Chapter 1, The most beautiful gift

"Celine, this is Ruby. She is my lover, my future wife."

It was like being struck by lightning in broad daylight when Celine heard from the mouth of Nicolas - her husband - that the beautiful woman was his girlfriend. 

Celine was shocked beyond belief. In front of her stood Nicolas holding hands with a beautiful woman he had never met before. The woman smiled sweetly at her, as if she didn't feel the slightest bit guilty.

"Your lover? Your future wife?" repeated Celine in a trembling voice. 

"Yes, Celine. She is my future wife!" said Nicolas firmly. 

Celine shook her head in disbelief at the surprise given by her husband on the day of their fifth wedding anniversary. Since earlier, Celine had been busy in the kitchen preparing a special dinner with her husband. Celine had even prepared a small surprise for her husband. 

But everything got messy.

Earlier, Nicolas had told her that he would be leaving early because he had something to say. 

And then...?! Nicolas comes home with another woman who will become his new wife. 

Celine could only sigh deeply. She tried to calm her overwhelming emotions.

"Come on in, baby, this house is your house too," Nicolas said, leading her into the house. 

"What do you mean, Nico?" Celine pulled Nicolas' arm, but Nicolas nimbly brushed Celine's hand away.

"Why are you doing this to me? Why are you betraying me? What did I do wrong? What?" asked Celine softly trying not to cry. 

"What do you mean, that you're going to divorce me, huh?" So many questions came to Celine's mind. 

"Think for yourself, Celine. I don't need to explain. You should understand!" Nicolas said sarcastically.  

Celine's mother-in-law also came, the middle-aged woman immediately warmly welcomed the arrival of the woman named Ruby. 

"Celine, you should know. I asked Nicolas to marry Ruby. It's been five years since you guys got married, but you haven't gotten pregnant yet. I'm sure this Ruby, she can give Nico a child!" said Maria, Nicolas' mother. 

"Yes, Celine, you're right. And, one more thing! You look uglier and uglier every day. You're not as beautiful as you used to be, I'm so tired of you looking like a maid! That's the reason why I haven't introduced you as my wife until now!" continued Nicolas with a small smile. 

Hearing the reasons of her mother-in-law and her husband, Celine felt hurt. The spit she swallowed was very bitter. Her heart was torn apart, like being stabbed by thousands of needles. However, she still tried to remain calm.

 "But, Nico... I can be beautiful again if you want, even more beautiful than Ruby. And I can definitely conceive a child for you." Celine held both of Nicolas' hands hoping that he would end his relationship with Ruby. 

"Celine, never mind. You have to accept this fact!" Maria swatted Celine's hands away, even going so far as to push Celine's body to the floor. "Nico doesn't need you anymore!" Maria snapped. 

Celine looked at Nicolas with tears in her eyes.

"Nico, have you forgotten all the sacrifices I've made for you?" 

Celine was a beautiful model who was quite famous. Celine left the career that had made her name in order to fulfill Nicolas' game. Even Celine was so patient as a wife and daughter-in-law even though her marriage was kept a secret. 

Celine was patient enough for five years that her husband never introduced Celine as his wife. At the request of his father and mother, Nicolas complied.

Although Celine is a model. However, everyone knew that Celine was the daughter of a maid and her father was a gardener. However, her father and mother had died when Celine was a teenager. Celine is a model, so her parents' identity is easily revealed even if she keeps it a secret.

In addition, Celine had given Nicolas all of her wealth, the result of her hard work as a model. At that time, Nicolas' company was in trouble and was about to go out of business. 

Celine sold her mansion, car, jewelry, and all her valuables to help Nicolas' company. 

Nicolas looked sarcastically at Celine, "Yes, Celine, I still remember! But your sacrifice was nothing!"

Maria and Ruby chuckled as if laughing at Celine. 

"You're starting to count, Celine. Nico and I will reimburse you for all the money you gave to our company if you feel like you lost out on helping Nico!" Maria continued sarcastically. 

Celine was really disappointed and desperate. Everything she had sacrificed, everything she had done for Nicolas, had been in vain. Even her mother-in-law accused her of being calculating. How outrageous! 

"But you take it easy, Celine. I won't kick you out of this house," Nico said, making Maria and Ruby object to Nico's decision. 

"Nico, what's wrong with you, huh? If you're going to marry Ruby, why don't you just kick Celine out? Such a useless wife," Maria said with annoyance, even ruffling her waist. 

Nico sighed, then he looked at his mother, "Mom, if I kick Celine out, who will be the maid in this house? Aren't there enough free maids?" Nico replied in a casual tone.

"Free from where, Nico? We feed that woman, give her a ride, and even give her money every month!" cut in Maria loudly. 

Celine heard Nicolas and Maria's words, feeling completely humiliated. However, she tried to be strong and hold back her tears that were about to fall.

"Mom, just let Celine stay with us. After all, she's already a part of this family," Ruby said with a cynical smile, trying to defuse the situation.

Nico smiled at Ruby, then kissed his wife's lips in front of Celine, making Celine jealous. 

"Yes, ma'am, what Ruby said is true, Celine is like family. Besides, she's been with us for a long time, so she knows our habits," Nico added. "That's good, we have someone we can boss around." 

"If Nico kicks Celine out, where will she live? Poor thing, she'll become a poor woman and probably sleep under a bridge," Ruby continued.

Maria snorted in annoyance, but couldn't say anything else. She just stared intently at Celine who was still standing between Nico and Ruby.

Celine felt that gaze, but she still tried to be strong and stood with her head held high.

 "Never mind, mom. Just let Celine stay with us. It's true what Ruby said, if I divorce her, and kick her out. Where will she live? She is indeed a former model. But with her ugly appearance and her weight not being as ideal as it used to be, would any producer want to accept her as a model?!" Nicolas said while smiling sarcastically at Celine.

Celine could only stay silent listening to all the insults thrown at her by her husband, mother-in-law and her husband's lover. 

 "Celine, you shouldn't think too much about what mom says. You are still my wife and part of this family," Nico said as he patted Celine's shoulder. 

Celine felt like she had been slapped by Nico's words. She knew that Nico only considered her as a maid, not a wife. However, she could do nothing but endure the growing heartache.

"Celine!" called Maria, "Are you going to stay?" asked Maria sarcastically, she wanted Celine to leave Nicolas - her son.

Celine looked at Nicolas, then glanced sarcastically at Ruby, the beautiful woman who had been standing next to her husband. 

"I-"

"I what?" chased Maria. "Don't beat around the bush!" snapped Maria, impatient to know the decision of her useless daughter-in-law. 

"Of course I'm going to stand my ground."

"You really are a stupid woman, Celine!" said Maria sarcastically. 

Celine smiled slightly, thinking that the decision to stay with the husband who had betrayed her was the right decision. 

Celine has a strong reason why she must survive. 

Can Celine survive with a husband who no longer loves her?