock before coming in?!”

He had yelled at me coldly and when I questioned what he was doing, my husband had chuckled indifferently, then pushed his mistress down and kissed her in front of me.

There was no single respect, just pure indifference and coldness that left me shattered, and made me realize I had been wrong all along.

I hadn't said a word after that, but instead turned around and walked away from his office and even after I had closed the door, I could still hear the moans and groans of both he and his mistress.

I had run off as I couldn't stand being there, I had also forgotten I drove to his office, and by the time I snapped out of my daze, I was in this alley, but I knew it was somewhere close to his office.

After crying so hard, my eyes flashed with heavy emotions, my heart forcefully returned to calm and more than that, I sat up with a resolute face.

“It is not too late, Akira! Since you’ve realised it all, then it's time to regain your freedom!” I spat out with so much determination, my eyes shone brightly and my breath which had been heavy turned lighter.

Something suddenly flashed through my brain and I froze in shock.

That's it! I want my freedom! I don't want to be used by him anymore, I don't want to be locked in this draining marriage anymore, and I don't want to harm my children anymore! I want to leave Leon Stone! But—

How do I do that?

My excitement cooled down at the question, the light that I had managed to let out dimmed again, and my blood which had surged in excitement calmed.

Who doesn't know Leon Stone was powerful and Ruthless? He was someone who was possessive and except he let you go, there was no chance of leaving.

Besides, what others don't know is that Leon is a psychopath! An abuser!

My body trembled the more I thought about that madman. My eyes flashed in terror when I remembered all he had done. So, how can I regain my freedom from someone like that?

After some minutes during which I still hadn't been able to think of a solution, I stood up from the ground, resignedly, dusted my skirt, and then, with swollen red eyes, I stumbled as I walked out of the alley.

I didn't know when I got to the main road, and I also didn't care how people looked at me.

My hand stretched out to stop a taxi, and only after I entered did my tensed shoulders settle down.

As I sat there inside the car, my mind was weighed with so many thoughts, then—

“RING!!”

My body jolted at the sound, and my brain snapped back. I immediately pulled out my phone from my bag, wiped my tears, and unlocked my phone, but what I saw stunned me—

“Hi, please, keep this a secret. I’m Stella, and I would like us to meet. I have a way to help you regain your freedom from your Husband, Leon Stone!”