"I demand you divorce her tonight," Evangeline repeated, descending from the stairs. "It's been almost three years of marriage- Bryce, will you keep waiting for a barren lady?"

Barren? Rachel kept her expression composed, though the words felt like a slow acting poison quietly destroying her from the inside.

"Rachel, we need to get a divorce." Bryce said, voice cold. "As you can see, Marissa is already pregnant with my child. I don't think you have a place in this family again."

Something inside Rachel cracked, she wouldn't have felt anything if those words came from Evangeline or the lady who claimed to be pregnant for her husband, but hearing those words from Bryce felt like a betrayal.

"Yes. We can't afford to raise our child in such a hostile home." Marissa chipped in resting her perfectly manicured fingers on Bryce's chest.

Rachel lowered her head, biting her lip from the pain threatening to spill out. She swallowed slowly.

Rachel lifted her eyes to Bryce and her chest twisted painfully- an ache she had not expected even after all the distance between them.

"Bryce," she whispered, but before he could respond, Evangeline stirred.

"You will not embarrass this family any longer," she hissed at Rachel. " You just flaunt the riches you did not earn, getting favors from strangers using the Voss name. Nothing but shame!"

Rachel's fingers curled at her sides. No one here knew she had just left the hospital, no one here knew the true reason for her infertility, and she had no intention of telling them... not when they will use it against her.

Evangeline's voice sharpened, "the sooner you sign the divorce papers, the sooner this family can finally thrive. My son deserves happiness and so does his child."

Marissa, glowing with false sweetness, rested a hand on her stomach. "Exactly," she added softly.

Rachel inhaled, slow and steady. If she broke down now, she would never forgive herself.

"Bryce," she said again, this time stronger, though her voice trembled. "If you want a divorce, I will sign it."

A relieved sigh passed through Evangeline, and Marissa's smirk grew.

Rachel lifted her chin with dignity, "But I have one request."

Bryce's gaze narrowed, "What request?"

"Fourteen days," she said, locking her gaze with Bryce. "It's fourteen days to our anniversary to complete the three years. Give me the fourteen days, as your wife."

Evangeline's jaw dropped. "Absolutely not-"

Rachel's glare met her calmly. "I am not asking for a lifetime, just two weeks. Then I'll leave without creating a scandal." She turned to Bryce, "Please."

"Why fourteen days?" Bryce said carefully.

Rachel's heart clenched. She thought of the doctor, the diagnosis... She needed time to gather herself, to say goodbye to the life she once dreamed of, and maybe get ready to die. But she could not tell him any of that.

So she simply said, "Because I need it, to repay you for accommodating my suffocating presence for three years. And I will never ask anything else from you ever again."

Bryce hesitated.

Marissa tightened her grip on his arm. "Bryce, this is unnecessary-"

Bryce raised his hand, silencing her. His expression hardened as he turned to Rachel.

"Two weeks. Fourteen days." He repeated slowly, then he nodded once, "Fine."

Evangeline gasped. "Bryce!"

"It's only two weeks." He said flatly. "Let her have it."

Rachel smiled. A faint, almost invisible smile. At least, he gave her a chance.

Evangeline clenched her fist but said nothing. Marissa pouted, clearly displeased, but she bit down her irritation in favor of looking fragile and accommodating.

Bryce turned back to Rachel. "We'll discuss the arrangements later."

And with that, he began leading Marissa further into the mansion, Rachel stepped aside automatically giving them room to walk.

"You're so pathetic!" Evangeline sneered, brushing past Rachel.

Rachel bowed slowly, respecting her departure. She was glad that at least Bryce didn't turn down her request, now it's time for her to brace herself.

Later that evening, Rachel stayed up in her room, her presence was not called and she could hear Marissa's constant laughter. She sat on her dresser and began removing her jewelry when there was a slight knock on the door.

"Who's there?" She asked softly, arranging her jewelry.

"Ma'am, Mr. Voss requested your presence in his room," Monica, the housekeeper said.

Rachel's heart skipped a beat, after they both separated rooms, Rachel has never stepped her foot into his room, why does he need her now?

"I'll be there in a minute," Rachel responded, removing her wedding ring. The only evidence of marriage she carried. How has her life spiraled so quickly? She could remember her younger self making promises to herself.

She put the ring back into the case Bryce had used to propose to her, the same way he had proposed to her is the same way she was going to return it.

A few minutes later, she was at the door of his room, not sure if she should open the door or knock. She finally made up her mind to knock.

"Come in," Marissa's voice cut through the air and Rachel frowned. Why was it Marissa that gave her the permission to enter her husband's room?

She sighed. She opened the door and stepped in and found Marissa lying down on the bed, holding the Rolex watch Rachel had gifted Bryce on their first anniversary, with her wedding picture with Bryce.

"I am looking for my husband," Rachel said firmly without hesitation.

Marissa laughed, "You're looking for your husband? You're so stupid. Well, he's currently in the shower, maybe you can stay over there and wait."

Rachel scoffed, "Then I'll leave, whenever he is-"

Marissa cut her off sharply, "Shut up and wait." She said, shooting Rachel a glare.

Rachel stepped forward, "this is my husband's house and you are nothing but a mistress, please, mind your words when addressing me. I still have a place in this house."

A dismissive laughter escaped Marissa's lips, "oh my goodness, you're so funny!" She said amused. "A place? What place if I may ask? Is it your matrimonial room? Your mother-in-law? Or maybe your beloved Bryce?"

Rachel didn't respond.

"Well, let me make this clear to you. Even Bryce had said it earlier, you do not have a place in this house anymore. Just stop hallucinating and snap back to reality. Bryce is mine now and forever."

Rachel smiled a little, "I know. I am fully aware that he will soon be yours, I am not going to push lines between the both of you, but I deserve to be respected." She said calmly.

Marissa stood up from the bed and stormed towards Rachel with a smirk.

"I want to know," Marissa said, placing a hand on her belly, "if you will still be here to watch me give Bryce the child you never could."

Rachel's blood ran cold. Of course, she was right! She wasn't able to conceive for Bryce but that isn't the reason why Marissa would look down on her.

"With all due respect, I advise you to stop using people's suffering against them because you feel you're perfect." Rachel took a shallow breath, "and how do you feel taking people's place and being the second? If I were you, I would never even think of doing so."

Marissa swallowed hard, her hands clenched into fist, "you idiot!" She snapped, her voice seething with rage. "Let's see who gets Bryce's heart."

"I am not competing-" Before Rachel could finish her statement, Marissa staggered backwards and pushed herself to the floor, landing on her butt.

"Marissa-" Rachel screamed and reached out for her when the bathroom door opened. She ran towards Marissa who screamed in pain.

Bryce glanced briefly at the two women, but spotting Marissa on the floor he ran towards her, shoving Rachel aside abruptly.

"Marissa, what happened?" He said, carrying her up in his arms.

Marissa locked her eyes with Rachel and raised a finger pointing directly at her, "she pushed me," she cried, "because I'm pregnant, she pushed me! To kill our baby."

Bryce slowly kept Marissa on the bed and turned to face Rachel who was in deep shock. She did not even know when Marissa fell.

"Bryce- I swear, I didn't- I can't... I did not push her, I promise," Rachel stuttered. She couldn't even think of pushing Marissa down with her pregnancy, or even trying to kill her child.

"I knew it," Bryce's voice was dark. He pulled Rachel's grip holding it tight. "You have been trying every way to destroy the peace of this family. Are you not aware that she is pregnant?" Bryce said harshly, tightening her grip.

Rachel merely winced at the pain from the harsh grip but quickly composed herself, "I did not push her, she stumbled and fell!" Rachel defended, but Bryce released her arm pushing Rachel back with force, making her fall.

Rachel felt an uneasy pain in her abdomen. She placed her hands on her stomach, watching Bryce with teary eyes.

"This is how it feels," he said, voice cold. "We both agreed on fourteen days to repay me for letting you in, but your alternative is to kill the child. It's not gonna work."

Rachel frowned her face in resignation, Marissa set a trap and Bryce fell quickly into it. She stood in pain, wiping her eyes with the back of her palm.

"I understand, I am so stupid by trying to kill your child, I think I need to take my leave." She said turning to leave, when Marissa's voice came from behind.

"Bryce, you can't just let her go. Punish her!" She demanded. Rachel closed her eyes, trying to contain the rage storming inside her.

"Rachel," Bryce said, without looking at her. "From today henceforth, you will be preparing Marissa's breakfast, but you will be the first to taste it, in case you poisoned it."

Rachel nods and leaves the room.

***

"Are you stupid, Rachel?" Elara, Rachel's best friend and cousin yelled. "Why would you do that? I have always been against your marriage with Bryce, now you're adding an extra fourteen days to your departure. That's crazy!"

Rachel rested her head on Elara's shoulder. "I want to cut ties with the Voss family entirely and focus more on my business, I don't want them to break me, Elara. I just want to divorce on my own terms... not theirs."

Elara has always taken care of Rachel ever since her mother died and her father dumped her. Elara picked her up and worked her ass off just to put her in college- but when the Voss family showed up, showing interest in Rachel, Elara was distressed and deeply against it.

But Rachel, young and innocent, accepted their request in order to increase the funds of her business.

"I understand you, Rach, but you should have just signed it and come back to me. You're so damn resilient. I even wonder how you breath the same air with those fucked up bitches." Elara hissed.

Rachel smiled, a smile that barely reached her eyes. "I was diagnosed with an early stage cervical cancer but I did not tell anyone, not even Bryce."

Elara turned to Rachel in shock, "What the- cervical cancer? You need to begin treatment, girl. Are you alright?" She said, staring into Rachel's eyes.

Rachel nods with a faint smile, "After I get the divorce, I'll begin with treatment. Don't worry too much, it's still in its earliest stage."

Elara pulls Rachel into a deep hug, "I'm so sorry Rach, but I promise, I'll always be there for you. Anytime things gets so fucked up, do not hesitate to place a call."

Rachel nods, breaking from the deep hug. "I will. Elara how is the business thriving? Have we made much sales?"

Rachel owned a resin gallery, which she anonymously operated in. She didn't want anyone to know she was the CEO of the business, so she stayed hidden, letting Elara do her job.

"We've made a lot of sales for the past six months, earning over eleven million dollars, and more are still coming. I also employed some staff to reduce the workload."

Rachel pulled Elara into another hug, "I love you so much Elara, you've always been there for me." She said, tears of joy pouring out.

Elara patted her back slowly, "it's nothing. After all, you are still my sister and best friend!"

Rachel nodded, at least when the time for her divorce came, she had someone to lean on and a business to manage. At least even if there is no deep love- there is hope.

Bryce gulped down his whiskey, "I don't even know, it just happened. I had slept with Marissa four months ago, and she came back, claiming pregnancy. I just feel guilty."

Bryce said to his only friend and business assistant. Richard had always been his special advisor when it involved business and relationships.

"I really do not have a say in this matter, Mr. Voss." Richard said honestly. "I just think you have to face Marissa since she is carrying the heir to the Voss family. Rachel couldn't conceive and it's not your fault."

"From my perspective I really think you need to give up on her. You don't have a choice."

Bryce nods in affirmation. "I know, but it's hard to make this choice, Rachel has never hurt me, she's innocent. I really don't want to let her go." He says, gulping another whiskey.

Richard takes a sip of his drink and refills Bryce's own.

"Mr. Voss, you have only a choice. Marissa is pregnant with the heir of the Voss family, but Rachel isn't. If you are willing to have an offspring....I think you have to stick with Marissa and let Rachel go."

Bryce says nothing. He stares at his drink without taking a sip. Though he loved Marissa, he still had a soft spot for Rachel- a spot he couldn't let go so easily.

Richard clears his throat, "Mr. Voss, we have an exclusive meeting by noon, you don't have to drink too much, in other not to-"

He was interrupted by Bryce, "I'm okay." Bryce stands and adjusts his cufflinks, turning to the bartender. "Just one more shot."

The entrance door burst open and a lady in a white silk dress entered, she stormed towards Bryce, her hips swaying vigorously.

"Bryce Voss." She raged, stopping at his desk. "After all she has been through, you still chose to break her? Don't you have a fucking conscience?"

Bryce was dazed. No one has ever spoken to him that way, not even his mother...and now this lady had the audacity to call him by his name.

He opened his mouth to speak but no words escaped.

Richard stood, blocking the lady. "Woman, I bet you don't know who you are speaking to."

The lady turned to Richard, her gaze burning into him. "Know who he is? Who isn't aware of Bryce Voss? The man who loves to break every good lady that comes his way but shields himself with the immunity given to him."

Richard's brow narrowed. "Before you exasperate anyone, I urge you to just leave unless you will regret the outcome of the decision you-"

The lady cut him off, placing a hand on her hips. "Since when did you become his mouthpiece, huh? Richard Wilson, the billionaire's bodyguard and maybe mouthpiece. I have a word with him, not you."

Richard's jaw dropped, he has never been humiliated this way before. The lady walked to Bryce, bringing her face closer to his ears.

"If she leaves you, I swear you will regret it. And if she breaks because of you- I'll personally suffer you."

The lady said and walked out, still swaying her hips.

Bryce knew that face. He knew that voice; dark and intimidating. How did she know about the divorce? Rachel was taciturn and she had not left the house. The question belonged to Rachel, how did Elara Anderson know about the divorce?

***

The morning sun filtered through the Voss kitchen window, painting the countertop in soft gold.

Rachel's eyes were swollen from the night before, though she had hidden it with a powder and a practiced smile.

She had made a decision; to cook for Bryce and Marissa. She would try to hold the home together and not try to cause any trouble. So she cooked.

The kitchen staff offered to assist, but Rachel gently dismissed them. She wanted this to come from her hands alone.

When her mother was alive, she always told her that food carried emotions. That a meal could soften even the hardest heart. She hoped desperately that Bryce still had a memory left for her.

She tied her apron and gathered the ingredients with quiet determination, then she started slicing, stirring and seasoning. Not long after, the aroma of Bryce's favourite dish filled the room; creamy chicken Alfredo, with the pasta soft and sauce rich.

Maybe, if they shared a meal, Bryce would speak to her. Maybe he would apologize and mend the fracture Marissa had driven into their-

The kitchen door swung open, Rachel looked up, expecting Bryce...Instead, Marissa strutted in. Her heels clacked sharply, her perfume floated arrogantly, and her smile widened when she saw Rachel.

"Oh?" Marissa tilted her head. "You're cooking?" She placed a hand on her belly dramatically. "How sweet. Bryce didn't tell me he needed comfort food today."

Rachel turned away, focusing on the pan, "I'm preparing breakfast for my husband and yourself."

"Husband?" Marissa repeated, laughing lightly. "Are we still using that word? Because Bryce spent last night with me."

Rachel's chest tightened, but she kept stirring, refusing to give Marissa a reaction.

Marissa sauntered close to the counter, eyeing the plates. "Pasta? Really?" She tapped her nails on the table. "Desperate, isn't it? Watching you play the perfect wife after last night...must be exhausting."

Rachel didn't look up. She wouldn't give her that satisfaction. Marissa huffed and wandered around the kitchen. "You know, I have been craving lately. Bryce bought me pastries this morning." She grinned. "He said the baby's hunger comes first."

Rachel swallowed hard, gripping the edge of the counter before returning to the dish.

Marissa's gaze fell on Bryce's dish, arranged with care, the plates still steaming.

"Is it for him?" Marissa asked softly, as she slowly and deliberately walked towards it.

"Yes." Rachel said.

"Hm." She picked up the plate.

Rachel turned sharply, "Marissa, put that down."

Marissa smiled venomously, "what if I don't?"

"Marissa-" she didn't give Rachel time to finish. With a swift, violent motion, Marissa flung the entire plate onto the floor.

The creamy sauce splattered across the marble tile, the pasta scattered and the plate smashed into jagged white pieces.

Rachel's breath caught. Her hands shook as she stared at the destruction of her effort, her hope, her peace- broken, just like her heart.

Marissa stepped on a shard, grinding it under her heel. "Oops," she said lightly. "Clumsy me."