ALLY (UNEDITED VERSION)

Chapter 11 - Recollection

Now I realize things, things...

I don't know if I'm still in the reality of life.
I am floating in emptiness.

It's like time is playing with me.

When I saw Andrew in the form of Travis, that's when I slowly remembered everything—my dreams.

Those are my memories. Everything comes back: the pain and resentment.

Why is he also here in this dimension?

And when I saw Jervis again, suddenly, I felt relief. I want to ask for forgiveness from him.

He's the one who was with me during times when I needed to hide from the world I belonged to.

Flashback..

Our relationship flourished after that night.
The planned divorce, set to happen after his mother's interment, didn't push through. He burned that contract. We started a new life as a loving couple.

"I have a business trip, love. I'll be gone for a few days. Is there anything you'd like me to buy?" Andrew asked while embracing me, standing behind me with his face close to my cheek.

"Nothing, love. Just come back safely, that's all I need," I replied happily.

He turned me towards him and kissed me on the forehead, gazing at my lips, then gave me a sweet kiss.

"I'll come back safely, I love you," he said. Then, he hugged me tightly.

"I love you too.."

A week without Andrew, and I devoted my time to baking. It became my pastime since there wasn't much else to do in this house aside from household chores.

I avoided having contact with Jervis, not answering his calls. I didn't want Andrew to find out. I'm married now, and my attention should be focused on him, not someone else. Sometimes, I catch a glimpse of Jervis' car outside the gate, but I made sure he wouldn't see me.

Sorry, Jervis. I have to do this.

I glanced at the clock on the bedside table, it was already eleven in the evening. As I went down to the kitchen to get a drink, and opened the fridge, I was surprised to sense someone hugging me, so fragrant.

"I've missed you so much, Allyson," he whispered, sending shivers down my spine—the person I'd missed dearly. He tenderly kissed me, his hands slowly exploring my chest.

"Andrew," I mumbled.

I couldn't discern the sensations overwhelming me—the warmth. I turned to face him, gazing into his gentle visage. I entwined my hands around his neck and gradually pressed my lips against his.

Andrew carried me, and we went straight into his room, now ours. I never expected there would come a day when we'd share the same room, sleeping side by side, and I'd wake up to his handsome face. A contented sigh escaped me as I carefully settled onto Andrew's bed.

In the soft moonlit room, Andrew and I, wrapped in each other's embrace, exchanged intense glances that conveyed our desires. Our fingers traced intimate lines, exploring the contours of familiarity.

Amidst the quiet, our hearts beat in unison, echoing a shared rhythm of passion. A knowing smile passed between us, a silent pact beyond words. The air buzzed with a palpable intimacy, a testament to the unspoken language we had mastered.

As we embraced, time seemed to stand still, letting us revel in the depth of our connection. The room filled with sultry whispers, laughter, and the rustle of sheets—a symphony of shared ecstasy. In the aftermath, we lay together, bathed in the warmth of our unspoken love.

I woke up to find breakfast laid out on the bed – is this what they call 'breakfast in bed'? I chuckled to myself.

He had woken up early just to prepare this?

How sweet! I whispered to myself, feeling giddy.

Thelma recently went on vacation, leaving me alone in this house when Andrew left for a business trip. Perhaps that's why he prepared breakfast for us. On a small table placed on the bed, there were fried rice, eggs, sausage, and a vegetable salad.

Standing in front of me was my handsome and fit husband, freshly showered, with a towel casually wrapped around his waist.

"How's my beautiful wife sleep?" Andrew asked as he sidled up to me and kissed me.

"I had a wonderful sleep, I mean, it was really good," I replied with a flirtatious tone while gazing into his eyes.

He gave me a teasing look.

Then, we enjoyed the breakfast he had prepared.

Andrew has been extremely occupied with his role as the CEO of Apex Ventures International. He frequently embarks on business trips, and while it leaves me feeling lonely, there's nothing else I can do. He was appointed as the new CEO of his father's company due to his father's illness and aging, now steering AVI toward new horizons. I couldn't help but feel insignificant, confined to being at home. Andrew doesn't want me to work because he hopes we can have a child.

I remember asking him once why he married me, even though it was just the wish of his deceased mother. He told me that even when we were young, he already wanted me. He couldn't approach me back then because he felt shy. He was aware of my difficult life with the Park Family, the mother-daughter duo who made my life hard for several years. He wanted to take me away from them, which filled my heart with joy. When his mother, Violet Valencia, asked him to marry before she passed away, he expressed that he wanted me to be his wife. So, I was surprised when Violet went to our house to tell Sharon that she wanted me to be Andrew Valencia's wife.

From the beginning, Andrew already liked me. That's why he had no objection to our arranged marriage.

Initially, Sharon didn't agree to me being Andrew's wife. She badmouthed me to Violet, but nothing came of it. She only agreed because she needed money; they pawned their house due to the casino.

And the contract? Andrew said he just made it up. When he found out that Mommy Violet's health was deteriorating, he was deeply hurt because he thought our relationship would end when his mother was gone.

My phone suddenly rang, expecting it to be Andrew. However, an unknown number appeared on my phone screen.

I answered and listened to the voice.

"Hello, Mrs. Valencia..." A woman's voice.

"W-who is this?"

"I will send you a photo, so be prepared," she said, her tone carrying a hint of threat.

Be prepared for what? Then she abruptly hung up.

When I opened iMessage on my phone, several pictures greeted me that shattered my world.
My hands trembled as I viewed them, it felt like I'd been stabbed. Andrew and his secretary, Yvonne, were holding hands on a sweet dinner date, and the most painful image of all was them kissing in a bar.

I dropped my phone and sank to the floor. The tears that I had been holding back since I first saw the initial photo finally broke free.

"You deceived me, Andrew," I uttered, filled with disappointment.