Chapter 2 Already Asleep

"Do you hear yourself, Jillian?" Rhett asked with a dark scowl. He glanced at the papers she was holding and scoffed.

He had always viewed Jillian as some sort of parasite. She needed to cling to him in order to survive, and he was already accustomed to her lack of self-reliance and utter dependence on him. Rhett had never even considered her stepping out of the box she had set for herself.

So he was quick to dismiss her suggestion of a divorce.

In his mind, Jillian was just throwing another tantrum.

Perhaps he had spoiled her too much over the years, that she had ultimately forgotten her place. Countless women were lining up to be Mrs. Wilson, even now that someone had already acquired the title. Yet the official Mrs. Wilson herself seemed to want more.

Well, she was in for a harsh reality check.

"What gives you the audacity to bring up divorce? Aren't you just the adopted daughter of the Matthews family? I was the one forced into this marriage, but I never mentioned divorce. What gives you the right to say it to my face? Do you even realize how many women are poised to take your position? It looks like you've grown so comfortably to a life of luxury that you've completely left your past behind. Let me remind you that everything you currently enjoy is owed to the fact that you are married to me. Go on, look around at the designer clothes in your closet and the limited-edition jewelry in your dresser. Each piece costs a fortune. Whenever you step out in public, everyone treats you with courtesy and respect. Do you know why? Because you are Mrs. Rhett Wilson. Without my name, you are nothing."

Rhett's words were like daggers that repeatedly stabbed Jillian's heart.

She couldn't listen to another word. "That's enough!"

The corners of her eyes had turned red from her effort to keep her tears at bay. As cruel as Rhett was, she couldn't refute the things he said. It was all true.

Jillian was just adopted; she had never been in a position to refuse him, much less divorce him.

She hadn't thought this through properly. She realized too late that she had simply given Rhett a reason to mock her. Jillian couldn't stand the humiliation, but they both knew she had no choice but to take it on the chin.

"I'm sure you were just acting up. You got carried away. I won't hold it against you. Just do what you're expected to do as Mrs. Wilson and don't bother yourself with matters that are none of your business."

Rhett ended his remark with a deprecating smirk at his so-called wife. He looked her up and down, as if he was appraising a piece of commodity instead of a person.

This time, when he headed to the door, Jillian didn't go after him.

She crumpled to the floor as soon as the door clicked shut. She clutched the divorce papers between her hands and stared at the print in a daze.

It was the ringing of her phone that snapped her back to her senses. She quickly answered after seeing her mother's name on the screen.

"Jillian!" Helena Matthews cried out tearfully the moment the call got connected. "Your father and grandfather were in a car accident. They are both in critical condition..."

"What did you say?" All at once, Jillian turned alert.

After getting the details of the hospital, she tossed the divorce papers haphazardly on the nightstand and left in a hurry.

Jillian's mind was blank as she waited outside the ICU with her mother.

She had no idea how long they were there, but when the doctor finally came out, it was to tell them that their attempts to revive the patients were unsuccessful. Helena fainted on the spot.

As Jillian tended to her mother, some members of the Matthews family arrived at the hospital.

It was unanimously decided to keep the deaths of her father, Joshua Matthews, and her grandfather, Gerald Matthews, under wraps. Arrangements were made for a small funeral service.

Given Helena's fragile state, Jillian had to step in and take over some of the family affairs. Even then, as an adopted daughter, she didn't really have the power to affect the elders' decisions.

With the death of the patriarch, Jillian's uncle, Phil Matthews, temporarily acted as the family head.

Although the funeral was a low-key affair, quite a number of people in their circle were in attendance that day, paying their respects to the departed. Rhett did not come.

Jillian spent a good amount of time in the empty hallway of the ceremonial hall, calling her husband time and time again. At last, he picked up.

It wasn't Rhett who answered the call, however, but another woman.

"Is this Mrs. Wilson? Sorry, but Rhett is already asleep. If you like, you can leave a message and I'll pass it on to him when he wakes up."