Rebuilding Ruins (BOOK 1)

PROLOGUE

Angel Rose looks at herself in the mirror and sighs in defeat. She doesn't like the person staring back at her. No wait she doesn't exactly dislike the woman staring back at her, she just wishes Carl didn't hate what she's turned into. She's gained weight over the past few years and try as she might she's failed to lose it. She's not the skinny twenty-three year old she was when she met Carl, the woman he used to bent over backwards for. She's tried exercising in their home gym but after each session the first thing she does is go to the kitchen and eat her worries away which has done more harm than good. Her husband Carl hates the few pounds she's gained and has let her know about it. He now looks at her with disgust and has told her time and time again to go on a diet and whenever he comes home he tells her to get on the scale and it always says she's gained more weight. Her husband has changed into someone she barely recognizes but she can't blame him.

They had met at one of his colleagues' party where she was a waitress and he a guest. Judging by the way he was dressed he looked like he was well off. He hadn't randomly noticed her from the crowd and fell for her like in the romantic movies, it was her voice that got him hooked. She had begged her manager at the catering company she worked at to talk to the man that was hosting the party to let her sing on the day. The host Mr Harrison had asked her to sing before hand and had immediately liked her voice when he heard her sing. He had said yes to her performing a song for his guests on the day of the party so when the day arrived Angel was nervous but knew she needed to pull herself together if she wanted people to know who she was. She had nothing to fall back on as she hadn't gone to college. The money she had saved up to study music had paid her mother's debt as she was about to lose her home. Angel couldn't bring herself to sit back and watch her mother lose her childhood home.

When her turn to sing had came Angel had gotten on the stage and sang her heart out and when the song ended she had gotten a standing ovation. Everyone had loved her performance including Carl who had asked to talk to her privately. Thinking Carl was connected to the music industry she hadn't thought twice saying yes. When the party had finally ended Carl had offered to take her home. He was so smitten by her that he had asked to take her out on a date and one date turned into many. They had gotten to know more of each other and before long they had fallen in love and a year later they got married and the wedding was extravagant. Turns out Carl's family owned a multi million dollar company. It was one of those Rags to Riches love stories. The fact that he was wealthy overwhelmed her at first but she had no choice but to accept the man she loved the way he was.

Their marriage was bliss at first but when a year passed and she wasn't getting pregnant things started to go downhill. She had then gotten pregnant multiple times after that but it ended in her miscarrying. They'd went to see a doctor and gotten some tests done and the doctor had told them that Angel's womb was too weak to carry a life. He had suggested they try other options but again it didn't work so they were left with one final option and if that didn't work they'd have to live their lives without any children. Their last option was to find a surrogate who would carry their child for nine months then they'd finally be parents. Carl didn't seem to like the idea so they had told the doctor they would go home and think about it.

Angel didn't have anything to think about, she wanted to have a baby so bad knowing it would save her marriage. When they went home afterwards Carl wasn't the same anymore. While Angel waited at home with her mind already made up about paying a surrogate to carry their child, her husband went and gotten another woman pregnant and Angel didn't find out about it until two years later. It hurt Angel like nothing she'd ever felt before because she blamed herself for her husband's actions. If she'd been able to give him a baby none of this would have happened. As months went by Carl came home lesser and lesser till he was going weeks before coming. His excuse was that he was opening another branch in another city and had to go there to make sure things were going according to plan and like an obedient wife Angel stayed home and waited for him.

He would switch off his phone at night time and Angel was too naive to suspect anything. She thought her husband got too busy during the day that he forgot to charge his phone. The fact that he wasn't talking about them trying the last option they'd been given that would result in them having a child of their own should have been enough to get her investigating his whereabouts. It was like he didn't care about it anymore. Of course he didn't care anymore, he had a baby with someone else. Angel had went to his parents and told them their marriage issues but they too didn't seem to care enough to help her. She was left to fix it all on her own but how do you fix your marriage when your husband is absent? She was home alone night after night crying herself to sleep but things didn't get any better. When she was all cried out she turned to food for comfort. It did help but it came with a price which was gaining weight. Carl had stopped taking her anywhere the lesser he came home so she wasn't worried about people seeing her fall apart piece by piece.

She knows she can't stay in the house forever though, especially not today. Her mother in law had asked her to sing at her Wedding anniversary and of course she said yes. She wishes she could have said no though, she didn't feel confident enough to stand in front of a crowd and singing but she was going to do it anyway. Her in-laws might have failed to come to her rescue when she needed them the most but she couldn't be mad at them for not supporting her. They already had grandchildren by their four daughters but they needed one from their youngest and only son Carlton but she couldn't grant them their wish. They were still family though so she would do this for them. When she's dressed in a loose long black dress that covers her arms, chest and legs she grabs her clutch and makes her way outside where she finds the latest BMW model parked and the driver an older man in his mid forties standing next to the car.

"Mrs Hill" he opens the door for her.

"Hi George. Do I look okay?" she asks. She's wearing an expensive gown but doesn't feel like it.

"Oh you look radiant Mrs Hill" he smiles.

"Thank you" she enters the car now feeling good about herself.

George closes the door before entering the car and takes her to the mansion belonging to Carl's parents. The place is filled with family, friends, colleagues and acquaintances of her in-laws Brandon and Karen. She goes in search of her husband whom she hasn't seen in a week. He'd gone back home to check on her progress in losing weight but when he realized she'd gained a few more pounds in the process he threw her his credit card and didn't even bother talking to her. He just looked at her as if she was filth and it hurt her so bad. She notices him sitting around a table and next to him is none other than his baby mama Phoebe and her heart clenches seeing how cozy they look. Yep that's who Carl had been busy entertaining over the last few years. Carl had a three year old with the said woman. Phoebe is a leggy brunet, Angel can see why Carl is taken by her. He's been taking Phoebe with him to every function he's been invited to since he found out Angel was the reason why they couldn't have children of their own. People used to tell her that her husband was having an affair but she refused to believe the man she loved was cheating on her but when she showed up unannounced to an event they were invited to and saw them kissing she nearly had a heart attack.

She takes a seat next to her husband "Carl darling. How are you?" flashing him a smile.

He turns and when he sees it's her his smile drops "Hi"

"How are you doing Phoebe" Angel forces a smile at her husband's mistress.

"Good" Phoebe answers plainly.

Angel knows she should hate her husband's mistress but she can't be mad at the woman for giving her husband what she couldn't which is a son. She was beyond hurt when she found out about her but what was she to do. All she did was wait at home for her husband night after night hoping he'd come to his senses and come back to her but of course it never happened. The night goes by with tension in their table. When it's time for her to sing she gets on the stage and sings and as always everyone loves her performance. Even Carl can't deny that his wife's voice still does things to him but he knows that as much as she can sing she can't give him any children. As she walks back to her seat one man stops her congratulating her and gives her his number telling her to call him tomorrow as he wants her to perform at a charity event he'll be hosting in the coming weeks. Feeling excited having something to look forward to she goes back to her table with a smile on her face.

"Can I see you outside. Now" Carl hisses in her ear before getting off his chair and making his way outside. Angel sighs then gets on her feet and follows him.

"What the hell was that?" Carl points back to the building they just exited seeming on edge.

"What are you talking about Carl?" Angel asks confused.

"Don't act clueless. Who was that guy you were talking to when you got off stage?"

"Oh him. He wants me to perform at a charity event he's hosting. Isn't that exciting" she grins.

"Don't lie to me Angel. I know your fat ass is cheating" he accuses.

Did he just call her a cheater. He's the one that brought his mistress yet he's standing there accusing her of cheating. He must have lost his mind thinking he can talk to her like that.

"I've been faithful to you from day one Carl. What are you talking about?" this is not the first time he's called her fat but it still hurts.

He painfully grabs her hand "If I find out you are cheating on me I'll make you wish you were dead"

"Please let go. You're hurting me" she winces.

"I swear-" he starts to say but he's cut off.

"What's going on here?" Phoebe pins the both of them with a death glare.

"We were just talking" Carl let's go of his wife's hand as if he's been caught doing wrong.

Angel massages the painful spot he had grip on. She knows it'll leave an ugly bruise on her hand.

"Then why were your hands on her when you were just talking Carl?" the mistress puts her hand on her hip.

"I'm going to go inside" Angel makes her way to the entrance. She has no clue why Phoebe is over there causing drama when she knows very well she's the other woman.

"You need to tell her right now Carl or it's over between us. I'm sick of being your mistress" Phoebe spits.

"Tell me what?" Angel makes a sharp turn her eyes going to Phoebe then resting on her husband.

"Make a choice Carl. Is it me and our son or Her?" Phoebe points at Angel putting emphasis on Her.

"He already chose the both of you Phoebe. He hasn't been home in a while" Angel pleads with the other woman with her eyes.

"Tell her or we are done" Phoebe presses.

Carl looks from his mistress to his wife. He still loves Angel Rose but staying with her is not an option anymore. Phoebe wants first place in his life and he can't drag it anymore especially when she's given him what he's been missing.

"You'll be seeing our son for an hour every fortnight. Have a nice life" Phoebe walks away but Carl is quick to grab her hand stopping her.

"Fine. Fine. I'll tell her" he gives in.

"What is this about?" Angel asks already knowing the answer to her question. She's hoping she's wrong.

Carl runs his hand through his hair and sighs "I want a divorce"

Air rushes out of Angel's lungs as if she's about to die. She can see it in his eyes that he still loves her but what she doesn't understand is why he'd risk their love just to be with his mistress.

"Carl please don't this" Angel takes his free hand in hers.

"I'm sorry" he gives her a sad look.

"We-we could make this work. You heard the doctor when he said we could find someone to carry our child for us and in nine months we'll be parents" Angel tightens her hold on him when she feels Phoebe pulling him away from her.

"What if we lose it again like the other three Angel?"

"Then we'll try again until it happens" she can't mask the trembling in her voice.

"I don't want to go through the loss again. I'm sorry" he's trying his best to keep from telling her he wants to try what the doctor suggested all those years ago but he's scared history will repeat itself.

His heart is breaking having to give up on his marriage but seeing his heir once every fortnight just won't do.

"Carl please don't do this" Angel tries to pull begging him to stay with her eyes but his body language tells her he's made up his mind.

"Come on" Phoebe drags him back into the building leaving Angel in tears.

***

AUTHOR'S NOTE: THINGS AREN'T LOOKING GOOD FOR ANGEL ROSE. IS IT THE END OR IS THERE HOPE FOR HER MARRIAGE? READ ON TO FIND OUT.