The Good Wife's Enemy

"Mrs. Walton..."

Margot Walton lifted her gaze to face the doctor with anticipation in her hazel eyes. She held her breath and waited for the next thing he'd say.

"I'm sorry. You have cancer. I'm afraid you only have six months left to live."

The doctor's voice rang through Margot's head like an annoying bell that wouldn't stop. Her breath hitched for a second before her heartbeat turned erratic.

Margot's body turned cold and her vision became blurry as she had a quick recollection of her past flashing through her mind. The warm droplets of tears fell on her hands clenched on her lap. It was the last thing she expected after coming back to the hospital for her lab test results.

"Hold on. Are you saying I'm not pregnant and I only have a few months to live?" The shock was written all over her face. She didn't expect to die so soon. All along, she thought she was pregnant and the reason why she willingly did the test was to make sure it wasn't just a false alarm like what happened in the past.

Thinking back, she wondered why the doctor advised her to do many tests. She had no idea it was because of this.

"But why?" Margot's voice cracked as she tried her best to pull herself together. She was so excited a few moments ago and now she felt like throwing herself in the water and forgetting everything she heard so far. Perhaps she was so desperate to become a mother that she started to think she was pregnant after a few similar symptoms appeared.

She had been very careful of herself and made sure to keep healthy. Having cancer was something that hadn't crossed her mind.

"The cancer cells already spread in your body. I can't guarantee you'll live any longer than six months. I suggest you let your loved ones know about this as soon as possible. We could try doing a surgery but it will depend on your current condition. We'll have to run another test to make sure your body can handle it. Most importantly, you'll have to prepare for the worst, Mrs. Walton."

Margot refused to listen to the doctor's words after the first line. She could only hear the rapid beating of her heart, knowing it could stop anytime soon.

"Tell me this isn't real. I don't want to die yet..." A tear fell from her eye as she finally processed everything. She kept pinching her thigh as she sat quietly, and the pain felt real. Margot already knew she'd get bruises from it, and it was enough to convince her that she wasn't dreaming at all.

The doctor shook his head slowly, showing sympathy to one of the few patients he diagnosed with the worst case throughout his career so far.

"I'm so sorry, Mrs. Walton."

The doctor's diagnosis kept playing in repeat inside Margot's head.

She took a deep breath as she walked out of the hospital building, clutching her aching chest. Her knees were about to give up, but her mind kept telling her to move. As she reached the parking lot, her eyes focused on the car waiting for her.

Wiping off her tears, Margot got inside the car and settled down in front of the wheel. She buckled up and stared outside, only to end up sobbing seconds later.

Margot was pouring all her grievances through tears when her phone rang. She grabbed her device and checked the caller. Her expression changed when she saw her stepmother's name flashing on the screen-Linda.

"Mom?" Her voice came out as a whisper when she answered.

Linda wasn't her biological mother, but she raised her like her own. She married Margot's father five years later after his first wife died. Margot was thankful to have her around while growing up and Linda was so sweet she couldn't wish for anybody else to mother her.

After learning about her condition from the doctor, she decided to keep it to herself. Margot was more worried about Harry, her husband, once he found out she was dying. She imagined her parents would have died earlier from shock if they had known, too. Thus, her decision to live to the fullest within her remaining time was not just all for herself but also for everyone she loved.

"Sweetheart, what's wrong? You sounded stressed. Was it about tonight's family dinner? Come on, I'll handle it!"

Margot sighed. Today was her 3rd wedding anniversary with Harry. She chose the same day to come and get her results to make sure she was pregnant so she could announce it over family dinner. Who would have thought the news she got was not something anyone wanted to hear... Unless someone in the family wanted her dead.

"It's nothing, Mom. Why did you call?" She asked, taking out her lipstick from the bag and pulling sheets of tissue to wipe the traces of tears in her eyes and face. "Oh, will Dad join us tonight?" Margot added while checking her face on the hand mirror she got with her.

"Yeah. I kept reminding him since last month. He'll be there, sweetie." Her stepmother sounded ecstatic, causing Margot to smile. "It's a family celebration, so he shouldn't miss it," Linda added.

How could Margot tell her that she would cease to exist in less than a year? She could never. Margot knew it would break Linda's heart.

"Well, I want to make sure you're going to wear the dress I gifted you on your birthday last week. I specifically had it tailored for this day," Linda continued.

"Oh. The white dress. Okay," Margot replied. "I was wondering where I could use it, so thanks for telling me," she continued with a smile.

"Alrighty! See you tonight, sweetie."

Margot giggled when she heard Linda smacked her lips several times.

"See you," she said and hung up.

After a phone call from Linda, Margot felt better. She almost forgot her predicament until she parked the car in the garage and walked inside the house. That was when remembered something important. Harry knew she was going to the hospital, and she had no idea what to tell him if he asked about it.

"Honey, I'm home."

Margot closed the door behind her and looked around. She checked the time on her watch to make sure.

"He should be home by now," she mumbled as she removed her coat and headed upstairs.

Margot believed Harry would be there to cheer her up, no matter what she was going through. He wouldn't have to ask why she was feeling down and instead listen to everything she'd say while doing his best to comfort her. It was something she had always been grateful for to her ever-loving husband.

... Or so she thought.

Margot halted in front of their bedroom door. Her mind may be filled with worries about her impending death, but her senses still worked just fine. She easily recognized what sounds were coming out of the room.

Moans and groans could be heard from the other side of the door. It was so familiar she could already guess what was happening. It wasn't like she was born the other day and knew nothing about what people could be doing to make sounds like that.

"Oh! It's so tight!" It was Harry's voice.

"Wait a second. I'm coming!" A woman's voice screamed.

Margot covered her mouth in disbelief when her brain convinced her that what she was thinking wasn't just an assumption. Besides, she couldn't think of anything else to explain why her husband was saying those things as he groaned at another woman. At the back of her head, Margot was hoping she misheard everything, and it was only because her mind was a mess.

'Why?' she kept asking herself. Margot served Harry her best. She was a good wife and Harry should know it more than anyone else. If there was one thing she regretted was that she hadn't been pregnant yet.

Margot was aware of how much Harry wanted to be a father.

Another minute passed until the noises stopped, ending with Harry's scream in euphoria without knowing his wife was listening.

With her shaking legs, Margot quietly went down the stairs, and walked outside the door to their entrance. She took a couple of deep breaths while staring at the sky. After calming down her nerves from anger and disappointment, Margot opened the door again with a smile.

"Honey! I'm back!" She called rather loudly, making sure Harry and whoever his other woman would hear.

Margot scoffed when Harry didn't come down, eventually. She went to the kitchen and poured herself a glass of water to chill her once again agitated head. She was in the middle of chugging down her drink when her husband hurried to where she was.

Harry was wearing boxer shorts and a sleeveless shirt, revealing his arms, legs, and half of his thighs.

Margot's eyebrow raised as she waited for the other person to show herself. She couldn't wait to see who it was and what she was wearing after getting dressed in a hurry since she called.

"Hey, sweetie. I came to bring a pair of shoes that match the dress you'll be wearing tonight," Linda said as she walked into the kitchen, smiling at her stepdaughter. She was sweating heavily and her mascara was slightly messed up.

Margot's eyes widened as she choked on the water. She felt a sharp pain when her drink came through the wrong pipe.

"No way!" She blurted out, glaring.

Margot clenched her fist while facing her husband and Linda. She felt her head spinning as her blood pressure rose.

"Honey, are you alright?" Harry rushed to her side to help her, only for Margot to brush him away.

"Don't touch me," she mumbled while glowering at him. Margot still couldn't believe Harry was cheating on her and, of all people, it was with Linda, her stepmother.

'Does he always prefer older women?' Margot couldn't help but wonder.

"You don't look good, sweetheart. Are you sure you're feeling okay? I noticed earlier in the call you didn't sound fine, too," Linda muttered. She looked at Margot with concern painted on her face.

Contrary to Margot's usual response, Linda's kind voice irritated her.

"Is that true? You got to tell me if you're sick, Hon." Harry attempted to touch his wife to feel her forehead until Margot dropped the glass she was holding.

The shattering sound filled the kitchen, leaving everyone dumbfounded and confused except for Margot.

"I told you not to touch me," she warned before marching out of the kitchen. Margot desperately tried to hold back the tears that threatened to fall from her eyes. She just wouldn't let the people who betrayed her enjoy the sight of her pain.

"This is crazy," she whispered after locking herself in the study. As much as she wanted to jump in bed and cry, Margot couldn't help thinking that Harry cheated on her in the same room and probably the same bed they had been sharing for three years now.

"Honey, is something wrong? Did the doctor say something that upsets you?" Harry asked and began knocking on the door.

It was when Margot remembered what the doctor told her. She only had six months left, and she certainly didn't want those who hurt her to do as they wished while she was dying.

Swallowing the lump in her throat, Margot made up her mind. She walked to the door and opened it. She let her tears fall in front of the man whom she had given her everything but cheated.

"Honey, come here." Harry opened his arms and hugged his wife. Visible creases on his forehead formed when Margot pushed him away and cried even harder.

"I... I can't stop crying," she said and laughed despite the tears streaming down her face.

"It's okay, hon. I don't know why you're acting like this, but everything will be okay," Harry whispered and hugged her again.

Margot wrapped her arms around him to hug him back tightly. "Yes, everything will be okay," she mumbled as her gaze turned cold toward the woman whom she called 'Mom'.

"So, what happened? Was it negative, again?" Harry asked to confirm his guess after comforting Margot. "It's okay, Honey. Maybe it's not the time for us to have a baby yet," he added and kissed her on the forehead.

'Ah. He was talking about the result of my supposed pregnancy test,' Margot thought and went with the flow.

"Right. It's negative," she responded and looked away. She wasn't entirely lying, but it was the first time she hid something from her husband.

Margot used to tell everything to Harry. But that changed after what she discovered.

"Shh. It's okay. We can always try again," Harry mumbled and hugged his wife again. "For now, let's focus on something else. You didn't forget what day it is today, did you?"

Margot bobbed her head as she stepped away from him. "Yeah. How could I forget?" she replied with a small mocking smile on her pretty face.

"Yeah. It's our anniversary! I know you'll always remember this special day," Harry said, smiling back.

"Well. I'm glad everything seems to be fine now. Sweetie, how about I help you get changed? I want to make sure you're wearing the dress comfortably," Linda butted in with her hands clasped together.

It took Margot a few seconds to nod. "Okay," she muttered and grinned.

"Goodness! You're gorgeous, sweetheart. Now I know why Harry couldn't take his eyes off you," Linda complimented after helping Margot prepare.

"You think so?" Margot was smiling, but the crisp in her voice was too obvious for Linda to not notice.

Linda turned quiet and confused with her stepdaughter's sudden attitude toward her. Not long after, she went ahead on her own after refusing Harry's invitation to join them in the car.

Margot was glad her stepmother took the hint when she gave her a few glares while her husband asked. As much as she wanted to act like nothing happened, it was impossible for Margot, who was still boiling inside with rage.

After everything was set, the couple drove to one of Margot's family hotels, where the others were waiting to celebrate with them.

It had been the tradition to celebrate wedding anniversaries for every couple in the family. That would include the family members on both sides of the celebrating wife and husband.

It was a big deal for Margot, who always stayed at home since she got married. With her annual celebration of marriage with Harry, she could meet her parents and in-laws, and dine together.

If it wasn't for what she discovered, Margot would be the happiest among everyone else who came. But the timing of the unfortunate news slapped on her face was too accurate. She thought her marriage should end. All the excitement faded into thin air.

"You look gorgeous, Margot," Harry's mother, Emma Walton, greeted as soon as she saw the couple walking in. She stepped closer to her daughter-in-law, leaned her face forward, and slightly brushed her cheek against Margot's while popping a kiss in the air.

"Thank you," Margot said before turning to her father, who was talking with Linda.

"Hi, Dad. You don't look good," she said, reaching out for her father's face and feeling the emerging lines on it with the tip of her fingers. "You should take better care of yourself or Linda will find someone younger to replace you," she said, hinting at her father about his wife's affair.

Margot laughed when the elderly couple looked at her, dumbfounded. "Oh, I was just joking. Of course, Linda shouldn't be so shameless about cheating on you after what you did for her," she added and shrugged.

"Margot, that's rude of you to say. Linda's been good to you," Ryan Vanders scolded his daughter.

"Yeah? I said it was a joke," Margot retorted. "You aren't offended, are you, Linda?"

Linda's face went pale. She seemed to have something to say but chose not to. "Nah. It's a joke," she replied and forced a smile.

"Excuse me," the hotel manager said as he approached Ryan. "Everything's all set. Please allow me to lead you the way," he continued.

Everybody followed the hotel manager, leading them to the function room where they would have dinner together while enjoying the entertainment the hotel had prepared.

"Isn't this nice?" Harry whispered to Margot's ear as he pulled a seat for her.

Margot shrugged in response as she watched everyone settle down in their seats.

"Congratulations on your third year of loving marriage," Ryan spoke to begin their traditional dinner celebration. "Let's give a toast to this lovely couple," he added and raised his glass of wine, which everybody followed except for one, Margot.

As the sole daughter of the prestigious Vanders family, Margot always got what she wanted. The only problem was that she had nothing much she wanted to have. She grew up like a princess but an altruist. Margot was a well-dressed and well-fed submissive.

She didn't complain even once after she married and ended up as a full-time housewife instead of working in her father's company-that role hers was taken by Harry who always told her it would be better if she became a good wife to every man wished for, and she obeyed...

"Honey, what are you doing?" Harry asked while waiting for his wife to join them in a toast.

... Everybody thought Margot was born selfless to serve others, but behind her angelic face and submissive nature lies a darker side nobody ever noticed until date.

"Well, I have something else to say before we continue," Margot answered. Her voice was calm and her face as she dropped the bomb.

"I want a divorce," Margot demanded.

The room fell into silence after what Margot said. The latter raised her glass with a smile, urging everyone to make a toast.

"Here's to the end of my marriage of three years. Cheers!" she exclaimed and gulped down her wine.

"Fantastic," Margot mumbled as she savored the rich flavor of the beverage with her eyes closed. When she opened her eyes again, everyone looked at her with a frown on their faces.

"What?" Margot played the game and joined in, wearing an innocent look on her seraphic-like face. "Why so quiet? Let's eat. The food will get cold," she added before picking up her fork to try the salad in front of her.

"Margot, what are you thinking? This is not a funny joke," Ryan said, looking solemnly at his daughter.

"That's how I felt when you said you'd marry Linda when I was five," Margot mumbled. "You married her anyway. Now, guess what I'll do next." She turned to her husband and smiled.

"I'm going to divorce Harry whether you like it or not," she continued.

"Woah! That's cool, Margot!"

Margot turned to Harry's sister, Rosaline, who clapped her hands to show her support.

"I would have liked you from the start if you were like this," Rosaline commented and laughed. She raised her glass toward Margot and drank until her mother pinched her side. "Aw! What, Mom? Margot must have a reason she wanted to divorce your son," she groaned.

"Well, you have a point." Emma turned to her son and asked, "Why is this happening, Harry? Did you do something?"

Harry turned to his mother helplessly. "I... I have no idea," he said, looking back at his wife, who was enjoying her food as if she didn't mention divorce a few moments ago.

"Honey, what's going on? Do you have any problem with me? We should talk about this first before you decide that," he told her, holding back his temper. With his father-in-law aka his boss around, Harry knew better than anyone that he should be careful of what he'd say.

"You're saying you have no idea why I'm doing this?" Margot's bitter tone almost froze the air in the room. She was calm on the outside, but the madness in her eyes was burning even more.

"Besides, I don't think I have to explain why I no longer want to have you in my life. I've done my part all this time, and you betrayed me. Do you not feel ashamed asking me for what you've done wrong just so you can play the victim in front of our family?" Margot scoffed and wiped the sides of her mouth.

She stood up from her seat and grabbed her pouch. Margot glanced briefly toward Linda and scoffed. "I lost my appetite, so I'm leaving first," she announced.

"Harry, let's talk again at home. I'll give you all the time you need to admit your wrongdoings, then I'll think about the divorce again," she added before walking behind her father's seat to whisper. "Dad, jokes are sometimes half-meant."

Ryan couldn't still understand why his darling daughter suddenly acted that way. "Margot, we're not done talking. You should let us hear the reason you wanted a divorce in the first place!"

Margot shook her head and shrugged. "I can't tonight, Dad. Maybe next time." She turned her heels away from the table and waved the back of her hand. "Enjoy the food," Margot said before exiting the function room.

A loud crash was heard as soon as Margot left. Ryan Vanders slammed the table and broke a few plates and glasses.

"What is the meaning of this, Harry Walton?" His eyes pierced through his son-in-law, the man his daughter fell in love with. He was against Harry in the first place, but Margot meant so much to him, so he ended up letting her have Harry, whom she claimed to be her soulmate. Mr. Vanders knew that Margot wouldn't say such a thing if the reason behind it was a simple misunderstanding.

"I don't know, Sir. We were fine before coming here. I have no idea why she suddenly wants to divorce," Harry responded, worried. He didn't like the idea of divorcing his wife, but most importantly, he didn't want to get on his father-in-law's wrong side.

"I don't care what you do, but make sure you keep this marriage intact. It's important to save face for the company's sake. Everyone knows you're my son-in-law, thus you're enjoying the benefits of it. What do you think those people would do if they heard that my daughter is leaving you? You're smart, so use that brain of yours to fix this mess," Mr. Vanders ordered.

"It's been three years since you married Margot. You should know by now how to pacify her," he added, before leaving his seat.

"Yes, sir." Harry stood up and bowed to his father-in-law. He clenched his fists as he waited for him to say anything else.

"Linda, we're going," Mr. Vanders told his wife and headed for the door, leaving the Waltons.

Meanwhile, Margot hurriedly left the door to hide in a corner when she realized her father was leaving. She pursed her lips in silence as she watched her dad leave the room with Linda following behind him. She thought he would take her side and scold Harry, but after listening to their conversation from the door, Margot realized she had nobody on her side but herself.

"This is ridiculous," Margot muttered, ignoring the metallic taste of blood in her mouth. She pursed her lip harder until it bled, but the pain was nothing compared to how she felt inside.

Fishing her phone from her pouch, Margot called her friend Judy. She was the last person she could turn to and while waiting for her to pick up, Margot wished Judy wasn't like the others.

"Hey! Look who's this? Wanna have some beer?" Judy asked almost immediately.

Margot couldn't help but smile while tearing up. Judy is her complete opposite, but they get along just fine. "Sure. Where?"

There was a brief silence from the other side of the line, making Margot frown.

"I'm serious. Text me the address," she said, sounding a little annoyed by Judy's sudden quietness.

"Hold on a sec," Judy said and hung up.

A few seconds later, Margot's phone rang. It was Judy.

"Hey, Mag. Someone was using your phone earlier and said she wants to join me with beer," Judy mumbled and laughed. "She must be kidding!"

"I'm not," Margot sobbed.

"Whoa! Wait! Okay, I'll send you the bar's address," Judy replied and sighed. "I can't believe the great Margot Vanders are going to drink beer tonight! Who made you cry, Mag?"

"Oh, please. It's nothing," Margot mumbled. "See you in a jiffy," she added before ending the call.

There was no way she would go home, knowing Harry would start asking her questions. Margot wanted to take a breather and the only solution she had in mind was to be away from him, even for a while, to think. The air suddenly felt suffocating with Harry around.

"Just wait, honey. I'll certainly give you a piece of my mind when I'm back," she whispered, planning how to confront her cheating husband. And the first step would be-to get drunk.

She needed a perfect excuse to hit him while yelling he deserved it without talking about how she found out his infidelity... After all, Margot's guts told her it wasn't the first time he did it.

... And she wasn't so kind anymore to let it go so easily.