Chapter 3

The next morning, Astrid woke up feeling horrible and weak. She was unable to get a wink of sleep after hearing her husband's words last night.

She got up early as she always did whatever he was around just to prepare his breakfast. Although, he employed a chef to handle his meals, Astrid wanted to be the one making his meals.

After taking cooking classes for a month, she began to take charge of what he ate.

Beaming with happiness that he always ate her food, she got the energy to leave her bed and prepare for the day.

However, her smile was wiped off when she saw Victoria in her kitchen.

"Good morning," she greeted with a sly smile that infuriated Astrid.

"What do you think you are doing?!" Astrid questioned her, her voice now on a high tempo.

She walked up to Victoria, and snatched the bowl of eggs she was holding and made a horrible mess.

"Did I not tell you to let me take care of you? You should know your boundaries Miss Victoria," Astrid cautioned her.

Even though her husband welcomed her into their home, Victoria had no right to trespass into her kitchen left alone to make food for her husband.

It was embarrassing enough that she stole her husband's attention. But Astrid was not going to let her assume her duties, never.

Sighting Rowan from her peripheral view, Victoria fell to the floor.

"Ahhh, why did you hit me? All I ever did was to help you out of my good heart," Victoria cried.

Astrid was confused about her sudden drama and froze when she heard her husband's voice.

"What do you think you are doing?!" He growled at her.

"I did not do anything," Astrid defended herself but Rowan walked past her and went to Victoria who was sprawled on the floor.

Astrid was shocked at how she twisted the truth and acted like she was pushed to the floor.

"What happened?" Rowan asked for an explanation but Astrid was too shocked to explain.

"I tried to cook up something for breakfast. But she came in and yelled at me for being in her space. When I tried to explain to her, she snatched the bowl of eggs I was mixing and hit me. When I cried out she pushed me to the ground. Now, my waist hurts," Victoria lied.

Astrid stumbled backwards from her pretense. This was her first time meeting a pathological liar.

"That is not true," she whispered aloud.

"How else would you explain the mess you caused?" Rowan pointed at the spilled eggs on the floor.

"She is lying, Rowan. I didn't even touch her," Astrid defended herself yet Rowan chose to believe his childhood sweetheart.

"I am so disappointed in you," he said and walked away with Victoria in his arms.

Astrid clenched her fist and blinked back her tears as she watched her husband carry another woman. He never treated her with such gentleness before.

Her heart swelled with pain yet all she could do was hold back.

Chef Gladline walked in, confused at the mess. Astrid didn't bother to give her an explanation and instructed her to prepare breakfast for the day.

She went up to her room and took her phone with tears in her eyes, she called her best friend, Rose Wright.

"My sweet buttercup," she answered on the first ring.

"Rose," Astrid said with a teary voice that got her best friend worried.

"What's wrong?"

"It's Rowan. He...I...think he is going to kick me out soon. His... Victoria is back... living in our house," Astrid cried.

"What? How dare he do such a thing? Does his Grandma know about this? I am coming over," Rose sparked over the phone.

"No, you don't have to come over. I just don't know what to do. He will hate me more if I tell his Grandma about this. I don't want him to hate me, Rose," Astrid complained. Even though she was hurt by his actions, she couldn't stand to lose him.

Her love for him was too much for her to whisk away all because of a woman who suddenly appeared out of nowhere.

After wailing to her best friend, she listened to her advice and told her not to worry too much.

"If he continues to act like that then tell his Grandma or I will," Rose said.

"Please, don't. I will try to talk to him. Maybe, come to peace with Victoria," Astrid foolishly muttered.

"Don't do that! She is the threat in your marriage. If she keeps persisting, call me and I will give her a good beating. Then we will go on vacation in Miami and have a wonderful time together. So please don't cry. That bitch is not worthy of your tears," Rose consoled her.

After talking to Rose, she felt better and more determined to fight for her husband's attention.

She went down to the dining room and met them. Astrid scoffed in her mind at the audacity of the woman beside her husband.

The drama she had played this morning still shocked her. A grand pathological liar.

"Good morning," Astrid greeted, ignoring the cold gaze her husband threw at her.

"Good morning, young Miss. You are looking sad. Did you not sleep well last night?" The little boy asked and Astrid smiled at him.

He was more thoughtful than her ignorant husband.

"Something got into my eyes," Astrid said just to put the boy's mind at ease.

"My Grandma always blew air in my eyes whenever something got into them. Would you like me to do the same for you?" The boy innocently asked and Astrid's heart reached out to him.

He was kind and well brought up unlike his mother who hid under a sheep's clothing.

"Thank you, little one but my eyes are good now," she said and the boy turned to his food.

After a minute of silence, Rowan cleared his throat and asked the maid in the room to summon everyone.

Once they were gathered, he got up from his chair and made an announcement that shattered Astrid's pride.

"As from today, Victoria will be third in command in this household. You will attend to her demands and make sure she doesn't lack anything," he declared and they obeyed without raising any objections.

However, Astrid was against his decision. As it was a trample to her pride and power as his wife.

"Rowan, you can't give such authority to her when I am here. She is your guest and she has to remain as your guest," Astrid said even though she was nervous at the same time.

"And let you repeat what you did this morning?" He blurted out and Astrid went silent. The fact that he didn't believe, hit her hard.

"If that is the case, then give me an explanation why they are here? Tell me who they are to you. I have every right to know. So please, tell me," Astrid said with a subtle voice.

She was all cracked inside. The man she loved still cherished his past lover. She thought that he would learn to love her, to accept her but now she realized that she would always be the last priority in his life.

All he cared about was his company, wealth and now his past lover.

"Of course, you deserve to know about their connection to me. Astrid, this is my son, Noah and his mother, Victoria. They will be staying with us as it is my responsibility to care for them," he shamelessly said.

Astrid couldn't find the right words to say anymore. Her husband had a child, that was his mistake in the past. But now he was feeling less concerned about her feelings and only thinks about his responsibility.

She looked at the little boy beside her and couldn't bring herself to hate him.

‘Don't let your emotions control you, Astrid. You can do this. Everyone makes mistakes.' she mumbled in her mind and a little smile broke out on her face.

“If you are going to grant her authority over the entire house, exempt the kitchen. It is mine alone to handle," Astrid said with a calm voice as she stared at her husband with the hint of betrayal written on her forehead.

Victoria tried to object to her wish but Rowan stopped her and granted his wife what she desired.

After having breakfast, Astrid went to the backyard, where she tended to her little garden of flowers. Aside from cooking, she vested her time in the garden.

While she was enjoying her peaceful time caring for her flowers, Victoria and her son came into the garden.

Astrid tried not to mind them but Victoria's intention was to provoke her.

She threw a little ball at Astrid and pretended not to have seen her. Astrid knew too well that she came for trouble and chose to ignore her.

Later on, Rowan joined them in the garden as he wanted to bond with his son more. They were all together in harmony until Victoria decided to play dirty.

"Let me help you with the bucket," Victoria said to Astrid.

"No, I don't need your help," Astrid answered and turned away from her.

Suddenly, Noah cried out in pain and Victoria screamed.

"What did you do to my son!"

Astrid stood shocked as she watched Victoria hold up her son who was bleeding on his face.

Before she could move an inch, Rowan rushed past her, quaking her in the process.

"Rowan, please save my child. Your wife is so cruel. I know that she doesn't like me but why did it have to be our son," Victoria vomited those words laying a strong emphasis on *our son*.

Without clarification, Rowan turned to Astrid and yelled at her. "How can you be so wicked?! Don't you ever come close to my son again! Or I will call the police," he spat out.

It was there and then Astrid realized that she wasn't needed anymore. Her husband's actions already made it clear to her that he would always show his childhood sweetheart over her.

Astrid didn't bother to utter a word as it was no use trying to convince them. She stormed up to her room, picked up her phone and dialed a number.

"It is time, get me the papers." She ordered, brooding with anger.