Chapter 2

*Laurie*

I stood at the stairs watching Zane wheel in two bags, a smile plastered on his perfect face. It was a smile that I never saw even after being married to him for three years.

“Welcome back to the country Thalia. I'm so excited. I can't believe you're finally back.”

He was grinning from ear to ear. They stopped in the living room, and the supposed Thalia looked around the room. She was impressed.

“You renovated the mansion babe. As expected of my billionaire lover. You never disappoint.” She placed a kiss on his lips right before me and he responded passionately.

“Ah, I missed these soft lips!” Zane moved her even closer to him, and they both soon got entangled in each other's arms.

My heart was beating so fast that I felt it might jump out of my chest. Zane… is smooching a woman.

I felt my knees weaken, and I gripped the banister to steady myself. The sound of their passionate kisses echoed through the grand foyer, each smack like a dagger to my heart. I wanted to look away, but I couldn't tear my eyes from the scene unfolding before me.

I was stunned. It wasn't that my husband was incompetent as a man. I just didn't interest him.

Finally, Thalia's gaze drifted up the stairs and locked onto mine. Her eyes widened slightly in surprise, but there was no guilt or embarrassment in her expression. Instead, a small, triumphant smile played at the corners of her mouth.

"Oh, Zane darling," she purred, her voice dripping with false sweetness. "You didn't tell me we had company."

Zane's head snapped up, and for a brief moment, I saw a flicker of something in his eyes - regret? Shame? But it was gone as quickly as it appeared.

I was enraged! How dare he betray the vows we had taken in the church? I knew I wasn't hurt by him breaching the vows we'd taken. I was hurt to see him making out with another woman when all he did to me all these years of marriage was hold my hand whenever we were going for a family gathering.

“Gosh! That's enough… I'm feeling a bit tired from jet lag. Let's continue this later.” She winked at him and coyly batted her eyelashes at him. It was obvious that she was seducing and he was willing to be seduced by her.

I felt my stomach churn as I watched Zane nod eagerly at Thalia's suggestion. He looked like an excited puppy, desperate for attention from its master. It was a side of him I had never seen before.

"Of course, my love," he cooed, placing a gentle kiss on her forehead. "Let me show you to OUR room. You can rest there."

Our room. The words echoed in my head, each repetition like a hammer blow to my heart. The room that had been mine just hours ago was now THEIRS.

As Zane led Thalia up the stairs, I pressed myself against the wall, trying to make myself as small and invisible as possible. But Thalia's eyes found mine again as they passed, and this time there was no mistaking the malicious glint in them.

"Oh, hello there," she said,

"You must be a maid," She pretended to smile but her smile soon faded.

“I never knew the maids of this house were so disrespectful. They even watch their boss get intimate?"

Thalia now had her eyes fixated on me. Her blue eyes were big and bubbly. Her skin was smooth, shining, and spotless.

Her nose was a perfect, round, pointed nose, and those rosy, red lips were the apple on the pie.

Looking down at her blonde hair and curvy figure, I could tell why everyone would think she was best for Zane. But then… her eyes… There's something dangerous about it.

“I am not a maid, I am Zane's…”

"She's a new employee. I guess the head maid did not give her proper training before letting her into the mansion. Forget it, don't bother about this classless ugly stout, my queen. I've prepared your side of the closet, do you want to take a look?”

My blood boiled and in that instant, I almost snapped. UGLY STOUT?

I stood there, paralyzed, as Zane's words cut through me like a knife. Ugly stout? Is that how he truly saw me? The woman he had married, shared a bed with for three years? Even though he had always refused my advances and never gotten intimate with me. My hands clenched into fists at my sides, nails digging into my palms.

Thalia's tinkling laugh echoed in the hallway. "Oh darling, you're so cruel," she said, but her tone was filled with amusement rather than reproach. "But you're right, let's not waste time on the help. Show me our closet!"

As they disappeared into what was once our bedroom, I remained rooted to the spot, my mind reeling. The reality of my situation was crashing down around me. In the span of a few hours, I had gone from being Zane's wife to being dismissed as nothing more than an ugly, classless maid.

No! I can't let this happen. Regardless of whatever Zane thinks, I can't just stand by and let this evil woman into this house. I'll confront him… he must not be blinded by her pretentious nature.

“Get back here, where the fuck do you think you're going? Are you trying to ruin my son's happiness? You witch, I won't let you succeed.”

SLAP!

“Mother! You slapped me.” I held my cheeks in shock as I took a step back to steady myself from the brain reset slap I had just received.

“Mother? Do I look like I can give birth to an ugly pig like you? Don't even call me mother, I feel insulted.”

She spat on my face!

“And yes, I'll slap you over and over again if you try to cause a problem here. I have only one daughter-in-law that I recognize and she is Thalia. As for you, you're just a lowly maid who got an opportunity to live with your Master for three years.”

She pointed her fingers at me.

“Thalia shouldn't in any way find out about you and Zane. She's the ideal daughter-in-law any mother wants for her son. If she ever does find out about Zane and you, I'll make sure you never see your little brother again.”

I felt my breath catch in my throat as Mrs. Voss's threat hung in the air. My little brother, Rafe, was the only family I had left in this world. The thought of never seeing him again sent a chill down my spine.

"You... you can't do that," I stammered, my voice barely above a whisper.

Mrs. Voss's eyes narrowed, a cruel smile playing on her lips. "Oh, but I can. And I will, if you don't play your part. Remember your place, girl. You're nothing but a glorified servant who got lucky for a while. Now, it's time to step aside and let my son be with the woman he truly deserves."

I wanted to scream, to fight back, to tell her that I was Zane's wife, not some disposable maid. But the stinging in my cheek and the very real threat to my brother kept me silent.

The threat was real and I knew right then that my messy life was about to take a dark turn for the worst.