THE BILLIONAIRE'S CHOICEST

Outcast

Dag sat in his study, engrossed in his work when he heard his phone ring. It was Luke his brother so he picked up the call.

"Dag, have you heard about the family's get-together next month?" Luke asked, excitement evident in his voice.

Dag shook his head, slightly puzzled. "No, I haven't. What's so special about it?"

Luke's grin widened. "It's a big deal this year! Everyone's supposed to bring their wives along. It's a compulsory event!"

Dag raised an eyebrow, his interest piqued. The Willie family get-together was known for being an extravagant affair, and attendance was highly coveted among the elite social circles.

But what made this year different was the strict rule that all the married members of the family had to bring their wives along.

"I thought it was always a family event. Why the emphasis on wives this time?" Dag asked.

Luke chuckled. "Grandpa Willie wants to emphasize the importance of family unity and showing a united front. You know how he is about traditions and all that."

Dag immediately understood, recalling his stern and traditional-minded grandfather. "I see... I wish I could leave that s**t out of this! She doesn't deserve to be called my wife."

Dag had told Luke the night before that Brian had had s*x with Melinda.

"I understand, Dag. Even if she comes, we all know where she belongs. Her coming to the gathering doesn't make her one of us. She's an outcast, and I will not cease to remind her of that," Luke replied.

******************

The sun shone brightly on the picturesque family estate where the annual gathering of the Willies was taking place. Generations of laughter and memories echoed through the sprawling gardens and halls. It was an occasion eagerly awaited by all, as it brought together the extended Willie family from far and wide.

Dag Willie and his wife, Melinda, arrived at the estate. As Melinda stepped into the opulent hall, she was met with a grand display of elegance. The Willie family exuded an air of sophistication, and their friends and relatives mingled effortlessly, exchanging pleasantries and laughter.

Melinda took a deep breath, summoning her confidence, and following Dag's lead as they made their way through the gathering.

Dag's parents, Kevin and Elizabeth, warmly welcomed them, but Melinda noticed a slight hesitation in their smiles.

She tried to dismiss her concerns, hoping that her imagination was getting the better of her. After all, she was married to Dag their son.

Soon, they encountered Ethan, Dag's cousin and his wife, Abigail. Ethan had always been friendly and jovial, but Melinda sensed an underlying coolness in Abigail's demeanour as she extended her hand.

Abigail ignored her handshake, but she tried not to be bothered as she noticed an empty spot next to Abigail. Gathering her courage, Melinda decided to take the seat, hoping that sitting beside her sister-in-law might help break the ice and ease the awkwardness she felt.

However, as Melinda gracefully lowered herself onto the chair, she couldn't ignore the disdainful expression that washed over Abigail's face.

Her eyes roamed over Melinda's outfit, a beautiful and modest floral dress that she had carefully chosen for the occasion. But instead of appreciation, Abigail's gaze was filled with disgust, her lip curling slightly as if she had caught a whiff of something unpleasant.

Feeling humiliated by the judgmental scrutiny, Melinda's cheeks flushed with embarrassment. She tried to maintain her composure, but the hurt was evident in her eyes. It was as if Abigail had placed her on a pedestal of disdain, seeing her as inferior.

The silence that followed Abigail's gaze was palpable, and Melinda felt as if she had suddenly become an unwelcome intruder in her husband's family gathering. She quickly searched for words to break the awkward tension.

"Hi, Abigail. It's a lovely day, isn't it?" Melinda forced a smile, trying to be polite despite the hurt she felt.

Abigail merely gave a nonchalant nod, not even bothering to respond to Melinda's attempt at conversation. Her lack of acknowledgement cut deeper, leaving Melinda feeling isolated and rejected.

Trying to hide her distress, Melinda shifted her gaze away from Abigail, focusing on the distant horizon to regain her composure.

"What do you do for a living?" Abigail interrupted Melinda's thoughts. Melinda wasn't sure whether to respond or ignore her. She knew she would be courting trouble if she ignored Abigail. Abigail was a born troublemaker!

"I'm... "

"An ordinary housewife who depends on Dag for all her needs," Abigail interrupted, raising an eyebrow.

"I wonder what other profession you'll fit into, other than that. You look so rugged and worn out; obviously, you stay indoors all day. I'm sure a maid is better off than you."

Melinda tried not to let Abigail's cutting remark get to her, but it stung deeply. She knew Abigail to be rude and arrogant. She had never liked her, but she couldn't avoid her during family gatherings like this.

As the evening progressed, Melinda found herself increasingly isolated. The other family members seemed to follow Abigail's lead, treating her with indifference at best and outright disdain at worst.

They all seemed to share a belief that she was poor, a gold digger, and most especially, she was at the mercy of their family and married Dag to pay her family's debts.

Melinda was lucky that Dag had not told any member of the Willie family that Brian had an affair with her, except Luke and Luke had not disclosed it to the other family members.

Melinda hated the Willie family and wished she was never married to Dag in the first place. She didn't like to be treated like this.

But there was no way she could get out of this. She was bound to continue being trampled upon and unavoidably remain rejected until her family could pay the price for her to break free from Dag.

"Mel!" Melinda's thoughts were interrupted by Luke's voice.

"You're here. Well... Thanks to our family. You would never have had an opportunity to attend such a gathering as this your entire life... And trust me, I wouldn't keep your secret for too long. Everyone will soon be aware of what you did, hu...un... Luke said, his tone dripping with scepticism.

Abigail and Jolene looked at their faces, wondering what secret Luke was keeping. Jolene was Luke's wife and she hated Melinda from the first day she saw her.

"Hey, i***t! Just because you were privileged to be married to Dag doesn't make you a part of this family. You shouldn't even be sitting with us," Jolene said, as she looked at Melinda in disgust.

Jolene was a striking woman with an air of confidence that bordered on arrogance. Melinda had heard stories about Jolene from Dag, who often spoke of her strong-willed personality and tendency to be judgmental.

"Ah, Dag, it's good to see you again," Jolene said with a smile that didn't quite reach her eyes. Her gaze flickered towards Dag before returning to Melinda.

"It's been a while since I saw you, and that strange look of yours hasn't changed yet."

Melinda extended her hand with a warm smile, trying to compose herself and ignore the insults. "Nice to meet you again, Jolene."

Jolene glanced at Melinda's hand but made no move to receive it. Instead, she looked at her in disdain.

Then Melinda heard Luke's voice again. "You should be at the door welcoming the guests in, or better still, washing the toilets; not sitting amongst us. So get up!"

Melinda's heart sank, and she looked at Dag, hoping for some form of support. But he remained silent, seemingly pleased with how his family and in-laws insulted her.