"Yes, Mom. Brother brother her to the capital and she's been by his side ever since." She sighed, "He was going to propose to her, but she didn't want to become a mistress." Charlotte sounded angry as she continued.
"Mom, I can't let Linda be humiliated like that. She and her family were so good to us back then. She and brother should have been married by now, if that spoilt heiress didn't ruin everything. Please do something and send that old bitch out of my brother's life already!"
Mrs. Blackwood said nothing for a while, as if having a hard time deciding, so Charlotte pressed harder.
"Mom, isn't it obvious that Anita is infertile? She's a barren woman, mom. And very soon, she'll reach menopause. What would happen then? That old witch cannot give you a grandchild, Mom!"
"That's not what I'm thinking. What if she takes back everything? You know how wicked she can be, Charlotte. If she could make us what we are today, in eight years, do you think she can't take it all back in less years?"
"That's not happening, Mom," Charlotte laughed, "What did you think that my brother had been doing over the years? Why do you think my brother is loved by everyone and Anita is not liked as much? Who do you think that the public would blame if my brother and Anita divorce?"
"Is that so?" Mrs. Blackwood was clearly excited. "Your brother is coming over this evening for dinner. Tell him to bring that girl with him. It's high time he gives me a fertile daughter-in-law."
Anita stumbled back, stunned by everything she's heard.
Even her in-laws too?
Anita's heart ached, eyes blurred with tears as she suppressed the urge to scream.
She couldn't recall where she'd gone wrong or done these people any harm.
So, why were they treating her this way?
There was nothing Charlotte wanted that Anita didn't do for her, even using her connection to help her get into Greenville Scholar's Academy, the top university in the country. Anita made sure Charlotte remained in that school, despite her poor grades.
Anita had no direct siblings but took Charlotte as a little sister she desperately craved. She spoiled her rotten, and made her queen bee in college to be respected and worshiped by her peers, and this was how she repaid her?
As for her mother-in-law, Anita was the reason she could live in Paradise. She was the reason Mrs. Justina Blackwood Wales had the largest beauty house in the city.
It was Anita who made that woman one of The BigFive – a women's only elite club. It is the pinnacle of power for women in the city.
Thanks to Anita, Mrs. Blackwood made a name for herself, respected and revered by women and men, yet this was what she got?
They called her infertile. She could have broken down had she not found out she was two months pregnant.
A low chuckle reverberated in her chest, tears streaming down her cheeks,despite her attempt to stop them from flowing.
This betrayal hit her so hard that Anita could swear it was the greatest pain she'd ever been afflicted in a long time.
"Is someone at the door? Charlotte, go and–"
Anita didn't wait for her mother-in-law to finish before she spun on her heels and made a hasty exit.
…
In the living room, her luggages had just returned, and two maids were dragging them up the stairs, but upon feeling the chill exuding from the figure at the end of the stairs, the maids shuddered, subconsciously letting go of the luggages.
"Take them back to my car," she uttered, her voice so cold that it could freeze one's blood.
But just as the maids were about to leave, Anita thought of something and gathered them all, "I wasn't here. Understood?"
The maids nodded. They worked for Mrs. Blackwood, but got their pay from Anita, so in other words, Anita was their boss. And her words were law.
…
Leaving Paradise, Anita didn't go back home, instead, stopped at a hotel – black oversized shades to hide her puffy red eyes and a scarf to hide her face, Anita stepped out of her car. She threw her keys to the porters and strode into the hotel with her handbag and an air that only a queen dared to pull off.
However, after grabbing a key card to one of the executive suits, and was about to leave the reception, Anita froze.
Wasn't that Dave?
The same David, who shooed her out of his office, claiming to be busy two hours ago, was entering an elevator with a young lady.
They didn't have to turn their backs. She knew her husband's appearance like she knew money.
Anita turned her face away when the two entered the elevator, to not be seen. But just as the door was about to close, she turned to give them another look, and she coincidentally locked eyes with the young lady.
She was a young, beautiful woman, perhaps, less than twenty five years old. She had a slender body with perfectly fit curves at the right places. Her innocent and pure looks could easily sway any man's heart, and when she smiled, Anita caught a dimple on her cheek.
Dave, on the other hand, looked happy. She'd never seen him so happy in a long while. His smile before the elevator closed off was one that Anita had longed for, for so many months.
When she noticed his smiles had dimmed, she wanted to have a conversation, but Dave merely told her that work at the company was taking a toll on him.
Anita's stomach churned as a piercing pain stabbed her heart once more. Her vision blurred, only then she realized that her glasses had become an obstacle rather than protection.
She resumed walking. She should have left the hotel, ran away from being under the same roof as that cheating bastard, but she was already here, her room paid for, luggages probably in her suite by now, and most importantly, she was too broken and disoriented to drive.
Just then, she collided into a strong wall of muscles.
"Hey, careful!"
The person held her in place, saving her from an embarrassing fall.
She moved away, "I'm sorry," and bobbed her head at the person before heading for the exclusive elevator.
Her mind was still reeling from the heartbreak that she failed to notice the man watching her saunt away with a look of amusement.
But just as she entered and the elevator was inches away from closing, the man's hand shot in, stopping it from closing.
The person entered and stood beside Anita.
Silence descended in the elevator for what seemed like forever.
Anita was lost in thought, unaware of the man staring at her, or so it seemed, until she suddenly opened her mouth to speak. "When you're done ogling, paint a picture and wear it."
"Hahahaha!" the person laughed with glee.
Anita's brows furrowed. That voice sounded vividly familiar but she couldn't remember where she'd heard it before.
She was in disguise to hide away from people. And the last thing she wanted was for a familiar person to recognize her.
"Annette."
Anita's mind snapped as she finally turned to that person. There was only one person who called her Annette.