Replacement

LILA

As I ended the call, Lowell frowned at me.

"What are you waiting for, Lila? Get our guest some refreshments."

"Remember," his mother, Mrs Black, called, "I only drink freshly squeezed orange juice. Nothing else."

"A cup of hot chocolate with whipped cream for me," his sister Tiana chimed in. "Lots of sprinkles, as usual."

I had made their drinks a thousand times, so I knew their preferences by heart. But knowing the truth of what I truly was to them made the familiarity feel pathetic this time.

"Come on," their guest said softly, pouting. "You shouldn't speak to Lowell's wife like that. One would think she's a slave."

A small stir of hope bloomed in my chest. At least one person could see how cruel this was.

"Wife?" Tiana scoffed. "We all know that's just a title. Lowell has loved you, and only you, for years, Claire. Ever since we were young and neighbours."

"You followed him around everywhere," Mrs Black added fondly. "Your parents and I were certain you'd end up together before you moved away. How are they, by the way?"

"They're fine," Claire replied, blushing. "Hearing about the past makes me embarrassed. I must've been so clingy."

"Nonsense," Mrs Black waved her off. "You're grown and back now. Don't let something like trash bother you. She's nothing more than a maid, keeping my son company on your behalf."

"Oh..." Claire paused, then smiled lightly. "In that case, a simple decaf latte will do. I'm trying to live healthily."

The sudden shift in her attitude almost made me choke.

"Lovely," Tiana gushed. "You've always cared about your health, Claire." She gazed at her with open admiration that I found hard to believe.

At thirty, I was seven years older than her, yet in all my years with this family, I had never been shown even a shred of respect.

"Lowell," I whispered. "Are you really going to stay quiet?"

He looked up from his phone with a distracted smile. "Yes?" Then he realised it was me, and his expression hardened. "What is it?"

"It's... never mind."

With no choice, I turned away to prepare their drinks.

Thirty minutes later, after playing servant, I returned with the drinks. Just as I stepped forward, a perfectly toned leg suddenly appeared in my path. The tray tipped, and I watched helplessly as hot chocolate poured all over my arm.

"Claire!" Tiana screamed.

"Are you alright?" Mrs Black rushed forward. "Lowell, take her to the hospital! Can't you see a drop splashed on her?"

And Lowell? He was already at Claire's side.

"Claire, stay with me," he said urgently. "You must be in pain." Then his sharp gaze turned to me. "What is wrong with you? Can't you focus?"

I couldn't help but tremble.

Stay with me? In pain from a splash? Shouldn't the person soaked in scalding liquid be the one everyone worried about?

I was the one burned, yet he was furious at me.

"Don't be too harsh," Claire sighed weakly. "She didn't mean it. It's not that serious."

Clutching my throbbing arm, I looked down, just in time to see her sneakily retract her leg.

"I don't believe that," Lowell said coldly. "She's served my mother and sister for five years. She can probably pass as a waitress. Why would she suddenly make a mistake now?"

His words made me feel smaller than ever.

"Maybe she was distracted," Claire suggested gently. "I would be too if my family embarrassed me in front of a guest."

"Family?" Tiana laughed. "She has no family."

"Don't be rude," Lowell said flatly, without looking at me.

"Well, she's only telling the truth, son," his mother cut in. "However, it is wrong to take credit for charity, Tiana. It's not her fault that her father was a gambler who led himself and his wife to their death.""

"Excuse me? I'm standing right here."

"Oh, please," Tiana snorted. "Your sob story is common knowledge. Why pretend it's a secret?"

"Gambler?" Claire frowned. "Isn't that the Mondini family?"

"Exactly."

I looked at Lowell, pleading for him to stop them, but he just looked away.

"You're too modest, son," Mrs Black told him warmly. "You should take credit sometimes. If it weren't for my dear Lowell, who married her and paid off all her debts, she would be out on the streets by now."

"You now see why she does all we want without complaint. She knew from the beginning she didn't belong," Tiana mocked. "A person should have some shame, right?"

"Please... stop," I whispered.

But if they heard, they didn't listen.

My life hadn't always been like this.

My family had been one of the wealthiest in the city until bankruptcy destroyed us. To save what was left of it, my father had dabbled in business with the wrong people. The scandal had wrecked the entire town. I lost everything, including my parents, and thought nothing could ever pull me from that pit.

Then Lowell appeared. He offered the hand I'd been reaching for for years... ever since we were in high school.

"It's the least I can do as a friend." He had said five years ago. "Marry me and leave this hell, Lila."

I thought my wait was paying off, and it wouldn't be long until I won his heart. However, his family saw it as the only reason I married their son.

They had no idea that my grandmother's lawyer had contacted me at the same time. That I had another way out and I could've taken care of it all, but I chose Lowell instead.

God... I must have been madly in love.

"This is a painful part of my life," I said hoarsely. "Yet you're all discussing it like it means nothing."

"We were just filling Claire in on what she missed," Tiana laughed. "Don't act like a victim."

"Lowell?"

"What?" he snapped, glancing at my arm, which had now turned an ugly shade of purple. "Are you going to keep standing there, or would you go take care of yourself?"