Chapter One

Chapter One

Mikaela:

“Mikaela Abrams Selene, this is not a smart move to make. I'm not letting you give the family's art conglomerate to Ethan! Because you're the heir doesn't mean you can do whatever you want. If you go ahead, then I'm cutting you off!”

“Oh really, Mom? Really? You're cutting me off because I'm deciding to give the company to Ethan? Because I'm deciding to love him? Does that sound smart to you?” I scoffed, turning away as I approached the stairs.

“He will shatter you. You're too young for that, I don't want you to taste the bitterness I struggled with as a young adult. You're just nineteen!”

I halted, my body going stiff.

“Well, I heard that a million times already, but he hasn't broken my heart, has he? And We've been together for five months. Your words are invalid. Try again."

"Your Father already had a deal with the Davidsons before he passed away, you are to marry Mr Davidson's son, Kevin. What has Ethan done to show that he loves?”

I let out a sigh, my shoulders dropping.

As I crossed my arms, I turned to face her. “Oh, we're talking about this again? Because Kevin bought me a car doesn't mean he loves me, okay?”

“Well, what does Ethan have to show? Is it the dirty jeans he owns? Don't be stupid! He can't even afford a bicycle. Let me guess, he doesn't pay for the gas when you pick him up. The only difference between Ethan and a beggar is that he has an apartment, which you pay the rent for!! Mika, he is poor. We are wealthy. There's a line between the wealthy and the poor that cannot be erased. What are you thinking?! A lot of guys are in love with you, but you chose a guy below average?” She raised her voice, a vein bulging across her forehead.

"I'll make him wealthy. He has the potential."

“Exactly! He's after our money, and your body. What else do you want me to say to convince you?”

“You don't understand. I love him." I whispered, shaking my head.

"But he doesn't love you.”

“He does!"

“Don't come back crying to your dear mother when he breaks you!”

—

That was exactly four years ago, and I really wished I listened to my Mother. Instead of listening, I went ahead and got married to him. A lovely marriage somehow grew into a loveless one due to my inability to give him a child.

I thought that was the worst that could happen to our marriage, only for my husband to come home with another lady a few months ago as she was carrying his child.

I lived under the same roof with the woman my own husband loved.

Everyday was a new reason to walk away from the marriage. The maltreatment from his mistress. The loneliness. The disrespect.

It wasn't worth it.

Each day unfolds with a greater hatred for Ethan dwelling in me.

At the same time, I loved him.

I loved him, yet hated him. I hate to love him!

I let out a sigh as I strode down the passage, approaching my mother-in-law’s room to pick the cup used to serve her tea an hour ago.

She was the only person that didn't make me feel worthless. She loved me and believed I could give her son a child anytime soon.

My brows furrowed as I got closer to the room. I could hear voices coming from inside.

I pressed my head against the door, listening carefully.

“You are just being ungrateful, Mom!” Ethan's voice boomed.

“Ungrateful? Oh, Ethan, you have some nerve to call your own mother ungrateful!” Ma'am Maryanne, my mother-in-law, retorted.

“Why wouldn't I? I'm trying to build a family with Ava, yet you're going to stay on Mikaela's side? She is barren!”

“You expect me to be on Ava's side? Ava is nothing but a husband snatcher, and no modest woman would do something like that to her own gender!” She spat back, and the silence that followed was heavy. “I trained you better than this, Ethan.”

“I love Mikaela but I can't commit to a marriage that's not going to develop a family for me.”

“Family? You think love is all about building a family? I'm so disappointed in you.” Her voice broke and her next words were barely above a frail whisper. “Mikaela gave you everything we lacked, and this is how you plan to repay her?”

Ethan remained silent.

“She loved you unconditionally and left her family for you. She gave you her father's company. She stood by you when you had nothing, and is still standing by you after this mistake you made.” She added.

“I didn't ask her to.” He blurted out, his words cold and ruthless.

I chewed the corner of my lips, my heart clenching in my ribcage.

Before I could process anything, I felt the door swing away from me. Immediately, I raised my gaze, only to find Ethan standing before me. His teeth grinded, and his eyes burned with something I wouldn't want to name.

He slammed the door behind him, stepping forward to close the distance between us.

I retreated, slowly moving back. My eyes were etched with fear.

“How much did you hear?!” He barked, his teeth tightly clenched together.

My back hit the wall. “I heard enough, at least.” I responded.

Our eyes locked. He didn't say a word, but his eyes said it all as the bright emerald ate me up slowly.

“Do you even love me?!” I screamed.

“Give me one reason why I would love someone like you.”

I sacrificed everything for him. I gave up my family. My pride. My heart. My inheritance. And now, I wasn't worth his love? I wasn't even worth a child? My stomach twisted, the pain heavy and gripping.

“You're good at everything, even eavesdropping, but you're unable to carry a child. You should be ashamed.” He spat, nailing my neck to the wall with his hand. “If you ever eavesdrop on my conversations again, I will fucking kill you!”

I gasped, struggling to breath. My fingers crawled up, and tried hitching off his hand but he wouldn't budge.

He finally let go, giving me a last glare before storming away without looking back. I watched him walk away, his black hair shifting slightly with each determined step he took.

My nails dug into my palm, and I swear I felt my heart shift for a second.

I squeezed my eyes shut, letting out a sigh, as I turned to the door.

As soon as I stepped into the room, I was met with Ma'am Maryanne lying loosely on the ground. My brows furrowed.

“Ma'am.” I called, my voice soft.

She didn't respond. I squatted before her, glancing at her face that seemed a little pale.

“Maryanne.” I called again, my voice breaking this time.

She maintained the same position, and worry washed over me. I moved closer, placing my index and middle finger on her neck.

A cold sensation traveled from my head to my toes while I struggled to process the situation.

Ma'am Maryanne was….dead.

Immediately, I scrambled my way out of the room, halting when I spotted Ethan at the other end of the passage. He was just about to enter his room.

“Ethan!” I screamed, my voice booming through the mansion. His neck cocked to look at me. “Ethan!!” I screamed again.

My chest heaved up and down. I was unable to leave the spot I was standing as my legs were giving up on me.

“Come, quick!”

His gaze twitched. He knew something was wrong. Quickly, he headed back, his footsteps heavy.

“What?” He asked as soon as he got to where I was standing.

“Your Mom. She's…” I stuttered, lowering my gaze.

He snatched my jaw, forcing me to look into his eyes. “She's what?!” He retorted.

I gulped, unable to just blurt it out to his face. His grasp tightened, the pressure sinking deep into my bones. I winced, trying to plead, but I didn't have control over my own mouth.

I felt something sting under my flesh as his fingers penetrated further. I could tell if he squeezed with a little more pressure, something would crack.

Yet his eyes held no sympathy. They were a blazing fire.

He shoved me aside with so much force, throwing me to the ground before storming into the room.

I pulled myself together and returned to the room. Ethan kneeled beside his mother, his eyes shining with doubt as he cupped her face tenderly. “Mom.”

He raised his gaze to look at me. For a split second, his eyes darted to the cup on the coffee stool.

“Who served her tea?” He mouthed, his expression twitching. He sounded as if he could shred me into pieces at the moment if I made a wrong move.

My eyes widened. “Ethan, I swear, I did nothing to her tea.”

“Listen, Mika, I'm going to ask you once more. Who served her tea?”

My eyes widened as I fought to pull myself together.

“Answer me! Who served her evening tea today?!” He raised his voice, his eyes gleaming with pure rage.

“Me.” I whispered under my breath.

His eyes scanned my face for a while as if he was searching for something. As if he wanted to believe me but couldn't. “You murdered her.” My dear husband accused me. “And I will make the world see the true colors of the monster you are.”