strict orders

Ashley POV

"You're gorgeous, Samantha," Edward's voice floated across the balcony like a dagger to my chest. My husband held my sister close, his strong arms wrapped possessively around her slender waist. Soft music played in the background, but all I could hear was the deafening crack of my heart.

Their laughter was a symphony of betrayal. I gripped the wine glass Lina had pressed into my hand, hoping it would steady me. "You look awful," she said gently, her eyes filled with concern. 

"You knew," I whispered, my voice raw with disbelief. Her silence spoke louder than words. Of course she knew. Everyone did, except me. My heart shed silent tears as I watched Edward kiss Samantha's lips. This was supposed to be my night. Our second anniversary. Instead, the man I loved was wrapped around the woman who had always taken everything from me. His eyes once my place of solitude and assurance now stared at another speaking volumes of love, yet no words were uttered.

Growing up, Samantha had always outshoned me, my parents' delicate, fragile darling. She wore the dresses I wanted, stole the attention I craved, and now she had taken the man I built my life around. The truth was suffocating, but I refused to drown. With trembling hands, I forced a smile and walked toward them. Every step felt like walking on shards of glass. "Edward," I said sweetly, ignoring the lump in my throat. "You seem to have forgotten you're married to... me." Samantha's eyes widened, her smirk faltering.

"And you should be with Colins, your fiancé," I added, my voice sharp and stern. Edward's expression was unreadable, as if I were a stranger crashing his party. He held on to her, not willing to let her go, but Samantha fled, tears glistening in her eyes. Edward made to follow her, but I grabbed his arm. "Don't you dare," I hissed. "Stay here with your wife."

He yanked his arm free, his glare cutting through me. "Let go, Ashley. Behave." My stomach twisted. I stood frozen as he stormed after her. Behave? Was I his lap dog? The weight of humiliation pressed down on me, even heavier by the whispers of our guests. I had organized this party for him, and he had turned it into my public downfall. Lina touched my arm. 

"Ash, let them go. He's not worth it." She of all could say that, just like the others, she had known but said nothing. I shoved her to the side; I was far from done. That night, the mansion was deathly quiet, but I couldn't sleep. Not with the haunting echoes of Edward's betrayal replaying in my mind. I had succeeded in making myself the joker of the county, a topic to be discussed over tea and smal gist.

 I waited through the early mornings, anger and frustration knotting inside me; I refused to cry; I dared not show my weakness, not now that my home was under attack. Edward should have emerged from her room, but he never did. I couldn't wait any longer. I pushed open the door, only to confront an empty room. "When did they leave?" I demanded, but the silence was all I got.

In a desperate attempt to reclaim my home, I prepared dinner... Edward had always loved the orchids, the quiet garden, and every detail tuned to his taste. Samantha was perhaps one of the most beautiful women, but I wasn't less. Still, I found myself competing against her. I strode to the orchard, where lilies and roses blazed in the sunlight, only to see the servants' pitying glances as time dragged on with no sign of Edward or Samantha. Exhausted, I turned to leave, but the urge to check Samantha's room overcame me. In a sudden, reckless attempt, I headed straight for it. There, Kelvin, his assistant, blocked the doorway.

"Sorry, my lady," he said, his voice low and apologetic. "Strict orders from Mr. Camfrey."

"I'm his wife," I snapped, voice icy. "You can't stop me." He hesitated before adding, "He wants you to schedule an appointment to see him."

"An appointment? To see my husband?" I scoffed, pushing past his weak excuses. My only desire was to see Edward with immediate effect. My body was desperate for the touch of the one man my heart craved for. I needed assurance of anything kind to set my mind at ease; I couldn't just lose my home.

 "Mr. Camfrey is busy; you arrange a lunch or dinner meeting, my lady." Before I could argue further, a burst of moans spilled from inside.

"Yeah… ahh, faster. Harder!" Samantha's sultry voice echos. "You like it, don't you? I'm better, so much better than my sister."

My vision blurred as pain wracked my body. Desperation rips at my chest. "I'm his wife!" I screamed, banging on the door. Inside, laughter and moans echoed like cruel relics. "You like it, right?" Samantha's voice was breathy. "I'm better than my sister, aren't I?" I waited, not sure why, but the response came all at once. "Yeah.. she knows nothing; you rock my world." 

A sudden, sharp pain exploded in my stomach. I doubled over as my vision blurred. Warm fluid soaked through my tights despite my frantic attempts to wipe it away. "Blood… NO!" I gasped, tears streaming down my face as I struggled for breath.

Kelvin's eyes met mine with indifferent resignation. "I can't leave the door," he said flatly, leaving me to collapse as he stood at the door like a sentinel. "Move!" I cried. "I'm losing our baby!... His baby." 

"I'm sorry, my lady," he said stiffly. "Mr. Camfrey's orders."