Chapter 1 – Drunk confession

Molly’s POV

“Kitty, I love you." 

That was what my husband confessed when we were making love last night. Romantic, right? Except that my name isn’t Kitty. 

"Who is Kitty?" I asked him in his drunken state. My arms froze around his body.

He never called me that before.

Wesley hardly came home after our honeymoon, blaming it on work. Sometimes, I would see him once a month, but if I was lucky, twice.

Last night was one of those times when I tried to get some intimacy from him because, after our wedding night approximately a year and a half ago, he never initiated it. 

I knew that alcohol could give people the courage to do or say things they wouldn't normally entertain, so when he pushed me onto our bed, I was beyond ecstasy.

As an orphan, my husband was my everything, and I gave him my all. My love, affection, assets, and everything that defines me. He accepted me at my darkest point in life, and I had sworn to love him my whole life.

I don’t know if I was being insecure, but when the name slipped out of his mouth, I felt like a bucket of cold water had been poured over me, snapping me awake.

I tried to shake him awake, but the attempt was unsuccessful. Wesley mumbled something incoherent and drifted off to sleep.

Was he cheating on me? I couldn’t control myself from thinking about the ugly possibility. Tears welled up in my eyes but he never knew in his sound sleep.

I couldn’t sleep throughout last night, kept wondering where I went wrong, and knowing I probably looked like a mess the next morning, but he was well-dressed and good-looking after having his shower.

"Morning babe, sorry I was drunk last night. I got carried away by the success of the company these days."

It was clear that Wesley had forgotten everything he said last night, and the pain in my chest was too unbearable.

Everyone envied me, thinking I had the perfect marriage because my husband worked while I stayed home to enjoy the money. But honestly, everything Wesley owns rightfully belongs to me.

"Who is Kitty?" I asked, his gaze squinted, and guilt flashed in his eyes, but it was gone within a blink.

Wondering why I was so calm? Trust me, I have no idea, or maybe it was because I had no one. Not even a best friend. I am a very reserved person, so when I fell in love, I wanted it to be forever, and my partner became my everything after my parents died.

"Excuse me?" Wesley was the perfect gentleman, and for a moment, I would have thought I was insane or imagining things, but I heard it all clearly.

"You mentioned her name last night," I reminded him, wanting to scrub my body of all the bodily contracts I had with him, and the fact that most of them were initiated by me.

"I must be calling you my Kitty because you are so pure and sweet," he smiled at me, straightening his necktie.

My cheeks burned and I knew they must have probably turned red by now but something did not feel right and it felt weird because he was never like this before.

I felt stupid for not recording his words last night, but I’d be prepared next time. 

If there was really going to be a next time.

Since Wesley was rarely home, I put my insecurities aside for a moment and asked him what had been bothering me. 

" Wesley, when will the mansion be done? We can’t live with your parents and siblings forever."

This was the fourth time I raised this concern. My in-laws have been a thorn in my flesh ever since moving into our matrimonial home. It was just a month after we got married, and they had never left since then.

Wesley always turned a blind eye, but I hoped his response would be different from the last time, but sadly, it was the same old story.

"Babe, the mansion will be ready soon, so we shall just move out and leave them here alone. You don’t have to worry." He leaned in for a kiss, but I turned my head to the side before his lips met my cheek.

There was a look of surprise in his eyes because this was the first time I rejected any form of closeness with him, but I was too revolted to allow him close to me and couldn’t care, especially when his explanations about Kitty felt weird.

"Then get me some domestic workers. I’m so tired every day."

I didn’t mind before, but now, I needed the time to investigate what I found out last night without making him suspicious.

"You don’t like managing the company, so what else will keep you busy if we get domestic workers? Look, I’m running late already. Don’t worry about breakfast."

Wesley rushed out of the room as if he was being chased, and I sat back to wallow in my melancholy.

This was not the life I chose, but this is what life gave me after my dream was destroyed by a scandal. I was set up and my reputation was completely destroyed.

I had to hide from the shame to make sure I never came into contact with anyone who knew me before. That was why I chose to be a housewife, leaving my inheritance to Wesley.

The ringing of the phone startled me, but it wasn’t mine. Gosh, Wesley left his phone. I picked it up to take to him, but the name of the caller looked familiar.

About to answer the call, Wesley entered and snatched the phone from me, leaving without a word or another look at me. He was talking on the phone, but I couldn’t hear a word he said.

I went to the kitchen to make some food and was instantly depressed. His father was watching TV so early in the morning, and his mother was painting her nails. I don’t remember the last time a young woman like me had a manicure.

I was just twenty-six, and as they lazed about, I was left to do the chores alone. We were rich enough to afford help, but Wesley said it would keep me busy. I didn’t mind before, but now, I seem to be waking up from sleep.

"You are so lazy, always waking up late while your man is already out working. When will breakfast be ready?" Wesley’s mother gloated, and I began to see clearly what I had become to them. A maid.

I wanted to make them so happy that I did not realize how I had been taken for granted. Desperate times needed desperate measures, and that was my reason for the decisions I took.

"Soon." I tied my apron and got to work when another spoiled brat invaded the kitchen.

"Molly, I don’t like buns. Make me some tortilla," Wesley's youngest brother, Radley said. I swallowed the pain in my chest, wondering how I tolerated this rudeness for over a year.

I, Molly Thompson, have worked blindly as a maid to my in-laws in my own house, and it was too late to make the correction.

This was the life I chose. If I decided to end it, I needed time for myself to do the investigation. So it’s not the time yet. Molly.

I swallowed all the anger that wanted to burst out. Breakfast was ready, and they all sat there.

No one was willing to even set the table, but I couldn’t take it anymore, so I called out to Wesley’s junior sister. "Bertha, please help me with the table."

Her fingers flew effortlessly through her hair, the strands covering her face were moved to the back of her ears as she lifted her head from the phone in her hand. "This is your house, not mine. I’m still a visitor," she scoffed.

If I had my way, I would have driven all of them out of this house this minute, but then I remembered that everything was in Wesley’s name.

That was a matter for another day. "Staying for a few days means a visitor, but not months," I pointed out. They all seemed surprised that I talked back for the first time, giving me an undeserved attention.

They seemed to have something to say, but it was clear that Bertha said it in their stead.

"If you are tired of being with my brother, other women are ready to take your place. You should be happy to serve us since you aren’t even qualified to lick my boots."

Tears stung the corner of my eyes, but I won’t let them fall. After marriage, I signed over my inheritance to Wesley, but his family thinks I’m freeloading.

I didn’t want to whine because of the mansion, and I hoped that Wesley would keep to his words this time.

Without them making things difficult for me, I will be able to find a way to get back everything I inherited from my parents.

When Wesley talked about moving into the mansion so soon, that took another five months of endurance for me. Today was our anniversary day, so this was exactly two years since we’d been married.

He came home twice during those times, and I endured his family bossing me around all this while. It wasn’t frequent for him to call me, but somehow, he remembered to do so this time.

It wasn’t as if I cared anymore. All I wanted was a way to get back everything that was once mine.

"Babe, I’m sending a driver to come get you to the mansion. I can’t make it because I’m still putting things in place."

I was disappointed, but every time the idea came up, that he might be spending time with a mistress when he was not home, it made me more nauseous and disgusted. 

Arriving at the mansion though, I was truly astonished. The elegance of the mansion was enviable. It had everything I dreamed of. 

"That’s Mrs. Thompson, Mr. Thompson’s wife. She’s so lucky to have a husband like him. He really spoils her, doesn’t he?"

I heard a woman say and glanced briefly in her direction. Wesley had said he was having a party and ribbon-cutting to welcome me to the house, but only his friends attended because I had no one.

"It looks so. Look at the couture she’s wearing. Superb. And her jewelry is to die for," I heard the woman standing beside her say when I stood in front of the house, waiting for Wesley to come and cut the ribbon. He arrived soon after.

"Sorry, I’m late. Do you like it?" He leaned in for a kiss, but I wasn’t fast enough to dodge it, and it landed on my cheek.

"I haven’t seen the inside, but yes," was my honest reply, which got him excited.

"Great." His hand rested at the small of my back, but unfortunately, there were too many eyes on us, and I couldn’t pull away, even as I felt my skin crawl from his touch.

The touch I used to long for was now a thing of disgust to me. Walking together, everyone would think we were a loving couple, but it had been far from that.

We cut the ribbon together and opened the door, but that was when my knees felt weak. The color drained from Wesley’s face as well, but everything was made clear. My heart was completely shattered, and I could not take it anymore.