Chapter One, When Rei Met Greg: A Beautiful Disaster

Rei’s Point of View

I gazed into the mirror, puzzled by the unfamiliar reflection. Grace whistled, catching the attention of Alex, Chloe, and Sam nearby.

Grace had styled my hair in a sleek ponytail, added dangling silver earrings, and painted my nails red.

"Wow, you look stunning," Alex exclaimed admiringly.

"Behave yourself," Sam scolded, playfully hitting him on the head.

"Hold on, let's add something," Chloe suggested, grabbing a bold red lipstick and swiftly enhanced my lips. She then applied eyeliner and lush lashes with remarkable speed.

"Do you think this is okay? How do I look?" I inquired, glancing at the satin red dress hugging my figure and the striking black heels Grace had chosen for me.

"Rei, if we weren't friends, and I wasn't taken, I'd be all over you," Alex jokingly remarked, earning another playful smack from Sam. Despite her annoyance, I couldn't help but laugh at their banter.

We met during freshman week at Hillcrest University, where I enrolled despite not meeting the criteria for student aid. I was grateful for my parent’s help and understood the conditions of their co-signing the loan for my post-secondary studies. I live at home, focus on my studies, and get a part-time job. I could go out with friends, but only with permission.

I had secured permission to stay at my friends' shared apartment for the night. At nineteen, it felt odd to need permission, but I still resided at home while pursuing my university education with my parents' financial assistance. This was a significant step for me, a mix of excitement and apprehension.

Grace was our wild friend, and by her own admission, she was not the one to convince my parents to allow me out for a night. She was my best friend out of the group, though, always encouraging me to broaden my horizons and believe in myself. My parents reluctantly agreed to let me go out after meeting Chloe, Sam, and Alex, who quickly charmed them with their sports enthusiasm.

Alex took on the designated driver (DD) role as we enjoyed a lively evening. Chloe, Sam, Grace, and I indulged in shots, danced, and had a blast. It was my first time getting drunk, and my caring friends made sure I was okay while still letting me enjoy myself. As the night progressed, a slow song played, and to my astonishment, my single friends and I were invited to dance. That’s how I met Greg. He was a handsome stranger at the bar who didn’t take any liberties with me but did ask for my number later to call me the next day.

Greg called, and we went on a date following the customary meeting with my parents. He effortlessly charmed both my parents and me. We got engaged at Christmas and tied the knot before the school year ended. Soon after, I found out I was pregnant. Surprisingly, none of my friends attended the wedding, but since I had been spending all my time with Greg since our first date, I didn't notice their absence, to be honest. It's hard to admit, but I was caught up in the whirlwind of my first love and believed Greg's words, placing complete trust in my husband.

I never questioned his late study sessions with his classmates or his frequent absences from home. My original plan was to return to school after Shiloh was born to finish my degree, but I became pregnant soon after, before I had fully recovered from the delivery. The same pattern repeated with Onyx and then with Salem. My life revolved around caring for my young children and meeting my husband's needs. He didn't assist with childcare or household chores because, in his eyes, it was solely my responsibility. Despite marrying into a wealthy family and giving them three beautiful grandchildren, I always felt I fell short in their eyes.

One evening, my mother-in-law showed up with a lawyer, pretending to visit for tea with her daughter-in-law. The fact that she insisted on being called Mrs. Ravenscroft should have been a clue. Greg was about to complete his master’s degree, and I thought she was there to discuss his graduation celebration. To my surprise, I was handed divorce papers instead.

A more appropriate wife was discovered for Greg, one who matched his lifestyle and status. If I were to agree and discreetly end our marriage, a generous alimony would be provided. The stipulation was that neither I nor my children were to have any contact with my husband. It seemed his future bride was already pregnant and demanded a clean break from Greg's past life for their union to proceed. She also came from a wealthy background, and our presence would tarnish their family's reputation.

I was shocked and devastated. The news came out of nowhere for me. With one baby in my arms, another asleep in the playpen, and the third coloring by the side table, I gazed at my mother-in-law in disbelief. Greg and the kids had been my entire world during our four years together. I had distanced myself from my family and friends to dedicate myself fully as a mother and wife. However, it wasn't enough. At that moment, I realized I had been naive. I was merely a placeholder, meant to groom the young man and provide backup heirs if necessary, with a naive girl from an insignificant town that no one knew or cared about. I signed those papers and said goodbye to my former mother-in-law, who handed me a cheque for a substantial amount with the promise that monthly payments would ensue.

I waited for Greg to come home that night so I could ask him why. He seemed surprised that I was waiting for him. As he walked in, I noticed several hickeys on his neck and could smell another woman's perfume. When I questioned him about it, Greg looked at me as if I was being foolish.

"Rei, you're too vanilla for me. Pretending to be a family was fun, and you were easily convinced. But now I'm bored, and there's no excitement. You'll be taken care of financially until you remarry. This," he said, pointing to our home and me, "was never what I wanted. I'm satisfied with the direction my life is taking, and I wish you well, but I don't love you. If I'm being honest, I never did."

I slept in the spare bedroom that night, and in the morning, Greg was gone. All of his belongings were taken, and any evidence of us being a family had been removed from our home. There were no wedding pictures, no family photos, nothing. It was like he had never existed, and the last four years had been a dream.

After depositing the cheque and subsequent ones, I made every effort to start afresh. I sold my wedding ring and band to fund my return to school. The house was transferred to me, with all payments settled. A car was provided, and trust funds were set up for each child to access at eighteen. However, I overlooked the divorce agreement. When Greg's new child was born, all support payments ceased, except for a final lump sum. The Ravenscroft family lawyer sent a letter detailing the terms I had agreed to—a brutal reminder always to read the fine print.