Torn by my wife's twin

CHAPTER 2

Fifteen years later

Lana POV

Hi, it’s me again. You might be surprised that I still survived until now. Don’t ask me, I was a bit shocked myself how I could live with just two hundred dollars a month.

I catch a glimpse of my own reflection from the huge mirror wall as I walk by the empty corridor and cringe at my own reflection. The cheap foundation and powder that I wore looked a bit cakey on my skin. The bright fuschia lipstick that I wore didn’t do me any favor either since it didn’t match my warm skin tone. Sighing deeply, I was contemplating whether I should just remove all the makeup, but then I decided not to. Brandon, the bar manager wouldn’t be happy with me if I came to the bar with a bare face.

With the little money I had, I could only afford cheap makeup. I wonder why I have to wear this much while working in such a dimly lit place like this.

This is like the typical Wednesday night at the Delacroix. It was packed with the ladies because it was ladies’ night in our bar. And no, I am not working as a stripper here, in case you wonder. I was just one of the waitresses that served drinks.

If you asked why I worked here, it’s because I don’t have that many options. I didn’t finish school, and since mom hurt her back after one night she accidentally slipped and fell from the stairs, she can’t continue baking cakes anymore.

After Dad left us three months ago, I’d already sworn to his grave that I would take care of Mom. He left too soon because of a heart attack. It happened so quickly, we all didn’t see it coming.

The other reason is the salary in this bar is not bad. They paid me fifty dollars per hour. It was considered high compared to the other bar. The reason is that Delacroix only served a wealthy businessman, like a private club. This is the first month I worked here, and so far I’ve been doing good. The working agreement was written pretty clearly too. I only got to accompany or deliver drinks to the VIP guest, and no inappropriate touching or not unless I allowed them to.

The bar manager, Brandon, hired me because he told me that I was pretty and looked attractive enough to entertain their VIP guests. I was lucky because VIP guests usually give a bigger tip to the waitress.

Not all women could serve the VIP guest, that’s why I often got an envious look from the other girls. Whatever, I am not here to make friends anyway. As long as we stay away from stepping on each other’s feet, I am good with it.

The skimpy tight uniform they gave me was a bit uncomfortable to wear, and the five-inch spikes embellished heels were killing my ankle, but I had to survive. I had a mom to feed.

“Take this to table three,” Brandon said to me. He frowned a bit as he noticed that I was messaging my swollen feet. “You know that my offer to be Delacroix angel still stands, do you?” He said to me.

I gave him a sour smile. “No thanks, I would rather be here than selling my body to them.”

Brandon offered me another job to give an extra ‘service’ to Delacroix VIP clients. They used to be called angels, they think it was the nicest way to call prostitutes other than calling them w***e.

Though the amount of money is a lot, and I could even attend college with that money, I turned it down at once. I was damn sure I want to preserve my virginity for the one I love.

Brandon rolled back his eyes at me, looking dejected. “Suit yourself then… Go then.” He said, motioning me to deliver the drinks in my hand.

----------------------------------------------------------------

Luna POV

I took in my appearance for one last time, thinking to myself while sighing deeply. Despite her beautiful face and designer clothes, most people only judge her on her appearance, they have no idea that this woman has gone through a lot in her life.

People might be envious of her lavish and glamorous life. Many of them said that she was lucky.

If only they knew that behind all that beauty and money, she was heavily bruised on the inside.

Nobody knows about her dark past because she kept it all to herself. In the most secluded place in her heart.

I am not perfect. My life wasn’t as perfect as others would imagine it would be. Not even marrying the most handsome and successful CEO like Artemis Quinn could fix the damage inside me.

I had no idea what I was looking for in life, but I was certain that this was not it.

“Good morning…” A strong warm pair of hands suddenly enveloped me from behind. His warm breath fanned my bare neck as he left a peck there. He always knew how to tease me and what turned me on. I had to hold my urge to turn around and kiss him back because I knew that it would ruin my makeup.

We are both sexually active and we had s*x almost every night like most young couples do. But sadly the amount of s*x does not always equal to love.

Ever since the first time I saw Artemis, I instantly knew that I was attracted to him. Well… who wouldn’t?

Artemis…umm…I mean, my husband is the perfect embodiment of a Greek god. A man that any woman would want to marry. He is caring, he is filthy rich, and I would say it again… ridiculously handsome.

I am not exaggerating things. On a scale of one to ten, he’s a solid ten, if not more. Sometimes I still can’t believe that he chose me as his wife. I never missed any treatment appointments to make myself look presentable as his wife.

If I recall the first time we met, it was nothing extraordinary and more like one of those scenes from your favorite romance novel.

We met one night at his company auction event. He immediately caught my attention as we accidentally made eye contact with each other.

He already had a woman with him that night, and I thought that I didn’t stand a chance with this man since he already had a partner. That’s why I didn’t expect to see him waiting for me in front of the ladies' bathroom. He pushed me back inside and locked the door behind him. I felt trapped but at the same time, he awakened almost every cell of my body, making me feel all bothered and hot.

“I’m sorry? But this is the ladies’ room… You must’ve made a mistake by being here?” my voice was a bit shaken because of the way he stared at me. His gaze was filled with dominance and power as if he already owned both my body and soul.

It seems like he finds my question a bit amusing, he lets out a low chuckle while caging me with both his hands. We were so close, that I could smell his musky cologne.

“I am not the type who likes to beat around the bush… Who are you? Why I haven’t seen you in this event before?” his deep voice bewitching me, I was highly distracted by his perfectly sculpted face and body.

“I am not sure I was the type you would remember after meeting for the first time. This is actually my third time in this auction.” I finally said after I managed to gather my confidence back. I walked away from him, but he pulled me by my arm, and before I knew it I had already landed on his hard chest.

His one hand carefully touches the side of my cheek. “Mr. Quinn, what are you doing?”

He looked deep into my eyes. His orbs have the most beautiful shade of blue I’ve ever seen. “It seems like you already know who I am.” He stated. It seems to spark his interest even more.

“W-well everybody here knows Artemis Quinn. This event is held by your company. They said that you not only are a good businessman, but you also have a heart that is made of gold because all of the money that you earned tonight would all be donated to the orphanage.” I stammered a bit at the beginning. I had no idea why I had to discuss this topic with him inside the toilet.

He looked even more intrigued by me. “So you think you know me that well… Then tell me what else do you know about me?”

I swallowed a lump in my throat because the next thing I knew it was more like an insult to his image.

“I…uh…” I said, looking down at my own feet. He used his finger to lift up my chin until our eyes met again.

“Come on, just say it.” He encouraged me.

“Ummm… Rumor has it that you were a playboy who has a commitment issue with women.” I am not sure I could read his expression.

“And…Do you believe what they said about me?” He asked me back.

“NO… Of course not! You know how media liked to exaggerate things.” I quickly said.

He then suddenly smiled at me. All of the intimidating aura from earlier was long gone.

“Good, because I want to ask you out for coffee tomorrow.”

His offer was very unpredictable, and even more, because it sounded more like a date to me.

I must be hallucinating right now. There’s no way a man as powerful and attractive as him would ask me out on a date.

“I am not sure I am the type of woman you used to share coffee with,” I said, pushing him by his chest, making a distance between us.

I walked out of the ladies' room, leaving him all confused. I knew that I shouldn’t overthink about our short encounter, but that night I found myself unable to sleep because I couldn’t stop thinking about him.

The next day when I was on my way back home from the office, a Ferrari suddenly stopped in front of me.

I almost yelled at the driver because he nearly killed me, but I was cut short when I saw that it was Artemis who was driving behind the wheel.

“Mr. Quinn?” I said in disbelief.

“Get in the car.” He said, more like an order. He seemed like he wouldn’t give up until he got what he wanted. I heaved a sigh before I got into the passenger seat.

And that’s how it started.

Flashback end…

Our love story is pretty much like the one you used to read in a romance novel. The one that I never thought that could happen to me in real life.

The spark of passion between us is undeniable. We were both madly in love with each other, but it didn’t last long, or at least that was the case for me.

I think I started to lose interest when he started to become overly possessive towards me.

One thing that I learned after we got married, it was me who had an issue with commitment.

It was started when I was a kid. My foster parents got divorced a few years after they adopted me. Mom caught Dad cheating with his secretary one day, and that was the end of their marriage.

After they separated, I only lived with my stepmom. Dad is the one who makes money for the family, so when he left us, things got hard for Mom.

Not long after, Mom married another man, who also turned out to be an asshole. He’s even worse than her first husband. My new dad is not only a cheater, but he also tried to rape me.

I got lucky mom was there on time to stop him before it happened, but it had already left a deep scar inside me. I think that is when I decided that all men were trash. God only created man to hurt us.

Even my own father left me in the orphanage for another family to adopt. There is no such thing as pure love coming from men. There’s only lust and money. That’s what I believe in.

One thing I learned. If I don’t want to get hurt by them, then I should be the villain in the story. The bad one.

I used men only for pure satisfaction, and I love their money. I have decided that I am not going to live miserably again.

I take good care of my appearance because wealthy men have a high standard. I invested in myself, and it worked.

I used to date three or more wealthy men at the same time, using all their money to live comfortably with my stepmom. I continued to live like that for a long time.

I used to hang out at a high-end place so I could get a better chance of meeting affluent men.

This was all before I met Artemis. No matter how many men I had lured in the past, I had a weak moment for Artemis that night the first time we met. I’ve never thought I had the ability to fall in love for real, that’s why I agreed to do something that I never pictured myself doing before. Marrying him.

After we got married, I noticed that he was different. Artemis is a loyal husband. Too loyal and demanding, sometimes a bit too possessive.

Even worse when he wanted a child from me. A baby would only be an obstacle to me, and that is when we first fought.

Artemis never once hurt me or even raised his voice, but last night when I refused to have s*x with him, he lashed out. I never turned him down before, but last night was my ovulating day, so there’s a high chance that I could get pregnant, and I am not ready.

“Are you still mad about last night?” His arms still wrapped around my waist. God knows how much I want to have s*x with him, but I had my own reason. I want my freedom. One man could never satisfy me.

I slowly shook my head while looking at his face through the reflection in the mirror in front of us.

He sounded way more calm compared to last night.

“I’ve been thinking a lot last night.” He said when I was still in silent mode.

“We could wait until you’re ready to have kids.”

He then turned me around to face him. His face softened as our eyes met.

“I love you, Luna Quinn… And your happiness is what matters the most to me.” He said, cupping my face.

Oh God, this man is too good for me. If only he knew that I am not that innocent.

I slowly removed both of his hands from my face. “Thanks, love… it means a lot to me,” I said, forcing a fake smile at him.

“Where are you going?” he asked me again as I grabbed my bag.

“I have some meetings to attend,” I said to him.

He was raising his eyebrows at me. What now? Why did he look so suspicious and jealous?

“Oh come on, Artemis… You know all my friends.” I said as I turned around, closing the door behind me.