THE WIFE HE NEVER HAD, NOW HE REGRETS IT

Scarlett

“Ethan, stop,” A feminine voice purred. “We’ve been married for two years. I’m tired of playing doctor. When do I get to be Mrs. Scarlett in public?”

I froze. My breath stopped in my lungs.

Through the gap, I saw them. Ethan was sitting on his mahogany desk, his hands sliding up Aurelia’s thighs, pulling her silk dress higher.

“Soon,” He murmured. “Once Scarlett is dead, I'll announce you properly as my wife.”

What did I just hear?

My grip loosened. The files slipped from my hand, scattering across the floor with a loud crack.

Ethan looked up sharply, finally noticing me as he and Aurelia broke apart. “Scarlett?”

He didn't even flinch. He didn't move his hand from Aurelia’s thigh, his fingers casually digging into her silk dress as he looked at me with bored eyes.

“You heard,” he said. It wasn't a question.

“Married?” I croaked. “Answer me, Ethan! Why is she on our insurance? Why did she say you’ve been married for two years?”

“Everything you heard is true,” he admitted flatly, his tone as indifferent as if he were discussing the weather. “Our marriage was a sham, Scarlett. It was never real. Aurelia has been my only legal wife from the very beginning.”

For a heartbeat, the world went silent. Every promise, every touch, every ‘I love you’ we had shared over the last three years—all of it dissolved into a sick, twisted lie.

If she was the wife, then what was I? A shadow? A placeholder?

I staggered backwards in disbelief. “You let me believe we were a family. You let me love you… Why?”

“Because you were useful,” he said without a shred of hesitation. “You’re brilliant, Scarlett. You built this company with me. And when you turned out to be the illegitimate daughter of Alistair Gance? Well, that was the jackpot. You gave me the keys to one of the greatest fortunes in the city. Why wouldn't I take advantage of that?”

A short laugh escaped my throat. “So all this while, I meant nothing to you? You did all this without even considering the impact this would have on our son?”

An amused chuckle followed. I didn't have to turn to know it was Aurelia.

“You mean, our son,” She corrected smoothly. “I'm Durian's biological mother.You were just a convenient bank account and a live-in nanny.”

“Thank you, by the way,” She added lightly. “For transferring your father's inheritance to Durian. It made things much easier for us.”

My knees nearly gave out. This couldn't be real. The last person on earth who' would ever betray me like this was Ethan. I wanted to deny it—I tried to, but the truth stared at me right in the face.

And it hurts. God, it hurt so much because I was still helplessly in love with Ethan. But I wasn't going to shed a tear. Not here and especially in front of him.

After all, it wasn't over just yet. Maybe...just maybe, I could still turn the tables.

“I'll be contacting my father's lawyer.“ I said. “I’ll take back every cent—”

Ethan moved faster than I could blink. “You won't get that chance.”

He lunged, his palms slamming into my shoulders. It wasn't a push. it was a strike. My heels caught the edge of the marble stairs. My body flipped backward.

I tumbled down the long, spiraling staircase, my body hitting each step with a sickening thud. I landed at the bottom in a broken heap. A pool of hot, thick blood began to soak into my hair.

“Durian…” I wheezed, seeing the small figure appear in the hall. My boy. Even if he wasn't my real son, I'd always loved him, and that was never going to change. I have to live...for him. “Help… help Mommy…”

The eight-year-old stood there, looking down at my broken body. He didn't cry. He didn't even flinch. He looked at the blood spreading toward his feet and stepped back with a look of pure disgust.

“You’re not my mummy,” he said flatly. “If you die, my real mommy can finally come home. Daddy said you're the only thing stopping us from being a real family.”

A cold chill washed over me. So that was it. In his eyes, I was never his mother—I was just the intruder standing in the way of his real family.

“Durian, you shouldn't get to see something like this,” Ethan says, lifting and handing him over to Aurelia. “Let's go.”

Ethan stepped over me as if I were a piece of trash. I used the last of my strength to grab his pants leg.

“Ethan…” my voice was a broken whisper. “I gave you everything… my career… my father’s legacy… I did it all for you. Did you ever… even once… love me?”

He kicked my hand away from his shoe and leaned down, his voice a cold whisper in my ear. “I never loved you, Scarlett. I hated every second I had to touch you.”

Then he left, walking out with Aurelia and Durian..

A short laughter escaped through my throat. “So, everything was a lie.”

My fingers curled weakly against the ground, gripping at nothing. How stupid must I have looked to Ethan while I confessed my love to him when he was in love with another woman.

And now, he was leaving me to die in regret in the pool of my own blood.

“If I had one more chance,” My vision started going black. The warm blood around my head was turning ice-cold. “I would never make the same mistake again. I'll never... love him, and I'll never forgive them.”

I couldn’t breathe. My heart gave one last, heavy thump, and then...nothing. Darkness claimed me, cold and absolute...

I was dead. Scarlett Gance was officially dead.

But then...

A sharp gasp tore from my lungs as my eyes snapped open. I bolted upright, my hands clawing at the silk sheets. There was no blood, no cold marble—only the soft, golden glow of the morning sun.

I was on my king-sized bed, surrounded by the smell of expensive lavender. My heart was drumming against my ribs.

I was alive? How? I grabbed my phone, checking the time and date. May 24th, 2024. 10:35am.

It was exactly two years earlier from the day I died.

My phone rings, interrupting my thoughts. It was an unknown number.

“Hello?” I answered.

“Miss Scarlett,” A composed male voice spoke. “My name is Leonard. I'm your father's lawyer.”

“I'm calling to inform you that your father has passed away,” The man continued. “He left behind considerable assets—companies, investments, and funds. As his only daughter, you're the sole heir.”

It was happening again.

In my previous life, Ethan and I had been married for a year when I'd gotten the call from my father's lawyer regarding his inheritance.

I thought I could use the money to help Ethan start up his pharmaceutical business, so I'd refused to take over my father's company but accepted the money and gave it all to Ethan and Durian.

I thought I was being a good wife and good mommy.

Despite doing all that for Ethan, he'd shoved me down the stairs and killed me, but it seems like I have been reborn exactly two years ago when I had gotten the call regarding my father's inheritance.

I looked at the wedding photo on the nightstand—Ethan’s lying, smiling face. A wave of nausea hit me, followed by a cold, searing clarity.

“I understand,”I said. My voice was no longer shaking. It was like ice.

“May I confirm your marital and family status for the inheritance process?” He asked. “Do you have a spouse or children who will be co-beneficiaries?”

I didn't hesitate.

“No,” I strongly confirmed. “I have no husband or children. I'll inherit everything. Alone.”