One of the good things about being married to Richard was freedom. He never meddled in my business or asked my whereabouts. Even his family couldn't monitor me closely the way they monitored Lillian.
They don't want to mess with my family. Despite marrying Richard against my parents' wish, the Gates knew better than to mess with me.
The Gates never allowed Lillian to work. They said it would bring shame to their legacy. But I was allowed to work. Quietly, I had continued to build my medical career and held regular consultations at the hospital. After five years, my savings were stronger than I had expected, plus the money I would receive for selling my jewelry.
At 8 p.m., I was already waiting for Alice downstairs. I was in high spirits. Alice pulled up outside, honking in her usual style.
As I slid inside her car, Alice raised an eyebrow, looking at me smiling. "Someone's in a good mood. Tell me you got good money for those shits?"
"Lots of money, worth celebrating," I said happily. "Drinks on me tonight."
The bar was already full, but Alice had reserved our usual spot, thanks to her connections. I excused myself to use the restroom. By the time I came out, Alice had already drunk two bottles of beer.
"So tell me, bitch, does Richard know you drink alcohol?"
I took a sip from my own bottle and nodded. "Of course not. He doesn't have time for me. We never go on outings together. And also, just like he doesn't know that I know what's going on between him and Lillian."
"Richard kiss her! Or else you pay a thousand bucks!" Someone from the crowd yelled. As if on cue, the others started yelling, "Kiss her! Kiss her!"
"What's that?" Alice asked, looking at the crowd. I followed her gaze to the middle of the commotion.
"Is that Richard?" Alice asked, her expression darkening.
I nodded. "Yeah, that's him," I replied, sipping my drink as I watched the drama.
Richard stood in the middle of the crowd, with his arm wrapped around a woman in a skintight black dress. He was smiling affectionately at her. I never knew that the always composed Richard could be this affectionate.
"That's Lillian in his arm! His mistress and the love of his life is Lillian?"
"Yes, you are shocked, right?" I asked her, opening another bottle of beer. Alice drained her glass and belched. "That bitch just lost her husband," she said in a hoarse voice.
Just then, Richard pulled Lillian closer to him and kissed her. The crowd went wild. They looked like the perfect couple.
Alice stood up abruptly. I knew what she was going to do, especially now that she was drunk. I grabbed her wrist and shook my head. "Please don't."
"Come on, Fiona, you think I'm stupid?" She brought out her phone and snapped a few pictures of Richard and his lover, who were still engrossed in the kiss. "Wait for tomorrow's headline," she said smiling mischievously. "Let's go and continue our fun somewhere else."
The next day, I didn't wake up until past noon. My head was pounding, and my hair was disheveled. I almost jumped at my own reflection in the mirror. I picked up my phone and saw a credit alert of one million dollars. I rubbed my eyes to be sure of what I was seeing. I wasn't hallucinating. The money was really there.
I checked who the sender was. It was Lillian.
I smiled. Memories from last night came rushing back. "She really did transfer the money back to me. I'm one million richer," I yelled, performing a little dance.
I knew the money must have come from Richard, but I don't care. It was our joint savings, and half the marital assets belongs to me. I went downstairs in my disheveled state to make myself a hangover soup.
The maid was already waiting for me. "Good afternoon, Mrs. Gates. Want something to eat? I can make you some hangover soup or anything else you want to eat."
"Just the hangover soup, please. I'm having a terrible headache," I said, glancing around the house. "Did Richard and Lillian come back home last night?"
"No, Mrs. Gates."
"Alright, go and prepare the soup for me, and add painkillers too." I sat on the sofa, scrolling through my phone.
Just then, Ayesha ran out of her room and scrunched up her face at me. "Bad aunt. Uncle Richard and Mommy went out together last night. Uncle Richard will get married to my mommy very soon, and you will be chased out of this house. Bad woman!"
"Okay, Ayesha," I nodded thoughtfully. "Do you know what that makes you, if your mommy marries your uncle Richard?"
"No," she nodded in her childish manner.
"Well, that makes you the daughter of a homewrecker, and I pray you don't grow up to become like your mother."
"No, I don't want to be the daughter of a homewrecker," Ayesha screamed, crying.
"And also, if your mommy and uncle Richard have another child, they will take you to the orphanage and dump you there," I said, eating my soup.
Ayesha fell to the floor, screaming. "I don't want to be sent to the orphanage."
I ignored her screaming and sat on the dining table as the maid brought out my hangover soup for me. I took the spoon and started eating, who'd occasionally look at Ayesha and stick out my tongue, which made her cry harder.
My phone buzzed with a text from Alice. "Check the trending news on Instagram."
I quickly dropped the spoon and opened Instagram.
"The Millionaire Richard Gates was caught cheating on his wife with a mystery woman last night in a club."
The maid ran to me with her phone. "Mrs. Gates, have you seen the news?" she asked.
"Yes, I just saw it now," I replied, sipping my soup nonchalantly.
"Mrs. Gates, are you alright? You know the pictures might be AI. You know how nasty the internet can be."
I nodded and continued sipping my soup. Whether it's real or not, it doesn't matter. I had seen it all with my eyes last night. Richard and Lillian were so engrossed in the kiss that they had forgotten their surroundings.
"Should I inform the Gates Matriarch?" the maid asked.
I nodded. After finishing my soup, I went upstairs and threw myself on the bed. I need more sleep. Richard and Lillian can handle their own mess.
I slept throughout the afternoon, only waking up in the evening for dinner. The maid had prepared all my favorite dishes, but I was still not able to eat much.
The maid stood beside me, trying to urge me to eat more. "Mrs. Gates, I called the Gates Residence. You don't have to worry about anything now. But there's a little problem."
"What is it?"
"The matriarch was so angry that she collapsed. She's in the hospital as we speak now."
"What? Why didn't you tell me earlier?" I asked her, frowning.
"I knew you were upset and have been crying since you read the news, so I didn't want to disturb your sleep."
I looked at her. "I have been crying since afternoon?" I asked her in shock.
"Yes, Mrs. Gates," the maid replied.
How come I didn't know I was crying? I wasn't even the least sad or heartbroken. I had known about their affair for a while now, so why would I be heartbroken? I thought to myself.
"Mrs. Gates, I know you are just holding in your pains, and I also know that women married into wealthy families are expected to bear the pains and shame of their husbands' extramarital affairs without showing emotions, but it's okay. You can cry as much as you want. I won't mention it to the Matriarch," the maid said, looking at me with pity.
I didn't know what to say, but I didn't bother correcting her either. Her assumption will add more fuel to the fire. And besides, I'm still legally married to Richard. With the news of his affairs all over social media, it made sense for me to be heartbroken.
I decided to play along. I started sniffing. "Why would Richard treat me this way? I trusted him so much," I said, sniffing and wiping my imaginary tears.
"Please, Mrs. Gates, don't cry. I promise you the Matriarch will handle everything once she's out of the hospital."
I nodded, still sniffing. "I'm going to see her in the hospital now, and you can clear the table. I have lost my appetite."
I almost burst out laughing at my own performance as I climbed the stairs to my room. After taking a long hot bath, I was putting a finishing touch to my makeup when the door burst open.
