I traced my finger around the edge of the wine glass. It was cold, just like the person I was trying to get out of my head. A teardrop rolled down my rosy cheek and fell into my lap. Many drunken days had failed to bring peace to my aching heart, so why would that day be any different?
My name is Amelia Walter, and welcome to my world of being the ex-wife of a convicted drug lord.
I was living the perfect life with my dream man until one day, cops came banging on our door. The blaring sirens and the panic in my house still echoed in my mind and kept me up at night.
That night, I was so confused to see the love of my life in a new light. Suddenly, all the promises had become empty. We were leading a luxurious life with black money. He was a criminal who had hurt a million people, including his wife.
John said he would change. He said that everything could be a lie, but his love for me was real. He begged me to put my faith in him and remain his wife.
I would have forgiven him for his sins and lies. I would have waited for him to become a better man if I hadn’t learned another truth that completely broke me.
Imagine switching on the television and learning about your husband’s countless affairs. That’s exactly what happened to me.
In a fit of anger, I threw the wineglass off the table. The sound of shattered glass was music to my raging heart. Our wedding vows meant nothing to him. He was never loyal and truthful to me. My marriage was built on lies and deceit, and it all came crashing down in the worst way possible.
I had gone against my family’s will to marry that man. My parents had disowned me and taken their last breaths without seeing my face. I sacrificed my life for that cheater, and now my entire family hated my guts and held me responsible for my parents’ sudden death.
My chest muscles constricted when I saw a tall shadow move through my kitchen window. I uncovered the hidden butcher knife and sought refuge under my dining table. They had found me yet again! I closed my eyes, trembling and praying for God for my safety.
Who were they? They were my ex’s biggest enemies and rivals in the criminal world. Life had already been so cruel to me, and fate also sent gangsters after me. I had never had a detailed conversation with them, but apparently, my ex was in a lot of debt. The loan sharks and thugs weren’t leaving me alone, even after the finalization of our divorce.
I had some relief from them under the witness protection program. After the trial, they gave me a different identity and shifted me to another city. I begged the police to provide me with a personal bodyguard, but they wouldn’t listen.
They had tracked me down despite the police’s effort to make me into a new person. And now, it would all end with my blood.
Unexpectedly, something hit my window. I then realized it was a human-sized balloon outside my house. Damn, those neighborhood kids! They almost gave me a heart attack.
I wasn’t crazy or too drunk to start hallucinating. Fear of the unknown wasn’t consuming me and making me delusional, just like the police had said when I voiced my concerns to them. I know what I saw when I came home late from work one night. There was an obvious message written for me on the window. It said:
We know who you are and where you live. All debts must be paid.
They wiped it off right before I could photograph the threat, leaving me with nothing but my testimony to provide to the authorities. My life meant nothing to the police. No one in the world cared about what might happen to me.
I had to take matters into my own hands now. I was ready to run off to another city or country. To stay alive, I had to keep moving. It was my only chance of survival.
The next day at work, I stayed longer than the other employees to hand my resignation to my employer. I would have left without saying anything if I didn’t need to pick my paycheck for the days I worked that month.
I worked at a designer wedding boutique. My boss was fairly generous, so I expected a decent farewell without an argument. Perhaps she might even give me a bonus for spending all those extra hours at the boutique. I did that mainly to avoid being home alone.
“Are you planning on spending the night here?” Rose Montgomery’s dark eyes peeked above the summer catalog she had been studying for a while.
“No, ma’am.” I noisily cleared my throat and put my arms behind me. “I have stayed late to make a request. Sorry for not providing three months' advance notice. I wish to resign because I am moving to another city.”
Mrs. Montgomery’s eyebrows touched her deeply wrinkled forehead. “What city? You have been here only for four months and already leaving? That’s deeply unsettling, Meredith.”
Meredith was my fake name given to me by the police. West Sebachand was a great city with welcoming people, but no one there knew my real name, let alone my truth and troubles.
“What can I say? My parents want me back. I wouldn’t be leaving if it weren’t for them.” It hurt to bring my late parents into a lie.
“Hm. Your parents.” My boss dropped the catalog on her desk and removed her reading glasses. “Are they alright?”
“Uh, yes, no, yes,” I struggled with words.
“Something terrible must have happened for them to call on you from their graves,” she said, clicking her tongue in pity.
My eyes went round. She knew something about my dark past!
“How do you know that?”
“You may have changed your name and location, but the news channels don’t spare a convicted drug lord’s ex-wife,” Mrs. Montgomery answered composedly.
Tears swam to my eyes, and I began sobbing like an infant. My cover was blown. When it was so easy for my boss to find my true identity, it must be a piece of cake for the gangsters.
“I am so sorry for lying…” I choked on tears. Emotion clogged my throat. I had a lot to say but couldn’t utter one more word.
“Don’t blame yourself for that. I know you’re innocent. You have that look of a victim. There is no need to waste your tears on this,” she said.
“John ruined my life,” I began after collecting myself. “Loving him took everything from me.”
“Good riddance, dear! That man wasn’t worth it,” she said, pretending to wipe sweat off her forehead. “My sympathies are with you, but life must continue. If you don’t mind, can I ask why are you moving to another city? Is it to be close to a new boyfriend?”
“Boyfriend?” A corner of my mouth lifted. “No good man would want a broken woman like me. I’m damaged goods.”
“Now, don’t say that. Come here and tell me the real reason.” Mrs. Montgomery pointed at a chair.
I sat on the chair and poured my heart out to her. I even told her about the gangsters and the death threats, not leaving any details behind.
“Oh my!” came her first reaction. “Your situation is indeed extreme. I wonder how you wake up in the morning and get to work.”
“I don’t have a choice. Life is too precious to quit,” I replied.
“Can I suggest a solution?” Mrs. Montgomery spoke after a long pause.
“Sure.” Even though nobody could find a solution to my problem, I didn't see any harm in giving her a chance to explain it.
My boss rose to speak. “My solution involves giving a second chance to love and marriage with a billionaire.”
I moved back in my seat in confusion. “Why would a billionaire want to marry me?”
“Because he is my nephew, who is very sick and in need of a loving companion,” she replied.
“That still doesn’t make his situation any worse. He can get a supermodel to do that for him,” I argued.
“Good point, but wealthy people aren’t as shallow as you think. My nephew is suffering from a rare illness. He may or may not survive it. His parents are searching for a bride for their only son, who can give them an heir before it’s too late.”
“And they haven’t found anyone yet?” I asked.
“No one my nephew likes. He isn’t even up for the idea of a lover and marriage. However, my sister arranged a female caretaker for him every month, hoping he would fall in love with her. Many capable women have failed to make their way into his heart. Still, his parents don’t want to give up, and I think you’ll be perfect for the job,” she finished with a smile.
“Why me?” I gulped.
“You’re beautiful, desperate, and extremely loyal.”
The compliments didn’t sit well with me. It all felt too good to be true.
“What if I fail? I’m not a gold digger, but I need money to get those gangsters off my back.”
Rose Montgomery took my hand and rubbed it. “They’ll pay you regardless of whether you succeed in stealing his heart. It’ll be enough to pay some debts or more. They are billionaires. Money is not a problem for them.”
My situation didn’t allow me to turn down such a generous offer. I had to try.
“What do I get if I succeed in marrying him?” I asked out of curiosity.
“Half of everything he owns, dear.” Rose Montgomery rolled a stray curl on her finger and smirked at me. “I highly doubt you’ll ever get there. My nephew, Nathaniel Sinclair, is not an easy one. Some girls called him their worst nightmare.”
“I am down for it. When can I start?” I said, ignoring her warnings.
“Say the word, and we’ll leave tomorrow morning for the Sinclair estate. I suggest you put on your finest dress and decent makeup to make a good first impression. Meet me at the boutique at 7 am sharp.”