Once the Forgotten Wife, Now His Biggest Regret

Chapter 1: Chapter 1: The Forgotten Wife

The front door finally swung open past midnight.

I watched as my husband and daughter walked through the door with smiles plastered across their faces. But their smiles weren’t meant for me. My younger sister, Jessica, was here too. Both of them had their arm wrapped around hers on either side, gently holding her like she was some precious jewel.

"We should go back again!" My daughter, Kayla, excitedly remarked on bouncy toes as she looked at my sister. "The pizza was so yummy."

"It was, wasn’t it?" My sister responded, ruffling Kayla’s dark brown hair with a kind smile. "We could also try the dessert next time."

"Oh, good. You’re home." My husband’s brown eyes met mine, an indifferent look etched onto his face. "Why don’t you help your sister run a shower? She had a long day today."

If it were any other day, I would have relented, I would have kept my mouth shut, and obeyed my husband’s command. But today wasn’t any other day. When I saw my husband and daughter walk in all smiles with my sister, something broke in me.

"You missed my birthday."

I had spent the last few hours waiting by the dining table with the dinner I had prepared and the cake I had baked myself. My husband and daughter had promised that they would be back to celebrate this day with me. But I should have known better than to trust their words and empty promises.

"The two of you left me waiting here alone for hours. Do you know how much time I spent preparing everything? You told me you are going to make it back, and I trusted you."

A loud groan left my husband’s lips as he ran a hand down his face. "Of course, you had to bring this up and ruin the mood," he sneered, irritation oozing from his tone. "It’s just a birthday. We can celebrate it another day if you want. Is it really that important? Can’t you be more understanding? We had more important things to do."

I didn’t even have the chance to speak when my daughter chimed in, her brown eyes met mine. "Exactly, mommy. Auntie Jessica needed us today," she added, still clinging to my sister’s arm.

Hot tears stung my eyes. He had said the same thing last year too, and now even my daughter was agreeing with him. My birthday was never important in his eyes.

I was never important.

For the last seven years of my marriage, I gave it my all and made the best of a horrible situation. But he never loved me.

"Lucas," my sister’s honey-laden voice and demure smile immediately softened the look in my husband’s eyes. My eyes were fused to her well-manicured fingers, curling around his forearm. "Don’t be so harsh on Evelyn. She must be upset and disappointed that you and Kayla missed her birthday. You should make it up to her."

She paused, the corners of her mouth curling into a smile; her bright green eyes met my gaze.

"I hope you don’t blame them, Evelyn. It’s my fault that they missed your birthday. If I hadn’t called Lucas for help, then this wouldn’t have happened. And I know it’s a little late, but happy birthday, little sister."

I nodded, wiping the tears away with the back of my hand. "Thank you, Jess," I muttered under my breath, mustering a smile when Lucas tossed something in my direction.

It landed on the floor in front of me with a soft thud. I looked down to see a small plush blue box by my feet.

"That’s for you," Lucas’ cold voice reached my ears. "Your birthday gift."

Despite the steel in his voice, I couldn’t help but feel hope blossom in my chest. Maybe he didn’t hate me completely. After all, he still remembered my birthday. I picked up the velvety box and opened it with careful fingers, afraid of accidentally damaging it.

Inside, a glittering silver bracelet greeted me, my eyes drawn to the single rose pendant dangling from it.

"Lucas and Kayla specially picked it out for you," Jessica explained. "Isn’t it pretty?"

Yes, thank you. That was what I was going to say, but something caught my attention, and the words died on the tip of my tongue. I didn’t notice it earlier, but my sister was wearing a dazzling diamond necklace. My bracelet was nothing compared to hers. It was like a rock next to pure solid gold.

She must have noticed me staring as she spoke up, her fingers gently touching it. "Oh, this is just a gift. I—"

"Daddy and I got this pretty necklace for auntie Jessica! They even gave us a free rose bracelet!" Kayla happily blurted out, blissfully unaware of the tension thickening the air.

It clicked in my head as I looked down at the bracelet in my hand. frёewebηovel.cѳm

"You gave me a free gift?" I asked, hurt slipping through the crack of my voice. And here I was, stupidly thinking that something had changed.

I had naively thought that Lucas would feel guilty or ashamed when he saw the disappointment and hurt on my face, but he only looked at me with the same arrogant look. "What? Are you too good for a free gift?"

"What if I wanted a diamond necklace too? Why does my sister get a diamond necklace while I am stuck with a tiny bracelet? Don’t I deserve something nice as well?"

He scoffed, rolling his eyes. "Why should you get a diamond necklace? You are just a housewife who stays at home all day. All you do is a few chores, is it so hard?"

The box I was once holding fell onto the floor as I stumbled back upon hearing his harsh words. I let out a breath, and a stray tear fell from the brim of my eye.

"How—how could you? I did everything for you. I even gave up my career to take care of Kayla because of her heart condition, and this is how you repay me?"

Before I was married to Lucas, I was a revered surgeon. I could perform some of the most complicated surgeries without making a single error. Patients from all around the world would ask for my help to save their friends and loved ones. But after I had Kayla, everything changed.

I couldn’t bear the thought of my daughter growing up lonely, I wanted to be there for her every step of the way.

"I didn’t tell you to quit your job, you did it willingly. Plus, it’s your job as her mother to take care of her. What are you complaining about?" Lucas closed the gap between us and grabbed onto my wrist, his nails digging into my skin without a care.

"You are hurting me," I mumbled, but he didn’t budge. Instead, his grip tightened.

He leaned in to whisper into my ear. "Besides, you should be grateful that I even got you anything after what you did. Did you really think you could drug me and get away with it?"

For the past seven years, Lucas had always believed that I was the one who drugged him to sleep with him and ruined his engagement with my younger sister out of jealousy for her. When the news first broke out, it was huge, everyone knew, and rumours spread like wildfire. After finding out I was pregnant, I was forced to end my own relationship and marry Lucas.

I struggled against his clutch. "I didn’t drug you. It wasn’t me! Why won’t you believe me?"

"Like I would ever believe a word you say. What can I say? Your little plan didn’t work. I will never love you, Evelyn Hart." He finally released his grip on me, my arm falling roughly back to my side. "Now, why don’t you make yourself useful and do something? Hmm?"

My heart was thudding against my chest, my breathing loud. I didn’t know when, but my sister was now by my side, her hands wrapped around me.

"Lucas!" She chided. "Evelyn is already upset. Why can’t you just comfort her for once?"

"You see this, do you see how mature and nice Jessica is?" His eyes left mine to meet hers. "I don’t get why you are being so nice to her after everything. She’s the reason why our engagement was ruined. She’s the reason why I cannot be with you."

Jessica let out a breath. "It’s all in the past. I..." her voice trailed off as her knees buckled under her weight. I watched as Lucas rushed over to her side. His features were a mask of concern as he held her in his arms, looking at her the way he never did with me. "Are you okay? I’m taking you to the hospital."

She nodded, giving him a faint smile. "Don’t worry, I’m fine. I think I’m just tired."

My daughter rushed over too, her tiny brows furrowed, worry swirling in her dark brown eyes. "Is auntie Jessica okay? Will the baby be okay?"

Silence descended upon us.

"Baby...?"