The Runaway Heiress

"How useless! It's almost three years since you married but you never get pregnant!" her mother-in-law, Valentine Miller, crudely said as she eyed her figure. "Well I guess that's a good thing, you aren't worth it to bear my grandchildren after all. Without children, it will also be easier for my son to divorce you once he got tired of you." The family of Phoebe's husband never liked her, specially her mother-in-law who seems to be wishing for their divorce the moment she married her son.

Her husband's siblings and father wasn't any different, all of them disliked her. They would always throw her insults and humiliate her whenever they get a chance, that's something that neither she nor her husband can do anything about.

There are times like this when her husband is at work, Valentine would specifically go to their house just to throw her insults.

"You're just a gold digger, not worthy neither of my son nor my future grandchildren." Like how it always is, Phoebe just quietly listened to her mother-in-law's hateful words, keeping her head low.

She can't do anything about this, indeed her husband is a well known businessman, a millionaire. On the other hand, she has nothing now.

'There's no wonder my in-law's always considered me as a gold digger.' Phoebe sighed with that thought.

Though, she was taken aback when her mother-in-law suddenly pushed her making her fall to the ground. "Tsk. Just clean the house, since you want to play wife with my son, you must serve him well." And with that, the witch left the house.

The housekeepers, who has been watching her with pity since earlier, helped her to get up.

"Madam, are you okay?" the caring head maid, Anna, asked her as she held Phoebe's hand.

The maids in this household have always love the kind and good hearted wife of their boss, but they can't do anything to help her against the master's family, which made them feel guilty deep within their hearts.

The madam has always been kind and caring towards them, helping them out with their problems, but here they are not able to stand by her side.

Phoebe smiled meekly, if it were the past, no one would dare to treat her like this. But her situation is different now. "Don't worry about me, Anna." she sighed and glanced at the luxurious wall clock. "It's almost lunch time, can you just bring my food in my room later?" Phoebe said as she just want to go back to her room and read some book. Actually, she doesn't have any appetite but the old woman would surely be worried if she skips lunch.

"By the way, I'm craving something greasy. Can you ask the chef to prepare a steak for my lunch?" she smiled at the older woman, Phoebe already sees Anna as a mother figure, thus she never wanted to make her worry.

—————

It's already 12 midnight and yet, Phoebe is still wide awake.

"I wonder where he went." she mumbled to herself. She's starting to get anxious, she been calling her husband since earlier but he never once answered his phone. It's late already and he still hasn't arrive.

She once again started pacing back and forth in front of their bed, worry and anxiousness attacking her chest. "What if something happens to him?" Thomas never once did this. Even when they have an argument and not in good terms, he would always still come home as usual. He was never this late and he would always pick up his phone if she calls him.

And he did neither of that right now, and this fact made Phoebe paranoid.

Exhausted with her constant pacing, she sat down on the edge of her bed and continued waiting for the arrival of her beloved husband.

"I should call him, maybe he'll pick up this time." she reached for her phone and dialed his number.

Ring. Ring. Ring.

The phone just kept on ringing, Phoebe called him a few more times but not even once was it picked up. Seconds, minutes, and then an hour has passed and she can no longer stand the anxiety in her heart.

She wanted to contact her husband's friends but she was afraid to disturb them, thus she can't do anything aside from waiting for Thomas' arrival.

It's around 1:27 am when she felt thirsty and decided to fetch some water in the kitchen. As she was descending down the stairs, the sound of her husband's car caught her attention.

Without wasting any second she ran towards the huge door of the mansion, as soon as Thomas open the door, she snaked her hands in his neck caging him in an embrace.

"Oh my god! I was so worried about you!" she cried out while he remained silent. That was when she smelled the scent of alcohol on him and another scent that made her frown.

Phoebe removed her arms around him and looked at his face, "Where have you been? What happened?" she asked worriedly. "Why are you so late? Do you know how worried sick I was?!"

Her bursted out of frustration.

'That scent. Why does Thomas smell like woman's perfume?'

Her husband stayed quiet as he removed her hands on him and continued walking — obviously heading upstairs to their bedroom.

"Honey..." she called out, but he didn't pay her any mind.

"Thomas!" this time, her voice slightly raised because of irritation.

She stayed up this late, she waited for him for hours, constantly worrying about his safety, and now he'll just ignore her?!