Chapter 4; Walk Into Her Trap

Anastasia's POV

Everyone rushed to receive her, some even bumping into me in the process, but I was too disappointed to react. Not disappointed that my husband had walked in with his first love, but disappointed that he could make time to attend the family dinner with her when I hadn't been able to get him to come with me after all these years.

“You've grown so much... and you've become even prettier,” my mother-in-law said warmly as she hugged Serena, carelessly pushing me aside.

“When did you get back?”

“Were you hiding from us all this time?”

Questions came from every direction, everyone eager to hear her answers, while I stood in the middle of the room like a lost sheep. Tristan's gaze briefly landed on me once, and the hostility in his eyes was impossible to miss.

It seemed someone was still holding a grudge, but even though his eyes didn't hold warmth for me, it felt like they were still watching over me. But I shook it off.

“I'm glad to be back after so many years,” Serena beamed.

I watched as everyone showered her with compliments, telling her how beautiful she still looked despite being away for so long.

The warmth they showed her made my eyes sting with unshed tears.

But then again...That was how it had always been.

Serena had only been the butler's daughter, yet the Brooke family had always treated her far better than they had ever treated me. To them, Serena was Tristan's saviour, while I was nothing more than a parasite, a leech trying to climb the social ladder through marriage.

She was the angel. I was the gold digger.

That was why they had all blamed Tristan for marrying me in the first place. And now that Serena had returned. I knew it was only a matter of time before they started pressuring him to divorce me.

What would happen to me then? I thought, as I rubbed my stomach.

The family only stopped fawning over Serena when Old Master Brooke finally walked out of his study. Everyone made their way to the dining table, and for the first time that evening, I found myself seated beside Tristan.

Apparently, even that was too much.

“It's been a long time since Serena came home,” my mother-in-law said. “It's only right that she sits beside Tristan. Anastasia, find another seat.”

I wanted to fight back, but I knew where that slid end so without arguing, I quietly stood up. Like a woman who had forgotten what self-respect looked like.

I had barely taken a step when Old Master Brooke's firm voice echoed through the dining room.

“Why should she give up her seat for a stranger?” he demanded. “She's Tristan's legal wife. She's the only one who belongs there, and I hope you won't make such thoughtless requests again.”

His words silenced the room. My mother-in-law could only huff in displeasure.

“And you,” Grandpa Brooke said, turning to me, “start standing up for yourself, Anna. You're a Lancaster. Your grandfather didn't raise you to be timid.”

I slowly returned to my seat and nodded. It wasn't that I had always been timid.

But after five years of being constantly suppressed by the Brooke family, I had gradually lost pieces of myself.

Sometimes I couldn't even remember how the old Anastasia would have reacted in situations like this.

“I'm sorry, Grandpa,” Serena suddenly spoke up, lowering her head innocently. “I didn't mean to interrupt the family dinner. I just... missed everyone so much. Please don't be angry with Mother because of me.”

Her words only made the already awkward atmosphere even stiffer. I knew exactly what she was doing. She was beginning another one of her pitiful performances. Just as expected, Tristan's attention immediately shifted to her.

“Don't say that,” my mother-in-law said affectionately. “We're happy you're here, dear.”

The table quickly became lively again.

“Actually,” Serena continued shyly, “Tristan didn't even want to come tonight, but there was no way I was going to let him disappoint the elders. So I dragged him here myself.” She laughed softly before lowering her gaze. “I just missed everyone... I'm sorry I left without saying goodbye.”

Almost immediately, everyone started making excuses for her. No one questioned her disappearance.

The same grace, the same understanding, the same forgiveness, not once had anyone in the Brooke family ever extended those things to me.

Watching how effortlessly she received them made my chest tighten with an unbearable ache.

Dinner eventually came to an end, but no one seemed ready to retire for the night. They remained downstairs chatting happily, reminiscing with Serena as though she had never left.

Only after Grandpa Brooke excused himself to rest did I finally see an opportunity to slip away unnoticed.

I quietly excused myself. The air in that room had become too suffocating. It felt as though I didn't belong there. Perhaps...I never truly had.

I made my way upstairs to the room Tristan and I usually occupied whenever we stayed overnight after the monthly family dinner. Halfway there, I realised I was thirsty, so I decided to head downstairs for a glass of water.

Unfortunately...I bumped straight into Serena. Just my luck.

“Hiding in your room because no one wants to play with you?” she taunted, folding her arms.

I let out a tired sigh.

“We're not in high school anymore, Serena,” I said calmly as I brushed past her. “You can stop acting like the mean girl now.”

“Five years,” she said as she followed after me. “You had five whole years to win them over, yet you couldn't do it.”

Her voice dripped with satisfaction.

“It must be exhausting trying so hard to earn your husband's family's love.” She chuckled. “But guess what, Anastasia? Even with your daddy's money, you're still just a pitiful little girl begging people to love you.”

“Begging to be loved?” I repeated with a bitter smile. “Maybe you're right. But you're no different from me. You're just as pathetic, crawling back here after disappearing for five years, and—”

“I'm not pathetic,” she snapped, cutting me off. “I'm here to restore the balance you disrupted.” Her eyes gleamed with confidence. “This family was never meant for you, so I'm here to throw you out of it.”

I stared at her in disbelief. Where did she get the audacity to speak as though she owned everything?

Even if Tristan wanted to divorce me and marry her, as long as I didn't agree, he couldn't simply discard me. So who was she to decide my fate?

“Do you want me to show you exactly where you stand in this family?” she asked with a chilling smile. A knot formed in my stomach.

I knew that smile. I knew it far too well. She was about to do something reckless. Then she'd play the victim all over again. She couldn't possibly try that here...

Could she?

“Please...” I said, my voice trembling. “Don't do anything crazy.”

I already knew I wouldn't survive another one of her schemes. But who was I trying to fool?

“Really?” she whispered, her smile widening. “Then save me.” she said, as she took a step backward at a time, and this time she was standing at the edge of the stairs.

Before I could react, she deliberately leaned backwards towards the staircase. My eyes widened in horror.

“That crazy girl!” I screamed.

Instinctively, I lunged forward and grabbed her wrist just before she could tumble down the stairs.

For a brief second, I thought I'd stopped her. Then she smiled. A victorious, terrifying smile. Exactly as though this was where she had wanted me all along.

“Perfect...You just walk into my trap.” she whispered.

“Ahhh!”

Her piercing scream shattered the silence.

The sudden sound startled me so badly that my grip loosened for a split second. It was all she needed.

My fingers slipped from her wrist. And before I could catch her again, I watched Serena's body tumble violently down the staircase. My heart stopped.

That girl...She really wasn't going to let me catch a break.