Lahat ng Kabanata ng The Masked Stripper is my Wife. : Kabanata 91 - Kabanata 100

LorettaI stared at my reflection in the mirror, at the swollen eyes I had tried to hide beneath layers of makeup. No amount of foundation could cover the damage, my face was still puffy from too many tears.It was Monday, enough of the weekend shenanigans. Time to face reality.The last thing I wanted was to see him or hear whatever gibberish he had to offer as an excuse for his lies. He came by on Saturday and Sunday, but I told Tonia I didn’t want to see him or whatever gifts he brought, Tonia didn’t even open the door.But today, I had no choice, I grabbed my bag and stepped into the sitting room. Tonia sat on the couch with a mug of coffee and a plate of toast in her hands. The moment she saw me, she stood and handed them over.“I don’t want any silly excuse,” she said firmly. “You have barely eaten since Friday. You have work today, and you are not leaving this house on an empty stomach.”“I really don’t have an appetite,” I murmured, taking the coffee from her. “I promise I w

LorettaI sat curled up on the couch, Netflix’s bright interface reflecting on my face as I scrolled endlessly through movies I couldn’t focus on. My finger kept flicking, but nothing caught my attention. My mind was too full. No matter how many comedies I added to my “watch later” list, I couldn’t escape one fact that I had just been suspended.The front door creaked open, and Tonia stepped in, her arms full of grocery bags. She froze when she saw me still in my office clothes. The surprise on her face was almost funny if I weren’t so emotionally drained.She dropped the shopping bags on the floor, her eyes narrowing. “Don’t tell me he fired you or something.”I shook my head, my lips twitching into a bitter smile. “No, I was suspended, thanks to that bitch of an ex-fiancée of Asher. She somehow got pictures of me at the club, without my mask, and spread them across the company’s group chat.” I popped a chip into my mouth like it was nothing, even though my chest felt heavy.“What?”

LorettaThe taxi pulled to a slow stop in front of our apartment building. I pressed my forehead against the window, watching as the familiar view came into sight. The vacation was supposed to help me clear my head, to get over him, but if anything, every moment of it reminded me of Asher.Tonia yawned beside me, stretching her arms. “Home sweet home,” she said, sounding cheerful. “I can’t wait to sleep in my own bed again.”We both got out of the taxi. I smiled weakly, dragging my suitcase from the back seat. My body felt heavier than usual, my head spinning slightly from exhaustion. “Yeah, me too,” I muttered.When we entered the apartment, everything was dusty. I barely made it to the couch and used a scarf to wipe off some of the dust before collapsing. The nausea that had started a few days ago came back full force, twisting my stomach until I had to close my eyes just to steady myself.Tonia dropped her bags and frowned. “You okay, babe? You have been acting off since Bali. Firs

AsherI glanced at my watch again. Where the hell were they? I paced around the living room, my nerves on edge. Today, I was finally going to meet my wife.Grandma had insisted that we all be around for her birthday a few days before , so I decided to invite Edith early. That way, we could rehearse our lies and get our act together before seeing Grandma. The last thing I wanted was for her to grow suspicious and decide to move back here, that would mean Edith and I living under the same roof for far too long.The door to the sitting room opened, and my butler stepped in, dragging several suitcases behind him. Why the hell did she have this much luggage? Didn’t Richard make it clear she was leaving right after the birthday? From Italy to wherever the hell she crawled out from, this woman is already testing my patience.Before she even appeared, her scent filled the room, a chaotic mix of perfumes that reminded me of an overworked diffuser. Too many fragrances at once, my nose couldn’t

Asher“Are you serious right now?” Edith’s voice filled the room as she stepped inside. “You can’t just leave me out there all alone. It’s rude.”I sat up slowly, fighting to keep my irritation in check. “Get out,” I said flatly.She blinked, feigning innocence. “Why are you so cold to me? We are supposed to be pretending to be married. You could at least try not to hate me.”“I don’t have to try,” I muttered, running a hand through my hair. “You make it easy.”Her lips tightened, but she still didn’t move. “You know, most men would kill to be alone with me on a jet like this. You are the only one acting like I’m some kind of punishment.”“Too bad I’m not like most men.” I narrowed my eyes at her, trying to hold my anger and not strangle her. “I am trying my best to tolerate you, but you have been getting on my nerves since the moment we met. Please have some decency and let me be, you are acting like a desperate slut”Her eyes narrowed. “You are unbelievable. I have only been tryin