Chapter 5 PAYBACK

Two days later, I had just come back from the hospital, tired. I had spent the whole day seeing patients. It was as if the whole of Northwale City had chosen the hospital where I worked for their consultations today. My throat was sore, and I was having a serious headache.

I barely managed to escape, and today was also my cousin's wedding. Luckily for me, the wedding would be held at night. I arrived home by 6 p.m. and had a quick bath. I changed and applied a little makeup. I was too exhausted for any glam.

As I came downstairs, everywhere was quiet. I sensed something was off. Since the arrival of Lillian and her daughter, the house has never been this eerily quiet. It's unlike them, but that's not my concern anymore.

I tripped over something and almost fell down. I turned back to see Lillian smiling, her leg outstretched.

"What the hell was that for?" I asked angrily.

"Oops, I didn't see you there."

I wanted to say something, but held myself back. "She's not worth it," I mumbled to myself as I straightened my clothes and was about to walk out of the house, when she ran to the door looking at me challengingly.

"What now, Lillian?"

"Do you know why Richard married you?"

"Nope, but you can tell me," I answered by crossing my arms.

"Because I chose you. You are just my replacement, and now it's time for you to give Richard back to me."

Her words cut deep into my heart. I had thought that Richard and I were in love back then, not knowing he was just marrying me to hide his affair with his sister-in-law.

"Why are you quiet? Say something," Lillian said, grabbing my arms.

I snatched my arms away from her. "Lillian, what are you talking about? I don't understand."

"You can play dumb all you want, but tell me, Fiona, who do you think Richard will choose? Me or you?"

I smiled innocently. "Don't tell me you are having a secret affair with my husband, your own brother-in-law? Oh no, was that the reason that led your husband to his early death?" I said to her, still smiling.

Lillian opened her mouth to say something, but the words refused to come out. "And about who or what Richard wants, I don't care anymore. So stay within your limits," I said, brushing past her as I walked out of the house.

Lillian's gaze followed me to the black car parked in the driveway. If looks could kill, she would have killed me already.

I entered the car and turned to Richard, who was looking handsome as always. He was dressed in a black designer suit. "Hope I didn't keep you waiting?"

"No, honey. You look beautiful," he said, reaching to touch me, but I pulled my hands away before he could reach me.

"Are you angry with me?" he asked as he drove off.

"No, I'm just tired from work."

"You work too hard, honey. I don't know why you insisted on working. You know I have the money to take care of you for the rest of our lives," Richard said sweetly.

I would have believed him if I was still the stupid and obedient Fiona who was kept in the dark. Now I know. "Can you drive faster?" I asked him. I was already irritated sitting in the same car with him.

"Honey, you know you can talk to me if you are worried about something?"

"I'm fine, just thinking of how to celebrate your birthday next weekend," I lied.

"Oh that, you don't have to stress yourself about that. Lillian will take care of the preparations since she's already living with us."

"Okay," I answered nonchalantly, looking out of the window.

He wanted to say something when his phone rang.

"Mr. Gates, your brother's wife is on a blind date." The voice of the person on the other end of the phone was calm but loud enough for me to hear.

Richard frowned. He was already fuming, but he tried to control himself.

"Send me the location right now," he said in an icy tone.

After hanging up, he turned to me with a look of worry on his face. "Honey, something important came up. I won't be able to attend your cousin's wedding."

"Something important?" I smiled. I did not want to bother asking when I already knew everything.

"Okay, I understand," I said calmly. "You can just stop me at the entrance."

The car finally slowed to a stop. Richard held my hand. "Can I at least get a kiss?"

I pulled my hand away as I slipped out of the car. "You are blocking the entrance. There are other cars behind you."

Richard looked stunned for a moment, like he was trying to process my sudden mood swing, but I remained calm with a smile plastered across my face.

"Alright, make sure you have a lovely time at the wedding, and send my blessings to the new couple," he said before driving off.

The wedding hall was filled to the brim. Everything was perfect. I watched as the bride and groom exchanged their vows. My mind flashed back to my own wedding with Richard. That day was the happiest day of my life, despite my parents' disapproval. It was just Richard's family and my cousin and a handful of my friends from the hospital.

After the wedding, my cousin offered to drop me home, but I refused. "Tonight is your first wedding night. You are supposed to be with your bride," I said, hugging him.

I took a taxi home, my shivering from the cold. The atmosphere at home felt unusually pleasant. It was as though I don't belong here anymore.

"Fiona, you are back?" Lillian greeted me with a big smile on her face, which was very unusual because she hardly smiled unless she was up to something.

I was sure that Richard had made it up to her. "This is my house, Lillian. Was I supposed to never return?"

She clearly wasn't done. She walked over to me, playing with a blue diamond necklace on her neck and a matching bracelet on her wrist.

There was the same diamond set Richard had promised to buy for me on our fifth anniversary. Now I realized why he never talked about it anymore. He had already given them to his beloved mistress.

"Richard said you have a good eye for jewelry. Take a good look. This set cost over two million dollars. Richard bought them for me. He said the blue diamonds are perfect for my eye color. Do you think they are worth it?"

"Yes, they match your eyes perfectly," I said, smiling. "And you forgot something: Richard and I are still legally married, so half of that two million dollars belongs to me." I said smugly. "It's from our joint account, and he took out the money without my permission."

"What do you mean the money came from your joint account? You are just a common doctor. The money belongs to Richard."

I nodded and brought out my phone. "Lillian, you have till midnight to wire back one million dollars to my account, or else I will have to report this theft to the Gates Matriarch and also inform the police."

"Check your phone. I have forwarded my account details to you, so do the needful before midnight. And also think carefully before accepting another gift from my husband."

Lillian's phone buzzed in her hand. Her face darkened as she read the content of the message. "You low-life bitch," she yelled at me angrily.

"Ah ah, you don't want me to add assault, do you?" I asked, waving a finger at her. I know there was no way Lillian would ever come up with a million dollars on her own, but I don't care. She has to pay back the money, or else she will face the consequences.

I went upstairs to my room, leaving the visibly angry Lillian still standing at the door. After a quick shower and napping for a few minutes, I went to my jewelry box and started picking out the most expensive jewelry sets. Alice had already found a buyer for me. Once I sell them off, I wouldn't have to worry about money for a while after my divorce.

My eyes fell on my wedding gown. Looking at it now only brings back painful memories. I packed the gown in a bag and called the maid to sell it off or throw it away.

As the maid was dragging the box downstairs, I followed closely behind her, scrolling through my phone. Richard walked in, and his eyes fell on the bag.

"Are you traveling somewhere?" Richard asked, confused.

"No, honey, I'm disposing of the wedding gown."

"What? Why are you disposing of the wedding gown?"

"Honey, I mistakenly poured wine on it, and there's a huge tear on it too. So keeping it is of no use to me now. It's useless."