Chapter 2, Trying to survive

Celine was sitting on the edge of the bed, looking at her wedding photo album with Nicolas. She still couldn't believe that it was the fifth anniversary of their marriage, and last night her husband had brought another woman into the house.

"I will try to survive for the sake of the child that has grown in my womb," Celine whispered, her eyes looking sad. Since last night, she had never stopped crying.

Then Celine heard the sound of footsteps. When she turned her head towards the door, she saw Ruby standing in the doorway. Ruby's smile looked mocking. 

"Celine, I want to talk," Ruby said sarcastically, the woman stepped closer to Celine. 

Celine closed her wedding photo album and stood up. Celine ventured to look at Ruby with her swollen eyes. "What's wrong, Ruby?" asked Celine trying to smile in front of the woman who became her husband's lover. 

Ruby scrunched up her waist, her smile looking sardonic. "I want you to move out of the main room. I will sleep in this room. This room is now mine!" 

"What?!" Celine's eyes were perfectly rounded, anger, annoyance, had merged. 

"You'd better sleep in the guest room! Because this room is mine!" Ruby repeated. 

Celine shook her head, still smiling to hide her annoyance.

"Sorry, Ruby, but I'm still Nicolas' wife. So, I'm not moving out of this room," Celine said. 

Ruby pushed Celine's body, but Celine tried to hold her weight so as not to fall. 

"Celine, you have to understand. Nicolas prefers me over you! Your status here is just a maid, nothing more! Soon, Nicolas will divorce you. So, you need to get out of the way now!" said Ruby.

"Hurry up, you're out of this room!" Ruby pulled Celine's guard roughly, but Celine immediately brushed off the woman's hand. 

"I will never move out of this room. I am still Nicolas' wife. And I still have the right to occupy this room. You'd better sleep in the guest room! What a cheap, shameless woman!" said Celine, refusing to budge. 

"You - " 

An angry Ruby ventured to slap Celine on one cheek. 

"You dare to fight me, Celine! I'm not a shameless woman! But you, Celine, you! It's clear Nicolas prefers me to you. You barren woman!" shouted Ruby, her voice booming. 

Nicolas appeared, having heard the commotion while he was in the guest room. 

"What's going on?" he asked. 

Ruby immediately grabbed Nicolas' arm, "I asked Celine nicely to move out of this room, Nico. But she refused. She slapped me and insulted me, darling," said Ruby. 

Nicolas looked at Celine with a sharp gaze. 

"Celine!" snapped Nicolas, "How dare you slap Ruby, my sweetheart, huh?" Nicolas slapped Celine's cheek in front of Ruby. For the first time Nicolas played his hand.

"Nico, you - " Celine shook her head, she was really surprised by Nicolas' attitude that changed 180 degrees. 

"You'd better move out. Let Ruby take this room." Nicolas tried to hold back his emotions this time. 

Celine took a deep breath. Her chest felt increasingly tight at the change in attitude of her husband who had dared to slap her. 

"Nico, I am your wife. How can you possibly ask me to leave our room?" Celine was about to grab one of Nicolas' hands, but was quickly brushed off by Nicolas making Ruby smile with satisfaction. 

Nicolas sighed and rubbed his face roughly. 

"Celine, I don't want to sleep with you anymore. I prefer to sleep with Ruby, she is more passionate and better at serving me," said Nicolas who began to compare Ruby to Celine. 

Celine looked up at Nicolas, searching for some compassion in his eyes. However, Nicolas' gaze became even more intense. 

Celine tried to hold back her tears. Ruby had only been living in this house for a night, Nicolas was already showing favoritism.

"Alright, I'll move in. But remember, I'm still your wife, Nico. I won't give up so easily," Celine said smiling. 

Nicolas nodded without looking at Celine.

With a heavy heart, Celine began to pack up her things with a heart full of hurt.

"You have to be strong, Celine," Celine whispered.

Ruby continued to watch from the door, with a triumphant smile on her face. 

"You know, Celine, it's not my fault. Nicolas chose me because you're not as beautiful as I am. You're not good at taking care of yourself, not even at serving your husband in bed. You heard it yourself, right? Nicolas would rather have sex with me than with you! Haha... what a barren woman!" Ruby was content to mock Celine. 

But this time, Celine chose to remain silent. She did not respond to Ruby's words. 

Ruby continued to smile sarcastically and soon turned to leave after Nicolas. 

Celine continued to pack her things, trying to hold back the tears that were about to spill. When everything was done, she walked out of the main room and headed for the guest room.

However, Celine bumped into Maria standing there with a sardonic look.

"Never mind, Celine, you should just give up. You leave this house. The more you stay, the more painful it will be!" said Maria, who still hoped that Celine would leave Nicolas' life. 

Celine ventured to look at Maria sternly. "I won't give up. I will survive no matter what happens."

Maria smiled mockingly. "We'll see how long you can hold out."

Maria was sure, Celine would definitely give up. 

Celine continued her steps to the guest room, trying to ignore Maria's sharp words. Arriving at the guest room, she sat on the edge of the bed, feeling a deep sense of exhaustion. 

Celine looked at herself in the reflection of the mirror, seeing her appearance that was no longer beautiful. 

How could Celine take care of herself? The monthly money given by Nicolas was always taken by Maria without Nicolas' knowledge. And Celine, chose to keep quiet. She never complained to her husband about the monthly money that was always taken away by her mother-in-law. 

"I won't give up," she whispered to herself. "I will fight for my rights as Nicolas' wife. I will stand up for my son." Celine stroked her stomach, which was still flat but already had a fetus growing and developing. 

For now, Celine would still keep her pregnancy a secret. 

***

Celine woke up earlier than usual. Even though her heart was hurting, she was still responsible for preparing breakfast for Wiliam's family. Assisted by the servants, she was busy in the kitchen as usual. 

Since entering the Wiliam Mansion, Celine had been like a maid. 

"Good morning, Miss Celine," greeted one of the servants with a friendly smile. 

Celine just smiled back at the servant while cutting the bread. 

Not long after, the sound of laughter came from the dining room. Celine knew it was Nicolas and Ruby. They came with Celine's father and mother-in-law, Mrs. Maria and Mr. Morgan. 

Nicolas was seen holding Ruby as they entered the dining room.

"Ruby, you look so beautiful this morning," Nicolas complimented her as he kissed one cheek. 

Ruby smiled sweetly, "Really, baby!" Ruby buried her face in Nicolas' chest, she looked very spoiled. 

Celine took a deep breath and brought a plate of toast to the dining table. "Good morning everyone," she greeted kindly. She was still acting casual as if nothing had happened to her. 

Mr. Morgan nodded as he sat on a chair, while Mrs. Maria looked at Celine with a cold gaze.

"Good morning, Celine," Nicolas said in a flat tone.

Nicolas looked at Celine and then back at Ruby. "Look, Ruby. Can you see why I turned away? You look more attractive than... " he said with a glance at Celine.

Ruby chuckled. "I understand, darling. She doesn't deserve to be your wife. She deserves to be a servant," Ruby said. 

Celine felt a pain in her heart at Nicolas' words, but she still tried to smile. For now, she would try to hold on for the sake of her baby. Celine didn't want her child to be born without a father. 

"Nico, what do you want for breakfast? Let me prepare it," Celine offered, still as sweet as ever. 

"Let Ruby prepare it. You don't have to serve me anymore," Nicolas refused. 

Madame Maria continued to watch Celine, giving her a sardonic look. The woman seemed to smile mockingly. 

"Celine, you really are shameless, aren't you? Nicolas clearly doesn't consider you his wife, but you still stay in this house," said Madame Maria. 

Celine tried to stay calm, she always smiled when responding to hurtful words, "I am still Nicolas' wife, ma'am, I will stay," Celine said. 

Nicolas raised an eyebrow and looked at Celine with a cold stare.

"Celine, soon you will no longer be my wife. I will immediately apply for divorce papers so that I can marry Ruby. But, you don't need to be afraid, I won't kick you out. So from now on, don't say that you are my wife," Nicolas said firmly. 

Ruby smiled sarcastically. "Listen, Celine. You should have realized your position by now. Nicolas' wife is now me, not you," Ruby added. 

"So... you're going to divorce me?!" asked Celine, still not accepting her husband's decision. 

"Yes, Celine. Maybe in a month," said Nicolas. 

"In a month? Nico, why don't you divorce him now, huh?!" protested Mrs. Maria. 

Mr. Morgan just listened to the heated debate this morning. He didn't interfere too much. The important thing was that Nicolas would divorce Celine. From the beginning, Mr. Morgan didn't really like Celine either.

"The most important thing is that Nico will divorce her, ma'am. Never mind... we should enjoy our breakfast," Nicolas said. 

Ruby was silent, she didn't really protest as sooner or later Nicolas would marry her. 

"Celine, if you have any shame and dignity left, you'd better get out of here," Mr. Morgan said without so much as a glance at Celine.