RISE OF THE BETRAYED HEIRESS

AVA:

“Happy birthday, Carson.” 

I rehearsed my lines in front of the mirror while staring back at my reflection in it. Weary blue eyes stared at me. I almost didn't recognize them. For a second, I held my breath, taking a moment to eye that dress I had on.

The corsets were biting deeper into my sides making every breath I took labored. I wasn't really a fan of tight fitting dresses. My husband was.

Ever since I caught him admiring pictures of women in tight fitting dresses and dolled up faces, I couldn't help but do it hoping he'd look at me differently tonight after the surprise party I planned for him.

He'd be back from his 6 month business trip today and I'd arranged a surprise party for him. Carson wasn't really a fan of surprises. I just hope this one surprises him. 

The hall downstairs was teeming with guests— friends, business partners and even family. His mom was also there. We weren't really on good terms but I was willing to make do tonight. 

My mother-in-law hated weakness. After my first two years of marriage without a baby to show, she moved out of our villa telling me the only reason she'd ever come back was if I took in.

I had to get Carson's sister, Christina, who lived overseas to help convince her. And now, she was here and I would have to watch her complain over how the curtains were either too bright or too full or how the staff arrangement didn't please her and the multitude of guests she brought along. 

Despite all of it being hard to do, I was ready to face it all for Jacob. I had spent two years trying to be his perfect woman and tonight just had to be the night he redeemed our relationship. He hadn't touched me in almost a year now. 

Considering the possibility of Jacob's mother making the event all about her and ruining it for everyone, I had a plan B. I was going to give him something the ladies he admired on his phones couldn't give him. 

My billion dollar inheritance as a birthday present came.

Carson had been bringing it up for quite a long time now and now seemed to be the best time to do it. I was sure he was going to be happier than ever when he found out. 

I stole one last glance of myself in the mirror before walking out of the room. Carson was going to be here any minute and I wanted to make sure he saw my effort. 

On the first floor of the mansion were an entire swarm of guests, highly distinguished people, CEOs, A-list celebrities and people from my husband's business firms. The air thrived with the sheen and curls of jewelry, fake laughter echoing against the walls of the mansion.

I was used to this little facade called wealth, of ladies fake laughing, men bragging about their new line of business, the list was endless. None of it bothered me. All I was worried about was Carson, how would he react when I gave him the news?

I had already signed off on it days ago and the documents were lying on our matrimonial bed where if everything went well tonight, I would be made love to. I paced down the hallway and as I strolled into it, I couldn't help but notice the heavy weight of their gazes on me. It loomed over my shoulders as I walked over to the banister of the staircase.

An uncultured series of gasps replaced the polite hum in the heir.

“It's the heiress of the Malcolm group."

"Oh gosh she looks stunning.” 

Funny how I was no longer the heiress. My husband, Carson, was. 

With a wide smile on my lips, I paced towards the fleet of stairs leading downstairs. I had barely made it to the center of the room when I felt a hand grip my hand. 

I had barely registered the sudden action when I heard a voice. A familiar one. It was sweet. Almost too sweet.

“I need your help Ava.” It beamed.

“W-with what, ma? I-I'd be happy to help.” My lips quivered. 

The figure leaned in slightly, her voice calm but laced with venom. “Since you haven’t managed to give my son an heir in three years, the least you can do is make yourself useful tonight. Go join the waiters and serve drinks. I can clearly see you're short-staffed.”

And that, ladies and gentlemen, is my mother-in-law who has blamed me blindly for not giving Carson an heir. For many years, I've tried to get her to reason with me but she held on to a flimsy rumour that I was barren when in fact, her son had never touched me sexually despite all my trials.

Before I could respond, she mused, “Gareth here will hand you your uniform.”

And with that, she swiveled, heading off into the crowd with a glass of champagne framed in her fingers. The man, Gareth, who was in charge of catering passed me a uniform and a tray of wine.

Staring at the piece of cloth on my hands, I took a deep breath. She was at it again. This was another attempt at disgracing me. I didn't want to do it at first but since I also didn't want her ruining the event before Carson got home, I raised a defeated brow.

I wore the uniform over my dress and walked back onto the dance floor. A lot of eyes shifted in my direction as mumbling rose in the air. “Isn’t that the Malcolm heiress?” one voice said.

“Why’s she serving drinks?” Another chirped in.

 I ignored their voices. 

Just as they were talking, I heard a sound. It was the door. The double doors slid apart as I turned towards it. Strutting into the room in a three piece suit was my husband. Carson Morrelli.

A smile rocked the edges of my lips as I rushed over to where he was with my arms spread wide open. But instead of him welcoming my hug, he shrugged me off like I didn't exist.

I paused in my tracks, turning steely as I watched Carson walk up to his mother with arms wide to receive his hug. Carson had done it again— he had ignored me just like he had been doing for the past 3 years of my marriage and I was sick of it.

“Carson,” I called as I traced my steps towards him but before I could reach him, Mrs Morello stepped into view. “You can meet him later, go serve some drinks.” She interrupted.

I began serving the drinks, much to the satisfaction derived by my mother-in-law and her cohorts. They all giggled and watched my distress, some even throwing insults at me as I served their wine.

I couldn't wait to get it over with and confront Carson to give him my gift. He would definitely change towards me when he found out that I had willed off all my inheritance over to him. 

“Miss Ava, we need someone to go serve drinks for an order upstairs.” Gareth, the event organizer said, his hands signaling to a tray containing wine and two glasses.

“Okay, I'll quickly do it.”

I gripped the tray in my palms and headed for the stairs. The number of the room was scribbled on a piece of paper as I walked towards the stairs before ascending quietly.

I climbed up the stairs, the pulsating beats from the live band music running into my ears. From the long dimly lit hallway, I saw Carson's figure standing at the other end of the hallway.

He was standing beside the figure of a lady, one whose face I couldn't really make out from the shadows. A bright gleam of confusion washed into my face as I traced my steps down the hallway, my bloodstream tightening as I watched them walk away.

They couldn't see me. I followed the two figures as they glided towards the door to Carson's private lounge and I couldn't help but allow questions to swirl in my mind. Who was that lady? And why were they walking towards the private lounge?

Carson had never allowed me into the room for reasons best known to him and yet he was allowing a stranger in. As I strolled towards the door to the room, my heart's heavy beating elevated drastically. The air now smelt funky, reeking with alcohol and something darker and just then, I heard it. 

Moans.

My body shook with fear as I stepped in front of the door. There they were, sprawled on what was supposed to be the bed I never knew was in there, indulging in sexual acts.

They both seemed too far gone in the pleasure to notice me, to notice the heavy sound of my panting. The tray slipped from my hands as the wine glass came shattering into the floor.

Tears stung my eyes as cold chills raced down my spine. I took a final step towards the door and as I did that, I almost heard the heavy sound of their moans fading to nothingness. Carson stopped in his movement and turned to face me and just then, I got a clearer view of the lady he was having sex with.

It was her. 

Giselle.

His first love.

The woman whose photo he'd been looking at. My fingers quivered as I covered my lips in shock. I couldn't believe this was happening. A jolt of pain lashed through my veins. I felt the ground tilt beneath my shoes.

The little energy left in me faded. My knees buckled. I lunged my arms to grip anything in my path for support but there was nothing. Totally nothing. The twig of my bones was the last thing I heard before everything blacked out.