After 10 Years as His Secret Wife, I Married His Enemy

The New Year's Eve dinner was a picture of family warmth.

Joel had arranged for me to sit closest to Johnny.

I treasured every second, trying to etch his face into my memory.

Johnny noticed my intense gaze and angrily threw down his chopsticks.

Old Mrs. Gilbert rushed to comfort him, blowing gently on his hand.

"Sweetheart, did you hurt yourself?"

Johnny burrowed into her arms and pointed at me, shrieking.

"Grandma, that beggar keeps staring at me! She's so gross I can't even eat!"

Old Mrs. Gilbert turned her disgusted gaze toward me.

I tugged my mask tighter, terrified of being recognized and thrown out. In my panic, I dropped to my knees.

"I'm sorry, ma'am. I was just worried the young master might not be used to tonight's dishes."

Kay rose with a bowl of chicken soup and gently patted Johnny's head.

"We mustn't lose our temper like that. Our Johnny is a well-mannered boy, isn't he?"

Johnny huffed but kept glaring at me with pure venom.

Old Mrs. Gilbert gave Kay an approving look, then seemed to remember something and turned to Joel with a weary sigh.

"Look at Kay—graceful, cultured, educated abroad—and she's willing to be your devoted partner. Then look at that country bumpkin you dragged home. You'd be a laughingstock if anyone saw her. If she had any shame at all, would she have clung to you for ten years without so much as a title?"

Joel glanced at me instinctively.

I lowered my eyes, the hurt settling deep.

I had no idea she despised me this much.

Joel's smile faded. His voice carried a note of reproach.

"Mom, if it weren't for Mary, I might not have made it back alive."

Years ago, I'd gone hiking in the mountains and stumbled upon Joel after he'd fallen off a cliff.

I rushed him to the hospital, only to be told he had severe head trauma and might lose some of his memories.

He couldn't even remember his phone password. When I tried to take him to the police station to file a report, he clung to me and refused to let go.

In the end, I had no choice but to let him stay.

I kept my head down. Old Mrs. Gilbert swayed, so dizzy with rage she nearly collapsed.

"You're talking back to me for that woman? Do you want Kay's child to be born a bastard?!"

Kay's cheeks flushed. She hurried to soothe the old woman.

"Please don't upset yourself. It's a good thing that Joel values loyalty. I really don't mind."

The servants kept their heads bowed, not daring to witness their masters' drama.

I looked up at Joel's flustered expression, then thought of the photos Kay sent me daily—like clockwork—of them in bed together.

She'd told me Joel loved it when she acted coy. If she told him not to get up, he wouldn't dare move.

Meanwhile, Joel and I had gone from inseparable newlyweds to strangers who hadn't been intimate in over six months.

My knees—the ones I'd shattered saving Joel all those years ago—began to throb. The pain made it hard to keep kneeling.

But it was nothing compared to the agony of his betrayal. Not even a thousandth of it.

Kay wrapped herself around Joel's arm, tears streaming down her face.

"You don't want this baby, do you? If you don't want it, I'll go to the hospital right now and get rid of it."

Old Mrs. Gilbert immediately grabbed Kay's hand, clutching her head and moaning about dizziness.

"If you let her abort that child, I'll drop dead right in front of you."

After a long silence, Joel shot me a guilty glance and mouthed the words:

I'll explain when we get home.

He gave in, massaging the old woman's shoulders, his words landing like hammer blows that shattered what was left of my heart.

"Fine. Have the baby. You've got nothing better to do anyway—you can take care of it. And Johnny will have a playmate."

Kay rose on her tiptoes and pressed a kiss to Joel's cheek, then lowered her eyes with a shy smile.

Like the lady of the house, she ordered the servants to bring fresh dishes. Then she walked over to me, triumph glittering in her eyes.

"Why don't you go kneel outside? No point ruining everyone's evening."