From Rags to Riches: The Discarded Wife's Revenge

Living With A Stranger

Chapter 7

Ethel POV

I woke to unfamiliar sounds, not the gentle hum of the sound machine I'd used at the house with Morris or the distant traffic from our tree-lined street. For a moment, I forgot where I was, then I saw the ring on my finger.

Lyke surprisingly had quite the taste. The huge diamond-encrusted ring made the simple gold one Morris had given me look like a child's toy.

I sat up, trying to remember how I ended up here. Last night, after we'd left the police station, he'd driven us here in silence. Our arms brushed each other a couple times and that sent electricity up my arm. He didn't try anything which should have been a relief.

So why did I feel so alone?

I forced myself out of bed and found the clothes he had packed for me—jeans, a sweater, and panties that was surprisingly the right size. I didn't want to think about how he'd known.

I showered quickly, the hot water doing nothing to wash away the feeling that I'd made a terrible mistake.

I came out of the bathroom in no time and found a note slid under my door.

Good morning wifey. Hope you like your new home? Even though I wanted to be angry, I found myself smiling instead.

I followed the smell of coffee through the penthouse until I saw him. He stood in the kitchen, wearing sweatpants and a t-shirt, his hair still damp from his own shower. He looked different like this. Less intimidating and almost normal.

"Morning," he said without turning around. "How'd you sleep?"

"I didn't."

"Yeah. Me neither." He poured two cups of coffee, added cream to one without asking, and slid it across the counter to me. "Three pumps of vanilla, right?"

I stared at the cup. "How did you..."

"I'm a lawyer. I notice things." He took a sip of his own coffee. "We need to establish some ground rules about living arrangements, public appearances, and what we tell people."

"Okay." I wrapped my hands around the warm cup, grateful for something to hold onto.

"First, the basics. You have the guest room. I'm across the hall. If you want privacy, you lock the door. No questions asked."

"Okay."

"Second, as far as the world knows, we fell in love. Was it fast? Yes, but Morris's death accelerated things. We got married quickly because life is short and we didn't want to waste time." His eyes met mine. "Can you sell that story?"

"I'm a good liar." The words came out before I could stop mysel.. "I had practice with Morris."

His expression softened slightly. "I know this is hard but it's temporary trust me."

"So what happens now?" I asked.

He walked closer to me , "We start acting like a married couple." At my expression, he held up a hand. "In public only. I'm not asking you to...we're not..." He ran a hand through his hair, looking uncomfortable for the first time since I'd met him. "We just need to be convincing when people are watching."

The elevator dinged and for a split second, we were both startled

"Are you expecting someone?" I asked.

"No." He moved toward the door, "Stay here."

He checked the security monitor by the door, then cursed under his breath.

"What? Who is it?"

"Reporters." He turned to me, his expression grim. "Someone leaked the marriage certificate. They know we got married yesterday."

My stomach dropped. "How did they... Who would do this?"

"I don't think it matters again. We just have to face them." He looked at me, assessing. "Can you do this? We have to face them together because if we hide, it looks suspicious."

"I—" My hands shook. "I don't know."

He opened the door to a wall of cameras and shouted questions.

"Mr. Ashford! Is it true you married Ethel Calloway?"

"How long have you been having an affair?"

"Did you know about Morris Calloway's condition?"

"Mrs. Ashford, did you poison your husband to be with Lyke?"

The questions clouded my vision so much so I froze on the threshold, my chest tightening.

"Everyone, please." His voice cut through the chaos. "My wife and I will make a brief statement. No questions."

'My wife?' The words sounded strange to me.

That seemed to quite the reporters whose cameras were focusing, and recording everything.

"Ethel and I met two years ago through mutual friends." Lyke's voice was steady, confident. "We reconnected recently after her separation from Morris. Our relationship developed naturally. When Morris passed, we found comfort in each other during a difficult time."

"So you were having an affair!" A reporter shouted.

"There was no affair." His voice hardened. "Ethel and Morris were separated for months before his death. She was living independently. Our relationship began after their separation."

"Then why marry so quickly?" A blonde annoying reporter asked.

"Because life is precious and short. Morris's death reminded us that tomorrow isn't guaranteed." His arm came around my waist, pulling me closer. "We love each other so we didn't see the point in waiting."

The cameras flashed and I forced myself to lean into him, and look natural.

"Mrs. Ashford, do you have anything to say?" a reporter called out and now all eyes turned to me.

My mouth went dry. I tried to speak but I couldn't get the words out of my throat.

Lyke's hand tightened on my waist.

"I loved Morris," I said quietly. "His death is devastating but Lyke has been my rock during this nightmare. I'm grateful for him. For us." I looked up at Lyke, forcing myself to gaze at him the way a wife should look at her husband. "We know the timing looks suspicious but sometimes life doesn't wait for the perfect moment."

That sent the cameras wild as reporters shouted more questions.

Lyke pulled me back inside, closing the door on the chaos.

The silence afterward was deafening.

We stood there, not moving, his arm still around me.

"That was..." I started.

"Terrible," he finished. "Remind me never to do that again." He said as he went to talk a call.

I wandered through the apartment, trying to see my new home. I hadn't even gone far when I found it.

A door at the end of the hallway. I tried the the handle but it wouldn't turn.

As I pressed my ear against it, that's when I heard something. It sounded like someone was crying. I pressed even harder before the deep baritone voice echoed in the hallway.

"Looking for something?"