Scarlett Green was the woman she could never compete with and the woman she was constantly compared to.
Lizzy had never officially met her, but Evelyn had constantly bragged about what a fine daughter-in-law she would have made, and even Vanessa and Rania seemed to support this notion. Lizzy had only started dating Lucas after Scarlett left to pursue a glamorous career in modeling.
The first time Lizzy had seen sweet pictures of them together, she confronted Lucas about it, but he shrugged off her worries, assuring her it was a long time ago and he was over her, but now with Scarlett back, Lizzy wasn't sure of what to think about Lucas.
Lizzy's heart plummeted as Scarlett tightened her grip on Lucas's arm possessively. The rest of the family seemed oblivious to her swirling emotions as they welcomed Scarlett with open arms while Vanessa and Rania fanned over the designer bags she got them.
Lucas had an unreadable expression on his face, but he made no move to detangle himself from Scarlett.
Scarlett's eyes met Lizzy's with a smug smile playing on her lips. "Aren't you going to introduce me, Lucas?" She purred, her voice dripping with mock sweetness.
Lucas's reaction was immediate. His gaze darted to Lizzy; a flicker of something like guilt crossed his features, but he quickly masked it as he cleared his throat.
"Lizzy, this is Scarlett. She'll be staying with us for a while."
"What?!"
The words hit her like a ton of bricks. Lizzy's world seemed to crumble around her as she felt her legs weaken. The room spun, and when she stared at Scarlett, she had a triumphant look on her face.
Lucas continued as he spoke, "Scarlett has just returned to the city for a business deal with a lingerie brand, and she's having a hard time settling in, so I expect you to be cordial until she gets a place of her own."
Lizzy's voice trembled as she tried to protest, "But, Lucas, she can stay at a hotel."
"Oh, shut it!" Evelyn barked, stepping into the room with a scowl. "How dare you? After we've taken you into the family, how can you be so selfish?"
The air grew tense, and Lizzy felt cornered, her anxiety rising as the whole family turned against her. She looked to
Lucas for support, but instead he seethed in anger.
"Do you always have to be so dramatic, Lizzy? Scarlett is like family to me and I thought you would understand why I want to help her."
"She is so ungrateful," Rania chimed in. "Lucas does so much for you, and this is how you repay him?"
Scarlett stepped forward, putting on a show of faux humility. "Please don't worry about me. I can find a hotel to stay in until I get a place of my own. I don't want to cause any trouble."
Scarlett's false modesty only made things worse, heightening the tension as everyone regarded Lizzy as the villain.
"See? She's being considerate," Evelyn said, her voice dripping with sarcasm. "Why can't you do the same?"
"But I—" Lizzy's voice was cut off as Vanessa interjected.
"It's bad enough that you are a gold digger, leeching on my brother's wealth; now you think you have a say in the decisions of this family."
Lizzy sobbed, unable to hold back her tears. There was not an ounce of pity in Lucas' eyes, but instead he stared at her with something akin to disgust.
"Lucas, please—"
"That's it, Lizzy; I have watched you embarrass me enough; Scarlett stays, and that's final," Lucas stated.
Scarlett smirked, softly tracing lines on Lucas' arm. "Thank you, Lucas. I knew I could count on you."
Lizzy's shoulders slumped in defeat, while Evelyn, Vanessa, and Rania glared at her with varying degrees of disdain as they took Scarlett's side. Unable to watch her husband dote on another woman, she fled upstairs. Behind her, she could hear Scarlett's arrogant laugh as they mocked her. She had given up everything just to be with Lucas, but apparently it meant nothing to him.
Lizzy sank onto the bed, burying her face in her hands as silent sobs wracked her body. After a few minutes, her eyelids began to close, and she drifted off to sleep. The sound of the beeping notification from her phone woke her up. Glancing at her screen, she froze as she read a text.
"If you want to know what your husband has been up to for the past three months, come to room 109." There was an address written below it, and Lizzy was familiar with the location; it was one of the hotels that was owned by Lucas.
Her feet carried her before she could think, taking a cab, Lizzy pulled over at the luxurious Star hotel. Soft moans echoed as she drew closer to the room, grabbing the knob. Lizzy's heart sank as she watched her husband locked in a passionate kiss with Scarlett.
The pain of the betrayal cut through like knives piercing through her skin. The realization that Lucas would always choose his first love over her dawned on Lizzy and at that moment, she knew she couldn't keep living like this.
"I want a divorce, Lucas." The sudden intrusion had them both jostling apart in surprise, but there was not a hint of remorse on their faces. Instead, Scarlett's eyes gleamed with chunkiness, and Lucas merely stared at her as if she were merely ruining his fun.
"Is this a ruse to get my attention?" Lucas scoffed. "Remember the documents you signed? You won't get a penny even if we divorce."
"I don't care about your money, Lucas," Lizzy retorted, her voice breaking. "I loved you, and this is how you pay me back?"
"Oh, stop with your false pretense, Lizzy," Lucas said in an icy tone. "You think I didn't know that you married me for my money? I'll have my lawyers draft the divorce this instant; now if that is all, you can leave and shut the door behind you."
Lizzy felt her world was collapsing around her; the weight of Lucas's dismissive words crushed her spirit, leaving her feeling shattered. She couldn't believe she wasted three years of her life with a man who didn't care about her.
Her vision blurred with unshed tears, but she blinked them away, refusing to let him see her break.
When she arrived at the house, her breath caught in her throat. Evelyn stood at the entrance with a smug expression. Lizzy's belongings were scattered outside across the lawn, a cruel display of her sudden displacement.
A man in a crisp suit stood beside Evelyn, holding a folder.
Lizzy stepped out of the car, her legs trembling as she approached the house. Evelyn's eyes gleamed with malice.
"Lucas informed me about your little stunt," Evelyn taunted, her voice dripping with venom. "Did you really think you could manipulate your way into this family and come out unscathed?"
"It feels so satisfying that she is finally going back to the streets where he picked her up in the first place, mother," Rania seconded, joining in to humiliate Lizzy.
If it wasn't for my son, she wouldn't even dare to act sophisticated anyway" Evelyn scorned.
The harsh words hit her like a punch to the gut as they rivelled in her downfall.
The lawyer stepped forward, his expression neutral. "Mrs. Jenkins, I have the divorce papers here. Mr. Lucas would sign them once he is less occupied, but you are to sign at the indicated places and vacate the premises immediately."
Lizzy stared at the papers. With trembling hands, she took the pen and signed the papers. Each stroke felt like a nail in the coffin of her shattered marriage.
"Thank you," the lawyer said, taking the papers back. "I'll ensure these are filed promptly."
"Good riddance," Evelyn muttered as she tugged Rania inside, slamming the door behind her.
Numbly, Lizzy turned away from the house that had once been her home. She had no money, no job, and no support system; the Jenkins family had seen to that, isolating her from the few friends she had, even though Lucas knew Lizzy was raised in foster care as she had no family of her own. The weight of her situation began to press down on her. How would she survive on her own? Just then, the roar of an engine caught her attention. A sleek red convertible pulled up, stopping right in front of her. The door opened, and a man in an impeccably tailored tuxedo stepped out, exuding an air of authority and elegance.
"Miss Lizzy," the man called out, striding towards her with purpose. "My name is Daniel Marks. I represent the Berlin Group."
Lizzy stared at him, confusion and curiosity mingling in her gaze. "The Berlin Group?"
He nodded, a faint smile playing on his lips. "A total of ten million dollars has just been transferred to your account. It's my pleasure to announce that you are the long-lost daughter of billionaire Markus Berlin."