Chapter 3 – The Mistress
I was mortified staring at my only pet that I had been allowed to bring to the mansion. Same way I have taken care of Ivan.
“Don’t mess with me and don’t get my father upset with me!” Ivan snapped.
I watched as he stomped off while I stared at the arrow in my cat’s body.
Fate is indeed mocking me because I was the one who taught Ivan how to shoot arrows. I taught Ivan everything he knows and now he’s using it against me.
I cradled the box as I stared at Fei Fei, my best friend and a single tear slipped from my eyes.
“Why are you out in the cold, Rachel? Don’t get sick on me!” Micheal’s voice came through the door.
He immediately stood behind me as he draped me with his jacket which I shrugged off. “What’s wrong?” he queried.
His face twisted in slight disgust when he saw the dead cat in the box.
“Your son came to apologize,” I stated.
Micheal’s frown deepened, “He’s your son too.”
I scoffed, “He hates me Micheal! He killed my cat.”
“Come now, let’s go inside. I’ll have a talk with him in the morning and you can bury the cat tomorrow. I’m sure he was just messing around and it was a silly prank,” Micheal said.
I shrugged away from him as I carried the cat and headed into the garden. I wasn’t going to let my cat stay out all night for some animal to poke at him.
Micheal followed me, complaining about how I was being stubborn but he stayed with me while I buried Fei Fei.
When I was done I went inside. The party was over and the guests had all gone home. It was already late and windy.
I sneezed just as Micheal held me. We got to my room and he sat me down on his laps. I cringed inwardly.
“What do you want?” I snapped.
Micheal sighed, “What’s wrong, Rachel? I’ll get you a new cat.”
“I want to leave, Micheal. Tomorrow,” I stated.
Micheal tensed, “Ivan is a child. I don’t trust anyone to take care of him except you. Besides, where do you want to go? It’s not like you have anyone else.”
I shrugged, “I’ll worry about that. I have no place here. You have refused to marry me after
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He Broke Me First. Now I’m The Queen of His Ruins
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“I want to leave, Micheal. Tomorrow, I stated.
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Micheal tensed, “Ivan is a child. I don’t trust anyone to take care of him except you. Besides, where do you want to go? It’s not like you have anyone else.”
I shrugged, “I’ll worry about that. I have no place here. You have refused to marry me after eight years.”
Micheal sighed, “I already told you, Rachel, I can’t take another wife now.”
“I’m not asking you to. In fact, I don’t want to marry you, I just want to leave.”
“Okay, why don’t you have a child for me? That way I can secure your future and that of your child. If you have a child for me no one would dare say a bad word against you. And then Ivan will have a little sibling.”
I smiled sadly. I had reduced myself to nothing and discarded my pride and yet eight years still he wants me to have an illegitimate child for him.
All this just to protect Ivan and keep me in the same house as him.
“I’ve instructed the maid everything she needs to know about Ivan. He’s homeschooled so you can get the best tutors for him or send him to school. He doesn’t need me again,” I stated.
Micheal kissed me, “Sleep on it and tell me how you feel in the morning.”
That night I didn’t sleep a wink. I packed my luggage and I kept seeing the face of fei fei.
Morning came sooner than expected and after a quick shower I dragged my suitcases outside.
It was finally happening. I was leaving.
But of course, I wasn’t going to leave in peace.
A slow clap echoed through the courtyard, followed by a familiar, mocking voice.
“Well, well, well,” Susan drawled, leaning against the pillar with a smirk. “Have you finally come to your senses?”
I sighed, Susan was Micheal’s mistress and Ivan’s favorite.
I ignored her and kept walking, but she stepped into my path, tilting her head in
amusement.
“Eight years, Rachel,” she continued, crossing her arms. “Eight years of playing house, of waiting for a man who never wanted you. And now, after all that time, you’re finally leaving.” She chuckled. “Took you long enough to realize that Michael and Ivan will never love you. You’ve been nothing but a worthless concubine.”
I met her gaze, my expression unreadable. “Enjoy it, then,” I said simply. “Do whatever you want. None of this concerns me anymore.”
Her smirk widened. “Oh, I will. Don’t worry,” she whispered. “Soon, I’ll move in and take your place.”
Before I could respond, the front doors swung open.
Michael stepped out, followed closely by Ivan.
Chapter 3 – The Mistress
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Before I could respond, the front doors swung open.
Michael stepped out, followed closely by Ivan.
And in an instant, Susan’s entire demeanor changed.
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She gasped dramatically and dropped to her knees, clutching the hem of my dress as if her life depended on it.
“Rachel, please!” she sobbed, her voice thick with desperation. “Please don’t go! Ivan needs you! You’ve been taking care of him all these years–how could you just leave him like this?”
I stared down at her blankly.
“Ivan loves you, he really does,” she continued, her voice cracking. “He’s just a child! Please, don’t leave him. I’m so sorry for everything, just please, Rachel-”
Michael let out a harsh sigh, his patience clearly worn thin.
“Enough of this nonsense,” he snapped. “Stop creating a scene and go back inside.” His eyes were cold, as they always were. “I’ll get you another cat if you want. Stop making Susan stress herself.”
I clenched my fists, but before I could say anything, Ivan ran toward Susan, throwing his arms around her.
“Stand up, Susan,” he said softly, his small hands wiping away her fake tears. Then, his eyes met mine, burning with hatred. “You killed my mother with your wicked heart,” he spat, his voice filled with disgust. “And now you’re trying to hurt Susan, too!”
Ivan turned back to Susan, his face softening. “Don’t cry, Susan. Don’t worry. Let Rachel go I don’t want her in my life. I don’t need her.” He lifted his chin, his next words cutting deeper than any wound. “I want you to stay. You should be my mother. You should marry my father.”
He turned back to me, his eyes filled with nothing but scorn. “You’re a wicked woman with a bad heart. That’s why my father could never love you.” A slow, cruel smile tugged at his lips. “I’m happy you’re leaving.”
I swallowed the lump in my throat and took one last look at the boy I had raised, the boy I had loved like my own.
“After eight years, if this is what you think of me… then there really is no point in me staying,” I said with a sigh.
Without another word, I turned and walked away.
Just as I was dragging my suitcase towards the gate, Ivan pulled the crossbow and shot at my head.
