chapter 2

Once it was evening, Astrid summoned all the workers and dismissed them early for the day. They were grateful to her and wished her a good time with her husband.

After they left, She went into the kitchen and prepared his favorite dish. She had a feeling that her husband would be back anytime soon.

However, she had no idea what was waiting for her ahead.

She carefully prepared for him and made sure that everything was in check. Her husband was particularly strict about cleanliness and order.

A little dust could change his mood and make him ignore her for days.

Meanwhile, Rowan, the coldest domineering CEO of the Wade group, sat at the back of his car with a little child in between him and a fair woman.

He had never thought he would meet the woman he once loved at the airport with his own child.

After his private jet landed in Los Angeles, he thought of going back to his grandmother's house first before returning home.

But he saw her, standing by the exit of the airport. The very woman who had left him yet his heart longed for her after her disappearance.

When she had told him of his son, he couldn't believe his ears and saw the resemblance of the child.

Now, he was bringing them home. His grandmother's call from earlier made him feel glad. As her wish for a great grandchild was finally granted.

As for his wife, he knew that she would accept them regardless of anything. To him, she was foolishly kind and that was why he had not divorced her yet.

She had tied him down with a marriage that he did not want. The least she could do now was accept whatever that he desires.

Once his driver arrived at his home, he carried his son out of the car and went up to the front door of his house.

Astrid who was waiting for him, rushed over to the door to welcome him home. She thought of different ways to greet him but when she opened the door, she froze at the spot. Unable to utter a word.

"Move aside," her husband coldly said and her heart deflated like a punctured balloon.

It was after he muttered those cold words to her that she realized that her husband had brought two foreigners home.

"Rowan," she finally got the courage to call his name. She demanded an explanation, the woman who brought he home, she recognized her.

When her husband was passing through hell because of this woman, she had watched him with a heavy heart and offered him her shoulders even though his pain was for another woman.

This woman was no other than Victoria James, her husband's childhood sweetheart. A slender woman with black long hair and eyes as brown almonds.

She had a bright smile on her face as she walked into the living room, observing the entire place with keen eyes.

"Hello, you must be Rowan's wife. Please take good care of me and your husband's son," she blurted out and Astrid's eyes darted to her husband.

Yet, he tried not to explain anything to her instead he said,“Prepare a place for them to stay."

He walked coldly walked away and all Astrid could do was clench her clothes and blink away the tears that formed in her eyes. She was too emotional and tender like a fragile glass.

Even at that she tried not to show any form of hurt and acted like everything was fine.

She showed Victoria to her room and went up to meet her husband. They stayed in different rooms but she wished for him to come down for dinner.

Astrid got to his room door and contemplated knocking for minutes before she got the courage to do so.

Once she did, the door opened instantly and her husband stood with his hair wet from the shower and his eyes as cold as ice.

"I...I wanted to let you know that dinner is ready," she managed to say, nervous to her toes.

He pulled her into his room and slammed the door shut. A terrified gasp escaped from Astrid's mouth as he trapped her against the door.

Astrid's heart raced stupidly as his cold gaze scrutinized her.

"What was it you discussed with my Grandmother?" He questioned her and she shrunk against the door in fear.

"Nothing." She refused to talk and he squeezed her cheeks with his right hand.

"I have given you more than you deserve, Astrid. Don't bite more than you can chew because it will give you a bad belly ache. To be clear, don't expect me to have children with you," he sternly said and moved away from her.

Astrid was hurt by his words yet she did not remind him of coming down to dinner before she left his room.

She went to her bedroom, and broke down in tears as her husband's return was nothing but a thorn to her chest. She knew he did not love her but tried all she could to make him see her in a good light.

Yet he had no place in his heart for her. After staying in her room for a few minutes, she went down to set the table.

However, her husband was already in the dining room eating the dinner she had made with his childhood sweetheart.

Upon noticing her presence, Victoria got up from her chair and turned to Astrid.

"Oh, I had to set the table since you were not available. I hope you don't mind me doing so and the food is quite healthy," Victoria said.

She had intentionally set the table just to get on Astrid's nerves but Astrid showed no sign of being offended as her heart was still heavy.

"Next time, let me take care of you," Astrid replied and joined them.

They continued to eat and Astrid watched them crack jokes and laugh. It was the first time she had ever seen her husband so happy. He never looked at her with this much joy in his eyes as he looked at his childhood sweetheart.

All through, she was made insignificant. Her husband was so engrossed in his childhood sweetheart to even notice her.

She picked her food until she couldn't bear to watch her husband anymore. As she was about to leave, the little boy beside her got up with her.

"Please, young Miss, can you take me to my room?" He asked and Astrid turned to the duo whose attention was now on her.

"Yes, come. I will send you to your room," Astrid smiled at the child and took him away from the dining room.

After tucking the boy to sleep, she went back to her room and tried to sleep but her mind kept wondering about her husband and the unwanted guest.

She became to ponder on her actions, whether it was right for her to leave them alone in their own space.

Unable to settle with her thoughts, she got up from her bed and went to her husband's room. She knocked, wondering if he had retired to bed already. A part of her wanted to leave but she was too scared that her marriage would crumble if she let things go as they are.

After standing at the door for ten minutes, she gave up on waiting and turned to leave, but the door clicked open.

"Why are you here?" Her husband's cold voice echoed through the hall.

She smiled within seeing that he wasn't with the unwanted guest.

"I...just wanted to say goodnight. Sorry for disturbing your peace. I will take my leave now," she hurriedly said and turned on her heels to leave.

"Tomorrow, I have an announcement to make. Be up early," he informed her and Astrid returned to her room full of anxiety against tomorrow.