“Where have you been Rachel?" Lucas asked, furrowing his brows as soon as Rachel stepped into the house.

He was kind of worried she didn’t show up with the file in his office yesterday. He had tried calling her last night but her line wasn’t going through.

He hated the fact he wasn’t able to reach her, but was excited he could have his best time with Fiona.

“At Aria’s place” Rachel finally voiced. Her expression already darkened.

She wasn’t in for questions and answers but at the same time doesn't want Lucas to find out he knew anything.

She stared at Lucas and her gaze drifted to the figure standing beside Lucas. A red haired woman with a slender frame that fitted into a short red dress, showcasing her toned legs. Her dress complimented her hair colour.

Indeed Fiona is really beautiful. She looked like a korean goddess with her green eye balls. Every man will definitely trample over her beauty. Racheal thought.

“Hey Racheal" Fiona giggled, stretching her hands for a handshake.

Racheal starred at the outstretched hands but didn’t budge.

Fiona got it, and she withdrew her hands.

Flipping her hair backwards in a ‘common do better’ gesture. She hated Racheal with every fiber in her.

“Uhmm Rachel" Lucas started.

“Fiona will have to stay with us for a while. She has no place to stay for now, her house got burnt and she really needs our help.”

“Yes Racheal" Fiona pouted.

Racheal was pissed at this. First was bringing her home to fuck her. And now it was time for her to come stay with them.

It wasn’t something to hide that Lucas hasn’t gotten over Fiona. She has always known during the night he would stare at her picture for hours.

From what she knew, Fiona left Canada on the eve of her engagement with Lucas three years ago.

“What’s your take on it Racheal" Lucas asked, stroking Fiona's hair while she leaned on him.

Racheal took in the scene and swallowed hard before speaking.

“No she shouldn’t stay."

" What do you mean Racheal?” Lucas barked. “I have always known you to be kind and obedient, but it's obvious you have become wild these few days.”

“its fine Lucas. I can leave if she doesn't want me to stay.” Fiona muttered, her voice filled with pain and emotions.

" No Fiona, you are going to stay,” Lucas assured her, staring into her eyes with every bit of concern.

He then turned to Racheal and glared at her.

“You don’t need to be wicked Rachel. She is a woman like you. Remember I picked you up when you had no home? You were homeless when I married you remember that.”

His voice cut through Rachel like a broken glass. She rose to fame three years ago. Lucas' ex-girlfriend Fiona left him on the eve of their engagement. He left the engagement venue embarrassingly and headed to a bar, got himself drunk and had a severe car crash. Coincidently she — Racheal was arriving in Shantel city on that day. While wandering about, she found Lucas lying lifeless on the street. She called the emergency that helped rescue him.

After his recovery, he decided to get married to her to pay her back for saving him.

She was excited when she found out he was the billionaire CEO Lucas Thompson, seeing it as a privilege, she accepted the offer without hesitation.

She saw it as a miracle because she just arrived in the city following the divorce of her parents. She didn’t want to be a burden to her mum.

And so she decided to come to Shantel city to continue with her masters program which she didn’t continue with after she got married to Lucas.

“She is your ex-girlfriend Lucas. You can just get her a brothel to stay in while she fixes herself.”

“Just shut up Racheal” Lucas cut in. " Fionna won’t sleep in a brothel when I have a home. Besides, Fionna is important to me just as you are.”

Racheal knew the argument wouldn’t lead to her victory and so it's best she give up now. Lucas isn’t going to bend over her decision once he has made up his mind. Telling her about it was just for her to know afterall.

" Fine. Let her stay.” Racheal finally said. Already drained from the event of yesterday and now.

She walked briskly and brushed past them, heading upstairs.

She slumped on her bed on getting to her room. Pulling her phone, she signed up for the contract sent by Maple brushes Artworks.

She couldn’t wait to leave here.

‘Twenty nine days more’ she started her countdown.

**********

Racheal felt her head bang immediately and she opened her eyes. She had slept all through since she got back and hadn't eaten anything.

Aria did her best trying to force her to eat after making something, but she didn’t have a taste of it. She had little or no appetite to eat yesterday.

She got out of the bed and dragged her feet wearily downstairs. The house was dead silent. She doubted if the help was home. She sighed and decided to go make something for herself.

She sighted the kitchen door slightly open and a figure looming in the kitchen.

As she waddled closer, she then heard a soft familiar voice.

“Lucas darling, are you sure the pills have ruined her belly enough? Because she doesn't look it!.”

Rachel stopped dead in her tracks and moved closer to the source of the voice. She saw Fiona in the kitchen on a call, holding up the container that contained her fertility pills.

“Yes Fiona." Lucas' voice sounded over the phone.

" She doesn't look sick or drained, are you assuring me her womb is badly damaged right now?”

" Yes Fiona.” Lucas' voice sounded again low and throaty.

Rachel froze at the spot. She could not believe what she had just heard.

The pills. The one that Lucas said was going to help improve her hormones and would be able to make her get pregnant if she drank it continuously for months or even years.

It was all a lie.

‘Lucas has been drugging her for years now. So she wouldn’t conceive.’

Fiona laughed triumphantly after confirming Rachel had stormed upstairs to her room.

She was happy her plan worked out and she made sure Rachel heard Lucas' voice.

She wasn’t in a call with Lucas afterall. She had intentionally played a voice note of one of her conversations with Lucas while asking him those questions. Pretending he was giving her an answer.

She heard footsteps approaching her earlier and she knew it was Rachel cause nobody else was in the house.

Lucas has left for his office and the help was on a sick leave.

She starred at the bottle containing the pills and smilled, placing it back on the counter.

She assured herself that this was going to break Rachel totally. She was willing to do worse as long as it would wreck her.

Lucas promised her he would get a divorce once his father officially hands him the 20% shares of the perfume company. And his father was only going to do that if he remained married to Rachel.

But it seemed like forever to Fiona. Lucas father hadn’t done it and she desperately needed to get back with Lucas.

She heared the clattering sound of glass and left the kitchen. She knew the sound was coming from Rachels room and so she headed upstairs.

A loud knock on Rachels door made her flinch.

“Rachel"

She recognized the voice immediately.

" Its me Fiona, open the door.” Fionas voice pleaded from outside her room.

“I don’t want anybody in here you can leave" Rachel mouthed, her voice sounded hoarse from crying.

“Rachel open the door."

" What do you want Fiona?” Rachel struggled to speak, pushing the door open.

Fionas eyes roamed over her. She snorted at her scattered hair and her tear streaked face, satisfied with what she saw.

“Say whatever you want to say and get out." Rachel said, with her arms crossed over her chest.

“Can you atleast allow me in?"

Rachel made way and she entered. She starred at the entire room and then back to Rachel.

“Ouuu, Lucas is such a darling for getting you that." Fiona giggled, pointing at a waterfall picture frame that hung on the wall.

" You know when I was with Lucas, I always visited the waterfall on every of my birthday. And Lucas never failed to get that for me.” She chuckled.

" Okayyyy” Rachepl dragged furrowing her brows, confused at where the infirmation was heading to.

Fiona gave a lopsided smirk. She had expected her to break down. But she didn’t. Obviously she wasn’t moved by the memories.

She turned and faced Racheal, gave her a cocky grin like she had already won.

“I heared the clattering sound of glasses and that is why I’ve decided to come.” She shrugged her shoulders before continuing.

“Lucas and I have been besties since school days and lovers till date. Am sorry if it seems am taking him away from you. But we are so in love with each other, Lucas loves me." She giggled and rolled her eyes.

" I advice you let go of Lucas before he leaves you. Take your time to think about how shameful it would be.” Fiona said.

Rachel shook her head in disbelief. Telling her this was like striking an arrow to her already injured heart.

“I shouldn’t be telling you this Rachel but Lucas screwed me the other day right in your very matrimonial home. He fucked me so hard, screaming my name that he wanted more.” Fiona exclaimed and bursted into laughter.

She moved towards the door. “Well, I just came to see how broken you are Rachy. See you in hell."

Rachels eyes welled up in tears and she allowed it fall freely from her cheeks. Whe knew she had caught them in the act but Fiona rubbing it to her face hitted different.

She was done with Lucas. She concluded.

Her five years of marriage was about to come to an end. She wouldn’t live under the same roof with a man who cheated on her and worst still gave her pills that aided in her infertility.

“Am I that dumb?”She echoed in her head. How could she not have figured out the pills was ruining her womb all this while. Lucas had gotten the pills from a renowned HSG as he said.

There was no room for suspicion cause he never lied to her. There marriage had no issues all the years except from Lucas mother who didn’t like her.

She was still ruminating over the cause of event when her room door flung open.

It was Fiona again.

She starred down at the broken glass on the floor and stormed towards it.

“What are you doing Fiona?" Racheal sprang to her feet.

" And what does it look like?” she asked, brushed her palms into her hair scattering it then matched the broken glass so hard that it pireced her leg as blood began dripping out.

“Fiona!" Rachel screemed and grabbed her hand to pull her out.

“Let go of me!" Fiona cried shoving her hands off her body.

“You did this.”

Rachels hand suspended akwardly in the air.

“Wh…..at… do you me…an..” She stuttered.

Fiona clutched her ankle in deep pain as tears shimmered in her eyes refusing to fall.

“You saw that right?" She let out a loud piercing cry, turning her heads to the door way.

" She pushed me to it” she whimpered pointing at the broken glass on the floor.

Rachel followed her gaze and froze at whom she saw. Lucas was standing by the door wide eyed as he took in the scene. Fiona had timed perfectly.

“How could you do this Rachel?" Lucas growled and walked into the room.

" No” Rachel said quickly. " It wasn’t me”

" Then what happened?” Lucas glarred at her.

“She came in herself and stepped on the glasses. It wasn’t me.”

Fiona heaved terribly and tried walking towards Lucas but winced in pains. And now the blood were already flowing well staining the floor.

“I…… heared the sound of shattering bottle and decided to come know if she was hurt” Fiona sobbed. " I didn’t know she had lash out on me this way.”

Lucas frowned. “I don’t think she did it intentionally Fiona.”

Fiona shook her head, casting Rachel a sideways glance with a dramatic sigh. “She did it delibrately Lucas. She could have apologized if it were an accident."

Rachel opened her mouth to speak but no words came out of it. She was completely stunned and short of words. Right now, Fiona desrve an award for the best actress of the year because her performance was amazing.

Lucas stepped closer to where Rachel stood and gripped her hands forcefully.

“How could you cause your fellow woman to bleed. Isn’t that wickedness Rachel? You would have simply asked her to leave your room if you were so pained she came to check on you, not this." He yelled, pointing at Fionas injured leg.

He curled his lips in a devlish grin.

“If you try this again Rachel. Bet me, I wont allow you get away with it.” He concluded and turned to Fiona, wrapped his hand around her waist and led her out of the room.

Rachel felt her world crumbling before her. She lost one more person to another woman. First her father and now her husband.

She isn’t going to stand and watch her life become a mess.

She picked up her phone and dailed her lawyer.

For all she cared she is leaving the marriage. A divorce decree was what she wanted right now and in five days time she will be out of this marriage.

The reality of what happened yesterday slammed into Rachel like a freight train.

Her husband had chosen his ex's opinion over hers.

She felt it humiliating like she meant nothing to him.

Rachel headed straight to the kitchen, she took the pills and trashed it.

She wanted to take it to the hospital for confirmation but it was of no use.

She checked the time on her phone ‘8:20am.’ She had woken up late for three consecutive days now.

Her schedule for the day was a little bit tight. She has scheduled the first two hours she would leave her house for her painting skill practice. The second two hours would be to her lawyers chamber for the divorce decree and after that she will head to the Thompsons company to resign from the secretary role Lucas gave her in the company.

She hurried back upstairs and got dressed. She wore something different today. A high waisted jean and a white crop top, she wore over it a long beige trench coat.

She came back downstairs and met Fiona standing in the doorway that connected the kitchen to the dining room.

“Hi Racheal” Fiona called, placing the spatula she held on the dining table. Her other hand held a plate filled with scrambled eggs.

Rachel was puzzled to see Fiona was home. After the incident yesterday, Lucas left with Fiona and they didn’t return till she slept off.

“You can come have a bite" Fiona giggled and picked a piece of egg and muched on it.

Rachel stared at her face and then her bandaged feet. Fiona was more than evil. Causing herself pain just to ruin someone else.

Rachel's phone bepped and she knew she had little or no time to spare so she picked her keys and left hearing Fiona's distant laugh.

********

Rachel headed straight to the Thompsons' company after leaving her lawyer's place. She decided to head to her office to get her things there and also drop off the resignation and divorce letters with Lucas.

She pushed the door open and her face dropped at what she saw.

Fiona was seated in her office sorting out files on her desk.

“Rachel.” Fiona squealed from her seat.

“Shocked to find me in your office huh. Well I am now the new secretary. Lucas gave me the position days ago.”

Rachel stood in shock. She was visibly shaken Lucas stripped the position off her without even informing her first. And worst still gave the position to Fiona.

She hadn’t gone to work for a whole week. The doctor said she needs a lot of rest and shouldn’t stress herself for the meantime. So she took a week off without knowing the position had been filled by Fiona for that whole week.

“Rachel, isn’t it obvious that Lucas doesn’t love you anymore? If I were you, I would probably end my life or run out of the marriage. You are just an interfering homewrecker”

‘Homewrecker?’

Rachel suddenly felt enraged at this. For goodness sake she is Lucas Thompson's legal wife. She decided to drop pursuing her masters because of Lucas. And here Fiona stood referring to her as a homewrecker when that word should be used for her instead.

She stared down at the envelope she held and assured herself one more time that the divorce was necessary.

“What do you have there?" Fiona asked and pulled her chair backwards. She stood and approached Rachel, staring at the divorce decree she held.

“Can I have them?” Fiona smiled and tried to snatch it from her.

“Dont you dare." Rachel yelled and clenched the envelope tightly.

She had been quiet all this while but wouldn’t tolerate her melding into her personal affairs.

Fiona withdrew her hand. And in her frustration she said “Didn’t know you were feisty Rachel. More reason Lucas doesn't like you. He loves his woman soft and calm” she rolled her eyes dreamingly.

Rachel's lips curled into a faint smirk. She knew Fiona said all of that to get back at her. If for any reason Lucas isn’t in love with her anymore, it was simply because Fiona is back. Fiona is the woman after his heart not her. Lucas married her just because she saved him. Nothing more.

“You can……”

Fiona was interrupted by the presence of Lucas.

“Y…. You shouldn’t be here Rachel” Lucas stammered in confusion.

He was surprised to see Rachel at the company.

Rachel turned to face him.

“Lucas I’m…..”

" I know you aren’t happy to see Fiona in your office.” Lucas cut in.

“ I was meaning to tell you before now though. Fiona will be taking the role of my new secretary from now on.” He blurted.

Rachel wasn’t in shock. Everything isn’t known to her. The very day he caught the both of them making out, all the accumulated feelings for Lucas throughout the years of their marriage crumbled.

“Fiona needs the money more than you do Rachel. I mean you practically get whatever you want cause I have it. But Fiona can’t. She needs the money so I offered her the job.”

Rachel exhaled deeply. A lot of things were happening too fast.

She stood speechless looking at Lucas.

‘How did he suddenly change.’

Lucas was a loving and daring husband before now. But changed after Fiona's return. The change was just too quick for her. He spared no time in showing Fiona he still loved her and always will.

“Here Lucas, check what's inside." Rachel handed the envelope to Lucas.

Lucas collected it and squeezed them roughly,he threw it into the trash can behind him.

“I know Rachel, it's still negative" he said and moved to hold her hands.

He thought Rachel had come to show him her pregnancy test again. Always negative, he believed. For any reason, he wouldn’t think that Rachel would want a divorce.

A nobody he married out of the blues. Where had she run to if she leaves.

“Lucas it's a d…….”

" Doctors report! It's the same news Rachel isn't?" Lucas said impatiently. He was pissed already.

Rachel stood bewildered. She looked at the folded divorce decree in the trash and shook her head

She had another copy at home though.

‘ So Lucas was behind her infertility for firmly believing it was a pregnancy test and the result positive.’