Chapter 2

Ava's Pov

Gold Star Hotel was just another one of the Parker group's various hotels that was spread all over California. Tonight, it was illuminated with bright lights, and I could see a large mural of us right outside.

It was my favourite picture of us, and it had been taken days before the wedding. Jerome was behind me, his chin resting on my shoulder, a smile on his face. His dimples sunk in, his eyes held twinkles, and he was holding me around my shoulders, and his other hand rested on my waist.

I still wonder where that Jerome went. Was he just very good at acting? Did he never really care for the wedding? A part of me wanted to believe that he at least cared for me. That something hard changed after the wedding, but he... at some point in time, cared for me.

I slowly got out of the car and walked up to the front entrance. I stopped by the mural again, and I took in a sharp breath. Maybe I just had to wait five years. Maybe I just had to wait a little more.

A sigh left my lips, and I made my way up towards the banquet hall. I took the spiral stairs, and the attendants opened the large doors.

The party was as elegant as ever, with some of the most dignified names in the city sitting around, holding glasses of expensive wine, and chatting away leisurely.

My eyes scanned the room for my husband. He was nowhere to be found, and my face fell. What if he decided not to come anymore?

It was something Jerome could very well do, but hell, I hoped he wouldn't.

I slowly walked into the room, my eyes scanning around, all the way up to the balconies. He was nowhere.

"Ladies and gentlemen!" Came a sudden announcement, and the lights in the room dimmed.

I stopped walking, the same sense ofndread that I had felt in the car heightening.

"Today, we are here to celebrate love. To celebrate affection, endurance, and the beauty of marriage."

I bit down on my lips, then grabbed a random seat while the announcement continued.

"Love is a commitment. A beautiful harmony that goes beyond souls and hearts. Please welcome our couple for tonight! CEO Jerome Parker, and his beautiful wife, Mrs. Parker."

I slowly stood up, unsure of what to do. The lights were dim, and the spotlights were on the balcony. Was Jerome up there? Was I supposed to go up there?

I hated how clueless I felt as I waddled my way towards the slightly elevated floor, armed with nothing but the wedding band on my left hand that convinced me that I really was Jerome's wife.

I took in a deep breath, my eyes fixed on my feet. It was still dark where I was, and I wondered if this would be some kind of surprise reveal.

"A round of applause again!"

I slowly looked up, and my heart dropped. All of the hope I had been holding on to shattered on the floor in front of me, and I felt like the pieces were poking me from the inside, stopping me from breathing.

Jerome was making his way slowly down the stairs, his eyes as cold as ever, his hair beautifully styled to cover his left eye. Just that... he wasn't alone. I could clearly see the red dress that looked like what I was wearing and the hand of a woman hanging on his arm in a way that he had never held me.

The thunderous applause continued, but it all seemed to fade away into white noise. I watched as Jerome made his way down before they finally turned. I gasped, my eyes wide.

Autumn, my own sister, was hanging on his arm, a smug smile on her face. My purse fell from my hand and landed right on the floor next to my feet as the spotlight followed them.

A slow instrumental song came on as they finally made their way to me. Jerome met my eyes and simply turned away, while Autimn gave me an even bigger smile.

The lights came on again, and I took them both in. She was wearing a red dress, just like Jerome had told me to wear. Why? Why would he....

"Lil sis. You are here. Was there no seat for you?"

My eyes met Autumn's, and I could barely breathe. "A... a seat for me?"

"Mhm," she said, her smile big and proud. "With the guests."

Tears stung the back of my eyes. Why was Autumn doing this? Why would she do this? She and I... we have always been close. She was happy when I married Jerome. She came dress shopping with me. She did everything with me. Was this some sort of sick, twisted joke?

I looked down at the hand she stil had in Jerome's arm. "You are... you are holding my husband's arm, Autumn."

She gave a small laugh. "I am sorry, sis, but not tonight. Tonight, you sit with the guests."

I turned to Jerome. He was looking away from both of us, like he couldn't bring himself to chi in a word for me, his wife.

But why would he? He willingly participated in this.

"Why?" Was all I could say, my chest heaving hard. "Why would you invite me just so you could do this? Since when have you two been..."

"You are causing a scene, Ava," Jerome finally said, turning to me. "Please take a seat and let the night go on."

I couldn't believe the disrespect. The sheer audacity that the both of them had to tell me to sit with the guests while my husband held another woman. How could they?

"No," I said, for the first time blatantly going against Jerome. "I need an explanation. I am the one who is married to you. I am the true Mrs. Parker. Tonight is our anniversary, so why? Is this some sick joke? Is this some stupid way to..."

Jerome suddenly covered the distance to me, shielding Autumn with his body. He towered above me, his eyes cold as ice.

"Go take a seat right now, Ava."

Tears ran down my cheeks before I could even stop them. My heart broke like glass, and I felt my knees wobble underneath me.

I looked up to the eyes of the man I had loved all my life, and for the first time, I removed the rose coloured glasses. He didn't care about me. Not one bit.

"How long?" I asked, my voice shaky. "How long have you been cheating on me with my own sister, Jerome?"

"I am sorry," Autumn said, grabbing a glass of wine. "You are the other woman, sweetheart. You barged in, and just like your lying, snatching mother, you took him away from me!"

"Enough!" Jerome said, turning to Autumn. "Don't you dare."

"Well, I need to tell her the truth!" Autumn yelled, her eyes wide and filled with hate. "She keeps sabotaging everything! I worked hard to plan this night, and she is ruining it! I worked hard so I could announce the coming of our baby, and this woman has to ruin everything!"

"What?" I said, the same time Jerome did.

"Yes," Autumn said, then opened the black purse she was holding and grabbed a few ultrasound images. "We are expecting a child, Jerome. All those passionate nights... we are finally going to have our own little child. A combination of me and you. I am pregnant, Jerome."

Rage blinded me, and before I could think, I turned to Jerome. He looked shocked and confused, but I didn't care.

"You got my sister pregnant?"

"Ava..."

I slapped his cheek hard, my eyes wide with tears, my body trembling. An hour ago, I would never have imagined hitting Jerome. But here I was. I hadn't imagined that he would get my sister pregnant, too, when the only time he only touched me was when he was under the influence of alcohol.

"Have you finally gone mad?!" Autumn yelled, but Jerome held her back, his eyes meeting mine.

His hair was a little dishevelled, and he looked even more closed off. His eyes were a blank, emotionless slate.

"You.... you are an animal, Jerome. You didn't deserve three years of my life."

"What are you going to do?" He asked, his voice low. "You are still married to me."

I nodded, my heart breaking, my soul shattering, but I had to do this. This was the limit. I had only stayed because I believed I was the only woman. Knowing that he would always have a child with my own sister... that was something I couldn't possibly forgive.

"You are right. I am married to you. For now."

I removed the wedding ring I had always cherished and threw it right to him, my chest heaving.

"I am divorcing you, Jerome Parker. She can have you."