Chapter 2: The Replacement

Olivia's POV

After moments of mentally convincing myself, I forced my legs to step into the dining room, trying to keep my features composed.

"There you are!" Catherine's voice was too cheerful, too unreal. "Come, sit. We were just about to eat."

I kept my gaze lowered, my hands pulling out a chair at the far end of the table which was the only empty seat left—not surprised.

Mara smiled at me again, that same bright she wore while her fingers played with what I thought was mine. Her hand touched the necklace once more, almost like she knew what she was doing.

Wasn't that necklace meant to be mine? Wasn't it meant to be a recovery gift from Ethan?

Why was it then hanging around the neck of another woman?

"Olivia, are you feeling better?" Mara asked, tone soft and holding concerning, pulling me out of my head. "Mom told me you were at the hospital today."

"I'm fine," My voice came out flat.

"That's good. You had us all worried." She turned to Ethan. "Right, Ethan?"

He nodded, his eyes on her instead of me. "She just needs rest."

A maid brought out the food. Roasted chicken, Mashed potatoes, Green beans. My stomach turned—but not in complete hunger.

Catherine proceeded to serving Mara first. Piling food onto her plate like she was the princess they all presented her to be.

"Eat, eat! You must be starving after that long flight."

"Thank you, Mom." Mara picked up her fork. "I missed your cooking so much."

"The cook made it," I said quietly.

Catherine cold gaze turned my way, almost piercing through me, "Well, I supervised."

I picked at my food, pushing the potatoes around my plate. Every bite tasted like sand.

Mara's laughter echoed lightly in the room as she as Ethan engaged in a conversation.

"Remember when we were kids and you pushed me into the pool?" She grinned at him.

Ethan's lips curved slightly, almost a smile. "You deserved it. You put salt in my coffee."

"I was ten!"

"And evil."

They both laughed. Catherine joined in.

I felt my stomach twist as I sat there silent, unimportant, Invisible.

"Oh, and remember the summer we went to the Hamptons?" Mara leaned forward. "You taught me how to sail."

"You were terrible at it."

"I was not! I only crashed once."

"Twice."

"Okay, twice."

More laughter. More memories. More moments I wasn't part of.

Was I the lady of the house or an invited guest? I felt like a stranger in my own home.

I set down my fork. I couldn't eat another bite.

"Olivia, you're not eating." Catherine's voice had an edge to it. "Is the food not good enough for you?"

"I'm just tired."

"Tired. Always tired." She shook her head, disgust clear on her face.

Mara reached over and touched Catherine's hand. "Mom, I was actually thinking. Since I'm back in the city now, maybe I should look for an apartment."

"Apartment? Don't be ridiculous."

"I don't want to impose."

"Impose? You're family!" Catherine looked at Ethan. "Tell her."

Ethan set down his wine glass. "You should stay here."

I sat up straighter. "Wait. Here?"

Three pairs of eyes turned to me.

"I mean..." I tried to keep my voice steady. "Maybe Mara would be more comfortable in her own space. She's been living abroad for so long. She probably wants her independence."

"If it's inconvenient for you, sister in law, I can just stay in a hotel." Her brows dropped, her hands placed on her chest like she was some sort of oracle of innocence .

"No, I didn't mean..."

"What hotel?" Ethan cut me off, his voice firm. "You get insomnia. You should stay somewhere you're familiar."

Mara's face lit up. "Really? You don't mind?"

"Of course not. This is your home."

My chest tightened at the sound of those word. This is her home, wasn't it mine as well? Wasn't I suppose to decide if she stayed or not? He'd never said that to me while he mother made inconsiderable choices in our house. Not once in two years of marriage.

"Oh, Ethan!" Mara clapped her hands together. "Thank you! I promise I won't be any trouble."

"You're never trouble," Catherine said with a smile.

I bit the inside of my cheek, so hard that I could taste my own blood.

The rest of dinner passed in a blur. More stories were shared, More laughter erupted, memories were made while I sat there like a mannequin that was meant to fill up an empty seat.

Finally, Catherine pushed back her chair. "Mara, come. Let me show you your room. I had it redecorated."

She had a room redecorated in my house and I had no idea about it.

"I can't wait to see it!" Mara stood up. She hooked her arm through Ethan's. "Come with us?"

"Sure."

They walked away together, arms linked like some sort of power couple.

I sat in silence at the empty table, my eyes glued to the dirty dishes piled up.

"Olivia." Catherine's voice pulled me back to reality. I hadn't realized she'd come back. "Clean this up."

"The maids..."

"Are busy preparing Mara's room. You're not doing anything. Clean the table."

I shut my eyes tightly as I tried to control my breathing. I wanted to scream, to throw the plates against the wall, to send everyone that wasn't meant to be here out of my space…

But I didn't. I couldn't.

I pushed myself up the seat and I began to stack the plates. From stacking plates to scraping food into the trash to loading the dishwasher.

I was no more than a maid at this point.

My mind kept replaying the memories that played out in front of me. Mara's arm linked through Ethan's, The necklace seating beautiful around her neck, His almost-smile when she talked.

I had never made him smile like that.

"Olivia."

I turned. Ethan stood in the doorway.

"Can we talk?"

I wiped my hands on a towel. "Sure."

He walked closer, his features unreadable. "I know tonight was a lot."

"It's fine." I said almost immediately.

He let out a sigh, "Mother can be... intense. But Mara being here is temporary. Just until she finds her footing."

I took a breath. "The necklace."

He frowned. "What necklace?"

"The necklace Mara is wearing. It was in your car today. In the Tiffany box."

"Oh. That." He shrugged. "My assistant bought it. I didn't even know what it was."

My heart sank. "Your assistant." The words rolled off my tongue like a weight ready to be dropped.

"Yeah. I told him to get something for Mara. Welcome home gift." His tone was flat. Bored, almost. "Don't overthink it."

"But..."

"Olivia." He sighed. "If you want jewelry, just tell me. I'll buy you whatever you want."

The words should have made me feel better. They didn't.

"That's not the point."

"Then what is the point?"

She flew half way across the country and he got her a welcome home present. But, I fainted and ended up in the hospital and there was no recovery gift for me, there was no welcome home present for me.

My lips parted, but no word escaped. How could I explain? How could I tell him that it wasn't about the necklace? It was about the thought. The care. The fact that he'd never once given me a welcome home gift or any gift without me asking.

"Nothing," I whispered. "Never mind."

He checked his watch. "Okay. Good. I have some emails to send."

As always.

He turned his back to leave and I stopped him, "Ethan, wait. Actually..." I gathered my courage. My hand moved to my stomach. "There's something I need to tell you. Something important."

He turned back. "What?"

"I went to the hospital today because..."

A scream cut through the air.

High pitched. Terrified.

"Mara!" Ethan's face went pale.

He bolted out of the kitchen like the house was on fire.

I stood frozen for a second before following behind him.

We found her in the hallway. Mara. Crumpled on the floor at the bottom of the stairs. Her face was twisted in pain.

"My ankle!" she cried. "I fell!"

I'd never seen Ethan move so fast. He dropped to his knees beside her. His hands hovered over her body like he was afraid to touch her.

"Where does it hurt? Don't move. Just breathe."

"It hurts so much." Tears streamed down her face.

Catherine came running. "What happened?"

"She fell down the stairs," Ethan said. His voice shook.

My heart twisted in my chest. Not from concern for Mara.

From the look on Ethan's face.

Panic. Raw, unfiltered panic.

I'd been married to this man for two years. I'd seen him angry, seen him cold, seen him indifferent.

But I'd never seen him look like this.

Like his whole world was breaking.

Ethan scooped Mara up in his arms. Gentle. Careful. Like she was made of glass.

"I've got you," he murmured. "I've got you."

He carried her toward the guest room. Catherine followed close behind, fussing and crying.

I was left alone in the hallway. The deafening silence of the room piercing through my ears.

Everything seemed to be happening so fast. What exactly was going on?