A Cruel Scheme

 

"Share my husband?"

Alea slowly shook her head. The sentence sounded so absurd it was hard for her mind to accept it.

How could Fiona tell her to share her husband with the woman she had called Mom for five years?

Utterly shameless.

Alea glared at Fiona. Tears still wet her cheeks, but there was only anger in her eyes.

"Just take Carlos for yourself," Alea said coldly. "I refuse to share a man. Least of all accept your castoff."

Fiona clenched her jaw. Carlos looked shocked to hear it.

Alea's gaze shifted to her husband.

"We're getting divorced!" she said firmly. "We're done."

A wide smile spread across Fiona's face. In contrast, Carlos was stunned.

With what little strength she had left, Alea inched down from the bed. But Carlos quickly grabbed her arm. His face was deathly pale. He hadn't expected Alea to divorce him.

"No, Alea. We're not getting divorced. I love you."

Carlos pulled Alea into his arms.

"Let go of me!"

Alea struggled.

Carlos only kissed her shoulder again and again, as if his touch could erase the betrayal he had just committed.

"Remember our baby, Alea. He'll be born soon," Carlos pleaded. "He needs us."

"Our baby?"

Alea shoved Carlos with all her might until she broke free of his embrace. Her eyes closed and her hand stroked her swollen belly. Tears fell again.

"After you betrayed me and got my mother pregnant, you still remember this baby?"

Carlos fell silent.

Alea clenched her jaw, trying to hold back the anger and the pain that choked her chest.

"You're disgusting, Carlos," Alea continued, her voice trembling. She stared at him sharply. "I refuse to let my baby have a father like you."

Carlos was stunned.

In three years of marriage, Alea had never spoken harshly to him or raised her voice. She had always been a gentle, patient wife who trusted her husband completely.

Carlos realized all that trust had been destroyed by his own doing. But he didn't want to lose Alea.

"You two, get ready to leave this house."

Alea looked from Carlos to Fiona and back. Her finger rose, pointing at them both.

"Dad and I will handle the divorce. After that, you have to get out of the Rahardja family home."

"No, Alea. Wait!"

Carlos tried to come closer again. But Alea didn't want to hear another word from him.

Alea walked out of the room with unsteady steps. From behind her, Fiona's voice rang out clearly.

"Don't chase after her, Carlos," Fiona said in a sugary voice. "Let her go. We'd better continue our interrupted night."

Alea's chest tightened again.

Fiona and Carlos were truly disgusting!

For almost three months, Carlos hadn't touched her. The doctor had forbidden Alea from having marital relations until the baby was born, because of her placenta problem.

Alea had thought Carlos understood. Especially since he had never complained about it. But it turned out Carlos had been seeking satisfaction from Fiona.

And Fiona, a married woman who hadn't been touched in a long time because Andrean had been paralyzed since his accident, had chosen to betray her husband and her own stepdaughter.

There was no excuse that could justify what they had done. Their betrayal only disgusted Alea.

Alea wiped away her tears. Divorce truly was the best path. All Alea wanted was to focus on protecting herself, the baby in her womb, and Andrean, the only family she had left.

With quick steps, Alea headed toward her father's room. She knew Andrean must be even more devastated than she was by what had happened.

Alea opened the bedroom door. Her body froze at the sight before her.

"DAD!" Alea screamed, hysterical.

Andrean's frail body lay stiff on the floor, white foam trailing from the corner of his mouth.

Alea ran to her father. She held the old man's body tightly. Andrean's skin felt cold. There was not the slightest movement in him.

"Dad, wake up..."

Alea shook Andrean's shoulder with trembling hands, hoping for even the smallest response. But his body only lay rigid.

"Don't leave Alea. Dad!"

A few hours later...

Pain seized Alea's body.

A throbbing headache made her want to open her eyes, but her eyelids felt unbearably heavy. Her belly ached too, as if something were pressing from the inside.

Alea tried to move her fingers. But her body was terribly weak. Even her lips couldn't part to call for help.

Panic began to close over her.

What was happening?

Faintly, she heard a door open.

"Damn it," Fiona's voice was full of irritation. "Why did that old man have to die? I only gave him a few sleeping pills."

Alea's heart felt wrung tight.

Fiona gave him sleeping pills?

Alea's memory slowly returned. After finding Andrean on the floor, someone had come up to her. Then a needle pierced her skin. After that, everything went dark.

Her soul screamed.

Her father was dead, and Fiona was the killer?

Not long after, another man's voice sounded. Alea knew that voice well.

Kevin.

Fiona's brother and her obstetrician.

"Relax, sis," Kevin said casually. "Isn't this actually good? Now you're a rich widow."

"I'm still annoyed," Fiona replied. "Carlos hasn't divorced this woman yet."

"Come on, Fiona. Don't worry." Kevin's voice was cold. "I'll take care of Alea and her baby. I'll make sure neither of them survives."

"You really are reliable, brother," Fiona answered.

Their laughter echoed softly, making Alea tremble all the more in her helplessness.

Suddenly, someone wiped the tears running from the corner of Alea's eye. The scent of Fiona's perfume came very close.

Then a hand clamped around Alea's neck.

"But either way, it's better if this woman dies soon," Fiona whispered, tightening her grip. "Die! Go join your father in hell."

Alea struggled to breathe.

She wanted to fight back. She wanted to protect her baby. But her body didn't move at all. Her hands were numb. Her voice was trapped in her throat.

‘Please... someone help me. Nothing can happen to my baby.’

Click!

The bedroom door opened.

"Damn it! Fiona, what are you doing?" Carlos's voice thundered. "How dare you hurt my wife!"

The grip on Alea's neck released.

Alea drew a painful breath. Helpless as she was, she felt a flicker of relief. Carlos had come. Carlos had stopped Fiona.

But the hope lasted only a moment.

"Carlos!" Fiona sounded annoyed. "That old man is dead. Only this woman is left in our way. Let's get rid of her, and then we can get married!"

"Don't you dare touch Alea!" Carlos snapped. "I won't hesitate to kill you if you hurt her!"

Alea held her breath again.

So Carlos still had a heart. Her husband was protecting her. But the thought vanished the moment she heard Carlos's next words.

"You've been stupid enough already, killing that old man, Fiona! Do you realize he hasn't left us a single cent of his wealth? All his assets are still in Alea's name!"

Alea's world collapsed once more.

So Carlos didn't care about her safety. He only wanted her money.

A kiss landed gently on Alea's cheek. Warm fingers stroked her face.

"I hope you won't sleep for too long, sweetheart," Carlos whispered. "There are still many documents you need to sign to transfer your father's assets."

Alea wanted to scream. She wanted to open her eyes and curse them all. But her body stayed still.

"Fine," Fiona said, her tone softening. "I'll look after Alea for you. But you have to promise to marry me. Our child needs you, Carlos. I can't live without you either."

"Of course, darling," Carlos answered. "We'll get married once Alea wakes up. You and Alea will both be my wives."

Tears flowed down Alea's face again.

In her helplessness, Alea understood one thing.

Carlos and Fiona were not merely traitors. They were devils who had to be destroyed.