Rich Man's Wife

Lucia felt excruciating pain in the back of her head and a slight chill in her body from the wind and rain.

Rain? Lucia wondered in her mind why she had gotten rained on. Shouldn't she be in the old house in the forest?

After taking a deep breath, Lucia was sure she was not in the old house or trapped in the deep forest.

"Hey, are you okay?"

"Seeing this girl's condition, is she unconscious?"

"Why is this girl sleeping in the middle of the road?"

"Could she be drunk?"

"Hey, this is so dangerous. This girl doesn't value her life."

Lucia listened to the surrounding voices coming in quickly, then slowly opened her eyelids. Even though she looked unfocused, she could still see the surrounding people. She had been blind for so many years. How could she possibly see like this?

"Am I dreaming? I have to get up now." Thinking like that, Lucia regained consciousness.

After Lucia regained consciousness, she came home from the hospital. She was leaning on the bed, staring at the familiar room in her memory and squinting as the sunlight streamed through the window. After she couldn't see for a long time, Lucia realized that healthy eyes were gorgeous.

Lucia could not imagine herself waiting for sixteen springs, summers, autumns, and winters and for the chance to be born again. Moreover, she had returned to a time when it was not too late.

When she woke up in the hospital yesterday, she became convinced that this moment was not a dream, and she immediately cried for an hour and a half. The nurses thought she had body aches and immediately called the doctor for a re-examination.

While Lucia was feeling the joy of being able to see again, the bedroom door slowly opened from the outside. The girl turned her head and immediately felt a rage, as if someone had tightly strangled her neck, making it difficult for her to breathe.

"Lucia, are you okay?" Beata asked Lucia, her face looking worried.

Lucia looked blankly at the young woman before her, not answering the question.

"I got a call from my mom, who was going to England to catch up. When I heard that you were almost hit by a car and admitted to the hospital, I felt like I had a heart attack and rushed back early."

Beata strolled to Lucia's bed and sat down, observing Lucia's expression and then asking with interest, "How are you feeling now? Do you still feel pain?"

Lucia, who heard that, held back hatred and anger, then slowly shook her head.

"Good, as long as you are okay."

Beata sighed and continued, "Why are you being so careless? You almost got hit by a car on your birthday. Where's Cleon? Why didn't he accompany you?"

When Beata finished, Cleon pushed open the door and entered the room. He glanced at Beata first before looking at Lucia with a sullen expression.

"How old are you? How can you run around and lie like that in the middle of the road? I have things to do, so I can't be with you for a little while on your birthday. You should be able to withstand that temper."

"She just returned from the hospital and must still feel uncomfortable. Can't you have a nice talk with her?" said Beata.

Beata looked a little angry, looked at Cleon, and said again, "Didn't I tell you before I left the country that you should spend some time celebrating Lucia's birthday? Why do you have other businesses? If you were with her, Lucia wouldn't have experienced that."

"I wanted to celebrate my birthday with Lucia, but my grandfather suddenly called and said he was having a family gathering. Even my uncle didn't dare not to come, so I also had to attend. And I told her I'd give her more time the next day to celebrate. Who knew that Lucia would be so angry that she chose to lie in the middle of the road like that."

Cleon glanced at Lucia annoyedly, "Birthdays come every year. Not celebrating together just once is no big deal."

Seeing the slightly unpleasant condition, Beata looked at Lucia and said, "Lucia, since Cleon didn't mean to do that, don't be angry. I'm having a birthday in a few days. We can celebrate it together. How about it?"

"I'll throw a great party and invite your other friends." Cleon said as he looked at Lucia and added, "Are you happy?"

Lucia, who heard that, sneered inwardly, thinking that they had a good time when it came to lying. Their acting is like that of famous actors and actresses.

She didn't need to concentrate. Lucia could smell the same soap and shampoo from just breathing normally. The two must have come from the hotel together and pretended to enter his room separately.

"I'm tired and want to rest. You two can go and get on with your business." Lucia said weakly, pretending to look tired, and then lay down with her eyes closed.

Beata glanced at Cleon, stood up, and said, "Then get some rest. Tell me if you need anything, and I'll help."

After Beata finished speaking, she saw that Lucia seemed to have fallen asleep because she did not respond, and there was a steady sound of breathing. Beata glanced at Cleon again, and the two exited the room together.

Cleon did not go straight home but instead went to Lucia's room. After entering the room, Beata said with a guilty expression, "I grew up with Lucia. I know her character well. Her anger came and went quickly. Even though she was angry, she would feel good again soon. The quieter she was, the sadder Lucia was. We cannot do this kind of thing on her birthday. And since she wants to celebrate your birthday with you, you must fulfil her wish."

"I don't even want to be with her right now. Every time I eat with her, I only think of you. I love you right now, not Lucia. It's because of her that we can't be together openly. I think we've had enough to respect her feelings, and we no longer need to feel guilty about her. I will tell her to break up as soon as possible, then we can be together openly and be friends with her in the future." Said Cleon.

"I've tried to code for her many times, but she loves you and will not easily agree to break up." Holding her forehead, Beata said with little helplessness, "After all, we have wronged her from the start. We should try to minimize her anger."

"Hey, I just dated her, but I'm not married. Even if I'm married, I can get a divorce if there are no feelings at all. Now that I want to break up with her, can't we still break up even if she disagrees?" Cleon's voice sounded angry and frustrated.

"Don't you care about my feelings? And your feelings, too. Can't you be selfish and not think about other people all the time?" Cleon again.

"Of course, I care about your feelings, but now?"

Holding Cleon's left hand, Beata leaned her head on the man's shoulder and said, "This isn't the best time for you to break up with her. Wait a little longer."

"I can't wait any longer. I need to clarify my relationship with her as soon as possible." Cleon said with a firm expression.

"I don't want to hide with you anymore. I want everyone to know that I love you."

"But, even if you break up with Lucia now, we can't openly get together right away. Otherwise, with Lucia's temper, we don't know what she will do." Beata looked at Cleon with pleading eyes.

"Just for me, wait at least another year or two, then break up with her. When I'm about to graduate, we can announce our relationship. By then, her feelings for you must have disappeared, and she could accept that we were together so she wouldn't feel betrayed. Isn't that good for everyone?" said Beata.

After Cleon and Beata had looked at each other for a while, Cleon hugged her tightly and said in frustration, "You know how to torture me, and you know I would do anything for you."

"Thank you." Beata touched Cleon's face and kissed him.

After kissing for a while, the two began to undress each other.

Lucia closed her eyes and recalled what had happened in her previous life.

She fell in love with Cleon at first sight and aggressively pursued him. After meeting and interacting a few times, Cleon liked her, so the two immediately started dating.

Beata Black is the daughter of Lucia's stepmother and ex-husband. After Lucia's parents divorced, her father married Beata's mother. The two grew up together, and their relationship is quite good. While Lucia was dating Cleon, Beata met the man. But Lucia doesn't know that Beata is in love with Cleon too.

At first, because of Beata's kinship, she drifted away from Cleon. However, in the end, the woman could not control her feelings and then had an affair with Cleon.

Lucia Brown has a gentle and beautiful face but has a bad character and temperament. Beata wasn't as attractive as Lucia, but she was still pretty. However, fortunately, Beata has a good temper.

Beata is very good with words and able to understand the feelings of others. Cleon Franklin felt that they would make the perfect lover if Lucia's face and Beata's personality were combined.

At first, it was difficult for Cleon to choose between the two because each had its advantages. However, gradually, Cleon felt that he had fallen in love with Beata and thought they were destined to be together.

So, while Lucia and Beata are in their sophomore year of university, Cleon dumps Lucia. However, Lucia disagrees and tries various ways to get back together.

Cleon and Beata decided to be together openly then, and she overheard the conversation between her father and stepmother. She just found out that Cleon and Beata had been in a relationship for a long time. This emerging betrayal makes Lucia decide to stand against them.

Many things happened in the middle of it all, but the result was that Cleon had the heart to poison Lucia to cover up the mistakes Beata had set her up for. Moreover, after thinking she was dead, Cleon had his men throw her body into a ravine in the deep forest.

After being thrown into a ravine, Lucia did not die because a large tree saved her. However, because of the poison, she had to spend sixteen springs, summers, autumns, and winters alone, deaf, blind, and mute.

At that moment, it was as painful as struggling to live in hell. Only her hatred and anticipation for someone who had helped made Lucia not want to die just like that. Then, she got used to that kind of life and mastered how to survive. However, she lived like a female beast.

Since God had given her a chance to return, she would return all the pain she had been through all this time.

When Lucia got into the car, Emma looked at her in confusion.

"Didn't you say you would celebrate your birthday alone with Cleon? Why are you suddenly in the hospital? And what was the result of the examination? Nothing serious, right?" said Emma, Lucia's good friend.

"Start the car first; we can talk later," Lucia said while wearing her seat belt.

"Where do you want to go? Wanna go eat?" Emma asked.

"Just find a place to relax," Dean answered.

"Actually, what happened?" Emma asked while driving.

"Cleon didn't accompany me on my birthday yesterday. Then I drank until I was drunk and accidentally fell asleep in the middle of the road. Passersby thought that I was unconscious from a car crash. So they called the hospital and asked for an ambulance to pick me up. I'm not sick." Lucia explained.

"If Cleon doesn't want to accompany you on your birthday, call me. Why did you have to go drinking alone?" Emma said in annoyance.

"Cleon and Beata were having an affair behind my back," Lucia said calmly.

Emma looked with a surprised expression at Lucia and said, "Really? So you're drunk knowing what they're doing?"

Denna was silent and did not answer. Before she was born again, she was drunk because Cleon did not accompany her, not because she knew about the affair. According to the memories of her previous life, she only found out about the two people's affair three years later, when they casually and openly confessed in front of many people that they had been together.

"I feel like there is always something strange between them, but I am unsure, and it is hard to say." Emma growled, "Then what are you going to do now?"

Lucia replied, "On Beata's birthday, I'll give them an unforgettable gift in a few days. But there's still one thing that needs your help."

"What? Just say it."

"I'd like to borrow your family's villa in Fern Grotto Inn for a birthday party," Lucia said.

After thinking momentarily, Emma understood Lucia's point and replied, "I see. I will prepare everything for you."

"Emma."

Lucia stared ahead and said firmly, "From now on, I control my thoughts and decisions. I will live my way."

"Were you previously controlled by someone else?" Emma asked. The girl was confused by Lucia's words.

Lucia closed her eyes and recalled everything that had happened in her previous life. She used to be a foolish and pathetic girl.

After Lucia told Emma all the details of her plan, they went to eat. Next, Emma drove Lucia back to her house.

As Lucia was about to enter the house, Cleon's car arrived.

"Lucia."

Beata quickly approached Lucia from the car and asked, "Where have you been? Why not pick up the phone call? We've been looking for you everywhere."

Lucia adjusted her expression, then turned around and looked at Beata with a smile, "I went to eat with Emma. Have you eaten?"

"We,"

Beata glanced at Cleon, who was walking toward where they were talking. Then she added, "We went looking for you everywhere. So we haven't had time for dinner yet."

Lucia sneered inwardly. She could tell they had just eaten from the smell on Beata's body.

"What's wrong with you?"

Cleon looked at Lucia angrily and said, "Do you think it's fun to make other people worry? Do you want to drain everyone's attention on you and wait until something goes wrong? You'd be happy if no one cared about you anymore, wouldn't you?"

"Cleon, calm down." Said Beata.

The girl grabbed Cleon's hand, as was her habit when coaxing the man. Her actions took her aback, and she immediately let go of her grip. She glanced at Lucia and noticed that there was no change in Lucia's expression. Then, she pretended to defend Lucia.

"Can't you speak softly? You're very worried about her, but why are you showing it by pretending to be angry now? Can't you be more honest?"

"There's something I want to talk to you about. If you haven't eaten, let the chef cook something for you. We'll talk while you eat." Lucia turned and walked in.

"Come on."

Upon entering the house, Lucia asked the maid to tell the chef in the kitchen to cook Beata's favourite dish. They then sat in the dining room, waiting for the food and discussing the birthday party.

"When I went out to eat with Emma earlier, she discovered we were having a birthday party. And she said he would lend her family's villa in Fern Grotto Inn." Lucia said calmly.

"Is that true?" Beata, surprised, smiled and said, "Looks like he thinks of you as a friend, to the point of being willing to lend Fern Grotto Inn villa for a birthday party."

"My family has villas in the mountains, beaches, and even private islands, some of which are in Atherton. Or we could celebrate at my family's hotel. No need to borrow their Fern Grotto Inn villa for a birthday party." Said Cleon.

Beata had visited the villa in the Fern Grotto Inn area owned by the Emma family with Lucia before. She liked the villa and had wanted to borrow it for a few days for inspiration. However, Emma immediately rejected it because someone else could not borrow the villa. The reason Emma did not lend was that she did not like Beata. However, for Lucia's sake, she never said it.

Beata, who had been rejected several times, was disappointed and told Cleon about it. Cleon felt Emma was very arrogant. It was just a small villa for Cleon, but she refused to lend it, even if only for a few days. Because of that, he began to hate Emma Jones.

One will crave what one cannot get. In Lucia's previous life, Beata was obsessed with the Jones family's Fern Grotto Inn villa. Cleon then finds various devious ways to get the villa for Beata's sake.

Lucia would not allow the same thing to happen in her current life.

"Parties can indeed be held anywhere, but this is a birthday present from Emma. She had excellent intentions, so I couldn't possibly refuse her. And I think Beata likes the villa, so I casually accepted it." Lucia said.

The girl then looked at Beata and said, "Since we're going to celebrate a birthday together, it would be best to do it in a place we both like. What do you think?"

Beata nodded in agreement and said, "You're right. Since rejecting Emma's kindness doesn't feel good, we celebrate at the Jones family's villa."

Cleon saw that Beata was eager to celebrate her birthday at the Jones' Fern Grotto Inn villa. So he didn't say anything else.

After the food was served, Lucia said with concern, "You must be hungry. Let's eat. Sorry, I didn't realize that the cell phone battery was running out, so that made you look for me everywhere. So eat a lot."

Lucia continued to get food for the two people in front of her while discussing the preparations for the birthday party. Cleon and Beata were full, but they had to pretend they hadn't eaten because they had to find Lucia. So they can only force themselves to eat.

After Cleon returned, Beata reasoned that she was tired and rested in her room. Her stomach felt so uncomfortable that she had to take medicine for digestion.

Lucia looked at the food on the almost-gone table and sneered. She immediately got up and went to her room to clean himself.

A few days later, on Beata's birthday, she received a call from Emma very early in the morning. She informed me that everything was ready and waiting for them to come.

Lucia and Beata would celebrate a birthday together this time, so apart from their friends, Cleon invited some of his friends to come.

Many luxury cars have been parked in the Jones family's Fern Grotto Inn villa parking area.

As soon as Lucia entered the villa, Emma took them to a place prepared for a birthday celebration.

"Thank you for your hard work, Emma," Beata said with a smile.

"You're welcome. This is a birthday present from me for you and Lucia. But let me tell you something: I didn't prepare any other gifts." Emma said jokingly.

"This is better than any gift," Beata answered, feeling touched.

"Come on, I'll take you to the room upstairs."

Once on the top floor, Emma opened the room door, "From this room, we can see at least half of the night view in New York. We can see the moon and stars while bathing or lying at night. You can see this glass from the inside but can't see what's inside from the outside. So, you can do anything, even if you want to sleep naked. But there is only one room like this. So, which of you will be sleeping here tonight?"

Lucia looked around the room, then at Beata, and said in a tone of love, sounding a little sad.

"Even though it's a birthday celebration for both of us, it's your birthday. So, I'll let you stay in this room."

"Is that true?"

Beata suppressed the joy in her heart and said, "If you want to stay here, you don't have to leave it to me."

"Isn't this just a glass room? Why do you have to let it go?" Cleon folded his arms and looked at Beata from the front door.

"Since Lucia has asked you to stay, so stay here. There's no need for small talk between the two of you."

Cleon saw that Beata wanted to occupy this room. So he acted like he was Lucia and let Beata occupy her.

He doesn't know what's so good about this room. The places in his house were more excellent than the room. Although he doesn't understand the artistic value and natural beauty that Beata always talks about, because Beata wants to live in it, Cleon must find a way to make her stay.

"Then I won't spare you any more." Beata's eyes shone with joy. She walked towards the glass wall to see the scenery outside.

Lucia and Emma quickly exchanged glances.

When the friends who attended the second birthday party arrived, they congratulated Lucia and Emma and gave them birthday gifts.

"Happy birthday."

"Happy birthday, this is a present for you. Hope you like it."

"Thank you." Lucia and Beata smiled and thanked them, then took the gift and put it away.

"Your relationship is so good, you even celebrate birthdays together."

"Yeah, my relationship with my sister isn't as good as yours."

"Lucia, who is willing to make my birthday a happy one together," Beata said with a smile.

"Feelings are reciprocal, and you know how I am. If others treat me well, then I will return double. Beata used to tell me that even if everyone left me, she would stand behind me and never do anything to betray me. I have to be nice to her for what he promised me." Lucia said.

Beata smiled, but the smile seemed guilty in her conscience.

Lucia's mother died shortly after her divorce from Brown's father, and soon Lucia's father married Beata's mother. Beata entered the Brown family when she was ten years old. Her life was tough before she was ten years old. Moreover, after arriving at the Browns, she lives a life she never imagined. Beata's mother told her that if Beata wanted to live like that forever, she had to please Lucia.

Lucia's mother was a strong woman, but Lucia's father was a man who could only be a burden. Even though Lucia's mother is busy with her career, she knows her husband is still in a relationship with his first love. She pretends she does not know how to give Lucia a complete family.

When Lucia was nine years old, her mother suddenly filed for divorce and handed over the management power of the company to a trusted confidant.

She transferred all of the property and shares in her name to Lucia and agreed to manage on her behalf with an investment company. So, Lucia will immediately be able to handle corporate affairs as she grows up. Moreover, a few months later, Lucia's mother passed away.

Maturity in this country is set at eighteen years old, and a person can get married at nineteen. Lucia is now nineteen years old and has long been in control of her finances, so everyone in Lucia's household depends on her. They all know about Beata's affair with Cleon, but they keep it a secret so they can still rely on Lucia and depend on her casually.

Faced with Lucia, Beata always felt less confident. Lucia was wealthy, and it was her own money. She is also prettier than her and surrounded by many friends.

Beata had humbled herself before Lucia, looking for an opportunity to join the girl's circle of friends and slowly become closer to them.

After all the guests arrived, Emma had the maid take out the cake, asked Lucia and Beata to make a wish, and then blew out the candles. Lucia lets Beata make her wish, saying she's made a wish on her birthday. In her mind, she thought that being reborn was the greatest wish that had come true.

"The first wish, may our family always be healthy and the second wish, I wish,"

Seeing Lucia, Beata said, "I hope Lucia will always be happy. Third wish,"

Beata did not say her wish out loud but hoped with her eyes closed that she would continue to love Cleon for the rest of her life.

Beata blew out the candles and continued smiling at her friends' sounds. Moreover, Cleon was now standing behind the others, leaning against the wall, watching Beata with gentle eyes full of love.

Everyone ate, drank, and chatted together. It was pretty late by dinner, so everyone decided to stay over. The villa was large, so twenty or thirty people could live there.

After waiting in the room for a while, Lucia received a call from Emma.

"Everyone is already in a trap. Should we start now?"

"Let's get started," said Lucia.

Beata and Lucia's friends and Cleon's friends had gone to bed, and suddenly, they were awakened by a knock on their respective bedroom doors. Those who were confused were then led outside to an upstairs room.

"Sorry to interrupt your rest," said Lucia with regret.

"But I prepared a present for Beata today and hoped to surprise her. I hope everyone can watch this scene together now so we can end it soon and everyone can go back to sleep. Please help."

After speaking, Lucia walked towards the wooden wall and counted, "Three, two, one!"

When Lucia's countdown ended, the walls in front suddenly burst open on both sides. Colourful puffs of smoke accompanied the sound of a dry ice machine.

In the conservatory, two people of different sexes embraced in bed and were startled by what was outside. They turned their heads and were dumbfounded, looking at Lucia with great shock. Lucia turned her back on them and looked at the others quietly, with no expression.

Lucia turned and walked towards them step by step. The others saw this scene and were utterly dumbfounded, speechless.

Lucia walked over to the bed, looked at them, and said, "Isn't this a great birthday present? Do you guys like it?"

"You did this on purpose?" Cleon looked at Lucia angrily.

"Yes, I did it purposefully, but for your good. Now you guys can be together openly." Lucia said mockingly.

"Lucia, listen to me. We don't want to hurt you. We want to find the right time to tell you. We don't want to hide it." Beata explained tearfully.

"So you think, if you guys find the right time to tell me you've been behind me all this time, you won't hurt me?" Lucia looked at Beata with disdain.

"I don't love you anymore and am free to be with anyone. What right do you have to blame us?" angry Cleon.

"At least it's much better than what Beata said. Even if a bastard acts like he's doing the right thing, at least he's acknowledging himself as a bastard."

Lucia clapped a few times, then added, "Actually, you've been with Beata behind my back for a long time. At first, you felt this sneaky feeling exhilarating, so you didn't want to say anything. Then you feel you love each other and want to be together openly. But you're having an affair and don't want to endure that bad reputation. You plan to break up with me first and then openly together. So that in the eyes of others, you have no reason to apologize to me, do you?"