Chapter 2 A Life Of Luxury, A Life Of Pain

CHARLOTTE

Unhappiness coated my face as I leaned against the car, ignoring Liam as he rambled on how useless I was.

How blind he had been to marry a wench like me.

I said nothing in response. He wanted me to talk. He wanted to rile me up so that I would fuel his hatred and anger, but I was not going to do that. I wouldn’t give him that satisfaction.

“You will do as I say, okay?” I managed to hear him amidst his tirade.

I leaned further into the car, wishing I could run away from him and his family.

Honestly, I felt guilty for taking Sophia’s place in the family. When it was revealed, I was shocked and had put myself in her position.

If I were to be the one, I would also be filled with hatred. But I wasn’t, which was why I endured Sophia's deliberate actions.

Honestly, I did think of ways to apologize to her, but she had her motives: to bring me down before everyone who thought I was a good person. It reached the point that even the maids didn't deem me respectable anymore.

My life in the Windsor house was not rosy, even though that was what people thought.

They believed that for as long as you lived in the Windsor mansion, you had luxury at your beck and call. It was a lie they had somehow managed to paint for the press.

I didn't blame the people who thought coming into the Windsor’s mansion was like a jackpot for wealth.

People kept asking me in prison what living in such a luxurious mansion felt like. I was tempted to tell them the truth but hid it and never responded.

I was mocked for falling from grass to grace, beaten like a bag of shit, and degraded by the prison attendants. One would think I committed murder judging by the way I was treated.

The only thing that kept me going was the knowledge that my biological mom and Noah had accepted me.

The fact that Noah even remembered the day I would be released brought warmth to my heart.

At least I was not entirely rejected and abandoned.

I didn't want to trouble them. Noah would go to any length to protect his family, and I knew he could kill Liam if he had his way.

I let out a deep sigh and kept my eyes glued to the traffic lights.

Everything had changed, and for the briefest moment, my mind wandered to Sophia. Again.

God, that woman was the bane of my existence.

I still remember years back when she accused me of pushing her down the stairs. That accusation was the worst she’d ever told of me, and for the first time, I’d decided to fight back.

I couldn’t sit back and watch her ruin my entire life. But maybe I should have sat back. Perhaps I should have kept mute and not fought back because I only met more humiliation when I did.

Somehow, Sophia had made the entire family see me as the villain and the jealous witch who wanted what did not belong to her, so even when I tried proving my innocence, no one believed me. The Windsor’s didn't trust me anymore. My husband, Liam, didn’t either.

I mean, he reported me for attempted murder without blinking and without even caring that I had a son to look after.

No. He reported and separated me from my little boy for three years.

Those three years were painfully slow, and once I requested that I see my son, I was given the flimsy excuse that the prison was the wrong place to bring children.

I knew it was their way of telling me that I was no longer in their family.

Now, for the sake of this child of mine, I have to do as told or else… I glanced at Liam before shaking away the thoughts in my head.

The car slowly screeched to a halt and parked before the hospital building.

Turning off the car’s engine, Liam removed the key and faced me. “I know you have something up your sleeve. Don't try it. I'm warning you, or else… you know the consequences.” He warned. “Get out, and don't try to escape..”

I hurried out.

He rounded the car, stopped before me, and spoke again. “You will do as told. After all, you pushed her down the stairs, and she was there because of you. Donating this bone is the price you have to pay.”

“But why, Liam.” My voice sounded broken. “Why did you never believe me? I didn't touch Sophia.”

“And how is that my business?” He hissed and grabbed my arm. “For someone who stole another person’s life, you sure do have some mouth on you.” He pushed me roughly into the moving elevator. “Shut the fuck up! You’re a filthy liar, and I’ll never believe a word that comes out from you!”

“Please, Li…”

“Move! Now, move!” He cut in, barking heavily, and the door slid closed.