The Yate Heiress

Annabel Charter moaned as Cole thrust deeply into her core. The feeling was like nothing in this world. She closed her eyes and let out a great moan of ecstasy. As his strokes intensified, she clung to him, creating an exhilarating experience for both.

When Cole groaned and started thrusting her harder and deeper, Annabel knew what was about to happen. She wrapped both arms around him in a firm grip. It's now or never. Cole noticed what she was about to do and pushed her away in a hurry, despite how engrossed he had been in their lovemaking.

Annabel watched as Cole spilled his seed on the floor. Tears welled in her eyes. This had been the way it always ended for the past five years. They had been married, yet his family blamed her for not producing his heir.

"What?" Cole implored. His hateful gaze glared at her.

"You thought I would release my seed in there? '' he said, pointing at her lower body part.

"If you ever think I would allow you to carry my child, then you must be dreaming. You know why I married you and that was because of Nana," he spat.

Annabel felt her heart tightening, and she clasped her chest and watched him spilling more hurtful words to her.

"There is only one woman who is worthy to give birth to my kids, and that is Charlotte, not you." His harsh words pierced her ears and sent her limbs trembling. Without feeling any remorse, he sauntered into the bathroom leaving her dejected and miserable.

Annabel felt a pang of pain in her delicate heart. She has done nothing but love him with all her heart. She has to abandon college just because of this marriage. If not, she was determined to make her life meaningful and enroll in online classes. She wouldn't have been a university graduate, but what did she get?

Humiliation and rejection.

She had allowed Cole to use her as a sex object because she had always prayed that one day he would drop his seed inside her and she would watch it grow into a beautiful bundle of joy, but that day never seemed to come even in their five years of marriage, he makes sure that he spilled his seeds on the floor, leaving her dejected and miserable

She had endured all the pain melted on her by the Yates family because she had no family to run to. However, that does not give Cole the right to throw these hurtful words at her face!

"Why do you always make love to me since you hate me this much?" she challenged him when he returned to the room.

"Did I hear you say lovemaking?" Cole mocked.

"Ha ha Ha ha Ha ha ha Annabel, you must have exalted yourself. I come close to your filthy body just to have pleasure."

"What!"

"Yes, Annabel. To quench my sexual thirst when Charlotte was not around. You are nothing but a miserable toy in my hands. Which I always picked up whenever I needed it." Cole's thick voice struck Annable's ear like thunder. It blasted into her poor heart and wracked it into pieces.

"You will get nothing from the Yates family, not even a child". He said and went to bed.

He turned his back on her and fell asleep, facing the wall. A solitary tear trickled down her cheeks as she watched him sleep peacefully without caring about her disturbed heart.

****

Two months later, Annabel felt so weak, and couldn't get up early from bed. She covered her shivering body properly and tucked into the duvet. Scarlett walked into her room unannounced and flung out the quilt she was using to swaddle her body.

"What are you trying to pretend this time around?" she yelled.

Annabel was forced to wake up while scratching her eyelids.

"Mother...."

"Don't you ever call me that again! Can't you see that it's morning already and you are still sleeping?" she shouted, hushing her up.

"Yesterday was your stomach, and today is going to be what? Since you can't give the Yates family an heir, you better come out and do the only thing you know how to do best, which is cooking and cleaning the house." She said and clasped Annabel and hauled her out of the bed.

"Mother, please, I am not strong enough to do anything. Please spare me this once. I am feeling so weak," Annabel pleaded.

"Weak? Did you say weak? Annabel, what drained your energy that you couldn't make food for the family? You haven't been able to get pregnant, and you refuse to give this family an heir, so what exactly could have taken all your strength away?" Scarlett roared.

"You better get your lazy body out of this room right now and enter the kitchen." She yelled.

"I told you that Charlotte and Yate's family members would be here today, yet you stayed long on the bed. Do I need to remind you that you have a lot of work to do? Move to the kitchen right now before I descend on you," she said and she shoved Annabel out of the room.

Finally, Annabel entered the kitchen to prepare an enormous meal that would entertain all the Yates family members and their guests. It was the end of the month, and all the Yates family members were required to be there. As usual, she was expected to prepare the meal alone.

Two years after her marriage, Scarlett had driven all the domestic workers away. Since she couldn't give birth to any child, there was no need to keep the domestic workers. She has to be useful in the Yates family and hence, do all the chores.

Despite her illness, Annabel took the apron from the hook, put it on, and moved to the chopping board to get all her ingredients ready for the meal. Immediately she sliced off the back of a garlic bulb, her stomach rumbled, and she quickly gripped it with her left hand.

After a while, she felt better and continued with her chores. The moment she picked up the garlic bulb the second time, her stomach was so queasy that she rushed out of the kitchen into the only toilet that was close by to throw up.

Meanwhile, Scarlett was at the entrance of the kitchen at that time, Annabel accidentally shoved her aside and scampered to the toilet.

Scarlett gets furious and goes after her. She met Annabel in the toilet where she was vomiting and pulled her up. Coincidentally, she hunched over Scarlett and spewed up on her face.

Scarlett's face was battered with Annabel's waste. She pushed her away in outrage and hurried to the tap to wash off the filth. In the process, Annabel hit her head on the wall and lost consciousness.

After washing off her face, Scarlett came back fuming. She scrambled onto Annabel and booted her hard in irritation.

"How dare you puke on my face? You are so worthless and apathetic. How could you do this to me? I picked you up from the gutters and now look at how you pay me back" She yelled and threw punches at Annabel.

"Don't pretend that you are hurt, get up from there before I kill you" She said and started pulling Annabel up, However, when Annabel lay numb, she looked at her countenance for a moment and noticed her pale face.

All her colors suddenly disappeared and her limbs were drained of energy. Scarlett began to tremble as she shuddered in quick succession, yet Annabel moved not.

"Annabel! Annabel!" She screamed

"Somebody help me" she yelled again and ran out to find help.

***

Annabel stared at the doctor in a daze. She looked at the results in her hand and gasped in shock.

How can this be possible? She couldn't phantom it. Such a thing has never been heard of. Cole had made sure his seeds never entered her body, so how come she was pregnant?

There is only one conclusion to this dilemma: she is cheating on Cole, which she never did.

How could she explain this to her husband's family, especially to Cole? He would never believe her and would not be patient enough to run a paternity test. Why is life so unfair to her?

"Mrs. Yate, congratulations once again," the doctor's voice snapped her back to reality.

"You will be discharged by tomorrow, and please take good care of yourself. "

The doctor advised and left the room. Annabel was left alone in her little world to deal with her predicament. Unknown to her, Charlotte came to visit her genealogist, doctor Pat the same man who left her room a few minutes back.

Two doors away was Charlotte, in a deep discussion with her doctor.

"Congratulations, Miss Lawrence, you are finally pregnant. You are two months gone"

"Really?" Charlotte exclaimed. Her eyes glint in excitement.

"Yes, my dear. Here is the result of your test" the doctor said and handed her a brown envelope.

Charlotte happily took the envelope and opened it. She hurriedly brought out the sheet of paper from the inside, and read the content.

A beautiful smile unraveled across her oval face, while her brown pupils radiated like a florescent in excitement. She hugged the doctor out of enthusiasm and rushed out of the room in euphoria.

Charlotte couldn't believe that she was finally pregnant, the only thing Cole had wanted from her. A triumphant smile was visible on her face as she strode through the foyer.

This evening, she will share the good news with Cole and nothing can stop them from being together. A few notches to Annabel's door, Charlotte saw Scarlett sauntering toward her. She precipitated her stride and huddled the older woman who was now in front of Annabel's door.

"Mother, what are you doing here? Do you come for your check-up?" Charlotte asked with a delicate voice that earned her much admiration.

So beautiful was her voice that Scarlett couldn't help but fall in love with her even more. Her beauty was nothing to compare to anything in this world, so fair and glossy was her skin that Scarlett couldn't resist touching her.

"Oh, sweetheart, I should be the one to ask you that," Scarlett said.

"Now tell me, what are you doing here? Are you sick, dear?" she asked and moved closer to Charlotte. Placing her palm on her forehead.

"Your temperature is normal. That means you do not have a fever. If fever is not what brought you here, then what is it?"

Annabel had been starving since morning. She was about to get some food when she overheard both women talking.

Scarlett dumped her in the hospital and left in a hurry last night, without waiting for her recovery. Now she is dying of hunger and wishes to get some food for herself only to hear the voices of both women who had made her life miserable.

How can Scarlett be too nice to that evil woman? And yet treats her like trash?

She thought it was not Charlotte until she heard Scarlett's voice.

"What could have brought you here? I hope it is not something serious?"

"Yes, Mother, you won't believe this? I wanted to share this great news with Cole first, but since you are more like a mother to me, I will tell you,'' Charlotte said, her face gleaming with happiness.

"Tell me, what is it my dear, that makes you feel so happy Charlotte"

Instantly, Annabel leaned to the door. She also wanted to know why Charlotte was so happy.

"Mother, I am pregnant with Cole's child," Charlotte announced.

"Really?" Scarlett screamed. She pulled Charlotte closer and hugged her tightly.

"Oh, Charlotte dear, I am so happy" she clasped her.

To both women outside, that was the best news ever, but for Annabel, this was her worst nightmare.

How could Cole do such a terrible thing to her? After all she has done for him.

She has been a good and devoted wife to him, even though he treated her badly. Yet he has the guts to do such a horrible thing to her.

Annabel clenched her chest so tight like she was protecting it from crashing down. Her eyelids dilated, and without wasting time, they started pouring out their salty content.

"I can't wait to share this good news with Cole,"

Charlotte screamed in the pool of her excitement.

"Mother, please do me a favor, don't tell Cole anything. I want to inform him myself"

"You don't have to worry about that. Now come here dear, we are going home together to celebrate this good news," Scarlett said.

Instantly, Charlotte frowned her face and looked pitiable.

"What is it, dear? Why do you look sad?" Scarlett asked and moved closer to her.

"Mother, are we not forgetting something?"

"What is it, dear?"

"Mother, Cole is still married and now I am pregnant. What am I supposed to do?" Charlotte asked. Instantly, her eyes were filled with tears.

"Charlotte, dear, I have always wanted you to be my daughter-in-law, not that useless woman. Now that you are pregnant, leave everything to me. Come, let's go home"

With that, Scarlett led the other woman out of the corridor into the parking lot and inside her car.

She drove home with the basket in her hand, which contained Annabel's food without dropping the meals to her or even seeing how she was doing.

The next day, Scarlett prepared a grand feast for Charlotte.

She had told Charlotte that such news shouldn't be announced without a feast. Scarlett, therefore, invited all the Yates family members and some well-wishers, too.

Since the end-of-the-month gathering was canceled because of Annabel's stupid illness,

Scarlett had to use this opportunity to gather everyone together and also to announce the good news to them, as well.

Everyone has arrived, including Charlotte. She was beautifully dressed and her beauty was radiating in the entire room.

Carrying herself with pride and dignity, Charlotte strode towards Cole, who welcomed her with a warm embrace.

Cole had been so delighted since he heard the news of Charlotte's pregnancy.

Everyone in the room could see how cheerful he was. He had also made a promise to Charlotte to be by her side forever.

Right now, Charlotte is the happiest woman in the entire world.

Soon Cole will announce his intentions to his family and friends and then Annabel will be divorced and she will be Mrs. Yates, Such a sweet dream to come through.

Shortly, lunch was served, and everyone began to eat their meals.

Scarlett clicked her glass of water with a spoon, and everyone's attention was drawn toward her.

"Listen, people, I have some good news to share with you."

There was a significant silence in the room immediately after she made the announcement. Once she had the attention that she needed, she stood up and said.

"Well, people, I want to tell you something important. Charlotte is pregnant with Cole's baby"

"Charlotte's involvement in this family is something we're all aware of.

If it weren't for the incident that occurred five years ago, she would already be my daughter-in-law. Regardless, it's better to be late than never. Scarlett said and touched Charlotte on the shoulder.

"So, people, I'm glad to announce that Charlotte is pregnant with Cole's child. My desire to have a grandson is finally going to come true," Scarlett declared.

'Wow!,' All the guests echoed and clapped their hands.

"Congratulations Charlotte," Slovenia said and hugged Charlotte.

'Thank you, Slovenia. You know how much Cole needed a child and you can't blame me for being of help, right? After all, Annabel is still my dear friend," Charlotte said.

However, a loud thud was heard at the staircase and everyone's attention was diverted to where the sound came from.

It was Nana hitting her walking stick hard on the stairs as she was coming down to the dining room.

"Grandmother!" Cole shouted and ran to the old woman.

He led her to the table, and she sat at the head of the table.

"What nonsense did I hear you vomit with your mouth, Scarlett?" She asked.

Scarlett kept quiet.

She was disturbed by Nana's sudden appearance.

"And all of you supported such evil? Even when you all know that Cole was still married to Annabel." Nana let out with such an aggressive tone that made everyone silent.

"By the way, how could you throw such an enormous feast in my house without letting me know? Scarlett, don't push me to throw you out of this house! "The old woman yelled.

Charlotte suddenly became uncomfortable in her seat.

"Where is Annabel?" The old woman yelled in anger.

Before anyone could answer, the door swung open, and Annabel came in the entrance door and sauntered inside.

All eyes diverted to her as she came toward the table.

She was surprised to see such a great gathering. She was just coming back from the hospital.

"Scarlet went ahead with the family reunion without me?" Annabel thought in her mind.

"Where have you been?". Nana asked as soon as Annabel leaned close and kissed her cheeks.

Nana was the only person who cared much about her in Yates's family.

"I am just coming back from the hospital," Annabel answered.

"Hospital? Are you sick?" Cole asked.

Cole was completely unaware of what had happened. He didn't even notice that she was not at home.

The news of Charlotte's pregnancy clouded his mind and made him sleep in her place.

"Are you alright child? What happened to you?" The old woman asked, looking closely at her. Annabel's eyes landed on Scarlett, who was now hiding her face in shame.

"I am fine Nana, it's just a fever," Annabel replied.

Scarlett let out a sigh of relief.

She never expected that the old woman would recover so quickly and come down to spoil her plans.

Nana had been sick for the past two weeks and Scarlet thought that would be her end, but the old woman came back alive looking even healthier.

"What was that you announced when I was coming downstairs?" Nana asked.

She looked at Scarlett intensely, with contempt.

Seeing the awkward position his mother was in, Cole said.

"Grandmother Charlotte and I are getting married because she is pregnant with my child"

"Aren't you shameless, Cole? You opened your useless mouth and tell me that? Don't you have any shame? You cheated on your wife and you stood proud of your actions," the old woman yelled.

Only Nana knew what she went through just to bring Annabel to her family

"I did nothing wrong, Grandma. It was Annabel who requested the divorce," Cole said, and glanced at Annabel,

Annabel gasped, her mouth opened in shock.

"When did I ever request for divorce?" She thought

"How dare you lie against Annabel? She will never ask for a divorce. She loved you very much," Nana let out in resentment.

"Nana, you must have trusted Annabel very much. Look at this and tell me if she is not the one that signed this," Scarlett said and showed Nana the divorce paper.