Anna's POV

I rechecked my appearance, with the hope of tempting my husband for a conversation, at least. Yes, I haven't given up. I still feel there is a chance. I am ready to try again, for Cherish and promised myself that this would be the last chance for us... To my marriage, my failing marriage.

Daniel was sulking while driving to the office. He exhibited his confidence that James will misbehave with me. It's like the Brown couple knows James more than his parents.

"You have been with the Carter since you were a kid?" I asked, to kill the silence.

I always doubted the Carter Family. Marvin Carter is the head of the family, but Weirdly Emmeline Carter rules the family, with no opponent. The breadwinner of the family stays silent, despite, the dominant aura he projects at the surrounding people.

Daniel smiled while driving through the memory lane. His joy was contagious. "I was born here... I loved the family. And James... he laughed at it before shutting and turned into an expressionless face. "Things changed." He finished.

"It was a good life, back then," I added, intruding at the unconcerned matter was not an option here. Daniel wasn't going to tell me anything. His reaction says Carter family went through a lot before my arrival.

"It was..." He agreed with a relieved look.

Poking into someone else's business isn't me but if this involves me then I have to do something about it. Especially when my children are the centre of the drama.

I am hoping what Norma said is true.... whatever is wrong with the family hasn't affected me or the children, so I pray that it's harmless to us... To my children.

"How can I help you?" Another new receptionist asked as soon as I stopped in front of her.

"I am here to meet...." Holding the only flower of Chrysanthemum which resembles fertility fidelity, I said but then, I was interrupted by Daniel.

"Do you know me?" He asked looking straight right into the new woman that was going to stop us... I am sure she would have stopped me.

"Yes..." She rolled her eyes.

What is wrong with the people?

Where is the polite behaviour?

Where is the polite lady?

"Then you know that I know the family?" Daniel asked, dangerously. "Personally?"

"Yes." With affirm answer, she was alert.

"Then you know, Jay respects me?" Daniel added, calling James Jay. They know. Everybody knows. Jay adore Dan. When Daniel added this question, she looked at me with her frown eyes and nodded, meekly. "She is family and doesn't need an appointment to meet him." He demanded.

Leaving no place for argument, she nodded and called someone. A lean man joined and guided me to the office of the Director of Carter corporation.

I knocked and waited but no replies.

The lean man politely opened the door, and we witnessed my husband and his infamous personal assistant.

Where are her morals?

He is a married man, with two kids.

James was leaning on his desk while his personal assistant, Nevada was busy dusting her skirt.

"Nevada?" The man beside me called her.

The voice had an impact on her. She turned and looked at us. In a short period, her eyes widen, and it was clarified, this man beside me is important to this other woman.

"Julian..." She rushed towards him, but he took several steps back and finally, he stormed towards the elevator.

"Why did you do that?" Nevada almost punched me and I closed my eyes to take the impact.

"Never touch her." I heard James growling.

I opened my eyes to see the scenario. James was in front of me, blocking me from the impact.

"You are lucky... I am not in the mood of firing you. You do nothing. I do have the reason to fire you." He dragged her out of the cabin and locked the door.

I noticed the cabin, which is different from my memory. My preview experience isn't pleasant. I had a horrible experience here.

"Be a good wife and lay down. I need a son." His words still haunt me.

"What are you doing here?" James asked me. His bitterness was evident, and his eyes displayed annoyance.

"I..... I wan... Wanted to ta... Talk." I stammered.

"We are talking." He stormed towards me and I stumbled back, away from him. We are locked in his cabin where I was raped by my husband when I caught him betraying our matrimonial vows with the same woman two years back..... When Jamie was made.

"You promised loyalty. How could you?" I was bawling. I saw my husband kissing someone else, and he has no shame. He rolls his eyes and sprints inside his cabin, like I am suffocating him.

"I didn't promise you anything. You promised me, Malcolm." He yelled.

"We would have Malcolm if you had been at home with us, with our family." I didn't hide my tears and followed him. From the start of our relationship, I have expressed my interest in us... In our relation, in our marriage. I am ready to invest in us, but I believe, relationships are bidirectional. It can't be successful if only one wants to work.

"Then give me my Malcolm." He dragged me through my forearm through me on his couch.

The next thing was cold air hitting my thighs.

I struggled, knowing the definite outcome... His potential to ruin my capability to walk. He would do that.

Everything failed, and he successfully turned me and I felt him inside me.

I screamed in pain.

Do you want that?" James asked, bringing me back to the present. The way his forest green eyes are staying on me... was taunting me. He knows I am recalling his assault. The same night we conceived Jamie, it doesn't matter if it was consensual or not- we have Jamie now.

James Carter Jr is alive, breathing, and has been on the earth for 1 year now. He needs his father, who would teach him the mechanism of life.

"I wanted to talk." I managed to say despite my fear.

"Why do you always want to talk?" Groaning my husband pulled me and caged me in his arms and his desk. I knew what was coming. This is a soundproof room and today, like always, no one will hear me nor help me.

"Please." I break into tears. "Don't hurt me," I begged.

"I don't want to hurt you..." He cooed with sarcasm. "This is how a husband treats his wife."

Stay tuned.