Saved To Be A Substitute

Lillian's POV.

"Will Dustin like this color?" I asked myself, raising the red-colored sweater I was knitting.

"He might like it," A faint smile spread on my lips as I lowered my hands to continue knitting. 

Knitting had been the most effective way to kill boredom after my accident. The accident that happened three years ago, confined me to a wheelchair and made most of the exciting things in my life a distant memory. My immobility had caused me to be locked away in this huge mansion. 

Sickened by my loneliness, I sought hobbies to occupy myself, and knitting was my best option.

"I might add a blue color to the sweater," I muttered.

As I continued knitting, I heard the door swing open. Lifting my head, I spotted my husband, Dustin Stone, stepping in.

Dustin was a successful billionaire tycoon. In my eyes, he was the most handsome man alive. His dark eyes and deep pink lips were something to die for.

"Pumpkin, look what I'm making for you," I said, raising the half-made sweater. "What color should I add? Would you like  blue or green?"

I waited for a response from him, but he ignored me and left. I let out a sad sigh as I was already used to his cold attitude and was about to resume my task when he walked in again with a beautiful woman.

More unsettling was his hand wrapped around her curves, almost touching her ass. My mind filled with questions as they walked toward me.

Who was the woman? Why was Dustin touching her so... intimately?

"Dustin, Who is she?" I asked, glancing between both of them. "Is she a business partner?" I assumed.

"No," Dustin sharply rejected my assumption. "This is my future wife, Maureen Moore,"

Future wife? Did I hear him correctly?

"What did you just say?" I asked, my voice breaking.

"You're not getting it, are you?" He snapped, coldly, before flinging some papers at me.

I gasped as the documents hit my face. My grasp on my knitting pins loosened and they dropped to my unfeeling thighs.

"Dustin, what are these?" I stuttered, tears welling up in my eyes.

"Just shut the fuck up and check!" He retorted, hissing afterward.

"Can she read?" the woman, Maureen, asked with a mocking smile.

"To an extent," Dustin replied, and both of them burst into fits of shaming laughter.

My breath hitched, and my heart quivered, threatening to shatter. With shaky hands, I picked up the papers from my thighs. Through my teary eyes, I saw "DIVORCE" boldly written on the papers.

Gasps left my lips, and fat balls of hot tears began rolling down my cheeks. My heart instantly broke, leaving not a piece intact. Why was the man I loved divorcing me? What wrong had I done? Despite my condition, I had tried being a good wife. Why divorce me?

"Dustin, these papers can't be for me. I think you're making a mistake. I know you love me," I said, trying to convince myself.

"Love?" He raised his brow. "I feel nothing but disgust for you," He spat, leaving a bitter taste in my mouth.

"You're disgusted by me?" I sobbed, my hand reaching for my aching chest.

"Lilian, stop with your miserable tears. You know that's exactly what I feel when looking at you. I even think that disgust is an understatement," He uttered, coldly. "You've always been pathetic. Now, you're just useless. It's simply despicable!" 

I never imagined that one day, the love of my life, my first in everything, would be telling me such humiliating words.

"My love, Maureen, has saved me from this nauseating life with you. I am happier with her, and she's beautiful and capable enough to care for herself. She's independent, unlike your miserable self!" He growled behind his gritted teeth.

I was stunned and broken by the emotionlessness in his voice. But I had no other choice than to beg. He was all I had.

"Dustin, please don't do this to me," I pleaded, tears escaping my eyes.

"Lilian, just sign the divorce papers," He ordered, then threw a pen at me.

"Dustin, I  have lost a lot already... I can't lose you too. I have no one else to turn to," I  sobbed, not minding if my dignity was being crushed.

"Well, Lilian...that sounds like a 'You' problem. Just sign the fucking papers and get the hell out of my life, so, my beautiful Maureen can take her rightful place," He whispered, looking at her with a pool of affection in his eyes.

He used to look at me that way too. Before the accident, his love for me knew no bounds. His world revolved around me. There were no limits to his affection.

However, once I got into that accident and became paralyzed, he changed. He became cold, distant, and immature. He gave up on me.

My eyes widened as I watched him pressing his lips softly on hers. He began kissing her passionately. I couldn't remember the last time he kissed me with such burning intensity before. 

My chest throbbed as I watched them. It felt like the pieces of my shattered heart were being ripped out.

"Dustin, for old times' sake, please don't send me away," I sobbed, interrupting their kiss.

I might seem pathetic right now, but I was helpless. I was an orphan with no one to turn to. My only parent, my father, died mysteriously before my marriage. I didn't know who my mother was. She left my father with my sister and I was never allowed to talk about her. I never had friends and once I married Dustin, my isolation worsened in the three years of our marriage. 

None of Dustin's friends would help me because they hardly knew me. I had no job or savings to help me financially. My disability would worsen my situation.

“Don’t worry…” He chuckled. “I won’t send you away. No matter how useless you are, you still have something I can take.” His eyes flashed with wickedness. 

However, I continued to beg, he could take whatever he wanted, "Dustin, please..."

On the other hand, Maureen’s patience was wearing thin, "Why are you so stubborn, you low-life bitch?!" The woman snapped and stepped closer to my wheelchair.

I lowered my gaze, but she grabbed my chin, forcing me to look at her.

"If you know what is good for you, you will sign those papers so you will become useful for once in your life!" She yelled in my face.

Tears streamed down my temples, but I stood my ground.

"I'm not signing anything. I am Dustin's wife and—" Before I could complete my sentence, the back of her hand flew to my cheek.

My cheeks stung from the slap, but then she proceeded to push me off the wheelchair.

My eyes widened as my body hit the cold and hard floor, causing my knitting pins to pierce me.

"Ah!" I groaned.

Struggling, I reached for my wheelchair, but she grabbed it and pushed it away.

"Either you sign the papers or crawl for the rest of your lame life," She threatened. Her eyes burned with rage but then she suddenly held onto her stomach. 

“Maureen, are you alright?” Dustin rushed toward her and held her carefully. “Sit down a bit. You are too weak and you shouldn't stress yourself.” He led her to the couch and he made her sit down, facing my direction. 

The woman who had been raging suddenly turned weak and pale and I was astonished. My tears flowed heavier, and my body trembled in anguish seeing how he cared for her deeply. But then I needed to get up to face the situation. 

"I need my wheelchair, Dustin," I demanded, crawling and dragging my lifeless legs towards it. 

He simply laughed and stepped toward it as well.  

"Dustin, please give it to me!" I shouted in tears, It was like I was stripped of my shield. 

I was hoping for a second that he was going to show me some compassion. But instead, he grabbed the wheelchair, and tossed it further away. 

"Dustin!" I cried out, helplessly. 

"Sign the divorce papers!" Dustin growled, monstrously.