Taking a deep breath, I searched the place where the party was happening. It was an hour away from the restaurant. I pondered if I should return home, and wait for him instead, but I needed to see Ace right that moment.

Was he still in love with Elena like everyone said?

Ace had changed since Elena left. He became cold, but he slowly changed his feelings toward me. We soon got together, and had a happy married life.

However, he started coming late, and was always busy in these recent months. Sometimes, he didn't return home in a week. I missed him.

I had to go to the party.

*****

Walking inside the loud bar, I made it to them. My heart felt suffocating with the loud music, it was unbearable.

As I was about to give Ace a surprise hug from the behind, I froze, my eyes widened.

“One kiss! One kiss! One kiss!” Everyone screamed when Ace wrapped Elena in his arms, and kissed her over her lips, passionate and gentle.

“Yay!” their cheers became louder, but all I could focus on was Ace, and Elena.

Just then Dave spotted me, and his face soured. “What are you doing here?”

Dave was Ace’s friend, who never liked me. Or, rather couldn't stand me.

I walked up, trying to maintain a calm composure. After all, it was just a ‘dare.’

As I watched Ace, he instinctively rubbed the lipstick mark on his face. “It was a dare.” He said nonchalantly.

I simply nodded, and sat beside Ace. Though I appeared calm, my heart completely shattered on the scene. A dare?

My thoughts were interrupted as Dave scoffed, “What's there to explain? Can't you even play dare now? Or, will she get jealous just because of such a petty matter?”

Before Ace could reply, I interrupted sarcastically, “Of course, I understand that it was just a dare. I don't remember I said anything or did I? Oh, yeah, it'd be extremely petty of me to say something when my husband kisses his ex for a dare, isn't it?”

“Ashley!” Ace screamed.

Dave’s face glistened with anger as he said, “I don't remember you were invited. Shouldn't you at least be ashamed that you came uninvited?”

I tilted my head in confusion. “Weren't we all invited? Can't I come to the party my husband threw?” I said, while showing him the message in the group.

Dave’s brows furrowed. “I forgot, you were still in the group. But you should at least be understanding that Elena doesn't want to see you.”

At last, Elena placed the wine glass on the table, and interrupted, “Don't be like this, guys. Of course, we're all good friends, and Ashley is Ace’s wife so, of course she is invited.”

“You're just too kind.”

Elena stood up, and offered me a glass of wine. “Hope you don't mind them. They're just unhappy for me.”

My lips parted, and I shook my head at the wine. I had cancer, and was carrying a baby. I can't take the glass of wine. “I can't drink wine.”

Elena’s face twitched. “Is it because you're unhappy with my return? Or, about what happened just now? It was just a dare, Ashley. It meant nothing. I didn't think you'd mind that.”

“You think too much, I can't have wine right now.”

“Don't be so arrogant, Ashley! Since, she's offering it to you, have it!” David spoke.

Ace frowned, and whispered in my ears, “Just drink it.”

I shook my head when Ace’s voice grew louder. “What's with you? When did you stop drinking wine? Are you messing here? Just have it.”

I frowned, and said out loud, “I won't have it!”

Elena sighed, and grabbed Ace’s arms. “It's okay, it's just a drink… Maybe she doesn't like me.”

Ace massaged his forehead, and took the glass of wine from Elena as he forcefully opened my mouth, and forced me to gulp the wine down.

I coughed, and my insides felt like it burnt as Ace let me go, and I pushed him aside.

“Don't be dramatic.” Ace said coldly when I stared at him with anger.

I stood up, feeling pain in my stomach, trying to suppress my anger as I walked towards the door.

“Ashley, come back.”

I paid no attention to his words, and opened the words when Ace said, frustrated, “If you leave, don't bother to come back. Not even in my house.”

I sneakered, looking away as I held on to my stomach, and let the tears drop as I walked out of there.

Here I was carrying my child for him despite my cancer, and ready to give up my life. But here, he was with his ex, and his ‘friends’ were humiliating me.

As I walked out of the bar, my legs gave up, and I dropped on my knees. The pain was suffocating, and it dulled my senses. My vision blurred, and I couldn't look properly.

“I have to go to the hospital,” I murmured, trying to walk to the hospital when I almost crashed into a car, but a hand pulled me from behind.

“ARE YOU TRYING TO DIE?”

I fell to his chest, unable to balance myself.

“Ashley?”

Did he know me? I managed to look up for a moment when I saw Asher.

Asher Parker, the CEO of Fortune Corp Company. I had met him a few times while I helped Ace deal with other businessmen. He was Ace’s enemy. They were business competitors, and were never on good terms. And, I— I had only met him when Ace wanted to avoid him, or when I stopped their fights.

I frowned, and tried to push him away, and walk but I ended up falling into his arms again.

“Don't move,” he said, pulling me closer. Strange, I felt relieved and relaxed in his arms. His voice was cold, but I could hear a strange gentleness from it which comforted me.

“Hng,” I cried out as the pain kicked in again, and I wrapped him tighter, wincing in pain.

“How the fuck does your husband take care off you?”

I laughed at his words as tears dropped from my eyes. “He is busy with his ex, no, his true lover, and his friend right now.”

He frowned as he pulled me up in his arms when I shook in pain. “What are you doing?”

“Can you walk?”

I went silent, my senses were dull and I barely had any strength left.

“Strange. You don't seem to drink much.”

“Take me to hospital…” I murmured slowly and let a tear drop as I heard him, and soon, my consciousness faded.

*****

As I woke up, I found myself still in Asher’s arms. I tried to push him away as I watched him carry me on the way to the doctor's.

“Don't be embarrassed. You fainted right now so, don't be strenuous.”

I took a deep breath, and stopped saying a word to him. It was futile.

All this time, he didn't let go off me, and continued to care for me. It felt as if he was Ace, my husband. But, it was funny, my husband was with his ex at this moment while I was accompanied by his enemy.

I could hear the gossips among the patients, and nurses, taking us as a couple, but I paid no attention. Soon, the doctor came to check us up with my reports.

“I don't know what's happening but your report seems off. I'd recommend you to go through some scans.”

My lips parted, and I hesitated for a moment. “There is no need. I'm pregnant.”

The doctor’s lips widened. “Oh, this is sweet!” he paused for a moment, before adding, “but, this report still doesn't seem to match. It's best if you check your body for yourself, and your baby.”

I heaved a sigh. “I wasn't finished, doctor. I have gastric cancer.”

The doctor's face paled, and went silent.

“What the heck?” Asher asked in surprise.

“I… I'm sorry.”

“It's fine.”

“Well, can your husband sign the paperwork?”

“He isn't my husband.” I paused for a minute, before adding, “Neither my boyfriend, nor my family member. And… I'm divorcing my husband soon.”

The doctor blankly nodded in a loss of words, and gave me the paperwork, which I signed without taking another look. “Can I meet Dr. Smith, right now?”

“Yeah, he's free.”

I smiled, getting up, my hands still tied with the saline as I staggered myself at his office. Asher followed me behind quietly.

Just as I was entering, I turned towards him. “Can you come with me?”

He looked at me wide-eyed when I shrugged. “I don't want to go through all of this alone…”

I was about to enter when he grabbed my hands and nodded, before pushing the door open.

“Miss Ashley?” the doctor asked in surprise as we entered.

“Doctor, I've thought about it. I'll go with the treatment.” I paused for a moment before adding, “I'll abort the baby.”

We didn't stay inside for long, I just let him know the change of my decision.

As I walked out of the hospital, Asher finally said, “What are you planning to do now?”

“Divorce.” I said with no emotion.

I had given up everything for this month. Eight years. Eight years of my entire youth, I spent on him, never stopped loving him. I was the one who helped him with his company, when no one was here for him. I was also the one taking care of his family. I even went against my family just to marry him, but in the end, I was abandoned. Just her coming back, and he was ready to leave behind everything we did. In the end, my parents, and brother were correct.

Asher broke my thoughts as he just politely took my hand, and went to the garage where his car was parked.

“Does he know?” he finally spoke as we got inside.

I shook my head. “Funny thing, except for my doctor, you're the second to know.”

He frowned. I could see the pity he felt for me in his eyes.

“I planned to tell him today, but it seems like I had finally woken up from a long dream today. I'm happy, look. He can finally be with the one he loves.”

He stopped, and cast a glare. He didn't say a word, but I immediately stopped what I was saying.

Asher drove me back home, and as I got out, I saw Ace, and his friends coming inside, drunk.

“Look, here she is! After all, she can't be without Ace!”

“Looking at her face makes me disgusted. How did you end up marrying this scheming woman? She's the one who schemed against you both, getting between you and Elena.”

My eyebrows shot up. What did he mean by I came between them?

Ace frowned and walked nearer. “Apologise now for what you did back there, or just get the heck out of my house.”

I sneakered, looking away, holding back the tears.

“What the heck are you doing?” he scorned as I entered inside.

“I'm leaving.” I said disdainfully as I stormed inside.

Hastily, I picked my dresses, jewelleries, and everything that belonged to me, that I bought by myself.

And, it fit all in one bag.

Ace had given me some bags, and some luxurious items, but I was going to take none of them. I wanted to cut him off completely.

But my heart still throbbed when I thought about the photos. Over the years, I created an album, containing every memory of ours, and I couldn't help but look at it for the last time.

It was the last time I comforted myself as I started looking at the photos.

However as I was looking, my eyes fell on a distant album.

“Was this ours too? I don't remember seeing it before.” I asked as I took it out.

The album was neat, no dust has fallen on it. It must have been opened regularly, or recently.

Curiously, I opened the album, and my heart sank looking at the pictures. I gulped, and looked through every page.

It was Ace’s album. All the photos belonged to him, and Elena. Worst, all the places we had been together, and even his favourite restaurant were their date spots. And, it wasn't his favourite restaurant but Elena’s. All along, Ace had just taken me as a substitute.

My heart completely shattered. I laughed seeing the pictures as I placed them back at the same spot.

I had been stupid, ignorant.

Rubbing the tears off my face, I took my bag, and stormed out of the room.

Walking out, I saw Ace, and his friends were still there.

“How do you stay with this woman? Divorce her already. Elena is already back, and she still loves you.”

I laughed. “We're getting a divorce. But, it's me who's divorcing him.”

Ace frowned, massaging his forehead. Where are you going now? What drama is this?”

I didn't reply to him, instead, I said, “My lawyers will soon send you the papers. Please sign them, and be with your sweet Elena.”

Ace scoffed. “I'd like to see how you stay out there. Don't take my money, and anything.”

“Don't worry, I haven't touched anything that belonged to you, and I won't be taking any of them.” I said, walking forward as I heard them making a bet.

“I bet she's returning in two days.”

“One day.”

Ace cold-heartedly replied, mocking me. “I bet in an hour.”

Gulping, I bit my lips as I let out my tears. He was wrong. I wasn't coming back anymore. This time, I won't be living into his whims.