Remarried Again My Husbands Brother

(Scarlette's )

The Anniversary.

"Woman? You're nothing but a man in a woman's body. Your womb is useless-can't even carry a child. So tell me, what makes you different from a man?"

The words of my mother in law still echoed in my head as I stood beside my husband, forcing a smile at the guests gathered in the hallway.

The voices of the gathered guests echoed loudly, cheers filling the room. The chandelier shone brightly on my face, showing the mixture of genuine and forced smiles around me. I stood at the center of it all, a massive cake in front of me, a knife poised in my hand, and my husband's hand resting over mine.

The man who had stood by me through thick and thin. The man who had loved me for five years, despite my childlessness. Ethan Thane Newton. The world had been cruel, but he had remained my anchor.

As the guests counted down for us to cut the cake, laughter rippled through the space.

"Come on, kitten," Ethan's voice cut through the noise, his smile perfectly fitting his handsome, fair face.

"Tell me....What would you like for this year's anniversary?" His voice was calm, sharp, his eyes locked onto mine.

I ran my fingers through my hair, thinking. I had everything-the luxury, the wealth. What more could he give me? He had already given me everything. And yet, something was missing. A child. Children.

"Ethan... I should think about it. I have everything now," I said, smiling as I gently covered my mouth.

"No way. With you, nothing is ever enough. I want you to have more. And more you shall get," he said flatly, pressing a kiss to my forehead.

"Now, kitten, tell me what you desire?" he urged again, his hand resting gently under my chin.

My lips parted slightly, my eyes widening just a little. I was about to say something-anything at all-when a voice cut through the crowd.

"A child. That's all she should ask for."

Heads turned. My breath caught. I followed the direction of the voice immediately.

My mother-in-law. She was back.

I stepped forward instinctively to greet her, even though I knew she would never acknowledge me. To her, I had always been bad luck to her son.

"Don't you dare touch me!" she thundered, her voice slicing through the room.

"You have everything but you lack the most important thing in life," she continued. "A child. You should give us a child, woman. Right now, I'm beginning to see you as a man, not a woman anymore. Rubbish."

She spat the words with venom before striding past me toward Ethan.

I stood there, frozen. Silent. I couldn't even defend myself.

My hands trembled as I turned slowly, watching her stop in front of Ethan. I couldn't grasp what they were talking about at first, but as I moved closer, her words hit me like a slap.

"Ethan, I have told you countless times-you should throw this woman out of this house! She doesn't deserve to be called a woman. She's like a stick! And I don't see any reason why a stick should be with you!" she yelled.

"Mother, just stop this nonsense! Can't you see how you're rubbing dirt on us in front of all these people? Can't you at least wait until the guests have left?" Ethan barked sharply.

"Ethan... you are not going to speak to me that way, do you understand? And certainly not because of a barren woman who has refused to give this family a child."

"No, Mother. I won't let you talk to my wife like that-not anymore. If she can't have a child now, it's not a problem. Have I ever complained to you about this?" Ethan shot back, his voice steady.

"I know..." she said, shaking her head. "You're blind to all of this. Your love for her has blinded you too much to see reason."

She paused, then continued with cold finality. "You should get another wife. A wife who will give you a child-not just one, but many. You deserve better, my son."

She placed her hands on his shoulders, her voice lowering as she added, "Not this old and foolish girl you call a wife. God only knows what kind of garbage she has done to her womb."

She spat out the last words with disgust.

"If you waste one more year waiting for this man in a woman's body to give you a child, you're going to ruin everything. Everything, Ethan."