Chapter 1

The day has gone and it was night already. The moon shone so bright outside, which illuminated everywhere.

The chitchat of the Watson's family which erupted from the spacious living room rented the air. They could all be heard chatting and laughing heartily.

In the master's bedroom, Scarlet Andy was folding the clothes she had washed earlier. The air was hot which made her face flushed and her vision blurry, she looked at the heap of clothes on the bed and her heart sank. She had been washing all day and her fingers were bruised. Sweat dripped down her forehead which she wiped away with the back of her hand as she sat down on the bed.

She had been sick for a couple of days now, however, she was yet to get medicine or give her body rest for like ages.

“Are you going to spend forever, folding those clothes huh! you are so slow and annoying.” Clair Watson fumed at her, standing at the door.

Scarlet wiped her forehead with the end of her dress and bit her lower lip. She was used to her sister-in-law's nasty and mean attitude, so she was less concerned about her words.

I will be done with it soon. Do you need me to do anything for you?” 

Claire cussed. “Just leave it for now, we need you in the living room, it's too hot in there, the AC is blowing hot air, get us some iced juice, you know Maria is sick and this weather is not nice for her. We really do not want anything bad to happen to her, Lucas will go mad.” 

Scarlet's fingers tightened around the cloth she had in her hand. It was Lucas' suit. Her heart ached from bottled up emotions. 

Since she and Lucas got married a year ago, she had tried her best to please him. She had been nothing short of a good, submissive, dutiful wife. But never for once did her not his family appreciate her efforts. She didn't bother much about his family if only Lucas had treated her differently. But she was nothing in his eyes. She couldn't be compared to Maria Owen, his perfect girl.

To further get her angry, Claire sneered at her.

“Look here Scarlet, listen to me, you know you wouldn't have been married to my brother if only Uncle Lewis wasn't being such a pest. Maria was sick and we could not go ahead and get her married to our brother, she needed all the rest she could get. I mean, it's a year of marriage already and look at you, old and unattractive with no child to show for it.”

Lucas' suit dropped from her hand, she had no idea she had been holding onto it all these while. Tears welled up in her eyes at this moment. She watched Claire leave, while she sobbed silently.

Just then she heard Lucas' voice. He was speaking with a familiar female. His voice was faint and soft.

“You don't have to worry about anything.” His voice came.

“Lucas, am I being a pest? Am I disturbing your marriage?” The familiar voice was provocative.

“Not at all, I'm just after your well-being, my dear.” Lucas' voice was tender and filled with love. 

Never had he spoken to Scarlet with such tenderness and care. This was what she had longed for throughout for the past one year of their marriage yet here he is giving it out freely to his mistress.

Scarlet fell down to the floor, her eyes went to the heap of clothes she had piled up and the numerous rubber she had seen in his pockets while doing his laundry. The pain she felt increased. She placed her palm over her mouth so they wouldn't hear her sobbing.

She had been trying to make their marriage work for the past one year. She didn't want to believe it was one sided and thought she could make him love her.

She was waiting eagerly for Lucas to come back from work so they could have some time together but instead, he had brought Maria. 

She felt used and all hopes she had for her marriage to become happy and fun filled came crashing. She has been reduced to nothing.

“I'm still waiting for the iced juice, Miss Andy, sorry to bother you though.” Maria pushed the door open and walked into the room with a triumphant smile on her face. 

Scarlet picked up Lucas' suit from the floor, and with an emotionless face, she stared at the young lady standing before her.

“Probably a mistake on your part or lack of information but I am Mrs Watson and not Miss Andy.”

Maria shot her a deadly look and said arrogantly, her triumphant smile slowly fading away, “You need to know your place, Scarlet. You may be married to Lucas but I'm the one he loves, the only woman his heart beats for. This hell of a marriage is just a facade. It's not real. The rightful owner is back to take her place and that's me. Deal with that.”

Scarlet felt like her heart was being ripped into pieces. She however stood strong while speaking to her evil rival.

“He doesn't have your name on paper, does he?Scarlet raised her fingers to show her ring, “who has a ring on, me. My name is written beside his as his legal wife, I'm still his wife, I am Mrs Watson.You are obviously the illegal human here and should be ashamed.”

Maria felt her blood boiling with anger. They pierced her heart like a hundred knives.

“Stop being so self-assured. Marriage is something that can easily be dissolved. Of what use is it to be his legal wife, yet has no atom of love for you. He hasn't even had any intimacy with you, you don't wanna know how many times I've had him moaning on my bed.” 

Scarlet's heart sank and was broken into pieces when Maria said those words. It was true he hadn't touched her since they got married but she could not handle the fact that he had been in between her legs.

“Get out Maria.” 

“And what if I don't, I hit a nerve? Oh sorry, so bad you can't understand what it feels like to have a man.” Maria said disdainfully.

“I said, get out.” Scarlet said between clenched teeth.

“What will you do if I don't” Before Scarlet could blink an eyelid, Maria took the mug on the shelf and smashed it on the floor then cut herself with a piece of it.

Scarlet took the piece of broken mug from her hand and roared, “What do you think you are doing?”

She tried to tie Maria's hand which was already bleeding with a piece of bandage but she shook her off.

“Let go of me.” Maria said, eyeing her, she took another piece of the broken mug and slit scarlet's cheek. She smiled satisfactorily as she saw blood dripping out of the wound.

Due to the sickness, Scarlet was becoming dizzy and was losing balance. Maria took the opportunity to attract attention and started shouting.

Lucas came running into the room alongside Claire. 

Scarlet held Lucas' hand and tried to explain the situation but he shook her off and pushed her away.

She was getting weaker and her vision was getting blurry, she watched as Lucas bent over Maria, inspecting her wound. He beckoned to Claire to help him raise Maria up, leaving Scarlet on the floor.