Chapter 3

Louisa's POV

The next morning, when I walked into the bedroom, Lucas had already gone. 

I went downstairs and saw Mrs. Farrow standing in the living room, glaring at me.

"Great, you're here. I was about to fetch you," Mrs. Farrow said. "The housekeeper is getting on a bit, so I sent her away this morning. Since you're here, I don't think we need to hire a new one. You know how to be a housekeeper, right? Your father said that you used to take a part-time job at the local Holiday Inn?"

"Where's Lucas?" I ignored her provoking question and looked around. "I want to know where my husband is."

"My son's gone for a business trip with Jessica. I know he should take his newly married wife on a honeymoon trip, but what can I say? Maybe he's just not that into you." Mrs. Farrow tossed a mop and a bucket in my hands. "Now, start to move. Chop, chop. The floor doesn't clean itself."

Then, she got closer to me and lowered her voice, "My son loves an obedient wife. You should get the gist of it, judging by the bruise on your face."

Then, she chuckled and walked away.

That was just the start of my nightmarish life being stuck with my mother-in-law under the same roof. 

Mrs. Farrow was worse than the cruel stepmother in a Cinderella story.

She treated me like a servant and picked on me all the time. 

No matter how outrageous her demand was, I played the role of a good daughter-in-law to comply with it.

I hoped that he could see how much that I had sacrificed in order to become a good wife of him. 

I want to be loved by my husband, no matter what it takes. 

But all my expectations were shuttered into pieces when Lucas finally returned home after six whole weeks. 

He didn't come back alone, of course. 

He came back with that arm candy of his - 

Jessica Hutchinson.

"Ah, it's so good to be back, Mrs. Farrow! Paris is splendid at this time of the year and I've brought a gift for you!" Jessica hugged my mother-in-law and put a diamond bracelet in her hand. 

"This is beautiful. It must have cost you a fortune. You really shouldn't have." Mrs. Farrow said with a big smile on her face.

"Nothing is too much for you, mama," Jessica hugged Mrs. Farrow. 

Then, she took a glance at me and said, "While Luke and I were wandering about on Champs Elysees, I noticed this bracelet in the shopping window. I knew immediately that belongs to my dearest mama!" Jessica took a sip of the tea I made and her facial expression immediately became twisted. "Oh, this tea tastes terrible! You should have really fired that stupid housekeeper long ago, Mama. You're just so kind-hearted to keep hiring her." 

"It was Louisa who made the tea." Mrs. Farrow shook her head, raising her voice intentionally to let me hear it clearly. "I have taught her a thousand times, but it seems that she's too thick to learn anything. To be honest, I have never met a girl who can't even make a cup of tea right."

Then, she turned to my direction and said, "Louisa, come here right now and replace the tea."

I immediately walked forward to fetch the teacup, but before I could get hold of it, Jessica picked up the teacup and poured the hot liquid all over her designer skirt.

"Ah! No! It's my favorite skirt! It's a Thom Browne! It's ruined!" Jessica jumped up like a monkey and screamed. 

"What happened?" A deep, mellow voice appeared from a distance. 

Then, Lucas walked into the room with several bodyguards following him. 

He looked just as dazzling as the man that left me on the altar the other day. 

I looked like a fucking servant girl with messy hair.

Jessica ran toward my husband like a little bird and said with grievance, "It's nothing, Lucas. Really. I dropped the teacup and the tea spilled on my skirt. It's totally fine. I'm so clumsy. It has nothing to do with Louisa and please don't blame her!" 

Lucas took a glance at Jessica and his sight fixated on me.

"What did you do to Jessica?" He asked in a detached voice. 

Feeling desperate, I argued, "I didn't do anything. She poured the tea on herself."

"Why would anyone in their right mind pour a cup of boiling tea all over themselves?" Lucas looked vexed, holding up Jessica's tiny hands. "Her hands are burnt now."

"I don't know, maybe she's not in her right mind." I replied in a cold voice.

I could see the gloating light in Jessica's eyes. 

I suddenly remember what Jessica said -

"Lucas will always choose to side with me unconditionally."

That bitch batted her eyelashes at Lucas and said, "Luke, please don't blame Louisa. She's probably mad at you right now. You should have taken her on a honeymoon trip, but you took me to Paris instead. I guess she just misunderstands what's going on between us. I could apologize if she needs me to..."   

"I didn't pour any drinks on her," I said with clenched fists. 

I didn't look at Lucas in his eyes. 

I knew I couldn't find any sympathy or trust. So why bother?

"Mother, did you see what happened?" Lucas' voice sounded stern.

"Oh, yes, darling. I witnessed the whole thing." Mrs. Farrow said with a cruel smile on her face. "Your stupid wife poured a cup of tea all over Jessica."

At that time, I finally realized that I was fighting a battle that I could never win in this family.