Chapter 1

ASTRID

“I now pronounce you, husband and wife. You may kiss the bride.”

The cheers from the guests after the priest declared those words rang aloud in my head. It was the day I became Jakob Carlsen’s wife.

I was overwhelmed with joy. Who wouldn’t? It wasn’t everyday you got to be the wife of the Chief Operating Officer of SolarTech Industries worldwide.

I turned to look at Jakob, taking in the sweet lines of his handsome face. This man was mine forever. It was almost too hard to believe.

However, the real problem landed when I moved in officially to his mansion. Our marriage lacked real affection for the first month, and each time I tried to make it work, he was either too busy. Or too tired.

Every time I told my family, they asked me to endure it. When I told his family, they made up excuses for him, telling me to be patient and he’ll come around.

I feared my happiness would be snatched from me too soon.

My worries neared an end when he returned from work one day, more angry than usual. Mumbling.

That was not a good sign.

“I do all the work. I try as much as I can to pull every one on the team. I do it all by myself!”

I stepped close, carefully measuring the distance between us. “Did something bad happen at work?”

“Oh fuck off!”

He tossed his briefcase to the floor and slumped down heavily on the couch, hands interlinked in front of him.

Fear made me stay put, but I couldn’t bear to see my husband in such a mood. So I mustered courage and moved toward him.

When his gaze found me, he shook his head. “Not sure it’s something a woman like you can handle.”

Those words slapped me as an insult, yet I pushed, determined to put him out of his misery. Especially now that he had given me an audience for the first time in days.

“Help comes from the most unlikely places. Perhaps you can talk to me. Even if I do not have a solution immediately, it’ll help you think with a clearer head.”

“Every late night,” he boomed in an angry tone, “every decision, it is me holding the company together. I have come to the rescue several times in the past and now, they doubt my competence. How much blood and sweat do they need me to pour?”

I was seated across from him, hands in my laps and feet tucked under while I listened to his outburst, looking out for when it was my turn to speak.

“I can’t even rely on my team, Mia.” He shot up from the couch and paced. Anger radiating off him as he did. “They are supposed to be professionals. Why do I have to be the only one delivering?”

“That’s a good thing, right? I mean it shows your capability and makes the company respect you.” My voice was soft with all the love and adoration I had for him.

Jakob was extra sensitive tonight and I didn’t want to rub on his sore spot.

He glowered at me nonetheless. “Well you thought wrong. The entire board in that fancy fucking room on the top floor thinks I am too incompetent for a position I’ve worked towards for decades. Just because of a small error my members caused.”

Now this was the issue with Jakob. He’d scowl at a problem, he’d curse and crash out…he did all but try to fix the problem.

“Did you try to talk to them about it? Where is the error?”

Without a word, he reached into his briefcase and handed me some papers. Practically tossing them at me.

I managed to catch them before they scattered to the floor, then glanced through each of them.

Slowly. It felt like I was eighteen and working at my family’s store.

All of that was before my mother died and I had to sell the property for her funeral rites.

Anyway, on the papers, I noticed a pattern to it. “Maybe you should try to isolate the errors and find which one affects revenue. Then, assign one person per task. Don’t go doing it for yourself.”

By the time I was done, his mood had improved considerably but not completely. He mumbled some words and took the papers off my hands.

The next month, he walked straight into our bedroom with a broad smile on his face and a gift parcel in his hand.

The look on his face was shocking but I tried not to show. The last time Jakob looked at me like that was during our second date.

The one our families arranged for us.

“Should I be worried?” I asked, trying to make my tone light.

“On the contrary, my darling. You should be proud because your husband just earned his promotion as the Managing Director, thanks to you.”

Our joy knew no bounds. That night, he made love to me in ways that blew my mind and made my heart sing.

In just a few months, my marriage went from being on the brink of collapse, to the talk of town and the envy of every woman.

Married or not.

Jakob pampered me in ways I never thought, kept on making love to me like he was drowning and he needed my body as anchor.

It felt like a very good dream that I did not want to wake up from.

We were practically joined at the hip for every social event. Many TV houses requested my presence on their shows for interviews, to ask how we made it this far.

I was living the life.

A billionaire’s wife at 24? I was blessed and I basked in it. Nothing was going to bring me down. I was absolutely certain of that.

***

They say every dark cloud has a silver lining.

I say “Not every dark cloud has a silver lining. Sometimes it’s a storm truly coming.”

Becoming Managing director took a toll on Jakob as he began to skip meals at home, often sleeping over at work so he could beat deadlines.

At first, it did not bother me. But soon, it began to affect my mood as well. I tried to talk myself out of it, saying with greater positions came more pressure and responsibilities.

Even though I strongly held on to those words, I feared deep down that he was changing again.

When sickness came, it was the longest period of my life even with the maids around to help me. I needed my husband but with him being in and out of the country for business meetings, it only made everything else worse.

Soon, it was my birthday. Also, the day I planned to announce to my husband who just got back a few days ago, that we were expecting a baby after a year of marriage.

Perhaps, the news would give our home a little bit of color.

I organized a private party/baby shower, inviting my husband and a few of his colleagues. Also made sure my uncle and his wife — my adoptive parents, were invited to the small ceremony.

Surrounded by people I loved dearly, I felt utterly at peace, oblivious to the next change that would alter the course of my life.

Clinking his glass with a spoon and grabbing everybody’s attention, Jakob made his way to the front. He looked dashing in that white shirt.

With any luck, I’d be taking it off him tonight.

“Today is all about my wonderful wife, Mia Carlsen,” he began, earning himself praises from all around.

He came over to where I stood, placed an arm so lovingly around me.

“Happy Birthday to you, Mia. Ever since you walked into my life, you have brought nothing but beauty to my dark world. I love you.”

I melted into his embrace. “Loving you has always been my greatest pleasure, baby. I love you more.”

And I meant it. With the whole of my heart, I did.

“Gosh, this place is beautiful! Why didn’t I get an invite, Astrid, you sweet girl?”

That voice.

I snatched myself away from Jakob’s hug so I could confirm if pregnancy also caused delusions. Unfortunately for me, it was no hallucination.

Mia was at the door. The real Mia. Not me. And she did not look pleased to see me.