Lucy curled up in bed as she stared at the window, her eyes devoid of the sparkles she once had. She listened to the hushed voices outside her marital bedroom, like they were ghosts whispering haunting threats at her.
"I didn't think she could be so vicious. Who would've thought she would push Miss Leblanc down the stairs?"
"Fortunately, Mr. Westwood arrived early and carried Miss Leblanc to the hospital."
Lucy closed her eyes, wincing at the sting of tears prickling in her eyes before they slid down her face. The image of Landon, her husband, coming to the rescue of his first love, was burned in her memories and left a bitter and painful taste in her mouth.
The way his face contorted with worries when he looked down on Miss Leblanc before he stared at her with anger and disgust as if she were the gum stuck on his shoe. Her heart shattered into tiny pieces.
She wanted to tell Landon that she was his wife and he should trust her. She would never hurt anyone.
But Landon turned a deaf ear as he left with Miss Leblanc in his arms.
"That's right. When Mr. Westwood princess-carried her, I blushed. When I see them together, they really look like a match."
"Of course, they're a good match. They were once engaged to each other!"
"Then what happened? Why didn't they marry?"
"What else could have happened? Mrs. Westwood seduced the young master. If she hadn't been so shameless, we would've witnessed a love story that only happens in fairy tales!"
The voices gradually grew lower as the maids were no longer in her hearing range. Yet, their words stabbed her where it was sore.
But there was no time for her to comfort her wounded heart.
Lucy cringed when she heard the ringing of her phone.
"Where are you?" Landon asked a simple question, yet the venom dripping in his voice was too potent. "Everyone's at the hospital. Why aren't you?"
Was there a need for her to be there when all she would receive was the scrutiny of everyone? Did she have to see her husband caring for his first love as if she, his wife, didn't exist?
"Do you want me to be there?"
"Yes."
His answer filled her with surprise and hope.
Perhaps Landon wanted her presence to support him.
"Yvonne woke up and was worried when she didn't see you. So, I called you to come here."
"Why?" Her voice cracked and came out as a whisper. Tears continued to fill her eyes. "Do you want me to apologize and beg your mistress for forgiveness?"
"Enough, Lucy!" Landon raised his voice. "This isn't the time to be narrow-minded. Yvonne just got hurt, and here you are throwing another tantrum. Do you even know what everyone is talking about right now? That you're the one who pushed Yvonne. And instead of reflecting on yourself, you just have to make yourself even more miserable. Yvonne isn't even blaming you and is even worried about you. So, why do you have to make this difficult for me?"
Lucy lay on the bed like a fool, not knowing how to respond.
Where had her husband, who promised to take care of her and never make her cry? Who was this man whose annoyance and anger were too blatantly obvious in his tone?
"Just get here as fast as you can."
Landon didn't wait for her to say anything as he disconnected their call.
Lucy chewed on her lower lip as she stared at the phone in her hand.
She wanted to stay in her bed and sleep. But that won't solve anything. In fact, she knew staying at home would only make Landon upset with her.
However, she didn't want to go. Not when she knew it would only break her heart if she saw him showing his affection and care for Yvonne.
From time to time, Lucy would remind herself that she shouldn't be feeling this way. Especially since their marriage was just a sham to make Yvonne realize her own feelings for Landon.
That's right. Their marriage was just based on a contract she and Landon agreed upon.
She needed money for her mother's surgery. So, when Landon said he needed a woman who would act as his 'wife' while his first love was outside the country, Lucy didn't hesitate to take up that offer. She took advantage of the situation to reap the benefits.
But what she didn't expect was for her to fall in love with Landon.
For two years, Lucy treated their marriage as real. She thought of Landon as her real husband and loved him dearly.
Of course, the marriage certificate was real. But only she knew that in their marriage she was the only one who was truly in love.
On her way to the hospital, Lucy felt a sudden pain in her lower abdomen. She rubbed a hand over it and took a few breaths to steady herself. But the pain continued to cut into her as if a chunk of her was being pulled.
Is today the day my period should arrive? Lucy wondered. The pain was similar to the first three days of her period. But the intensity was off the scale.
"Mrs. Westwood, we're here," the driver announced as they parked in front of the hospital's entrance.
Lucy stepped out of the car and entered the hospital. As she got near the room where she heard Yvonne was confined inside, she saw Patricia, her mother-in-law, standing in the corridor with her sister-in-law, Emma Westwood.
She hesitated to take a step forward. Maybe it was better to call Landon and have him fetch her than meet her in-laws right now.
However, it was already too late when Emma met her gaze.
Emma said a few words to her mother before approaching her.
"Come with me."
Emma didn't let Lucy resist as she took hold of her forearm, dragging her to a more secluded place.
"You're really shameless, aren't you, Lucy?" Emma sneered, crossing her arms in front of her chest. "You dared to come here when you're the reason why Yvonne had to be sent to the hospital. What? Are you trying to scare her to death this time?"
"No, Emma. That wasn't my intention. Landon..."
"Ha! When will you stop using my brother as an excuse, Lucy? Be honest, you wanted to kill Yvonne, right?"
"No!"
Lucy shook her head in disbelief that Emma would even think she would kill someone.
Even if she loved Landon so much she didn't want to give him up, she wouldn't resort to that.
"How can I trust you? You already pushed Yvonne from the stairs, after all." Emma scoffed. She started to walk towards Lucy till she was inches away. "Let me remind you, Lucy. My brother loved Yvonne to the point he'd starve himself when she went abroad. Now that she has returned, why don't you do everyone a favor and divorce my brother?"
"I can't." Tears pooled in her eyes. "Landon won't—"
"My brother agreed."
Lucy snapped her gaze up. "What?"
"He said he would divorce you for Yvonne." When Emma saw the disbelief and shock in Lucy's face, she continued, "My brother must be so sick and tired of you that he wanted to divorce you. You're leeching off of his money. You didn't do anything else but stay at home. You didn't even give him a child. Two years, Lucy. Two years and yet, there's still no son?"
"I bet if he married Yvonne, they would've already had their children. But I won't worry about that since my brother will surely get her pregnant soon."
Lucy couldn't continue listening to Emma as she started to get dizzy. Her heart pounded against her chest as she tried hard to take a deep breath. She didn't want to believe what Emma said to her just now. Surely, Landon wouldn't divorce her without telling her first, right?
Besides, what about their contract?
Landon didn't dictate how long they would stay married to each other. They could continue being husband and wife for as long as neither of them wanted a divorce.
But Lucy knew that if Landon wanted to, she would have no choice but to go away.
And Yvonne is back.
Landon has no more use for her.
He has no more reason to continue their marriage when he already got what he wanted.
He will divorce her.
Lucy pushed off the wall and started marching in the corridor. She heard Emma shouting behind her, but she couldn't be bothered by her right now as she reached Yvonne's room and opened the door.
She wanted to talk to Landon. She wanted to know what he truly thought and wanted. Lucy needed the words to come from his mouth, not from anyone else.
"Landon, can you hold me?"
"Alright."
Her steps faltered as she took in the scene before her. Landon stood by the bed, and without hesitation, he wrapped his arms around another woman.