"Second Wife"

Bethany's jaw literally falls open. "Wha..."

Just then, there is a ruffle of footsteps and noises at the door and within seconds, the door is ajar with about five people standing right there by the door.

Quinn comes in first, launching herself happily into Charles's arms. Laughing, he catches and twirls her around before hugging her. "Hey lil sis, how are you?"

"I'm fine. Hi Alexa." She greets her and completely ignores Bethany.

Daisy, John and their driver come in next, the driver bearing a basket hamper covered with shiny wrapping paper and finally, a tall and handsome man comes inside last, looking around him and then his eyes comes to rest on Bethany.

They lock eyes for a split second before she looks away, shaking her head vigorously.

He must be the important guest they have been expecting, who is he exactly?

But this is not the time to ponder about that.

Bethany steps forward, cutting all of the greetings that didn't include her short. "Thank goodness you all are here now. We have an issue here I would like to talk about."

Everyone looks at her puzzedly, except Alexa who rolls her eyes elaborately.

"What is that? We don't have all day?" Daisy asks impatiently.

"I left your house by midnight today and got home to meet Charles and Alexa having sex on my matrimonial bed!" She states angrily.

Gasps? Defence? Nothing.

Bethany looks around John, Daisy and Quinn, expecting there to be some sort of reaction to her news but there's nothing, they are giving her blank stares like she is crazy.

"What? He is married to me, he can't be doing that with other women. Not one that is supposed to be your family member, come on, this is incestuous adultery." She says something, desperately grasping at straws even though she knows she looks pathetic suddenly.

"So? It's just Alexa." John says and spreads his palms.

That's the exact same thing Charles had said.

Quinn scoffs. "Family? Alexa is not family related to us. She is..."

"Shush." Daisy immediately cuts Quinn short and faces Bethany. "Sometimes, in a marriage, you need to be more open minded about the relationships you and your husband keep. You can get really bored being with only one person and you need to try other things."

Bethany gasps softly, feeling herself getting weak once again. "Are you really supporting his cheating now? You should be telling him to be faithful. Who is Alexa if she is not your family? I have known her for two years as a member of your family. So who the hell is she?"

Alexa steps forward. Charles tries to hold her back but she shrugs his hands off. "If you want to know so badly, I am Charles's second wife."

"What the hell?" This is spoken by the tall stranger and all heads turn to him, so he didn't know about that.

Bethany is somewhat strengthened by his reaction but she is shocked, even more shocked than he is. "S...SE...second wife?" Her heart sinks even lower and the rose that had turned to ashes is washed away by the wind. "How long have you been married?"

"A year and half..."

Ah. "So you've been cheating on me since six months after our wedding, calling her a member of the... Wait, you all knew about this?" The harsh truth dawn's on her and she reels from the shock of it.

Quinn nods enthusiastically while Daisy shrugs. "I can't refuse my son whatever he wants and that's my weakness so when he told me that he wanted to marry her, we did a small court wedding.

"It's not like you were the best wife to him anyway. He literally picked you up from your poor life and made you into the woman you are now." Never forgetting to rub her background in her face, John states as he sits down, rolling his eyes.

Bethany could have been shot at that moment and she would not have felt it. She felt overwhelmingly hurt, so hurt that it turns into nothingness. By the time she opens her mouth once again... "I want a divorce."

Charles, who had been silent all along, sprung forward. "No. I like you, you clean well, cook well and attend to my family very well..."

Bethany is too weak to have any reaction to his words at this point but what she wants to do is just raise her hand and slap him across the cheeks but her hands just would not move.

"I will not agree to the divorce. At least you're the first wife." Charles tries to smile reassuringly but it's only disgusting to her.

That she should stay married to the scumbag who married another woman while they were not divorced?

"Hell no." She refuses vehemently. "I want a divorce or I'll take it to court."

Charles stops smiling and straightens up. "I don't think you know the impact of the Worth family in this state. I can ruin you and still make you stay my wife, why don't you just stay my wife and I'll continue to treat you well?"

Bethany suddenly has a wave of dizziness and she can feel herself falling to the ground but just as she's about to hit the ground, firm hands catch her by the waist and she's swept off the ground.

She gasps softly as she looks into those sea green eyes before passing out in the tall man's arms.

Charles comes forward and extends his hand. "Thank you Uncle but I can carry her inside myself."

"I know for a fact that she would not want to be in your hands if she wakes up. Where is her room? Or rather, where did she sleep overnight?"

Charles turns slightly red and points to the door down the hall, where Bethany had come out from earlier in the day.

He turns around on his heels and takes her inside, tucking her in on the bed and checking for her breathing from time to time until it finally regulates and she falls asleep.