Seven Years of Marriage I Sent Myself to the Crematorium - Chapter 2

Chapter 2

In the middle of the night, after Asher fell asleep holding me, I still couldn’t resist getting up and heading to the study.

His words, telling me he didn’t love me, and the photo albums and love letters I found on his computer were enough to crush any hope I had left.

But seven years with him weren’t an illusion. We had shared so many sweet moments, memories that refused to let me go. I walked over to the small safe on the desk. It felt like Pandora’s box, mysterious and dangerous.

Back when we used to have sex in the much. He always dodged the question, refused to give me the code, and just teased me to guess.

I tried everything. My birthday, his birthday, our wedding anniversary, but none of them worked. With trembling hands, I entered Serena’s birthday, and for the first time, I hoped I was wrong.

The safe opened, and my heart plummeted. Inside was a pair of rings engraved with A&S. It stood for Asher and Serena. The design was old–fashioned, yet the rings were pristine and clearly cared for with great attention.

All the strength drained from my body at that moment, leaving me hollow. It felt as directly into my heart. No matter how naive I had been, I couldn’t deny the truth anymore. Asher had never loved me.

The next day, I went against Asher’s wishes for the first time and decided to attend the party.

Asher frowned slightly but didn’t stop me. Instead, he reminded me, “You can go, but Lila, you’re so beautiful. You must stay by my side. If Serena tries to bully you, I’ll be there to protect you.”

Asher acted like a loyal little dog, eager to please. But I knew he wasn’t protecting me. He was afraid I’d escape his control or outshine Serena.

I had no such intentions.

With my staged death approaching, all I wanted was to say goodbye to the directors and screenwriters who had helped me along the way. The moment I entered, all eyes were drawn to Serena and me.

Someone said, “The lead actress for Anthony’s next movie will surely be Lila. She’s got Asher backing her and undeniable talent.”

Serena overheard this and stormed over, She snapped, “What makes you think that? That role is mine!”

The crowd exchanged dismissive glances.

“Compared to Lila, don’t you think you’re out of your league? You shouldn’t get too full of yourself.”

“Exactly. Although you’re Mrs. Graham now, Lila is married into the Whitman family. It’s pretty obvious who has the upper hand here.”

“Right. You’ve only won a minor film award. A little humility wouldn’t hurt.”

Serena stomped her feet. “Just you wait! I’ll make you all eat your words!” She shot, me a venomous glare. “And you, enjoy your moment while it lasts. Let’s see who ends up humiliated later! Ugh!”

With that, Serena strode up and shoved me hard. I lost my balance and stumbled. My knee slammed into the corner of a table. The sharp pain brought tears to my eyes.

But Asher, who had sworn to protect me tonight, stood by as if nothing had happened, allowing Serena to do as she pleased.

I lowered my gaze, trying to suppress the bitter ache in my chest. Just then, the lights in the hall dimmed, leaving the room in darkness. It was time to reveal the lead actress of the highly anticipated film.

“Let’s all congratulate… Serena Hayes! Special thanks to Sam Wheeler, the screenwriter whose work has grossed over ten billion dollars at the box office. This time, he not only waived his fee but also invested 300 million dollars to ensure Serena would star in his new movie. She’s his one and only muse, his true inspiration!”

Serena ascended the stage, grabbing the microphone with a triumphant smirk. “Lila, after all these years, you still can’t beat me at anything. Loser!” She stood under the spotlight, surrounded by praise and admiration.

I turned to look at Asher beside me. He held my hand, but his eyes glowed joyfully, for Serena’s victory. My heart sank. I smiled bitterly.

I accidentally came across Sam’s manuscript in the Whitman Villa’s study yesterday. The cover page read: [Dedicated to my one and only muse, Serena. From Sam Wheeler.]

I never spoken aloud. I had expected this. But seeing it unfold before my eyes still sent a wave of pain through my chest.

Anthony approached me, offering a soft reassurance. “It’s okay. You’ll always have a place as my leading lady.”

I forced a weak smile and shook my head. “Thank you for your kindness, but perhaps there won’t be a next time.”