She would never forget this night.
Her wedding anniversary.
The night she lost everything.
The music was loud, the champagne sparkling, laughter echoing through the luxurious hall lit with golden chandeliers. Guests danced, cameras flashed.
But Allysa stood still, bored and uninterested in it all.
"Hey, Allysa!" someone called out.
A female—she was dressed in a silky black gown, specially made for the occasion.
Her eyes glowed with concern. "Why the long face? This is your night."
Allysa gave a weak smile. "Yeah, I know."
"You haven't seen Bruce, have you?" she asked, scanning the crowd.
That was the problem.
She hadn't.
Not since she signed the legal documents—papers that made him the sole CEO of the company she inherited from her family.
Her anniversary gift. A symbol of her love and trust.
She didn't know exactly why she passed ownership of the company to him. She just wanted to do something—something he would remember.
She felt he was drifting away from her.
Allysa's chest tightened, breath hitching as she thought about Bruce.
He always bullied her and made her feel less of herself. He always ingrained it in her memory that she was nothing.
He made her feel worthless— like her value only existed his shadow.
And that value was what she hoped he would give her by passing her company to him. She hoped he would recognize her.
But he was nowhere to be found.
"I've tried calling him," Allysa said, voice tight, pained. "Switched off."
"That's... off." She frowned. "Maybe check his office quarters?"
Allysa hesitated, then nodded.
"Thanks, Jane," she said.
She moved quietly through the mansion, up the stairs, heart pounding harder with every step.
She reached his private suite and pushed the door open.
She froze. Her breath caught in her throat.
Silk shirt. Panties. A bra on the doorknob.
Then the sounds—wet, rhythmic, sensual.
A woman's moan, high, sharp, sickeningly familiar.
Her eyes slowly moved from the rumpled bed covers, up to the two figures frolicking on top of the bed.
No bother to even cover themselves.
'I hope this is not what I'm thinking,' she thought.
Goosebumps ran through her body. She was afraid of her worst fears coming true.
Then she saw him.
Bruce. Her husband.
Her lawfully wedded husband.
Naked.
With her assistant— Her personal assistant.
She was beneath him, moaning.
'No decency, no shame,' Allysa thought. By this time, tears streamed before she could even breathe.
Bruce was buried deep in her assistant, moving with a rhythm that was meant only for her. Or so she thought.
The sound of her moan was like a knife stabbing through Allysa's chest.
Allysa's body went cold. Her knees buckled.
She didn't scream. She stood frozen, wide-eyed, chest rising in jagged breaths.
The room spun, her head thumping loudly. She didn't blink.
Just then, Bruce turned—surprised to see the door open. Then he looked to the side and saw Allysa.
A cold, chilling smile appeared on his face.
"Allysa," he said.
The woman under him turned to see her and gasped.
Bruce did not even flinch.
"You weren't meant to see this... but maybe it's better you did. Now you know where you stand."
The assistant giggled. "Yeah, that's right."
The words tore through her heart faster than any bullet and more painful than any poison.
"So, what—"
"So what?! If it's about your company, I don't think anybody would be as stupid as you to give someone their company as a sign of love."
Tears streamed down her cheeks, her low self-esteem coming back. She started to feel less of herself.
'I guess I'm not just worth him, no matter how I try,' she thought.
"Allysa, in case you don't know, the only purpose of me marrying you was so I could acquire your company—legally, or from the shadows."
He chuckled like a maniac.
"And you made that easy for me."
Allysa wiped tears off her cheek.
"So you used me?"
"Love? you always mistook ownership for affection."
"You were useful. Nothing more."
He looked at her, a sardonic glint in his eyes.
"You never did mean anything." His voice was soft. His tone, harsh.
She stumbled back, vision blurry, head banging, the world tilting , making her feel dizzy.
Bruce turned back, chuckling, and focused on the lady before him.
Allysa turned to leave. She could not bear the sight.
She didn't remember which way she came. Her mind disoriented, she just let her feet and instinct guide her.
She walked down the stairs, toward the party area. She went to a table, snatched a bottle of brandy and a glass, and left.
Before long, someone headed toward her. As she was about to down another cup of the brandy, someone slapped the cup out of her hand.
The cup fell to the ground and shattered, broken into fragments.
Allysa stared at the cup, a strange look in her eyes. A tear dropped to the floor.
'Broken, just like my heart,' she thought.
"It was Bruce, wasn't it?" a familiar voice said. It was Jane.
Allysa looked up at her.
She nodded, another tear dropping to the ground.
"What did he do?"
"He was with Nacy. On our bed. Having sex. He was... going down on her... like I never mattered."
"Wait—Nacy, your assistant?"
"Not only that… he also said that I was never worth it… that he never loved me." Her voice was a whisper, barely audible above the loud music.
She sniffled.
"That he only married me for... my inheritance," she said, her voice slightly croaked from crying.
"That bastard. I'll give him a piece of my mind," Jane said, and headed up.
"There's no point. Since I'm nothing to him, and he does not need me… I don't think the world still needs me," she said.
Allysa used her hand to wipe her tears and ran upstairs, heading for the rooftop.
Jane was left stunned as she tried to process the words.
She screamed in realization and ran after Allysa.
She was at the rooftop of the four-storey building, staring down at the road. Cars looked like tiny dots from up there. She knew she would die if she jumped.
Allysa was about to step her foot on empty air when she paused and turned back.
"Allysa, stop! Why kill yourself over someone who doesn't deserve you?" she said, coming closer.
Allysa chuckled. Then shivered. The wind was heavy and cold.
'I guess I'm not just worth being alive... I'm sorry, Jane, its too late for this now.' she thought.
She stepped into empty air.
Her whole life flashed before her eyes. She shook her head, regret in her heart.
'If I have another chance... I'll make him pay.'
Jane lunged, held her hand, and tried to yank her back—but it was too late.
They both fell.