The Unwanted Wife

Chapter 2

CASSANDRA:

This was the first time I rode in Cole’s car. After the wedding, we headed straight to the new villa that his parents gifted us. My heart was pounding with a mix of nervousness and excitement. This was the day I had been waiting for my whole life--the day we officially became husband and wife. It was our first day as a married couple, and the joy I felt inside was indescribable.

I couldn't help but stare at my husband. He was driving silently, looking so handsome and cool with just one hand resting on the steering wheel. He was still wearing his suit, which fit him perfectly. His gaze was fixed on the road ahead, his face devoid of any emotion except for a deep, strange sadness.

And I knew exactly where that sadness came from. It was because he was now tied to me. . . and he was mine.

"Cole, I promise, I will be a good wife to you. I will never do anything to make you angry. I love you so much," I whispered, staring at him.

I was only about ten years old when my mom passed away. Less than a month after her funeral, my dad brought another woman and her daughter into our house. It was Tita Madeline and Althea--my father’s other family. Althea and I are only a year apart, which meant my dad had been cheating on my mom since I was just a baby. Even so, they never heard any objections from me when they moved into my mother’s home. I had no one to stand up for me anyway. Dad always took Althea’s side, and he never once listened to me or defended me, especially whenever we fought.

Althea was always finding ways to turn Dad against me. I don't even know how many times she set me up just to make me look bad. There were times she would steal money and hide the rest in my bag or drawers just to frame me. She would even hurt herself just to accuse me of being violent. She is a manipulative liar. Everyone around her easily believed her lies, especially my father.

When Mrs. Harris brought her son, Cole, to our house, that was when the three of us met. But as usual, fate favored Althea. She was the one Cole wanted to play with, and as we grew up, she was the one who held his heart. The only reason they couldn't get married was simply because she wasn't the daughter of my late mother.

"We're here. You will live in the other house--in the maids' quarter. You are not the one who will live in my house. . . Althea is."

I froze, feeling as if ice-cold water had been poured all over me! That was when I realized we had arrived at the villa. There were indeed two houses standing side by side, but one was much bigger and more luxurious than the other. I bit my lip and looked around. The exterior was beautiful and grand, yet I couldn't bring myself to feel happy about living here. Because I wouldn't actually be living under the same roof as Cole.

"Althea? Why? Cole, I am your wife. Can't she stay somewhere else? Please, not here. This was a gift from your parents. . . to us," I pleaded, making him turn to look at me.

I swallowed hard, fear and anxiety gripping my chest as I stared into his eyes filled with irritation and anger.

"And who are you to make demands from me, hmm? What exactly are you to me? Althea is the one I love, and she is the one I want to live with. Don't delude yourself into thinking you're worthy of living in the main house. And one more thing--you are our servant here. Try to say anything on me to my mother. . . and I will divorce you immediately, Cassy," he said firmly, pointing a finger right at my face. "Do you understand?"

Tears welled up in my eyes. It felt like my heart was being squeezed tight. I gripped my dress tightly and simply nodded. His gaze was still sharp and intense, like that of a wild beast.

He got out of the car, and I couldn't stop the tears from falling as I watched him leave. The door of the larger house opened, and out came that scheming woman--Althea. She and Cole met and embraced each other tightly. Their faces showed nothing but pure happiness. Meanwhile, here I was. . . alone inside the car, heartbroken and in tears, just watching them.

"I know you don't love me, Cole. But does she really have to live here, in our home? Why does she, your mistress, get to act like the queen of this house?" I whispered, letting the tears stream freely down my cheeks.

My heart felt like it was being stabbed with a knife as I watched them embrace and kiss each other deeply. I had seen this all before--even worse. I had caught them having s*x countless times inside our house. In the pool, in the living room, and even in the kitchen. Whenever Cole visited and my father and stepmother weren't around, they did whatever they pleased. They never cared if I saw them. And even though they knew I was the one destined to marry Cole, they never thought about how much it hurt me.

"Aren't you used to this yet, Cassy? You are just his wife in name. . . but he will never love you," I scolded myself.

I wiped my tears and took a deep breath to calm down before getting out of the car. I grabbed my luggage from the back and silently walked towards the smaller house--the maids' quarter. It was actually nice and clean inside, but it paled in comparison to the bigger, grander house next door. The house that was supposed to be mine and Cole's.

As I stepped inside, I looked around. The place was bright with white paint and tiles. The kitchen and living area were fully furnished. There was one bedroom and a private bathroom just for me.

"You wanted this, Cassy. You insisted on marrying him. If you want him to eventually like you, you have to take care of him and serve him well," I told myself to stay strong.

I let out a heavy sigh, a bitter smile forming on my lips. Our married life had barely even started, yet it already felt so heavy and painful. It hurt so much to think that Althea was the one living inside that beautiful house with him.

I took some clothes from my luggage and headed to the bathroom. I struggled hard to reach the zipper at the back of my gown, but there was no one to help me. Because of my size, I simply couldn't reach it. In my frustration as I kept moving and trying to pull it down, the fabric suddenly tore apart.

"Gosh! This is my wedding gown!" I shouted in anger. It was ruined just like that!

Tears welled up in my eyes as I finally managed to take it off. I had wanted to keep and treasure it, but now it was torn--just like my marriage to Cole. It was broken before it even truly began, especially now that Althea was living in our house.

I stepped into the shower and washed away the day. My body felt so heavy and exhausted, and all I wanted to do was sleep. I was sure they didn't need me in the main house anyway. Cole and Althea were probably enjoying themselves right now, so I had no plans of going out.

While taking a bath, I couldn't stop thinking about what they might be doing at this very moment. Even though I expected it, it still hurt so much. It was our wedding day, yet they didn't care at all about my feelings.

The only reason Cole was forced to marry me was because his inheritance depended on it. He was the sole heir of the Harris family, but he could only claim his wealth and company if he married me--to fulfill the promise his mother made to mine.

After I finished bathing, I changed into my sleepwear and went out. It was already dark outside, and it had started to rain. I sat on the swivel chair in front of my computer near the window, watching the rain fall harder and harder.

"Mommy, I’m married to Cole now. I am finally his wife. . . but look at me. I still don't own his heart. He doesn't love me." I whispered, thinking of my late mother.

If only she hadn't died, I wouldn't be alone. I would have had someone to protect me and stand by my side. I wouldn't be feeling this lonely right now.

"How I wish you were here, Mommy." I whispered and hugged myself and let my tears fall. "No matter what I do, I'm still alone. No one wants me. No one loves me like you do, Mommy."