Chapter 1

Each step was a measured dance, a symphony of caution as Megan held coffee in her hands. She walked steadily towards her formidable mother-in-law, Mrs. Wilson.

“What took you so long”. She asked in a high-pitched voice and a facial expression mirroring the wicked stepmother character in Cinderella.

That woman was the root of all evil.

“I apologize mother, I burnt myself while making your coffee, that was why I took so long”. Megan spoke out, showing the red scar on her finger.

 "Why should I care about your mishaps? Mrs. Wilson scoffed mockingly. Just hand over the coffee”.

“I adjusted the sugar just as you have asked ”. Megan's lips raised with a polite smile.

This was the second time she was making the coffee, since Mrs. Wilson had complained about the last one having too much sugar.

And this has been her life for the past five years. She fell in love with Greg during their university days and married him, hoping for love to win.

Megan nervously looked up at the large clock on the wall and the time was past 6pm. She knew her husband Greg was already back from work. But she hasn't seen him since she returned from the grocery store.

“I will go attend to Greg, he must be hungry”. Megan's voice appeared low as exhaustion set in. but before she could even take a step further.

“What is this?” Mrs. Wilson expelled the coffee vehemently from her mouth as her face contorted with grimace. Stopping her once again.

“Why does this taste bitter rather than disappointment?”. She seethed through her teeth in disgust.

“Bitter?” Megan asked in a slightly high tone. “I don't think it's bitter mom, I made sure the coffee was adequate, just how you like it”.

“A fool would think they know better than me. Mrs. Wilson's rigid voice echoed dangerously. “When I say it's bitter, then it's bitter”.

“Ahhh, she exclaimed lightly. You know what, just go make another one Megan”. She said, putting her hands on her head in frustration, and then smashing the ceramic mug on the floor.

Megan's eyes popped out, this is unbelievable. How could she just smash the coffee she took so long to make?

“Didn't you hear me”, her hoarse voice, brought Megan out of her thoughts.

“Yes, mum”, she answered, shaking with a distant voice. Megan took in a deep breath while she imagined the face of her lovely husband. Everything she did was to pacify him.

Her love for him knew no bounds, for him, she would go to the ends of the world. A little pain from her husband’s family was nothing.

So she walked to the kitchen to make another before she soon returned, offering the coffee to Mrs. Wilson.

As Mrs. Wilson reached out to take the coffee from Megan's hands. Her lips pursed in a silent judgement cutting deeper than words. Why did her son have to marry Megan in the first place? She was nothing but a church rat who wanted to fend off the Wilson family.

“Leave”, she dismissed Megan with a flicker of her hands. These words made Megan do a little happy dance.

Although she was harsh, Megan was glad she would finally see her husband.so she made her way upstairs while Mrs. Wilson face twisted in annoyance.

Alongside the annoyance embedded in Mrs. Wilson’s face. She had a mischievous glint in her eyes as it traced the footsteps of Megan, who was innocently enthusiastic about Greg's arrival.

“That bitch”. “This one isn't even as good as the last one”. Mrs. Wilson murmured under her breath as she sniffed the coffee in satisfaction

Megan's fast steps soon slowly start to decrease as she approaches the door of Greg. His door was slightly opened, which was unusual.

Looking through the little space, she felt her shoulders vibrate out of its own will. Her teeth grits in confusion.

Her hands covered her mouth in disbelief as she blinked fiercely hoping the hunting image would clear off, but it didn't.

The image soon followed, with Greg's moaning alongside a female’s coy voice.

“Yes, Greg, you know just how I like it”. The familiar voice echoed along Megan's delicate ears.

Megan couldn't mistake that voice, it was Elizabeth. Her best friend, who was also Greg's ex-girlfriend.

With trembling hands pressed against the door frame for support, she struggled to comprehend the scene unfolding before her. Greg, her husband, and Elizabeth, her best friend, entwined with bare nakedness.

How is this possible? How could the man whom she spent her whole life worshipping betray her like this, the thought flows into the deepest layers of her heart?

With a surge of bitterness coursing through her veins, she banged furiously on the wooden door, swinging it open.

“You bastard”. Adrenaline pumped through her veins, Making Greg and Elizabeth jilt in fear.

As Megan barged into the room, Greg's initial shock morphed into a defensive stance. His fingers tightened into a fist, making his, knuckles whiten as he struggled to regain control of the situation.

“Can't you see we're busy?” His tone was laced with annoyance, an attempt to deflect from the guilt that flickered in his gaze.

“Don't you have some manners, Megan. How many times have I warned you to knock before you enter my room?”

Megan furrowed her eyebrows with a subtle shake of the head. 

“Seriously, Is this what you have to me?”. Her voice broke incredulously. He had no remorse, and neither was he trying to explain.

“Don't blame him, Megan, it's all my fault. I seduced him” Elizabeth interjected with a false expression of melancholy. 

“And you were supposed to be my friend”. Her head turned aggressively towards Elizabeth. You are such a betrayer”. She spitted on her face.

However, a deadly slap across her face made her look up in fear to see Greg in front of her heaving.

“Don't do that again”. He merely said coldly.

This was like a dream to Megan. Greg had never laid hands on her. But for the first time ever he did.

Elizabeth cleaned her face, and Megan could swear that she saw a smirk tug at her lips. “Don’t slap her, Greg, I am the one who messed up ”. 

“Please forgive me, Megan”. She begged with desperation all over her.

“You are not going to blame me right, Meg? Greg used to be my boyfriend before he became your husband. Old feelings die hard, and I can't control myself. I love him too much”.

Greg's heart Weaver by her words so he went forward hugging Elizabeth from behind. “I love you too, and It's not your fault, okay”. I am so sorry Liz, didn't mean for you to witness this”. A warm expression Megan had never seen settled on his face.

“No, I never meant for this to happen, Greg”. The tears caged in her eyes now flowed without control as she moved closer to Megan. 

As she went closer, Elizabeth’s lips curled into a malicious smirk as whispered some provoking words into Megan's ears. “You know, he couldn't stop calling my name while we fucked”.

“And, I am sure, he calls my name anytime he makes love to you”. She said, her lips raising in disdain. Megan's breath caught in her throat as Elizabeth's words sank in.

Memories flooded her mind - the late nights and the hollow excuses she'd made for Greg's distant behaviour. All those times she'd convinced herself that Greg was simply tired that his mind was elsewhere - they were nothing more than feeble attempts to mask the painful truth she now couldn't deny.

“How dare you do this to me, Beth”. Megan grabbed Elizabeth by her hair, dragging her mercilessly until she was forcefully pushed away by Greg.

“Get a hold of yourself and stop being a psycho”. Greg said with a calm and stoic face before he suddenly stomped his feet angrily on the floor as he walked to his drawer.

He returned with his footsteps heavy with harboured anger, as he threw papers at Megan 

“There Sign them”. His voice was low, and his intense gaze sent shivers t

o her spine. And to Megan's dismay, she picked it up, shattering her hope yet once again.

“Divorce papers?”