Chapter 0003

A dismissive laughter escaped Marissa's lips, “oh my goodness, you're so funny!” She said amused. “A place? What place if I may ask? Is it your matrimonial room? Your mother-in-law? Or maybe your beloved Bryce?”

Rachel didn't respond.

“Well, let me make this clear to you. Even Bryce had said it earlier, you do not have a place in this house anymore. Just stop hallucinating and snap back to reality. Bryce is mine now and forever.”

Rachel smiled a little, “I know. I am fully aware that he will soon be yours, I am not going to push lines between the both of you, but I deserve to be respected.” She said calmly.

Marissa stood up from the bed and stormed towards Rachel with a smirk.

“I want to know,” Marissa said, placing a hand on her belly, “if you will still be here to watch me give Bryce the child you never could.”

Rachel's blood ran cold. Of course, she was right! She wasn't able to conceive for Bryce but that isn't the reason why Marissa would look down on her.

“With all due respect, I advise you to stop using people's suffering against them because you feel you're perfect.” Rachel took a shallow breath, “and how do you feel taking people's place and being the second? If I were you, I would never even think of doing so.”

Marissa swallowed hard, her hands clenched into fist, “you idiot!” She snapped, her voice seething with rage. “Let's see who gets Bryce's heart.”

“I am not competing—” Before Rachel could finish her statement, Marissa staggered backwards and pushed herself to the floor, landing on her butt.

“Marissa—” Rachel screamed and reached out for her when the bathroom door opened. She ran towards Marissa who screamed in pain.

Bryce glanced briefly at the two women, but spotting Marissa on the floor he ran towards her, shoving Rachel aside abruptly.

“Marissa, what happened?” He said, carrying her up in his arms.

Marissa locked her eyes with Rachel and raised a finger pointing directly at her, “she pushed me,” she cried, “because I'm pregnant, she pushed me! To kill our baby.”

Bryce slowly kept Marissa on the bed and turned to face Rachel who was in deep shock. She did not even know when Marissa fell.

“Bryce— I swear, I didn't— I can't… I did not push her, I promise,” Rachel stuttered. She couldn't even think of pushing Marissa down with her pregnancy, or even trying to kill her child.

“I knew it,” Bryce's voice was dark. He pulled Rachel's grip holding it tight. “You have been trying every way to destroy the peace of this family. Are you not aware that she is pregnant?” Bryce said harshly, tightening her grip.

Rachel merely winced at the pain from the harsh grip but quickly composed herself, “I did not push her, she stumbled and fell!” Rachel defended, but Bryce released her arm pushing Rachel back with force, making her fall.

Rachel felt an uneasy pain in her abdomen. She placed her hands on her stomach, watching Bryce with teary eyes.

“This is how it feels,” he said, voice cold. “We both agreed on fourteen days to repay me for letting you in, but your alternative is to kill the child. It's not gonna work.”

Rachel frowned her face in resignation, Marissa set a trap and Bryce fell quickly into it. She stood in pain, wiping her eyes with the back of her palm.

“I understand, I am so stupid by trying to kill your child, I think I need to take my leave.” She said turning to leave, when Marissa's voice came from behind.

“Bryce, you can't just let her go. Punish her!” She demanded. Rachel closed her eyes, trying to contain the rage storming inside her.

“Rachel,” Bryce said, without looking at her. “From today henceforth, you will be preparing Marissa's breakfast, but you will be the first to taste it, in case you poisoned it.”

Rachel nods and leaves the room.

***

“Are you stupid, Rachel?” Elara, Rachel's best friend and cousin yelled. “Why would you do that? I have always been against your marriage with Bryce, now you're adding an extra fourteen days to your departure. That's crazy!”

Rachel rested her head on Elara’s shoulder. “I want to cut ties with the Voss family entirely and focus more on my business, I don't want them to break me, Elara. I just want to divorce on my own terms… not theirs.”

Elara has always taken care of Rachel ever since her mother died and her father dumped her. Elara picked her up and worked her ass off just to put her in college— but when the Voss family showed up, showing interest in Rachel, Elara was distressed and deeply against it.

But Rachel, young and innocent, accepted their request in order to increase the funds of her business.

“I understand you, Rach, but you should have just signed it and come back to me. You're so damn resilient. I even wonder how you breath the same air with those fucked up bitches.” Elara hissed.

Rachel smiled, a smile that barely reached her eyes. “I was diagnosed with an early stage cervical cancer but I did not tell anyone, not even Bryce.”

Elara turned to Rachel in shock, “What the— cervical cancer? You need to begin treatment, girl. Are you alright?” She said, staring into Rachel's eyes.

Rachel nods with a faint smile, “After I get the divorce, I'll begin with treatment. Don't worry too much, it's still in its earliest stage.”

Elara pulls Rachel into a deep hug, “I'm so sorry Rach, but I promise, I'll always be there for you. Anytime things gets so fucked up, do not hesitate to place a call.”

Rachel nods, breaking from the deep hug. “I will. Elara how is the business thriving? Have we made much sales?”

Rachel owned a resin gallery, which she anonymously operated in. She didn't want anyone to know she was the CEO of the business, so she stayed hidden, letting Elara do her job.

“We've made a lot of sales for the past six months, earning over eleven million dollars, and more are still coming. I also employed some staff to reduce the workload.”

Rachel pulled Elara into another hug, “I love you so much Elara, you've always been there for me.” She said, tears of joy pouring out.

Elara patted her back slowly, “it's nothing. After all, you are still my sister and best friend!”

Rachel nodded, at least when the time for her divorce came, she had someone to lean on and a business to manage. At least even if there is no deep love— there is hope.