Chapter 2

Charlotte

"Did you hear the news?" Kevin's mother asks from across the table, mouth pressed into a thin, disapproving line.

"What news?" He asked, mouth full of food.

I can't believe he has the guts to ask me to not embarrass him. The hypocrisy. But I guess when you're born with a silver spoon in your mouth and as the heir to a multimillion empire, nothing you do can ever be wrong.

"Rhys Van Allen is back. He's in new York at the moment in fact."

All conversation halts at the table at her announcement. I can hear shocked whispers all around us. My brows furrow in confusion at the reaction. Even Kevin looks worried and I've never seen my husband look worried about anything.

"What is he doing here?" He snaps. "I thought when he left we'd never have to see him again."

"I heard he was on an exile from the country." His sister adds, dabbing the corner of her mouth with a napkin.

"Legitimate sources spotted him yesterday at the airport." Mrs. Anders says.

Kevin bangs his fist down on the table, rattling cutlery and plates. "I don't want that bastard anywhere near my city. He better go back to whatever pit of hell he's been in for the past ten years, he's not welcome here."

"Who's Rhys Van Allen?" I ask quietly.

"Shut the hell up!" Kevin grinds out.

"Don't be so harsh dear." His older sister Blair drawls. "She doesn't know that she's not supposed to interrupt when her betters are talking."

"I did warn Kevin about picking up trash." His mother adds. "You can spray paint it, but it will never really be gold."

"Is she pregnant yet?" His younger sister, Cara sneers.

I almost snap at her that she should give me the fatherless child growing in her belly since she's so worried about her brother having kids. I didn't come to this marriage seeking approval from any of them. They're not any better than me, contrary to what they believe.

They're just better at showing a perfect image to the world.

I rise to my feet with a stiff smile. "I need to use the bathroom. Please, excuse me." I walk away before any of them can give me permission to be excused.

They can shove their permission and good opinion where the sun don't shine for all I care. I make my way to the bathroom farthest from the dining area. After I'm done, I step out of the bathroom only to run into two blonde women.

I recognize them as Kevin's cousins.

"Oh look, it's little miss perfect." One of them snickers.

"Yeah, she really thinks wearing that nun dress and looking like a stepford wife from the eighties will make Kevin love her." The other one laughs. " She has no idea that Kevin has found a better, more worthy replacement."

"What?" I ask.

The first girl pouts. "Oh no. I guess you haven't heard that Kevin got someone else pregnant, and she's an heiress."

The other girl laughs. "Poor Charlotte. You tricked him into picking you out of the gutters and marrying you, but now you've realized that you're nothing but an expensive charity case."

I turn to them with a smile. "And you two are nothing but washed up has beens made up of more plastic than a barbie doll."

Their jaws drop open as they stare at me. "Excuse me, did you just_"

I step closer. "Yes, I did. What are you going to do about it?" I'm sick of this entire family. Sick of having to hold my tongue when they poked and prodded at me. I'm smarter than all of them combined, so why do I have to tolerate them acting like they're so much better than me.

"If you think for a moment that Kevin won't hear about this, you better think again." One of the blondes hisses. "You're going to be sorry you ever attempted this."

I roll my eyes. "Whatever. Just get out of my way."

I make to walk past but at that moment, one of them grabs me by my hair and yanks me back. I stagger backward, pain shooting down my scalp. She brings her hand down in a slap against my face.

Without any hesitation, I raise my hand and give her a heavier smack.

"What! How dare you!" She screeches, cupping her face in her hand.

"You really think you're the only one who has hands?" I laugh.

The other blonde rushes toward me. I step out of the way just in time for her to loose her balance and fall to the ground. The girl screams in agony as her ankle makes a popping sound.

"You bitch!" She wails. "You've broken my leg."

I open my mouth to tell her she did it to herself when a loud roar cuts me off. "What the hell is going on here?"

I glance up to see my husband marching down the hallway, his mother and sisters in tow. The blondes start speaking before the question has even fully left his mouth, fake tears running down their face.

"Oh Kevin. How could you marry this wild animal. Look at what she's done to us." One of them sobs. "We were just trying to talk to her and she attacked us. How can she be so cruel and evil?"

"Stop lying. You started this." I snap. "And stop with the crocodile tears, nobody is falling for that rubbish."

"Charlotte, that's enough! Have you no shame?" Kevin barks. "How can you embarrass me like this? I picked you out of the streets and welcomed you to my family, and all I've gotten for it is embarrassment and disgrace."

"Me?" I ask. "I've been the perfect wife. I've endured all the insults, the taunts. I've endured everybody in this family constantly reminding me that I'm a nobody. And now you expect me to also endure physical attack from these low budget Barbies?"

My mother in-law clutches her pearl necklace. "Kevin, what is this? I knew this marriage was a mistake from the start."

"Apologize right now." My husband wags his finger at me. "Get on your knees and tell everyone you're sorry for causing a nuisance."

On my knees? He has to be joking.

"Do it now Charlotte."

"Over my dead body." I tell him coldly.

He shakes his head. "Since you've chosen to be stubborn. You're going to have to face the consequences." He reaches inside his suit jacket and pulls out a document, flinging it at me. "I didn't want to do this, but you leave me no choice."

"What is that?" I ask, staring at the papers at my feet with my heart thudding.

He smirks. "Divorce papers."

At those words, my knees go weak. I stare down at the papers, head spinning, and then I throw back my head and let out a loud bark of laughter.