CHAPTER 2

Vivian’s POV

“Welcome back, Mr. Lyon.”

I said it the second he walked into the living room. I couldn’t call him by his first name like other wives call their husbands. He made that rule on the day we got married. I had to call him “Mr. Lyon,” just like the staff in the house, just like I was one of them.

“You missed Ashley’s party,” I said. I couldn’t hide the anger in my voice.

If he had been there, maybe Ashley wouldn’t have screamed at me. Maybe she wouldn’t have pushed her cake to the floor. Maybe I would have gotten to see her smile when she blew out her candles. But I didn’t see any of it. After what happened in the garden, Kate told me to stay in the kitchen. She said I wasn’t allowed to show my face at the party anymore.

“You don’t dare question me,” Lyon said. His eyes were cold, it was the same look of disdain he’d had since the day we said our vows. “You have no right.”

“I’m not questioning you,” I said, shaking my head. “Ashley was upset. She cried because you weren’t there. Did you think about how that made her feel? In front of all her friends and the guests? It’s her fifth birthday.” My voice almost broke.

He didn’t answer, he just stood there. It was almost midnight. His hair was messy, like he’d run his hands through it a hundred times. And there was a bright red lipstick stain on his cheek. Another one on the collar of his white shirt.

“Even if you hate me,” I said, and my voice cracked, “at least you don’t hate your daughter.”

I don’t know why my chest hurts so much saying that. Was it because he hurt Ashley? Or was it jealousy? I shouldn’t be jealous. Lyon made it clear from the start that he would never love me. He’s never touched me willingly, never looked at me with anything but disgust. But it still stings every time I see pictures of him with other women. Every time he comes home smelling like someone else’s perfume.

“Shut your filthy mouth, you ugly gold-digger bitch,” he snapped. He took three fast steps toward me. “You don’t love my daughter more than I do. Don’t act as if you care about her. You are just pretending so everyone will accept your manipulative self. I see through your act.”

Tears were already running down my face. I couldn’t stop them. “I have taken care of her like she’s my own,” I said. My voice was shaking. “I have loved her like a mother should, ever since her mom dumped her and—”

I didn’t get to finish, Lyon’s hand shot out and grabbed me by the throat. He yanked me up, so close I could feel his breath on my face.

“Say that one more time and you will regret it,” he growled. His fingers tightened. “Haven’t you been told never to mention that? Ever?”

Then he shoved me hard, and I hit the floor. My elbow slammed against the tile and pain shot up my arm. I bit my lip to keep from crying out.

“Your days in this house are numbered,” he said, looking down at me like I was nothing. “Soon you will be back on the street where you belong.” He turned and started walking toward the stairs.

“Of course,” I said, pushing myself up on my sore arm. The words just came out. Bitter and angry. “I heard you already brought a replacement for me, a more befitting mother.”

He stopped walking, his back still facing me. “Good that you know,” he said flatly. “You don’t have to pretend to love her anymore.” Then he went upstairs.

But I wasn’t pretending. I love Ashley like my own, I have cherished every moment with her since I was forced to leave school to take care of her.

My life has been a tragedy. My aunt begged me to take her daughter’s identity and use her scholarship to Stark University, a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Her daughter had an accident, so I went to school as Stormy. But I was caught within a month.

I was about to be expelled, but Stella Stark, a professor, stepped in. She changed everything back to my real name and took me under her wing.

Later, she was diagnosed with cancer. She begged me to marry her son, Lyon, saying I was perfect for him, even though he was already betrothed to Jessica Halloway since childhood.

The Stark family hated me. They couldn’t accept their heir marrying an orphan raised by her aunt. But they had to agree because of Stella’s dying wish.

I married Lyon soon after. The wedding was cold, just his parents, him, me, and the priest.

When Stella’s condition worsened, I was forced to stop school and take care of her, even though there were many maids. She wanted to go to Paris before she died. They refused, but I begged them to let her enjoy her last days, they finally agreed. But she died in a car crash in Paris and they all blamed me for it.

Slowly, I pushed myself up, I walked back to my room with my head down. My arm throbbed where I hit the tile. I couldn’t sleep properly that night, I spent it crying about how much time I had wasted taking care of people who would do anything to get me out of their lives.

When morning came, I got up anyway. I took a long bath and put on a simple dress and went downstairs.

Downstairs, the house was loud again. There were flowers everywhere, new tablecloths. Staff running around with trays. It looked like they were hosting another party and no one told me about it.

Lyon, Kate, his dad, and Ashley were all in the living room. Ashley was wearing a new pink dress. Her hair was done in curls, and she looked happy.

Kate saw me first, her face twisted. “Look at the time,” she snarled. “Just waking up now? What a mother.” She said.

She knew I slept late last night, she had insisted I make sure the house was sparkling clean before retiring to bed but she just wanted to make me look lazy in front of Lyon.

I opened my mouth, but Ashley spoke first, she ran over, but not to me. She stopped in front of Lyon and smiled up at him.

“Dad, Nana said we are having a guest today!” she said, her voice bright. “Someone important, someone more befitting to be my mother.” She clapped her hands. “She said she is very beautiful and from a good family. I can’t wait to meet her!”

My chest got tight, she didn’t even acknowledge my presence, she stood there fawning over a new mother, really happy to replace me.

Lyon reached down and patted Ashley’s head. “Yes, sweetheart. She will be here soon.” I looked around, and all of this preparation is for the woman coming to replace me.

Kate’s eyes slid to me. “Don’t just stand there,” she snapped. “Go join the maids in the kitchen. That’s the only place you belong.”

I didn’t argue, I lowered my head and walked past them. Past Ashley, who didn’t even look at me.

The kitchen was chaos. Maids were carrying trays, chefs were shouting, and flowers were being arranged. I stood by the door, out of the way, no one needed me here, Kate just wanted me to know my place.

From the window, I watched the cars pull up. Guest after guest, all dressed up, laughing, carrying gifts. I frowned wondering Who is she? Who is this woman worth all this? Worth new flowers, Lyon’s smile? Worth making Ashley forget me in one day?

The head maid called out, “The main guest is here!” My feet moved before my brain could stop them. I walked to the living room doorway.

Lyon was standing by the door, beside him, holding a small gift box, was a woman in a cream dress was holding a small gift box, everything about her was perfect.

She is Jessica Halloway, Ashley’s biological mother.