SIX

"Olivia, listen to me, "Althea's feet froze when she heard her husband's coaxing tone. Such a tone he had never used even with her. She knew that their marriage was merely an arrangement yet it didn't stop her from seeking his warmth. A wife had several expectations from her husband. 

"How can I listen to you?" Olivia screamed. 

"Althea can hear you, "Mathew said. "It will do us no good if she hears us."

"That bitch is busy with the group of ladies who do a better job at pretending than me, "Olivia said in a fit of anger. "Why don't you leave her? Why don't you tell her that you hate her? She took everything from you. The power that was supposed to be yours, she is using that. How can you see things happening like this? No one considers you as heir."

"She is just a goddamn tool, " he said. "Once Father dies, we will dispose of her." Althea heard the sound of kissing and felt disgusted, "You must know that I love you. Only you will be my Duchess. She will never get the status of Duchess. Once the real-time comes, you will get your status."

Althea felt disgusted, shocked and perplexed. She had never thought that the man who never even raised his voice at her harbors such vicious thoughts about her. Unable to bear this, she ran from there to get fresh air. She found herself unable to breathe. Never in her wildest dreams, she had anticipated such from her husband. 

As she was standing outside her estate, panting. The servant came running, he halted when he saw her and said, "Lady Lancaster, His Grace…"

"What happened?" She questioned, unable to breathe. She simply knew that something had occurred. Something that would change her entire life. 

"His Grace is no more, "The servant questioned and Althea lost all will to live. "You must come with me."

It was as if all the tragedy befell on her at the same time. She was ambushed from left and right. Nothing that she was doing was working in her favor. They said hard-work always paid off. But in her case, her bad luck seemed to overpower everything. She worked for this family to the bone but what did she get in return? Betrayal!

She wanted nothing more than to be accepted and loved. She merely wanted a family. Althea didn't know that she would pay such a heavy price one day for having such a simple want. 

As Duke Lancaster died, Mathew was crowned as the new duke of the south. The funeral took place the following day and it started her downfall. 

Mathew did not even care for his position or his image that he had created in front of her. With Duke Lancaster's death, the patience in Mathew had died to the point that he could not even wait to dispose of her. 

"Matthew, "Althea gasped as he held her hair and threw her onto the muddy ground. "What are you doing?"

"I am doing what I should have done a year ago, "Mathew grinned, evilly. "I have been waiting for this day for a year. Do you know how many times I have imagined this day in my head? Countless times. I was waiting for my father to die so I could strip you of your power. Althea Hamilton, you belong in the dirt."

"Is it because I can't give you a child?" Althea asked, tears trickling down her cheek. 

There were so many questions going in her mind. But the one she wanted to ask the most was: why was he doing this to her? What caused him to hate her that much? What was her fault in all of this? 

From the beginning, she had only cared for him. 

"Child?" He chuckled. "Who wants to breed a child with you? I made sure that you can't bear one. Do you know I have been mixing contraception in your food from the beginning? You can't give birth to my child even if you want. You weren't even a good lay, Althea Hamilton. Just a waste of time."

"Please, "Althea whispered as he kicked her stomach. Her words caused more pain than the kick in her stomach. 

She was begging him not to say these hurtful words. 

Even if he kills her, please don't utter these words. These words made her feel like she had lived in vain. 

"Beg me for your life and see how I tear you apart, "Mathew grinned. It was at this time Olivia entered the scene. She was wearing a beautiful gown, resembling the old duchess, "Today, I'm going to marry the love of my life Olivia who will be my Duchess and the future mother of my child. We don't have to hide our love any more. Althea Hamilton, I wish you the very best for the death that I have planned for you."

"Matthew no!" Althea begged him. "Please let me go. I will leave your life. I won't return."

"You are a curse, Althea, "Matthew growled. "I will not leave you to come back to haunt me later. Women like you should be buried seven feet deep."

"Matthew!" Althea cried. As she tried to hold Matthew, Olivia used her magic and formed a barrier that threw Althea far from them. 

"Since you were such a complient lay to me, I hope your will be same to my men."

"Gentleman, enjoy your feast!" Mathew said as a group of men pounced on her to tear her into pieces while he walked away with Olivia in his arms. 

He heard screams of the women in the air but paid no attention.

Althea knew what was to come next. Her eyes widened in fear and despair but she could do nothing except for screaming. 

At this moment, she prayed for death to come to her before her soul couldn't never heal from the humiliation and trauma that Matthew was giving her. 

Defeated, she closed her eyes and the twenty two years of her life played before her like a reel and tears started trickling down her eyes. She saw her mother's beautiful images, heard her sweet voice and watched her father turning her back. She saw how she broke down when her mother died and how Janette collected her pieces and put her back. She missed Janette and was ready to forgive her for leaving her all alone. She missed the haunted castle and the friends that she made there. 

And she missed Aurora, her beautiful and one true friend. Only if she could see her again. 

She opened her eyes for the last time as she could feel the last bit of life leaving her body. As she opened her body, she saw the translucent image of Aurora flying in the sky and falling at her feet. 

Althea could only smile with tears at her friend. 

"You are

late, Aurora, "Althea smiled with pain, "I was lonely without you."