Chapter 1

Melinda

“Bang!”

I lifted my head from where I was lying in the cold prison and glanced at the guard who had just thrown a plate of rice on the floor not too far from me. I glanced at it and remained silent without sitting up to have the food..

You wretch! Acting aloof, huh!” he said with a cunning smirk playing at the corner of his lips.

“You love to eat, eat now!”

“Don't tell me the prison food doesn't suit your taste, huh!” the prison guard said, he seemed to be enjoying talking down to me.

“You might still be thinking you are still the heiress or the madam of the Williams family.”

“You're nothing but a church rat, Miss Melinda!” He said with a scornful look.

The prison guard reached his foot in and cruelly crushed the plate of food, making sure to smash it with his shoe.

“How dare a bitch like you try to murder Miss Linda! She has always been kind and nice to us, especially us, her fans. I have been her die-hard fan for the last three years following her dramas!”

I sat still at the corner side; my eyes fixed thoroughly on the man walking away and back to the dirty rice on the ground.

“Ezekiel Williams, CEO of W&E, has returned to the country today. Right now, he has just stepped out of his personal plane.”

I felt goosebumps all over my body, and I could feel my body freeze as the name rang in my ear. I dashed towards the door trying to look at the news on the television.

The prison guard turned around to give me a one-shoulder look that I do not care about. I completely ignore him like a plague, like I have always done, and focus my entire mind on the screen.

“What are you looking at? A murderer like you doesn't deserve to listen to the arrival of Mr Ezekiel!”

I lowered my head and smiled bitterly as the prison guard's words hit a spot in me. The man on the screen, CEO of W&E companies, was once my lawful husband, but I ruined everything with my foolishness when I thought I knew it all.

I was also once ambitious, proud, pretty, and stubborn. I did everything to make sure I got divorced eight years ago, making sure to push him away from my life thinking that was the right thing to do.

Following every plot plotted by her, Linda, just to make sure the man would divorce me. Even though he has always tolerated my childishness and even spoiled me, he protects me in the palm of his hand.

For a whole eight years, he never once showed up again after the divorce, and never once showed up in my life.

But what did the news just say? He just returned to the country?

Ezekiel is back in the country? He came back from China?!

The news continued and a voice came up from the television, it was like a reporter struggling to question Ezekiel and the question quickly caught my attention: “Young master, Ezekiel, there have been countless rumors circulating recently that you and Miss Linda are planning on getting married in two months, is that true?”

“Most of Miss Linda's fans are worried about her and would like you to clean the air, Mr Ezekiel.”

“Wait… Ezekiel and Linda?”

My eyes widened in terror! But since the reporter speculated it to be a mere rumor, I couldn't help but think it might be a rumor.

I wouldn't be that surprised if the rumors are said to be true, since my marriage with him ended years ago, and with the kind of greedy family I have, they won't hesitate to set up another marriage between the two of them.. And Linda, she has always had an eye for him but I was too blind to see that until it became too late.

And besides, my marriage to the man has always been secretive. Throughout our marriage and even though we were both public figures, our marriage was never on the internet, and neither does the internet know anything about the relationship between the two of us.

“Mr Ezekiel, you rarely speak in front of the media, but since this is a rare appearance after a whole eight years of leaving the country, could you please briefly talk about you and Miss Linda's relationship and your family company's current situation…”

“Is that not, Miss Linda coming to pick you, Mr Ezekiel? Miss Linda is indeed beautiful, and I see why her fans cherish her dearly. Of course, I mean, who wouldn't?”

“I am sorry, but Mr Ezekiel is jet-lagged and won't be answering any personal questions for now. Everyone, please move back.” The familiar voice said calmly and the voice rang into my ears.

There was no way I wouldn't recognize that voice. And the person was no other person than Linda. I focused my attention back on the news.

She had a dress which was marching with an Ezekiel outfit. It was as if it was planned between both of them, or maybe not. But anyone would have thought those two were a thing with their matching outfit and for coming to pick up the man at the airport.

Just looking at her innocent smile brought back some scenes that I had always cherished, listening to everything she says. I have always believed in the innocent look on her.

At that time, when I was insisting on a divorce, it was she who encouraged me to try all sorts of despicable means, including giving myself food poisoning, cutting my wrists to commit suicide, and eventually made the man distance himself from me and grant my wish by divorcing me.

I clenched my fist as I stared straight at those two through the television. Every other person apart from them was unseen to me..I could only see those two maybe because I focused my full attention on them.

The more I stare at them, the more I laugh out in pain, almost laughing out of my lungs and finally letting out the tears that had been hiding, rolling down my cheeks.

“Since, Mr Ezekiel won't be answering our questions. Miss Linda, are you happy to become Mrs Williams and carry the Williams' first heir?”

That question made my heart thump to the extent that I could hardly control my emotions at the moment.

The reporters remained persistent as if they were personally hired, while my eyes were thoroughly focused on Linda, who was smiling and walking side by side with the man beside her.

“She's not Mrs Williams and she would never be Mrs Williams!”

The cold, silent man suddenly spoke up, his voice breaking the intensity of the air around me. I mean, that was quite unexpected. I wasn't expecting him to answer that question.

Linda's smile stiffened, but since she's a public figure, she tried to force herself to smile. But the disappointment on her face was like a five-year-old kid who was being deprived of food.

“There has been a rumor that Mr Ezekiel was once married eight years ago. Could he go back to the country for the woman……”

Suddenly, I couldn't hear any sounds from the television except the last few words that were ringing nonstop inside my ear like a bell. And what followed next was an extremely sharp pain that came from my abdomen causing me to collapse on the floor with sweat streaming down from my forehead.

The pain was unbearable, and in the next moment, I spat out blood.

“Seems like they don't want to keep me alive anymore.” I thought and wasn't expecting this day to come so soon even though I had already expected a day like today.

Truly, I am nothing but a church rat. I have no one by myself, not even my father, nobody to call my person in this life.

“Finally, my life will end, and all the mysteries in life will be gone. At least, that's better!”

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…So hot…

I felt a splitting headache the moment I regained consciousness. A sharp pain in my lower body.

It was as if someone was roughly handled by a man. Because, I mean, I could feel my vagina burning so hot.

“Ouch…”

I let out a groan as I tried to sit up, but the pain hurt to the point where my body stiffened and felt like a heavy load was on top of me..A whimper sound escaped my lips but it was soon sealed up with a lip locked against mine.

The next moment I regained consciousness, I found myself looking at an expensive chandelier hanging above me. Surprisingly, it seemed familiar to me.

I was laid on a king-sized bed, which seemed to be made of dark mahogany wood, exuding luxury and sophistication. And if I could remember correctly, there wasn't a bed in the prison throughout my whole three months there. And even the bed sheets felt so silky and expensive. It was as if I were lying upon a cloud, but everything felt comfortable.

Even though it feels comfortable, I couldn't help questioning myself.

“Where is this place? Where could this be?” I thought as I tried to sit up and compared to earlier, I didn't feel much pain.

The first thing that caught my eye was Ezekiel's favorite artwork placed on the wall. And there was no way I wouldn't recognize the room.

I was so shocked that I felt goosebumps all over my body. The room was my matrimonial room eight years ago and there wasn't a way I wouldn't recognize that.

So strange!

“What the heck is happening to me?!”

“I mean have I gone mad?”

This same room was the room I once shared with Ezekiel, my ex-husband.

So how did I return here?!

I tried to step off the bed, but the arching pain started again, and it felt so unbearable, and made me realize this wasn't a dream. I mean, the pain was real and unbearable, so it wouldn't be a dream or my imagination.

Despite the unbearable pain, I pushed the blanket off my body only to find myself in sexy lingerie but that didn't stop me from rushing inside the bathroom to at least look at my reflection.

I stood in front of the big mirror and glanced at my body which looked younger compared to before. My body looks so young and smooth compared to how it looked while I was in prison. But something else caught my attention, my neck and shoulder were filled with love bites, hickeys.

Everything still seemed surreal to me.

Eight years ago, I was once a prominent lady with one of the most praised beautiful faces. I was beautiful to the point that no one could stand against me and every other rich heiress sees me as a competitor. Even countless men would go crazy over me whenever they set their eyes on me.

I could remember being chased by Chad, a popular billionaire, who once chased me for a whole three years, but I cared to give him a chance.

But what's happening to me? Why am I back to eight years ago?!

Have I undergone some sort of rebirth?

I was still staring at the mirror when the door was pushed open from the outside and a sweet yet feminine familiar voice was heard, “Big sister, did you and Ezekiel get intimate….”

“It's Mr Ezekiel for you! He's a married man and you should approach him as one!” I thundered murderously.