Chapter 3: I was just a pawn in your game

"Mom!" I quickly brushed away my tears with the edge of my sleeve and turned to face her.

"Marissa, stop pretending. Let's be honest. I'm not your mother, and you're not my daughter-in-law!?! We’ve both been living a lie for too long.”

"B...I don't understand..."

"Marissa, no more excuses. You were only there because Renee wasn't. Accept it! His heart belongs to her, and he'll never leave her. In his eyes, she's the one who stood by him through everything. You need to understand that no matter what you do, his loyalty and love will always be with her."

"Can't you tell him how it really was?"

"Tell him what? That you're his wife? Absolutely not!" A mocking smile played on her lips.

"Be realistic, Marissa. You should be grateful you got to enjoy our family's wealth. You had the privilege of sleeping beside him while other girls only dreamed of it. You've lived a luxurious life. What more could you possibly want, dear?"

I closed my eyes and bowed my head in disappointment.

"So, that means you used me, right?" I said, a bitter, humorless chuckle escaping my lips.

“All this time, I was just a pawn in your game. You never cared about my feelings, my love for him. It was all about what I could do for you, wasn’t it?”

"So you knew the right thing!" Julia said, crossing her arms and narrowing her eyes.

"How about this? I'll pay you to make sure you're well taken care of. You can live comfortably, no strings attached. Think of it as compensation for everything you've been through."

My voice trembled as I spoke, "What if... what if I had gotten pregnant back then? What if we had a child together? What would you do in that situation?"

Julia leaned in, moving close to my ear, and whispered with a chilling intensity, "I would have killed him without a second thought."

My eyes widened in shock, but the devil woman nodded with a cold smile.

"That's right. Collin's heir can only be born from a woman who is exceptionally beautiful and exudes class, someone worthy of standing beside my handsome son. You, my dear, do not meet our standards. We have high expectations, girls."

With a sinking heart, I took a step back towards the wall, trying to muster a smile as my mother-in-law walked away. "Understood?"

I slowly slid down the wall until I found myself sitting on the corridor floor.

"What am I going to tell my babies?” I whispered, my arms resting on my knees and my hands cradling my head. I wanted to scream, to cry out with all my might. They had used me. Every single one of them had used me.

I was resolute in my decision to move my belongings out of the mansion, convinced it was no longer a safe haven for me and my unborn children.

For the past three years, I had enjoyed the comfort of traveling in luxury cars, but today, I found myself starting over from scratch.

As I stepped into the spacious bedroom I had shared with Tyler for the past three years, an eerie silence filled the room. Two housekeepers were busy tidying up, and I quickly noticed that these were not the familiar faces I saw every day.

Julia Collins had crossed a line by replacing all the household staff.

Staying in this house had become perilous. If Julia ever discovered my pregnancy, she might harm my unborn children.

"No, I can't let that happen," I thought to myself, just as I was interrupted.

"Here you are. Gather your things and get out. And please, make it quick," Renee commanded, her voice cold and unyielding. She dropped two large, empty suitcases onto the floor with a thud.

I glanced around the room, reminiscing about the incredible moments I had shared with my husband. This space had witnessed the most cherished memories of my life. I recalled the early days when he often struggled with despair, and I had promised to always support him through thick and thin.

"I'm sorry, Tyler, for not being able to keep my word. But our babies' lives are at risk, my love." I had to find the strength to protect my children.

I didn't have any proof of our wedding, nor did I have any witnesses. Whenever Tyler had visitors or colleagues over, Julia made sure I never got to meet them. It felt like Julia had a plan to keep me isolated, making it impossible for me to prove my relationship with Tyler.

We always stayed indoors because Tyler preferred the comfort and privacy of our home. Despite his frequent encouragement for me to go out and enjoy parties or shopping trips, I never left his side. I cherished our time together, finding solace in our shared moments, even if it meant missing out on social events.

During Tyler's birthday celebration, Julia ensured that the outdoor party remained confined to the mansion's private lounge. Only three people were present: me, my mother-in-law, and Melissa Bennett.

We even rarely had romantic dinners because Tyler found them pointless, and I wasn't interested either; I longed for the simple pleasure of his presence.

Packing was quick since I only needed to fill one suitcase. Renee stayed nearby, keeping a close watch on me the entire time.

"I apologize, but I cannot take any chances. Our most important assets must remain secure," she explained to me with a sly smile.

Once I finished, I grabbed my suitcase and began to descend the stairs.

My belongings were limited to just my clothes and important documents. I had to abandon my acting career to be with my husband around the clock.

After leaving the mansion and booking a cab, I suddenly remembered I had forgotten something important: my purse, which contained my pregnancy report. I hurried back, passing through the mansion lounge when I was interrupted by whispers.

"Finally, after three years, you can now see clearly," I heard Renee say with a smile as she approached Tyler. She spread her arms wide, hugged him tightly, and placed a kiss on his lips. "Welcome home."

But I had no choice but to rush and see what was happening. I burst into the room where Renee and Tyler were locked in a tight embrace. Tyler threw a careless glance in my direction.

"I'd like to have lunch with my wife," he said as the butler pulled out a chair for him.

"What's on the menu today?"

For the first time, I saw Renee looking visibly unsettled.

"I'll need to consult with the chef," she replied.

"Chef?" he asked, his brow furrowing in confusion. "You used to cook for me all the time. Why the change? Remember, you promised to make my favorite lasagna when I came home." He then reached out, gently clasping her hand in his.

"Never mind. Just stay with me."

I understood exactly what he meant; it was me, not Renee, who had made the promise. I remembered how he would sit in the kitchen, watching me cook his favorite meals. As I gazed at Tyler, I felt an overwhelming urge to slap him and reveal that everything had been a mistake.

He was making a grave error.

Renee glared at me, her voice sharp and accusatory. "What the hell are you staring at? And why are you still here? I thought you left. What brought you back?"

Trying to divert Tyler's attention to myself, I replied calmly, "I just came to pick up what I forgot and to say goodbye to Tyler."

"Marissa, I had hoped you could join us for lunch, but your recent behavior has been incredibly self-centered and stubborn. It's disappointing to see how you've changed. I think it's best if you don't stay here any longer."

He continued, still avoiding my eyes, "You need to learn to be independent. Stop focusing on my money and thinking you can take advantage of my disableness. I'm not blind anymore, Marissa. I see things clearly now, and I won't tolerate this behavior. It's time for you to move on and find your own way."