A NEW WOMAN

A month had passed since Calla’s court wedding to Damian. On the outside, things seemed to be going smoothly. She was living in his luxurious home, attended to by maids, and her meals were always on time. The large house felt strangely comforting, though there was an eerie sense of emptiness that lingered. She never expected her life to be this way—married to a man who barely spoke to her or looked at her. But she had grown accustomed to it, finding solace in the small routine of her days. At least it was better than getting disdainful remarks every single minute she showed her face.

She started having a crush on him. She had tried to push her feelings aside remembering his words that she was just a repayment for a debt, but it wasn’t easy. Who could blame her? He was undeniably handsome, his sharp features set in a permanent cool expression, his presence commanding attention. She found herself drawn to him more than she cared to admit. But that attraction was beginning to evolve into something more complicated. She couldn’t help it; she wanted his attention. She wanted to be seen by him. And deep down, she had been nursing the small, foolish hope that one day, he might look at her and see more than the contract bride she had become.

That day, she decided she couldn’t keep it in any longer. She had to say something, even if she wasn’t sure what it was. She couldn’t stay that way forever, feeling like an outsider in her own home.

When she saw him sitting in the living room, absorbed in whatever work he was doing, she took a deep breath and walked towards him. Her heart pounded in her chest as she approached him, her palms suddenly sweaty. She stood before him, hesitated for a moment, then finally spoke, her voice shaky.

“Damian, I… I need to say something.”

He looked up at her, his piercing gaze making her nervous. His eyes softened for a fraction of a second as he set aside the papers he had been looking at, but that was enough to send a flutter through her chest.

“What is it, Calla?”

Before she could answer, a voice interrupted, calling his name. "Damian!" It was a woman’s voice, sweet and lovely.

Calla turned toward the door, and there she was. The woman. She was stunning. Everything about her screamed wealth and grace—the way she carried herself, the designer dress she wore, the way her smile lit up the room. She looked… untouchable. Like someone who had never known hardship.

Damian stood up at once, and for the first time in a month, Calla saw him smile—a smile that was genuine, warm, and full of affection. The sight made Calla’s stomach twist with a sudden rush of jealousy.

“Lily,” Damian said, his voice laced with warmth. He stepped forward, and they embraced, their bodies fitting together effortlessly, as though they had done this a thousand times before. Calla stood frozen in place, her breath catching in her throat. She felt as if the floor had suddenly been ripped from beneath her. Who was this woman? What was their relationship? How could she just walk in like that? No knock, no announcement.

As they pulled apart from the hug, the woman looked at her with a bright smile, her eyes scanning Calla from head to toe. “I heard you got married. This must be your wife,” she said, her voice sweet but laced with something almost mocking. “She’s cute.”

Calla couldn’t find her voice. She felt small under the woman’s gaze, intimidated by her beauty and confidence. She barely managed a weak smile, too stunned to do anything else.

Lily then turned to Damian, “Did I interrupt something?”

Damian’s eyes flickered briefly to Calla before looking back at the woman. “You had something to say to me, Calla?” His voice was calm, but there was a hint of something colder beneath the surface.

Calla’s hands shook as she stuttered, “Can I… make you a drink?”

Damian nodded, his attention already back on Lily. “Make two, please. Orange juice for Lily.”

Lily squealed and hugged him again, delighted that he remembered her preference. Calla’s heart sank at the sight. She walked numbly to the kitchen, the weight of her thoughts pressing heavily against her chest. Who was this woman? How long had Damian known her? Had they been lovers before? The questions swirled in her mind like a whirlwind, but she focused on the task at hand, forcing herself to make the drinks.

As she made her way back into the living room, tray in hand, she saw them again—Damian and Lily, practically glued to each other. They were holding hands. It was as if Calla wasn’t even there. Her hands trembled, and she stumbled, the tray slipping from her grasp. The glasses shattered on the floor with a deafening crash.

Damian’s gaze snapped to her, and for the first time since they were married, he raised his voice. “Are you crazy? Are you trying to hurt someone here?”

He quickly moved toward Lily, lifting her into his arms with ease, making sure she wasn’t hurt. Calla watched in disbelief as Damian doted on the woman, his attention fully on her, completely ignoring Calla.

Lily made a cute face, reassuring him that she was fine, and Damian smiled down at her, clearly pleased by her reaction.

Then Damian turned to Calla, his expression hardening. “Get out of here. You’re so clumsy. You’ve done nothing in this house for the past month, and you can’t even hold a tray properly?”

The words hit her like a slap in the face. Her vision blurred with tears she couldn’t hold back. Heartbroken and humiliated, Calla turned and ran up to her room, the sound of Damian’s voice echoing in her mind. The door slammed shut behind her, and she slid down to the floor, her knees pulling up to her chest.

What had she expected? What had she been hoping for? A man who hadn’t spared her a second glance for an entire month, who had married her out of obligation? She had deluded herself into thinking there could be something more—something real. But now, she knew. Damian didn’t care for her. She was nothing more than a pawn, a repayment for a debt.

Her tears soaked her face as she curled up into herself, the ache in her heart growing stronger with every passing second. Her life would never change. This was her fate now.