Chapter 1 Drunk confession

"Kitty, I love you."

That was what my husband confessed when we were sharing a paasionate moment last night. Romantic, right? Except that my name isn't Kitty.

"Who is Kitty?" I asked him in his hazy state. My arms froze around his body.

He never called me that before.

Wesley hardly came home after our honeymoon, blaming it on work. Sometimes, I would see him once a month, but if I was lucky, twice.

Last night was one of those times when I tried to get some intimacy from him because, after our wedding night approximately a year and a half ago, he never initiated it.

I knew that booze could give people the courage to do or say things they wouldn't normally entertain, so when he pushed me onto our bed, I was beyond ecstasy.

As an orphan, my husband was my everything, and I gave him my all. My love, affection, assets, and everything that defines me. He accepted me at my darkest point in life, and I had sworn to love him my whole life.

I don't know if I was being insecure, but when the name slipped out of his mouth, I felt like a bucket of cold water had been poured over me, snapping me awake.

I tried to shake him awake, but the attempt was unsuccessful. Wesley mumbled something incoherent and drifted off to sleep.

Was he cheating on me? I couldn't control myself from thinking about the ugly possibility. Tears welled up in my eyes but he never knew in his sound sleep.

I couldn't sleep throughout last night, kept wondering where I went wrong, and knowing I probably looked like a mess the next morning, but he was well-dressed and good-looking after having his shower.

"Morning babe, sorry I was drunk last night. I got carried away by the success of the company these days."

It was clear that Wesley had forgotten everything he said last night, and the pain was too unbearable.

"Who is Kitty?" I asked, his gaze squinted, and guilt flashed in his eyes, but it was gone within a blink.

Wondering why I was so calm? Trust me, I have no idea, or maybe it was because I had no one. Not even a best friend. I am a very reserved person, so when I fell in love, I wanted it to be forever, and my partner became my everything after my parents died.

"Excuse me?" Wesley was the perfect gentleman, and for a moment, I would have thought I was insane or imagining things, but I heard it all clearly.

"You mentioned her name last night," I reminded him, wanting to scrub my body of all the bodily contracts I had with him, and the fact that most of them were initiated by me.

"I must be calling you my Kitty because you are so pure and sweet," he smiled at me, straightening his necktie.

Was that so? Because he was never like this before.

I felt stupid for not recording his words last night, but I'd be prepared next time.

If there was going to be a next time.

Since Wesley was rarely home, I put my insecurities aside for a moment and asked him what had been bothering me.

" Wesley, when will the mansion be done? We can't live with your parents and siblings forever."

This was the fourth time I raised this concern. My in-laws have been a thorn in my flesh ever since moving into our matrimonial home. It was just a month after we got married, and they had never left since then.

Wesley always turned a blind eye, but I hoped his response would be different from the last time, but sadly, it was the same old story.

"Babe, the mansion will be ready soon, so we shall just move out and leave them here alone. You don't have to worry." He leaned in for a kiss, but I turned my head to the side before his lips met my cheek.

There was a look of surprise in his eyes because this was the first time I rejected any form of closeness with him, but I was too revolted to allow him close to me and couldn't care, especially when his explanations about Kitty felt weird.

"Then get me some domestic workers. I'm so tired every day."

I didn't mind before, but now, I needed the time to investigate what I found out last night without making him suspicious.

"You don't like managing the company, so what else will keep you busy if we get domestic workers? Look, I'm running late already. Don't worry about breakfast."

Wesley rushed out of the room as if he was being chased, and I sat back to wallow in my melancholy.

This was not the life I chose, but this is what life gave me after my dream and career was destroyed by a scandal. I was set up and my reputation was completely destroyed.

For the better of the family, I became a housewife, leaving my husband Wesley to run the company.

I went to the kitchen to make some food and was instantly depressed. His father was watching TV so early in the morning, and his mother was painting her nails. I don't remember the last time a young woman like me had a manicure.

I was just twenty-six, and as they lazed about, I was left to do the chores alone. We were rich enough to afford help, but Wesley said it would keep me busy. I didn't mind before, but now, I seem to be waking up from sleep.

"You are getting lazy Molly. My son is working so hard everyday so you can stay at home yet he can't even have his breakfast." Wesley's mother gloated, and I began to see clearly what I had become to them. A maid.

I had wanted to make them happy and welcomed at home in the past that I did not realize how I had been taken for granted.

"You guys were already up, why didn't you help me with the breakfast? You weren't occupied after all.." I tied my apron and said back to Wesley's mom. My patience already ran out.

"How rude!? Is this the way you talk to your in-laws? We are your guests and you are the hostess! How could you ask your guest to cook for you?" She screamed, clearly surprised by my attitude. I never talked back to them before.

"A guest only stays for a few days, not months," I pointed out calmly.

When we just got married, things weren't like this. Wesley told me he was going to love me and protect me with his whole life. His parents also welcomed me with warm hugs. Looking back now, they might have only welcomed my money. Now that they got the inheritance and company, they started to see me as a burden.

"My son works his a.ss off to make the company run and feed the whole family so you don't need to work. Yet see what his ungrateful wife has been saying to his parents!"

"The life you live now is because of my parents' inheritance. Mind you, the company your son is running is also my parents', and legally speaking it belongs to me!" I was fuming when I said it out.

Thinking of my parents, tears stung the corner of my eyes, but I won't let them fall. After marriage, I signed over my inheritance to Wesley because I trusted that him could take care of them. But now it seems to be a huge mistake and insult to my parents

I stormed out of living room, ignoring their further insults behind me. I needed a plan to take back what belonged to me and my parents. I needed to take control of my life again. And to do that, I need to take an investigation on Wesley and that "Kitty" woman.

...

Only a few days later though, I received a message from Wesley, inviting me to visit the new mansion.

I was surprised, not only because I wasn't aware it was ready this soon, but also what we just went through earlier. Maybe he wanted to use this chance to make an apology.

I wasn't going to let things go easily this time. Arriving at the mansion though, I was truly astonished. The elegance of the mansion was enviable. It had everything I dreamed of.

"That's Mrs. Thompson, Mr. Thompson's wife. She's so lucky to have a husband like him. He really spoils her, doesn't he?"

I heard a woman say and glanced briefly in her direction. Wesley had said he was having a party and ribbon-cutting to welcome me to the house, but only his friends attended because I had no one.

"Sorry, I'm late. Do you like it?" He leaned in for a kiss, but I wasn't fast enough to dodge it, and it landed on my cheek.

"I haven't seen the inside, but yes," was my honest reply, which got him excited.

"Great." His hand rested at the small of my back, but unfortunately, there were too many eyes on us, and I couldn't pull away, even as I felt my skin crawl from his touch.

The touch I used to long for was now a thing of disgust to me. Walking together, everyone would think we were a loving couple, but it had been far from that.

We opened the door, but that was when my knees felt weak. The color drained from Wesley's face as well, but everything was made clear. My heart was completely shattered, and I could not take it anymore.

"Daddy, daddy!"