Chapter 3 A Wife No One Defended

Charlotte quietly returned to the kitchen. She no longer let the tears she had been holding back flow. She knew there was no point in crying inside the Hawthorne Mansion. No one would pity her. No one would ask if she was okay. And most of all, no one would defend her.

She gently turned off the faucet and began scrubbing the handful of dishes again. She washed the expensive plates one by one while trying to ignore the pain of the wound in her palm. Every time the soap touched the wound, she closed her eyes in pain, but she didn't stop.

From the dining room, she heard happy laughter.

Ethan's voice was among them.

It had been a long time since she heard her husband laugh like that.

Not for her.

But for someone else.

Charlotte paused for a moment.

She closed her eyes tightly.

No.

She shouldn't be jealous.

She kept telling herself that Ethan and Vanessa were just friends.

Friends.

That's what Ethan kept saying whenever Vanessa's name was mentioned.

But why...

Why does Ethan seem to be more at ease whenever Vanessa is around?

While whenever Charlotte is in front of him, there's only silence between the two of them.

Suddenly the kitchen door opens.

Vanessa enters holding two cups of tea.

She's still wearing her elegant white dress while smiling.

At first glance, no one would think that a woman as beautiful as her could hide such a cold heart.

"Charlotte."

Charlotte didn't turn around.

"Do you need anything?"

Vanessa gently placed the cup on the table.

"Nothing. I just thought you might need someone to talk to."

Charlotte smiled bitterly.

"Let's talk now."

Vanessa laughed a little.

"You still haven't changed."

Charlotte quietly continued washing.

"If you don't have anything to say, I still have a lot to do."

Vanessa moved closer until they were almost next to each other.

"Charlotte..."

"Aren't you tired?"

Charlotte was momentarily stunned.

"What do you mean?"

"You've been working hard in this house for six months."

"You cook."

"You clean."

"You do everything."

Vanessa bowed slightly before whispering.

"But have you noticed?"

"None of them look at you as Ethan's wife."

Charlotte gripped the edge of the sink tightly.

"You don't have to tell me that."

"Really?"

Vanessa smirked.

"I thought you were still hopeful."

 Charlotte was silent.

"Hope that one day they will love you too."

"Hope that Ethan will protect you."

"Hope that they will be your family."

Vanessa let out each word one by one as if a knife was slowly turning in a fresh wound.

Charlotte clenched her fists.

"Enough."

But Vanessa didn't stop.

"Do you know why they didn't accept you?"

Charlotte was silent.

"Because you're not the one they wanted."

"Me."

The entire kitchen fell silent for a moment.

"Since college..."

"I've been the one chosen for Ethan."

"I'm the one Auntie and Uncle want."

"I should be Mrs. Hawthorne."

Charlotte's eyes slowly widened.

"Vanessa..."

"Your wedding?"

Vanessa shook her head.

"It was just a mistake."

"A night that shouldn't have happened."

It was as if something had fallen from Charlotte's chest.

Not because she didn't know the truth.

But because for the first time, she had heard it coming directly from her best friend's mouth.

Vanessa smiled.

But the words that followed completely shook Charlotte's world.

"If you didn't get pregnant..."

"...I'm Ethan's wife now."

Charlotte's entire body felt hot. She felt like all the restraint she had maintained for years was slowly disappearing. Since she entered Hawthorne Mansion, she had endured every insult, every humiliation, and every day of being treated like a servant. But hearing those words from Vanessa herself seemed to completely shatter the remaining silence she had.

Vanessa smiled quietly.

"Why? Does it hurt to hear the truth?"

Charlotte held onto the edge of the sink tightly.

"Get out, Vanessa."

Vanessa didn't even flinch.

Instead, she took a step closer.

"Charlotte, accept it. You were never worthy of Ethan."

Charlotte's eyes sparkled.

"Go away."

Vanessa shook her head slightly.

"Do you know what everyone laughs at the most?"

Charlotte was silent.

"You're the only one who believes Ethan still loves you."

It was as if something inside Charlotte snapped.

In three months, she had only felt that kind of anger now.

She heard nothing.

She thought nothing.

All she saw was Vanessa's mocking smile.

In an instant—

Pak!

A loud slap echoed throughout the kitchen.

Vanessa's face twisted from the force of the hit.

Her eyes widened as she slowly placed her hand on her reddened cheek.

The entire kitchen was silent.

Even Charlotte couldn't believe what she had done.

Charlotte took a deep breath.

"Don't mention my husband."

Vanessa slowly looked back at Charlotte.

Tears gradually formed in her eyes.

But not because she was hurt.

But because...

She heard the kitchen door open.

Vanessa's expression immediately changed.

The mocking smile was replaced by fear.

The sharp gaze was replaced by confusion.

"Charlotte..." she said tremblingly. "W-What have I done?"

Charlotte was stunned.

Mrs. Hawthorne entered and came upon the scene exactly.

Mrs. Hawthrone saw Vanessa's reddened cheeks.

He also saw Charlotte's raised hand.

Vanessa quickly ran towards Mrs. Hawthorne.

"Auntie..."

She hugged Mrs. Hawthrone while crying.

"I-I just came in to help Charlotte wash the dishes."

Vanessa sobbed.

"I don't know why... she just slapped me."

Charlotte's eyes widened.

"That's not what happened!"

Mrs. Hawthorne quickly turned to face Charlotte.

"Shut up!"

"Mother, listen to me first—"

She didn't finish.

Please!

A hard slap landed on Charlotte's cheek.

She recoiled from the force of the blow.

Tears gradually formed in her eyes as she slowly touched her reddened cheek.

She couldn't speak.

Not because of pain.

But because of embarrassment.

Mrs. Hawthorne's gaze was sharp.

"What do you think you are?"

Charlotte was silent.

"You have the strength to hurt Vanessa?"

"Mother, she's lying!"

"That's enough!" Mrs. Hawthorne shouted.

"Is Vanessa the liar?"

"Look at yourself!"

"You've done nothing in this house but bring trouble!"

Charlotte slowly shook her head.

"Mother... she was the first—"

"Stop!"

Charlotte bowed her head.

"We didn't accept you into this family, now you want to hurt the woman we treated like our own child?"

Vanessa continued to cry while hiding behind Mrs. Hawthorne.

But when her eyes met Charlotte's, the corner of Vanessa's lips slightly lifted.

A smile that only Charlotte could see.

A smile that said...

I win again.

Along with a loud shout, Thea Hawthorne passed by the hallway.

She stopped and immediately peeked into the kitchen.

"Mom? What's going on here?"

Thea quickly approached when she saw Vanessa crying.

"Vanessa! Why is your face red?"

Before Vanessa could speak, Mrs. Hawthorne answered.

"That woman slapped her."

Thea quickly turned to Charlotte.

The girl couldn't believe it.

"Charlotte..."

"Is that true?"

Charlotte was silent.

She knew that no matter what she said, no one would believe her.

Thea shook her head.

"I didn't think you could do that."

She took a step closer to Charlotte.

"Do you know how kind Vanessa is?"

"When she first arrived, she brought a gift for Mom and Dad."

"And this is what you're going to do in return?"

Charlotte clenched her hands tightly.

"You don't know the whole story."

Thea laughed.

"Do we need to know more?"

She pointed at Vanessa.

"Look at her face."

Then she pointed at Charlotte.

"You're the one who hurt her."

"You're the one who's to blame."

"And honestly..."

Thea looked her up and down for a moment.

"...you're not really the one to be Ethan's wife."

Charlotte seemed to stop breathing.

Those words hurt even more than the slap she received.

For the first time, she felt like she had no allies inside that enormous mansion.