Chapter three: lingerie and regrets

***Megan's POV***

I woke up to an empty bed but a heart filled with hope and excitement.

Joe had made love to me for the first time since we got married and God, was it good.

I sprang out of bed and made for the mirror on the wall, taking in my full figure. He finally noticed me.

Last night was a mixture of everything, soreness, hurt, and then bliss.

I covered my face as I blushed hard. It was finally becoming a reality. Joe finally wanted me.

I twirled excitedly and headed for the shower.

*****

"I need everything, pasta, sauce, and chicken. Lots of it," I told Katie.

"Ma'am, are we expecting a guest?"

"What? No…" I chuckled. "It's for me. I need to eat to my fill, Katie. I am beyond famished."

"That’s expected," she whispered.

"What?"

"Nothing, ma'am."

"Come on, Katie."

"I didn't mean to pry, ma'am, but you guys made it so obvious. I couldn't help overhearing."

"What?" I chuckled, holding my sides, then sighed and blushed hard. "So I wasn't dreaming, was I?"

"The dinner night really paid off. I'm happy for you, ma'am."

Dinner night… I wasn't sure that was what helped. I wasn't sure what did, actually. I didn't believe in miracles, but this—this was definitely a miracle.

"Actually, ma'am… I think you should spice things up a bit tonight to seal everything."

"What?... Come on, I don't want to rush anything, Katie. Let it come naturally."

She shook her head, taking my hands.

"Let's go shopping."

Katie and I showed up at the mall with our heads covered in scarves for disguise.

"Is this really necessary?" I asked anxiously.

"Come on…" she dragged me along to the lingerie section.

There were all kinds of lingerie there. Katie chose the really sexy ones, and I couldn't hold back the laughter.

"I can't possibly wear this, Katie. I can't."

"Trust me on this, ma'am."

"I don't know, Katie…"

"Just trust me."

*****

The mood was right. Everything was set in place. The lights were lit and the bed was cozy. Most of all, I was looking sexy as ever.

I had on the lingerie, with a mask on, ready to put on a show for Joe tonight.

I had watched all the videos I could find on the net and practiced as hard as I could.

It was going to be a steamy night or so I thought.

The clock was ticking. Katie and the other helps had been dismissed. I was all alone in this mansion. In Joe's room, on his bed.

I heard his car drive into the driveway and I got ready to put on the best show. I ran to the bed and struck the sexiest pose I could muster.

The door unlocked and footsteps filled the stairs, uneasy ones.

Then came voices.

Hushed ones.

"I missed you, baby," a woman's voice rang out and my heart skipped.

I ran and hid under the bed like a complete fool.

"Let’s go really dirty tonight," Joe's voice followed. Soon, they were in the room, their feet scurrying, knocking over the petals I had laid on the floor.

Then came the sound of clothes hitting the floor.

"I want to give you all my love tonight," Joe said, and my heart broke completely. So this was just his usual line.

"Yes, baby, and I'll scream, just the way you like it."

She fell onto the bed with a loud thud.

Miranda. That bitch. She had come home with Joe even though she knew we lived under the same roof as husband and wife

"What about Megan, though? Your little wife. The one you chose over me ”

"I don't know. Don’t care. She's probably sleeping right now and hey, I never chosed her over you, you know my heart has always beat for you and only you. I only got married to her so my dad would be happy and so he'd handover the rights of his empire to me, I'd divorce her soon and come get you"

She chuckled. "Really, that's some good news, you know that's why I came back, I couldn't stand the thought of knowing you were married to her. I didn't believe it.”

“You know I'd never chose her over you. Now shush and let me fuck you. And hey…stop ruining the night with that hoe’s name.” he kissed her all over now, I could hear the smooching sounds as Miranda giggled.

“What if she hears us?" She asked even though she was yelling on purpose.

"Well, I don't care. She knows our marriage is just a transaction. She'd be crazy to expect anything more."

"Oh, Joe… you're cruel…"

"And you like it. Now shush.”

She chuckled. "Sorry, daddy."

My eyes were blurry, cloaked with tears. A fool, that's what you are, Megan.

I bit my lip so hard it started to bleed as Miranda's moans filled the room.

"Yes… fuck me, Yes…!" she screamed.

Even if I had been deep asleep in my room, it would’ve woken me up. She needed me to hear it, to know who was in charge.

The bed vibrated under their weight, and with each passing moment, each moan, my heart tore to pieces.

I was a fool.

A big fool. It dawned on me now. I was just a pawn in Joe's little game. He played me like a toy and wrecked my heart every chance he got.

He never loved me. He never will. It was all mind games.

I needed to get out of this hell I called marriage. I needed out, and I needed it now.

This night? It was the worst night of my life. Joe had always treated me like trash, talked down on me and my family, humiliated me in public, paraded women around, but this? This was the worst thing any man could do to a woman.

Getting married to me just to get his father's empire, cheating on me with my step sister right under my nose and planning to divorce me once everything was settled.

I swore on my last breath, he was going to pay for this. He was going to regret ever treating me like trash. He and every single person who mistreated me, not leaving out my "family". They were all going to pay.

I crawled out from under the bed in shame.

Miranda and Joe froze, frightened beyond belief. I still had my mask on.

"What's that?" Miranda asked, hiding behind Joe.

"Your worst nightmare, bitch." I took off my mask aiming for her nose.

She cried out clinging to Joe as she stared at my scary face. My makeup was smudged, and I looked like a demon in wrecks.

"Are you crazy? What were you doing under my bed? Are you that pathetic?"

I smirked.

"I'm done. To hell with you and this marriage, Joe." With that, I walked out, defeated but never weak.

I could still hear their voices. "Is she always this pathetic? Is she really going to leave this marriage?"

"Megan?" Joe snorted. "She's just acting up as always. She can't do without me. Pathetic, I'd be the one to divorce her when the time is right."

His voice echoed in my head as I made for my room.

I'll show you what a pathetic woman looks like, jerk.

*****

I dragged my luggage along with me as I made my way out of Joe's exotic mansion before dawn.

My mind was made up. I didn't know where I was going, but I knew I had to leave this hellhole.

I didn't stay till morning cause I couldn't bare to see Joe's smug face, he would never be sorry for his actions and it was useless to prepare divorce papers, he'd never sign them because he didn't get his father's blessings yet.

And hell, I'd never allow him achieve that, not at the expense of my unhappiness. I could never pretend not to be hurt by his actions so I left very early that morning.

Katie would probably be worried by morning, so I left her a note.

Not a clue to where I was headed, not like Joe would look for me, but a thank-you note stroke farewell.

I needed a fresh start.

Away from Joe. Away from my family. Away from who I was.

I didn't know when I had wandered into the middle of the road. A bright light and a blaring horn were the last things I saw before my vision went blank.