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Bella has loved Alex since college, but all she ever got in return was cold rejection. Born into wealth and privilege, Alex was destined to marry Linda-the perfect match for his elite bloodline. But on the day of their grand wedding, Linda vanished, leaving him humiliated at the altar. Desperate to protect the family's reputation, Bella did the unthinkable-she stepped in as his bride. Three years of devotion, three years of being the perfect daughter-in-law, three years of trying to earn love from a man who never wanted her, and three years of enduring the Hayes family's cruelty. Bella finally snapped out of her reverie when the Hayes sweetheart Linda returned, determined to claim Alex back. Bella demands a divorce, but strangely, Alex refuses to let her go. He proposes a deal with her, to keep her trapped by his side. But will he be able to melt her already icy heart and keep her for long?
Chapter 1 Unworthy Riffraff
The elegant chandelier above spilled soft golden light over the well-furnished and exorbitant dining room, where the Hayes family sat in high spirits and laughter.
The room was filled with the savory aromas of roasted meats, garnished sauces, and steaming vegetables, served by professional chefs, that teased the senses and heightened the evening's celebration.
It was that time of the month again when every member of the family had to come together, away from their busy schedules, to catch up as one big family and bond over dinner. But tonight, something made this one spectacular.
The center of the excitement was Linda, the family's sweetheart, Alex's first love, and their most desired daughter-in-law, not the riffraff of a wife, Bella, seated opposite Alex.
Linda was the one they adorned, the one with class and vigor. She had been away for three years, and her presence tonight had ignited a spark of joy within the family. They talked animatedly about her great achievements in the past years, their voices filled with admiration and enthusiasm.
Yet, amidst the jubilation, Bella's isolation was palpable. Her silence was a stark contrast to the vibrant atmosphere, a clear reminder that she was overlooked and unappreciated.
Bella's P.O.V
I sat quietly, slicing a piece of meat on my plate cos that was the least I could do: eat and remain irrelevant, as I've forcefully learned within these past years. I kept my eyes buried on my plate as I tried to ignore the pangs in my chest seeing how close together Linda and Alex sat as they chattered on.
I'd never sat so close to him in all the three years we've lived as husband and wife because he would never permit it. But here she was, not just sitting close to my husband but encircling her hand around his arm, right in my face, and he did nothing. Nobody did.
They were all blinded by the aura of Linda, a child born with a golden spoon that reciprocated and aligned well with their status as the formidable Hayes. Since I was short of that class given my poor upbringing, I was nothing but a ghostly creature nobody noticed, a naive girl lost in a world of fantasy through art and a despicable mistake Alex brought to the family.
Just when I lifted a chunk of meat to my mouth, Linda reached out for the bowl where the vegetables were served pushing aside her meat. "This is more healthy, Bella". She said, lifting the bowl to my face. All eyes turned to me, something I had dreaded all through the night and I froze. I felt like crawling under the table, away from their suffocating gazes. "You're adding a lot of weight already. Don't you think it's time to go on a diet and cut back on the food?" She asked, with a sarcastic, concerned look.
My mouth suddenly felt dry, and for a thousand and one reason, my heartbeat accelerated. I looked around, smiling nervously to mask the sting of embarrassment while I did a mental ransack for the right words. "Yeah, I.....I should. I just-"
"Oh Linda, that's so thoughtful of you. No wonder you're still in shape after all these years, look at you!" Mrs Caroline, my mother-in-law praised Linda, cutting me off rudely like I was babbling. She turned to me, and all the smile on her face turned to hateful scorn, "You can as well empty the refrigerator while going home. We have enough meat to last you for a month, so you can eat non-stop. I guess that's what you're good at after all".
They all laughed heartily like it was the entertainment they had anticipated all along. "Oh, mummy!" Linda pleaded jokingly, still laughing. "She is still my lovely friend from college and a foodie as always. But I can help her since I'm back now. She can try to be like me".
I bit my lower lip at her words, so hard that I felt the metallic taste of blood down my throat. It pained me so much that her words were getting to me. That was a big, fat lie. But who was I to challenge Linda in front of everyone?
That has always been the basis of her friendship with me in college. I was always the one to be degraded in front of others for her glory to shine bright. How could I have been a foodie for someone who barely ate three square meals as a child raised by a struggling single mum?
And what in God's name was wrong with my weight? Nobody ever complained about it but because Linda pointed it out tonight, they all bobbled their heads in agreement. I looked at Alex for some help, for him to defend me at least and salvage the situation, but he didn't spare me a glance and just sat there mindlessly while she said those hurtful things to me.
"What help can you render to something already damaged. That's a waste of time darling. You know this unworthy riffraff can never be like you, Linda. She is way out of your league". Sophia, Alex's sister, chimed in, shooting me a soul-crushing glare.
Tears welled up in my eyes as I stared at them, simultaneously contributing, in turns, to my ordeal, their voices fading away into the background as my thoughts trailed off. Why was it so easy to forget a good did than a bad one? Why had they forgotten so soon that this unworthy riffraff was the same three years ago that saved their faces from shame when their darling Linda ditched their son on his wedding day and ran to God knows where? Had they forgotten so soon?
I was obliged to marry Alex despite his cold gesture and demeanor toward me. I loved him to a fault. I had my hope alive that one day he would see my worth and fall for me. But he never did. Linda had always been the one in his heart and there was no space left for me. Not even the thinnest.
The atmosphere seemed to mock me as hot sweats formed on my temples, a tip of the heat brewing in my insides, as reality dawned on me. Linda's return screamed only one thing, clear as crystal: My services as Mrs Alex were no longer needed.
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Chapter 1 Unworthy Riffraff
24/02/2025
Chapter 2 I'm Done!
24/02/2025
Chapter 3 Not Until I Say So!
24/02/2025
Chapter 4 Let's Just Get A Divorce
24/02/2025
Chapter 5 I Still Need Her
24/02/2025
Chapter 6 Doom Sweet Doom!
24/02/2025
Chapter 7 Let's Start Wifey Duties Already
24/02/2025
Chapter 8 What Nonsense!
24/02/2025
Chapter 9 I'm Focusing On Me
24/02/2025
Chapter 10 I'm Returning A Favor
24/02/2025
Chapter 11 Deal
05/03/2025
Chapter 12 That's Ridiculous!
05/03/2025
Chapter 13 Spinsterhood
05/03/2025
Chapter 14 Dad's Memorial
05/03/2025
Chapter 15 Dad's Memorial 2
05/03/2025
Chapter 16 Dad's Memorial 3
05/03/2025
Chapter 17 Dad's Memorial 4
05/03/2025
Chapter 18 Aftermath Of Dad's Memorial
05/03/2025
Chapter 19 Where Is Your Ring
07/03/2025
Chapter 20 Fucking Rapists!
07/03/2025
Chapter 21 OMG!
10/03/2025
Chapter 22 Viral Humiliation
28/04/2025
Chapter 23 I Just Don't Get It!
01/05/2025
Chapter 24 He Called Them Tiny!
20/05/2025