The Fall & Rise of Sarah Steward

Sarah’s POV

I adjusted the silver necklace on my neck, and my black silk dress shone brightly as I walked elegantly into Signature Wears. It was the latest launch of our company and was single-handedly made by my husband, Alexander. I had worn it just to surprise him on our special day as a romantic gesture but little did I know that I was the one in for a surprise.

The employees nearby paid their respects to me as the CEO’s wife as I headed towards Alex’s office building but as usual, I ignored their dirty greetings which I knew too well was laced with “favor me” or even a “notice me.” hint.

I made my way to the reception desk, where his secretary, Rachel, looked up from her computer with a hint of surprise. I huffed, wondering what the surprise was all about. I had always maintained looking pretty and glamorous so why was she surprised?

I flashed a quick feigned smile and continued, my heels clicking on the floor as I approached Alex’s office door. Reaching out to grab the handle, Rachel rushed to my side before I could turn it, an awkward smile spreading across her face.

“What stupid stunt are you pulling right now?” I queried, irritated.

Her lips quivered as she tried to speak. “M-ma’am, I’m sorry but my boss has a visitor right now and can’t be disturbed,” she said, her voice low and hesitant

“Are you dumb? What are you saying? Or have you forgotten who I am?” I asked in a low but deadly tone.

She shook her head vigorously as she wiped the tiny clots of sweat on her forehead. I could tell she was already scared which summed up to the person I was. I was the only surviving child of my stinking rich parents who died in a plane crash while we were on a family vacation. Even while my parents were alive, I had made sure to put everyone in their place. No one had ever dared to disrespect me or go against my rules. I believed money was all one needed to command respect, to wield power, and to demand obedience. With wealth came reverence, and I had it in spades. People catered to my every whim, hung on my every word, and trembled at the mere mention of my name, SARAH STEWARD. And even in my world where my parents were no more, money wasn’t just a means to an end– it was the ultimate symbol of authority, and I was its undisputed master.

I held her left arm and tossed her aside, reaching for the door handle again. But then I made a pause, turning my attention to her. “If you try this next time, be sure to kiss goodbye to your job. Rubbish,” I said through my teeth, barging into the office.

I stopped in the doorway, unable to move, my eyes glued to the sight in front of me. My husband, Alexander, was in his office, but he wasn’t alone. A woman, someone I had never seen before, was wrapped in his arms, her waist pressed against his. They were cackling and planting kisses on themselves in between, completely carefree.

I felt like my whole world had crumbled. My mind struggled to process what I was seeing. How could this be? This was my husband, the man I loved with my heart and trusted with everything within me.

“Alexander,” I said, my voice barely above a whisper.

He was startled as he turned to face me, a look of remorse flashing across his face. But it was short-lived. His eyes flicked back to the strange woman, and his expression changed. The remorse was replaced by a look of…I don’t know, maybe longing?

I suddenly felt nauseous. “How could you do this to me? To us? I thought I was enough for you?” I managed to ask amidst the tears rolling down my eyes.

He turned his gaze away, taking forever to say a word. “Alexander!” I yelled in tears, tired of waiting for him to explain or at least apologize.

“Why are you here, Sarah?” he queried icily, turning his expressionless gaze to me. “This isn’t where you could visit at your free will. Why didn’t you notify me before visiting my office?”

I huffed, smiling bitterly. “Why do I need to notify my husband before visiting his office?”

“My office, Sarah. Not yours!” he thundered, his index finger pointed at me.

Unbelievable.

“After everything I have done for you, Alex. Is this how you pay me back?”

“Sarah, whatever you think you did for me was what you were supposed to do. It’s not like I forced you. Or did I? You know what? You need to get out right now, you are embarrassing me,”

“You can’t be this inhumane because of this thing, Alex!” I yelled in tears, taking a glance at his so-called mistress whose face had already formed a frown. “Are you even listening to yourself? Where is your conscience? How could you ruin our perfect marriage by cheating on me with who I am a million times better than? Do you even remember what day it is? It’s our fourth anniversary for fck's sake!”

Alex’s mouth formed a slight O-shape, giving away his ignorance about our wedding anniversary.

“Oops!” the woman finally made a sound, reminding me of her presence. It was obvious she was making fun of me but then I ignored her. Or at least, at that moment.

I took a couple of steps further, enclosing the distance between my husband and me. I tried to cup his face with my hands but before I could, he forcefully pushed them away, making my heart break into a million pieces. Alex has never been this cold to me. What have I done to deserve this?

“Alex…”

The strange woman’s voice cut in sharp as I tried to speak. “What husband, coward?!” She walked over to me, a dirty smile playing across her lips. “Did you just say your husband?” she paused. “For your information, Sarah, Alexander and I have been married for four years so whatever you think you have with him has just come to an end whether you like it or not,”

“T-this… this can’t be happening,” I panicked

Shutting my eyes tight, I asked softly, trying to fight back the tears threatening to fall once more. “Alex, what is she talking about?”

Alex stood there, unremorseful and unshaken. He wasn’t the husband I married. He wasn’t the same man who had loved me unconditionally for four years. He wasn’t the man whom I had dedicated almost all my life to. He wasn’t that man whom I loved so much and trusted wholeheartedly. He wasn’t Alexander Mario Steward. He was someone else and that hurt me so much that I broke down in tears, crying bitterly.

He tried reaching out to me but I noticed the woman gave him a deadly glare that made him retreat instantly.

I shook my head vigorously in tears, refusing to believe what I had just heard. “Tell me it’s a lie, Alex. Look, I trust you. And I believe you. I know you wouldn’t do anything to hurt me. You have always treated me so special… like an egg, Alex. You said I was your wife… tell me it still stands. Tell me it’s a prank. Where is the camera?!”

“There is no camera, Sarah. This is reality. Why don’t you get busy ASAP with thoughts of how you would move on with your life after this?”

“Reality? How is this happening? What is going on?”

“Nothing is going on, Sarah. It’s you who had decided to make a big deal about nothing,”

I let out a heavy sigh. “Can I ask a question, at least?”

“H-howw l-long?” I slurred, wiping the tears rolling down my eye with my index finger. “How long have you been fooling me?”

He placed his hand on his forehead as if to say; here we go again. “Four years,” he blurted out. “It’s also our anniversary today,”

My heart shattered. I wasn’t prepared for this at all. I had visited unannounced just because I wanted to surprise him on our fourth wedding anniversary. I scheduled a wonderful lunch with him and booked a five-star hotel for us and even prepared the most expensive gifts for him just to be met with such an eye sore.

“So this is it?” I cried. “After everything I have done for you, Alex, this is it?”

“I never forced you to do anything for me. You should know that well enough. Stop holding onto such a narrative!” he thundered

“Shut the fuck up!” I yelled in tears. “I made you who you are today, Alex. Everything I had was transferred to you. Alexander, you are the sole owner of my father’s company– my company even its subsidiaries, and all of my other assets. You make decisions without consulting me but I never cared because I trusted and loved you deeply, believing in and agreeing with everything you proposed,”

“You know what?” I wiped the tears off my eyes. “People make mistakes, I know which is why I am willing to forgive you. But that would only depend on the response you are about to give me right now. Tell me, do you love me? Or did you even love me?”

Alex and his mistress burst into laughter, making me shed tears uncontrollably clinging my hand against my chest. I had never been this humiliated in my life. This was a first and it hurt so badly that I felt like dying.

“Are you sure you want to know the truth?” Alex’s mistress… or wife chipped in, smirking. I could clearly see the mockery flashing through her eyes. But I ignored her.

Alex cleared his throat lightly.

“Listen to me very carefully, Sarah. I don’t love you neither did I ever love you.  Our marriage was just a sham– a large part of my plan for me and my wife, Freya, to secure a better life for ourselves. You were just a means to an end for me, Sarah, and I’m not sorry if it hurts you,”

“Our marriage was just a sham… you were just a means to an end for me…”

The words kept resounding in my head. I couldn’t process what I had just heard. It was like my mind had shut down, refusing to accept the truth. Suddenly, my legs gave way beneath me, and everything went black.