We Ditched the Heirs and Ran

My younger sister, Meredith Sinclair, and I marry into two powerful families in Jarville. I marry Huxley Locke, while Meredith marries Irvin Zimmerman. A while ago, their childhood sweetheart, Imogen Sterling, returns. She gets into an argument with Meredith. Irvin loses his temper and shoves her, nearly causing her to miscarry. At the hospital, she throws her arms around me and sobs, "Maeve, I want to leave and raise the baby on my own. He doesn't even know I'm pregnant yet. They're all siding with Imogen. If we stay, we'll only suffer." Thinking of how gentle and doting Huxley is toward Imogen and how distant he is with me, I nod. "Then, let's run away together." We board a fishing boat with fake passports, but the next second, a helicopter appears overhead. Meredith looks at me miserably and apologizes, "Maeve, Huxley forced me to tell him about our escape plan. He was too intimidating. I couldn't keep it from him." Chapter 1 Maeve's POV I'd considered every scenario, but I never expected that the person who would betray me in the end would be my little sister, Meredith Sinclair. I took a deep breath and fought the urge to slap her into oblivion. I hissed, "What's the meaning of this? You were the one who said we should leave, and you were the one who blew our cover. How can you give in so easily?" Unable to hold myself back, I smacked her on the back of the neck. Meredith had always been spoiled. The slap immediately brought her to tears. She shrank back and wailed, "But Huxley was just too scary! You should have thought about how much influence he has in the city. We were already exposed the day we planned to leave. "I'm really scared of him. He's always walking around with that intimidating look on his face. He's even more pretentious than Irvin…" Meredith glanced up at me cautiously, looking a little guilty. I rubbed my temples, feeling a headache coming on. "Then, why didn't you tell me sooner? Need I remind you that I'm your sister, and you should trust me more?" At that, Meredith pouted and protested, "I thought he was only keeping tabs on you. I figured he'd just take you back. I never imagined he'd come after me too! It's not like I'm his wife…" I smacked Meredith again. She covered her cheek and stared at me resentfully. "Maeve, why did you hit me again?" I was practically laughing at how stupid Meredith could be. Nothing was really wrong with her. She was just too naive. In fact, she was so naive that she could be downright foolish sometimes. Irvin Zimmerman and Huxley Locke had grown up together. They had been best friends since childhood, so they were like brothers. There was no way Huxley would have kept our plan from Irvin the moment he learned about it. Besides, Meredith had nearly miscarried at the hospital just two days ago. If word got out that the Zimmerman family's daughter-in-law had disappeared, it would also put tremendous public pressure on the family. I sighed. I had spent so much time and effort planning our escape. However, Meredith was pregnant. I couldn't really bring myself to blame her. Meredith said meekly, "I'm sorry, Maeve. I really didn't mean to. You know me. I'm a careless person…" She tugged at my sleeve, just like she had when we were little. Whenever she'd done something wrong, she'd always done that. She added, "I considered the fact that Huxley has always treated you pretty well. If you came with me, we'd have to struggle out there for a long time. How could I bear to make you suffer? "Irvin pushed me because of that woman. So, there's no way I can stay with him anymore. But you don't have to leave your marriage, Maeve. Huxley hasn't done anything unforgivable. My marriage may not be worth saving, but yours still is!" Looking at the innocence in Meredith's eyes, I felt a bitter ache in my heart. The truth was, neither of our marriages was worth saving anymore. I raised my hand, wanting to pull her into a hug. Chapter 2 Maeve's POV Just then, the cabin door opened, and Irvin walked in. He rolled the prayer beads in his hand and looked down at us. "You've gotten bold, Meredith. You even dared to run away from home now." I couldn't help clicking my tongue. No wonder they called him the Mystic Master of Jarville. Even when he came after someone, he brought his string of prayer beads with him. Irvin said in exasperation, "All I did was push you that one time. I already apologized for it. What more do you want from me?" Unlike Huxley and me, whose marriage had been arranged to form a business alliance, Meredith and Irvin had grown up together. The Zimmerman family was pretty unusual. They had built their fortune on the mystic arts that blended astrology and the occult. Since calling Irvin Jarville's Occult Master sounded somewhat awkward, everyone in their circle referred to him as the Mystic Master instead. Whenever one of the city's prominent families had to make a major decision, they would almost always go to the Zimmerman family for a reading. Our families had long agreed that Meredith would be Irvin's future bride back when they were children. So, the two had grown up together. After all, Irvin's grandfather had once consulted a fortune teller about his future. The reading had said that Meredith was the woman he was destined to marry. Back then, our family had been in decline. Therefore, we had been more than happy that the Zimmerman family had taken an interest in Meredith. But Meredith and Irvin had never been particularly compatible. They had a minor argument every few days and a major one every week. They spent years together as a bickering couple who constantly got mad at each other but would make up sooner or later. Meredith retorted with reddened eyes, "I want you to drop dead, you damn poser! The Mystic Master? More like the biggest idiot! Why are you always carrying those stupid prayer beads? Your family hasn't even made money from fortune-telling in years!" Irvin rubbed his forehead helplessly. "You're pregnant, Meredith. Come home with me, okay?" Meredith got even more upset. "What makes you think I'll go home with you? You pushed me because of Imogen Sterling the other day! I'll remember that for the rest of my life! Don't think you can just pretend it never happened and brush it aside!" Once again, they started arguing. I stood to the side watching them, feeling strangely envious. After all, Huxley and I had never been like this. Seeing that there was no way he was going to calm Meredith down anytime soon, Irvin finally turned his attention to me. He frowned and said, "Meredith is childish, but you're different, Maeve. You're usually the levelheaded one. How could you get dragged into this with her? Hux has always treated you well. We've all seen it. You shouldn't be joining Meredith in this nonsense." Meredith turned to me too. "Exactly, Maeve! Why did you come with me? I didn't even get a chance to ask you about this. Huxley has always treated you with respect. You two get along so well. You're the model couple in our social circle!" I laughed bitterly and thought that we were indeed very respectful to each other. That much was true. But that was all Huxley and I had ever had. I used to think that was simply how he was. It wasn't until Imogen came back to the country that I realized what he was like when he truly cared for someone. Unlike Meredith and the people she had grown up with, I had spent my childhood living overseas with my maternal grandfather. I hadn't returned to the country until I was 22 years old to marry Huxley for our family's sake. Huxley was always so polite toward me. To be honest, he was so polite that he felt distant. The first time I met Huxley was at the dinner where our families arranged our marriage. That night, I looked at him from three chairs away. Suddenly, my heartbeat fell out of rhythm. Only later did I realize that was what people meant by love at first sight. Unfortunately, it had only ever been one-sided. Even after three years of marriage and living under the same roof, Huxley remained as polite toward me as if he were a guest in my home. He would say "good morning" in the morning and "good night" before bed, but he never once asked how my day had been. I had secretly left a cup of hot coffee on his desk once. By the time I saw it again after work, the cup was still sitting exactly where I'd left it, untouched and long since cold. For our anniversary, I had booked his favorite private restaurant two weeks in advance. I'd even picked out a mechanical watch as his gift, with our wedding date engraved on the dial. Chapter 3 Maeve's POV I had waited from early evening until late at night. The restaurant had called me three times to tell me they were closing. My fingers had gone white from gripping the gift box so tightly before I finally heard the lock turning. When Huxley came in, his coat was carrying the chill of the night air. A long strand of unfamiliar hair was caught in his collar. It belonged to Imogen. I recognized it because she had posted a photo of herself with the same curled hairstyle on social media just yesterday. Before I could say anything, he frowned and asked, "Why are you still awake?" "Today is our wedding anniversary," I answered in a slightly trembling voice as I held out the gift box. He glanced at it but didn't take it. All he did was respond stoically in an even voice, "I forgot. Imogen had severe stomach cramps, so I took her to the hospital. I just finished dealing with it." There was no apology. He didn't even offer an explanation for why he hadn't so much as sent me a message. He didn't even ask how long I'd been waiting. I stood there in stunned silence. Only then did I realize that he wasn't incapable of caring about someone. His concern simply had nothing to do with me. I recounted everything that had happened over the years in an almost eerily calm voice. After hearing me, Meredith clenched her fists. "Screw him! What kind of man is he? Does he really think he's some kind of prince? If I'd known he was this much of a jerk, I never would've told him about our plan!" Irvin looked like he had something to say. "Maeve, Hux actually…" Meredith snapped at him with reddened, furious eyes. "You and Huxley can both get lost! Maeve is such a wonderful person, and Huxley still had the nerve to make her suffer! That bastard! I'll make him pay for it!" Truthfully, I had been envious when Irvin came looking for Meredith. I had even thought that if Huxley came looking for me, I'd go back with him. However, things didn't go as I wished. This time, I was going back to end things with him once and for all. I had always been particular about staying faithful and devoted in a relationship. Since Huxley had someone else he held dear in his heart, I wasn't going to cling to him. Meredith and I went back together, arriving just in time for a party at Locke Manor. People from both the Locke and Zimmerman families were there. Irvin's parents had passed away years ago, so Meredith hadn't had in-laws around to make her life difficult. I wasn't nearly as lucky. Huxley's mother, Rosalie Pratt, was not someone to mess with. She had always believed that I wasn't good enough for him. Every time we met, she made sure to throw a few cutting remarks my way. The moment Meredith and I stepped into the ballroom at Locke Manor, the lively conversations around us abruptly fell silent. One by one, people turned to look at us, their judgmental gazes weighed on us uncomfortably. Clearly, our little escape had already become the hottest topic at the party. Irvin walked ahead of us, his fingers rapidly spinning the prayer beads. He didn't look particularly pleased. He was probably worried that Meredith would cause another scene. Meredith grabbed my wrist. She was like an angry little kitten that had been provoked. She glared fiercely at everyone who dared to stare at us. I took a deep breath and was just about to pull her toward a quiet corner when a shrill female voice cut through the room. "Well, well, if it isn't the Sinclair sisters? What happened? I guess you didn't get enough of the sea breeze on that fishing boat, so you came running back to give us another show." Rosalie approached us in four-inch heels, draped in a burgundy mink coat. Her jewelry glittered so brightly under the lights that it was almost blinding. She looked me up and down, her eyes full of contempt and her lips curled into a mocking smile. Rosalie mocked, "You're a grown woman, yet you're still playing childish games like running away from home? If word gets out, people will think the Locke family treated you so badly that you'd rather squeeze onto some rundown fishing boat than stay here." I clenched my hands, and my nails dug into my palms. I was just about to defend myself when a voice that was so cloyingly sweet that it sounded unnatural came from behind Rosalie. "Please don't say that, Mrs. Locke. Maybe Maeve was just going through a difficult time." Imogen stepped out from behind Rosalie, looking every bit the picture of innocence and thoughtfulness. Chapter 4 Maeve's POV Imogen turned to look at me. There was a hint of amusement in her eyes. She said, "Hux couldn't find you yesterday and was so worried that he barely slept all night. Later, when he heard you were on a fishing boat, he even sent a helicopter to pick you up. If something was bothering you, you could have just told us. There was no need to make such a huge fuss." Her words sounded like she was trying to make peace, but every sentence was actually stabbing at my sore spots. She was implying that I was being childish and unreasonable, causing Huxley to worry about me unnecessarily. Before I could respond, Rosalie reached over and patted Imogen's hand. "You're so thoughtful, Immy. Unlike some people who enjoy all the benefits of being part of the Lockes but don't know their place." As she turned toward me, her gaze hardened. "Maeve, I warned you from the beginning. You're too stubborn, so you're not good enough for Huxley. If the Sinclair family hadn't been useful to us, I never would have agreed to this marriage. "And now, you've even run away from home. What do you take us for? Do you think we have no authority over you?" "What are you talking about, you old hag?" Meredith exclaimed with rage. She glared at Rosalie and fired back, "Maeve left because Huxley clearly loves someone else! After three years of marriage, he's polite to Maeve but never shows her any real affection. On their anniversary, she waited from evening until late at night. "And what did Huxley do? He went to the hospital with Imogen without even sending her a single message! If you were in her shoes, wouldn't you feel hurt too? Huxley is a jerk!" Meredith's voice was loud and furious. Imogen's eyes immediately turned red. She looked at me and said, "Maeve, I didn't know… My stomach really hurt badly yesterday. Hux was kind enough to take me to the hospital. I never meant to cause him any trouble…" As she spoke, tears rolled down her cheeks, making her look utterly pitiful. The moment Rosalie saw her crying, she pointed at Meredith and began yelling. "How rude of you, you insolent girl! Immy was sick. Wasn't it only right for Huxley to help her? Maeve is the one being petty, and she's got you spouting nonsense too! "Is this how the Sinclair family raises their daughters? You have absolutely no manners!" "You're the one with no manners!" Meredith retorted. She was equally aggravated. If Irvin hadn't grabbed her in time, she probably would have charged straight at Rosalie. Meredith fumed, "Maeve has manners, which was why she put up with Huxley for three years! If it were me, I'd have divorced him long ago! And you! You speak up for Imogen every damn time. Why don't you just make her your daughter-in-law while you're at it? "Maeve doesn't give a damn about staying in the Locke family!" "How dare you!" Rosalie was so furious that her chest heaved rapidly. Even the hand pointing at Meredith was trembling. She screeched, "Irvin, look at your wife! Have you and your family been teaching her how to behave? How dare she speak to me so rudely!" Irvin frowned. He held Meredith back while forcing a smile at Rosalie. He tried to smooth things over. "Mrs. Locke, Meredith is young and doesn't know when to hold her tongue. Please don't take it personally. There are some misunderstandings about what happened today. Why don't we all sit down and talk things through?" Meredith still wanted to say something, but a commotion suddenly broke out at the entrance to the ballroom. The guests automatically stepped aside, and Huxley walked in. His hair was slightly disheveled. It was probably because he'd rushed back from outside. His eyes swept across the room before finally settling on me and Rosalie. He frowned and asked, "Mom, Maeve, what are you doing?" His voice wasn't loud, but it carried an unmistakable authority that instantly silenced the room. The moment Rosalie saw him, she seemed to have found the person who'd back her up. She immediately put on a wounded expression and complained, "You're here at last! Look at your wife. She keeps antagonizing me and making my life difficult!" Huxley's gaze shifted to me. His voice was as calm as ever when he spoke. Chapter 5 Maeve's POV Huxley said, "Maeve, let's go upstairs and talk." I followed him upstairs. Unlike Rosalie, he had never liked discussing private matters in front of other people. Looking at our bedroom, I suddenly felt exhausted. Huxley was always busy with work. Sometimes, he only came home once every ten days or even two weeks. After Imogen returned to the country, he came home even less. Thinking about it, we had already gone three months without seeing each other. It was ridiculous. "What are you laughing at?" Huxley asked, looking puzzled. I shook my head. None of that mattered anymore. "Let's get a divorce." "I'll talk to my mother and tell her to not give you a hard time." The two sentences came out almost simultaneously. I froze. Huxley's eyes widened too, and he frowned. He asked, "What did you say?" I took a deep breath and repeated myself, "Huxley, I want a divorce." A flicker of barely perceptible panic crossed his eyes. "No," he said it almost instinctively. An eerie silence fell over the room. I couldn't stand the atmosphere. So, I picked up my pajamas and went into the bathroom to take a shower. But while I was showering, Huxley came in. He was naked. As he wrapped his arms around me from behind, his breathing growing heavy. I suddenly thought about how those same arms had held Imogen, and I felt disgusted right away. "What are you doing?" I quickly grabbed my robe and wrapped it around myself. Huxley froze. I turned my head away. "I don't feel like it." We had rarely been intimate. The times we had slept with each other were pitifully few, and none of them had been particularly pleasant. Besides, I'd already told him that I had a psychological aversion to sharing what I considered contaminated. I couldn't stand the thought of my husband touching me while loving someone else in his heart. Huxley was silent for a moment before getting dressed. "I'm sorry. I should have asked for your consent first." I nodded and walked out. Once I was outside, I called Dad and told him I had decided to divorce Huxley. I wasn't particularly close to the rest of my family apart from Meredith. I'd grown up overseas with Grandpa, after all. I'd only returned home back then because the Sinclair family had been facing a financial crisis and desperately needed an investment from the Locke family. Meredith was already in love with someone else, so she couldn't marry Huxley. Since I was technically a member of the Sinclair family, I had volunteered to marry into the Locke family in her place. But now, the Sinclair family's crisis had long since passed. There was no longer any reason for me to remain in this marriage. Dad only said, "I'm sorry you had to go through this," before agreeing readily. I turned around and found Huxley standing nearby, silently watching me. "I won't agree to a divorce." Those were the first words out of his mouth. I raised an eyebrow, assuming he was worried about dividing our assets. So, I replied, "I can leave with nothing. You don't have to worry about the money." After all, the Locke family had already done more than enough for the Sinclair family. They wouldn't miss what little I took with me. Huxley froze and frowned. "That's not what I meant." I nodded. "I'll move out within three days." "No." His tone left no room for argument. After a pause, he continued, "The Locke family's rule is that marriages end only in death. We don't get divorced. So, Maeve, I won't agree to a divorce." I stood there, my mind racing as I tried to figure out how I could possibly get a divorce from Huxley. I couldn't afford to turn against the Lockes. We had to part peacefully, or the Sinclair family's business could suffer. If the Locke family's rule was that a marriage could only end in death… In that case, maybe I could "die"?