Love You Forever and Always

Mrs. Xia was the talk of the town again.

News of how Ella Sheng, otherwise known as Mrs. Xia, shamelessly cheated on her husband Raymond Xia had spread like wildfire throughout the city. It was scandalous, and the perfect topic for gossip sessions over breakfast, lunch, tea, and dinner.

Their marriage had been controversial from the beginning. Raymond Xia had married Ella Sheng after a one-night stand, much to the dismay and disapproval of everyone. Now, the shocking news about Ella's infidelity had set every tongue wagging again; it was a scandal that had seemingly proved everyone right about Ella being unsuitable for Raymond. She had disgraced herself, and the entire city couldn't wait to eat her alive.

The public outrage had forced Ella Sheng to disguise herself with sunglasses and a mask whenever she stepped outside the safety of her house. But her flimsy disguise was no match for the seasoned paparazzi; they mobbed her from all directions, screaming questions in her face.

"Vicky, where are you? Help me!" Ella Sheng pleaded into the phone as she ran as fast as her legs could carry her. To her surprise, her agent Vicky sounded just as out of breath on the other end. "Mr. Xia called me just now. He'll pick you up on South Circular Road. Got that? I have to go now, I have a paparazzo right behind me and I can't shake him off!"

Then Vicky hung up.

Ella Sheng stared at her phone in confusion. Why would Raymond Xia pick her up and save her from the paparazzi?

It was much more likely for her husband to want her to be mobbed and harassed by the paparazzi, given the circumstances of their marriage.

But she didn't have time to think. The paparazzi were still chasing after her, determined to twist every word she uttered into an admission of guilt. There was no better way out of this mess than to put on a show for the paparazzi and pretend to be in a loving, trusting relationship with Raymond Xia.

She had to sprint for several minutes before she finally spotted his car at the intersection. As soon as she saw it, she removed her sunglasses and mask and made a show of casually walking over to the car as if it were the most natural thing in the world. She opened the back door, got in, and settled herself next to Raymond Xia. She kissed his cheek. "Thank you, darling, for picking me up." She then turned to the driver. "You can start the car now."

She had played the part of Raymond Xia's dignified wife to perfection, but the chauffeur ignored her. Ella Sheng turned nervously to Raymond Xia, and froze: if looks could kill, she would be dead by now.

Dressed in a smart black suit, Raymond Xia was the very picture of cool, aloof nobility. His handsome face clouded over as he glared at Ella Sheng with his dark, piercing gaze. Once upon a time, the sight of her beautiful face would have banished all rational thought from his head, but that time was long gone. He gritted his teeth as he spat out, "Ella, your job as an actress has muddled your sense of reality. What's gotten into you? Drop the act, it makes me sick."

He wiped the lipstick from his cheek with an expression of open disgust.

She looked at him, entranced. When was the last time she had seen her husband?

Had it been three days? Three weeks? Three months?

It had been so long ago she had lost all sense of time.

His strong, beautiful fingers continued to rub at his cheek as he tried to get the last of her lipstick off. She watched, fascinated, before catching his hand and quickly kissing the back of his hand to leave another lipstick mark on it.

"Ella Sheng!" His voice had risen in anger. He prided himself on his self-control, but somehow, he always found himself losing his temper in the presence of the impudent woman before him. He had avoided her as best as he could for fear of accidentally killing her one day in a fit of rage, but his efforts had backfired. She had become increasingly bold and cheeky with him; it was as if she had taken it as a challenge to test his limits and see what she could get away with.

Her heart soared. It had been so long since he had last called her name. Overcome with happiness, she hugged his arm and snuggled against him.

He had to keep himself from erupting in anger. He shot her an icy look as he said frostily, "Ella Sheng, don't forget your place."

"Oh, I know my place. I'm your wife." She began to rub lazy circles on his shoulder.

He sneered. "You've been my wife for the last two years. Well? How does it feel?"

It was every woman's dream to be Mrs. Xia and live in the lap of luxury. She could have whatever she wanted, but Ella Sheng knew something the other envious women did not: the Xia family was nothing more than a prison decorated in gold. Her marriage had come at the price of her freedom, her happiness, and ironically, the love of her husband.

At the end of the day, "Mrs. Xia" was just a title.

It didn't change the fact that Raymond Xia hated her from the bottom of his heart.