Jacob was very angry at the turn of events. It seemed that he had big plans and all fell apart. He couldn't believe that Zach McCord had turned down the proposal. He was keen to buy it when Jacob had made an offer to him a week ago. He couldn't understand what brought about this change of mind. He can always get another buyer, of course, but he was also planning to impress Zach so that he can do business with him in future. But, All his hopes seems doomed now. Hands on his forehead, he sat on the sofa with a brooding look on his face, ignorant of Amelia's presence. She doesn't exist in his world anymore other than the fact that she owns a large sum of his shares which he had himself presented her on their courtship days to prove her that he is serious about her. Those days he was but after marriage, he felt like someone has thrown a bucket of ice water over him when he found Amelia was nothing but an Ice-Maiden. He always been having affairs alongside while he was dating her, but after marriage, for his needs, his quests increased and so did his extra marital affairs.

The only thing that matters to him now was to rectify his mistake and make her sell the shares he had given her. He needed to do them badly and soon. He had already planned out everything when Zach agreed to buy them now he has to find out a potential buyer who will give him a good price. He was completely annoyed with the change of situations.

With much effort and putting in all her strength, Amelia said in a comforting tone,"Jacob"

Jacob looked angrily at her and barked,"Just get the hell out of here. I don't need your pity."

"But...."

"Go," He shouted.

Amelia didn't wait to hear any more. Turning to move out of the room, she almost but fled hurriedly towards the lift fearing that Jacob might change his mind and will start scolding at her or worse humiliate her as he does at home. The lift took her to the ground floor and she speedily walked towards her car, almost being hit by the car that was being parked at the parking area.

"Amelia"

She stopped at the sound of that familiar voice and turned to face Zach McCord, who was now grabbing her by her arms in anger as he said,"Have you lost your mind?"

Her cheeks lost color as she realized the accident, she might have had, if he had not pulled her. She looked at him thankfully and making an apologetic face said,"I'm Sorry."

His expressions softened her apology and he asked,"It's all right, but why you're in such blind rush?"

"Nothing. Just Nothing," she said impatiently as she tried to free herself from his grab.

"Did Jacob said something to you that has affected you?"

She stared at his face dumbly thinking how did he guess that. Was it so obvious that the couple doesn't go well together. "It's nothing like that, Mr McCord," She uttered as she put her hand on her fist, removing his hand from her shoulder.

He let her do that and drawled,"You are lying and I'm quite sure of that."

How? Why? She wondered if he knew about Jacob as well. He might. Half of the world knows about his mistresses. Did he know about his marital life as well? She felt uneasy and looking away from him, without replying to him she turned away.

He grabbed hold of her hands this time.

"Please, let me go," She shook his hands away to be free from him but the efforts failed. His grip on her hand tightened as his mouth twisted in a smile as he said,"I will but only if you tell me the truth."

"Why," she demanded angrily.

"Because I need to know"

"You have no right to ask me questions like that nor to peep into what I and my husband tell each other."

"I am keeping in mind to mind my business the next time, but at this moment, I'm making an exception because I need to know what's happening," He retorted.

She stood quiet.

" Why are you willing to sell your shares knowing you will lose your power over the company. Why are you looking so bothered and affected?" He asked in a commanding voice.

"Who are you? What are you? Who gave you the right to pry into my personal matters and why," She said angrily as she jerked his hand away from her, setting her hand free from her's grip.

"I'm not used to being questioned back like that," He mocked further making her mad.

"And I'm not used to answering questions asked by strangers" She said as she turned to walk away from him.

"Then, like me, make an exception this time." He said humorously but in a demanding tone.

"God! You are so arrogant. Why don't you get it, I'm just not interested in talking to you" She hissed. Her temper rising. She never knew she was capable of losing her temper to this extent.

Jacob had given her hard times right after their marriage, but she had always been calm and had dealt with things with a sensible state of mind, but now it seems she has lost out on her patience and this man is testing her limits.

"Did he forced you to do so?" He asked.

She shrugged, walking away, ignoring him.

"Did he get angry at you after I went away, is that why you look so lost now?" He asked again.

"No!" It was almost a shout. Zach looked at her with surprise. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to interfere in your life but It's just that. I didn't feel things to be right. It was rather a stupid decision to sell off shares and risking every bit of the security you have, knowing too well what a......" He stopped at that. Not willing to say more.

She looked at his face searchingly. Suddenly breathing seemed hard. She knew, she was sure what he wanted to say. So he does knows. But now she wants to know what exactly he knew.... Because she needs to know what Jacob is doing behind her back. She never could ask anyone. He is the first person who spoke like that and she knew that he really must know something to be talking about him in such a way.

"What a... What? Complete it." she said emotionally.

"Bastard," He said insultingly. She wanted to slap him, but her hands didn't raise. Instead, she flinched as the words sank in. So he did know... Everything.

"What exactly do you know?," her face pale, almost deathly white as she discussed her husband's philandering ways with a stranger.

He hesitated saying it. "I have no intention to tell my husband, if that's worrying you" She assured, thinking he is worried how Jacob might react to this.

He laughed, but then stopped as he saw her emotionally stricken face,"Sorry, I couldn't help that. But don't worry, I don't fear your husband at all."

"Then tell me... Please," She said in a pleading tone that made him look at her intensely.

"Amelia... What has he done to you? Why do you tolerate a jerk like that?"

She made a sad face," I'm married to him." She wanted to say because she loved him but words just didn't came out.The love dying in her heart everyday, since the day she married him. Ironically, The happiest day of her life is also the most hateful and unfateful day of her life with all her dreams and wishes shattering to pieces on that very day and Jacob breaking them into more smaller pieces each day that passed through after that, making Amelia regret everything. Though, she kept hopes but she has a feeling that each of those hopes are falling apart with the fear that Jcob is enfilling in her heart with those threats of divorce.

"So what? That doesn't mean you will let him cheat on you or hurt you"

She didn't say anything as she looked at him, waiting for him to say more.

"Alright, I will tell you but let me tell you that the news isn't confirmed yet"

"Okay, I will try not to react much"

He nodded. She nodded in agreement.

He drew a deep breath and said,"Well. I don't know if you know about his mistresses or not..."

"I know," She cut in saying in a dead voice.

"I have heard he is quite serious about the recent one and he might set out to live with her. I'm not sure, but maybe he is not doing well financially so to please her he is seeking off your shares to buy her an apartment"

He let out a troubled breath as he saw her face changing expressions. A tear fell from her eyes and he cursed himself for sharing this news with her. Amelia didn't respond, standing like a stone. His face was grim as he watched her expressions.

"Amelia"

Painful eyes looked at his as she said,"Please, I need to go." So, her fears and instincts were not wrong. She felt something inside her dying as she tried to come to terms with what Zach has said. It will a complete stupid thing to believe a stranger but Knowing Jacob, she knows that the information is true. Man like Jacob can do such things. She turned away and sat in her car that was parked a few steps away, drove away. Zach watched her quietly as she drove out of the complex.

A few second later, Zach drove away in his car too.

Jacob was standing at the window of his office in a furious state of mind when he saw Amelia and Zach talking together. He had felt that they knew each other before being introduced here by him. It was obvious from the way they looked at each other, but he was not sure about it. But now he is. Amelia? She tricked him. She knew Zach and she made him reject this offer, making him land into this mess. He has no idea what he will tell Janet. He promised her that he will make Amelia sell off her shares today and soon they will move into a new apartment. He was mad. Not only Amelia cheated on him by hiding the fact that's he knew Zach McCord but also she made him turn down the offer he made to Jacob.

He set out from his office at once with anger raging inside him.

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