15. It hurts… I still love him.

I still can't believe it! I just can't believe it. That I actually married into Harford Group!

I've been trying to get it out of my head but it's almost impossible to do. And as if that's not already a big deal, he's offering me the position of Co-CEO of two thriving subs of Harford group! I can't believe this.

It is no hidden secret that I love fairytales… It is no big secret that I am a huge fan of your typical Cinderella kind of story. So yes, I always believed that it was very possible for a poor helpless young woman to meet and fall in love with a handsome rich guy who would turn her life around.

However, I have never, ever, ever, dreamed of something like this happening to me!

I mean think about it. Right now, after being kicked out of the family business, jilted and cheated of my possessions by my husband… ex-husband, I am literally the ugly, poor, helpless woman in a typical Cinderella story.

And I just happened to have coincidentally met a handsome rich guy… Although ours is not a story of love, he's still giving me not only his name, but if I agree to what he's offering, it means he's giving me money and power too!

As far as Gold group is a prosperous name, they are just nationwide famous. They recently just extended their arm into Asia and the business there is slowly starting to pick up.

Harford on the other hand… Harford is a global name. It's worldwide famous. Gold group cannot compare to it. Becoming a Co-Ceo feels like I'm becoming the queen of the company market! No, not queen, empress!

"This is insane." I say as I step out of the bathroom in a pink bathrobe.

"How is this even happening?" I mutter to myself as I walk to the closet. "This is the real case of when one door closes, a bigger, better, brighter one opens."

"This is so crazy and— Woahhhh" I gasp as I pull the door to the closet open and I'm just realizing it's a walk in closet.

"I got you a little stuff, you can manage them for now and go shopping later for more things you would need." I remember what he had said to me last night when he showed me the room I'd be using.

"A little stuff?!" I almost scream as I walk into the room of everything clothing and accessories! "Manage?!!" I place a hand over my mouth to muffle my scream.

"This man has a very bad definition of both little and manage!"

There's every kind of cloth I would ever need! From gowns to skirts, to trousers to shirts. From boots to heels, to sneakers to slippers.

Every damn thing!

I mean, I am suddenly feeling like I never actually knew what money and real wealth actually is. I thought as long as I could buy whatever I wanted again and again, I was rich.

But every definition I ever knew began to change the moment that man walked into my life. Now I think wealth is being able to buy, have and get what you want, what you don't want, and what you might never need just because you can.

"Because why the hell will I ever need or wear this thing?!" I wonder as I stare at the array of hats that look like they came right out of the year 1800's fashion magazine.

"This is insane."

…

After settling for a simple two-piece sweat suit, I'm about to step out of the room when something in the shoe section catches my attention.

Slowly, like an invisible force is pulling me, I walk toward the shelf of sneakers, and my hands can't stop themselves from picking up a blue one.

I have one just like this… Rowan got it for me earlier this year. I still remember the feeling of receiving a gift from him.

I was so happy. So, so happy because he had not gifted me with anything in a long time. I was so happy because he told me he thought of me when he saw them so he bought them for me. I was so happy to hear him say he thought about me.

But the joke was on me, hah.

He never loved me. Not even once… Not even for a little bit. From the moment we met, it was a lie. It was all a lie.

"Why?" I mutter the word into the air. "Why did you do that to me? You deceived me from the very beginning."

I suddenly see a wet spot on the blue shoe in my hands and only then do I realize I'm crying. And once I realize it, I can't stop myself from bawling.

I can't control my heart… It aches.

It hurts so bad because I love him. From the very first time he had walked into my life, I have loved him, even now, I still love him. Even after what he's done…

That's why I can't stop crying, because I pity myself.

Dear God, help me get over this. Please help me, because I am in so much pain and only you can see that.

Help me.