"Darlene you need to get pregnant soon!" Violet, her mother, seemed to be pacing. "If you get pregnant, he won't divorce you."
They had been married for a year, and in that time Landen had served the divorce papers. Marlon's family panicked and couldn't sleep well because they felt threatened. "If you can't get pregnant... just pretend!" Thomas said in a flat, sharp tone, like nothing was wrong. Darlene was choked up. "Pretend to be pregnant?" Landen, never wanted her at all. She was just his sexual outlet. Whenever they were done having sex, he always held out birth control pills and made sure she swallowed them in front of his eyes. And she... couldn't have told her parents this shameful secret, right? Darlene shook her head, she looked down in shame. "Impossible." "You can't get a divorce anyway, Darlene!" said Letta, Darlene's younger sister, who was sitting back and waiting for her nail art to be done. "My company still needs his money." Darlene looked at her sister with a wounded heart. She felt envious. Letta was like a king's daughter, and she was like a servant in charge of helping the princess get whatever she wanted. "If Landen can't get you pregnant... how about having sex with another man?" *** After losing consciousness several times while making love, Darlene finally wakes up when a glare hits her eyes. She gathered what was left of her strength, and got out of bed to approach the handsome man. But her steps were halted when she saw a document in his hand. The divorce papers again. Her heart ached every time Landen handed her the document. "When will you sign it? It's been a year and you still feel like this...." As usual, Landen's gaze was cold and sharp. He seemed to be looking down on Darlene. It was a far cry from when he was on top of her - his gaze was soft and his voice was gentle when he said her name. Darlene stared at the document for a while, then placed it on the table. "Mr. Landen, what about my sister's request?" she asked, following Landen's every move. "Would you mind seeing her for just a moment? This is... for the last time." Darlene squeezed her hand, she had high hopes for the man. But Landen laughed at her. "What do you think you're in for?" He stepped closer to Darlene. "Of course because your family got what they wanted." "It may not be worth it, but at least I still got something from your family," he said as he traced Darlene's body, taunting her. "Sign the divorce papers and stop being your family's paymaster." As Landen disappears behind the door, she turns around and stares at her reflection in the mirror. Tangled hair, puffy eyes and a tired face. She looked like a mess, and this... had happened so many times. Darlene bit her lip, holding back disappointment. They were always like this. Whenever they needed help, they would diligently contact her. But after getting it, they just disappeared. Darlene didn't want it to be like this. They had to know how she struggled to get Landen to comply with their wishes. Last night, he didn't even give her a chance to breathe. After cleaning up and getting dressed, Darlene decided to meet them. Arriving at Marlon's house, her steps suddenly stopped at the doorway. Her body instantly stiffened. Not far from where she stood, her parents and Letta were laughing loudly. Their voices were loud and piercing. Her name was thrown out amongst the laughter. "What mom said is true, Dad. Get her out of Marlon's family as soon as possible, before she asks for hers." Letta hugged her father's arm and spoke up again, "How long can I be the second child when I'm your only daughter?" Darlene's breath caught. Her chest was tight as if crushed by a very heavy object. With shaky steps she approached her family. "What is this all about?" They turned their heads. Surprised by Darlene's presence, but only for a moment. A second later their laughter broke out again. "This is amazing!" Letta clapped her hands, very satisfied. "We don't need to explain much, she's heard it all." Darlene stared at their faces one by one, hoping this was all an April mop. But all she found were cynical looks and insults. "As you heard, Darlene. You're... not one of us. Get out of the Marlon family." Violet smiled as she handed over a document. "We don't need you anymore." Darlene's fingers trembled but she tried to pick up the document anyway, and read it carefully. Valid. She was not the daughter of Marlon and Violet, but of the couple in the photo-Bastian Martin Young and Laura Maicell. They took her in because they wanted to take control of their mother and father's estate. "No wonder...." Darlene remembered how she had been treated unfairly. She had thought that her sister was spoiled because she was the youngest daughter. Letta always received what she wanted, while Darlene was always required to make sacrifices. "After getting everything, you dumped me?" Darlene gripped the document tightly, almost tearing it. Her eyes blazed, glaring at the traitors. "One day you'll regret it. I swear I will avenge everything." Without looking back, she left the house that had been her refuge for 23 years. *** Darlene's destination is only one, to meet Landen. He was all she had left in her life now. In her mind, she was going to fall into his arms and pour out all her sorrows. But reality hit her faster than she expected. As soon as the door opened, the world seemed to collapse on top of her head. She didn't want to believe it but what she saw was real. Landen - the cold man who had been her husband for a year and the only person she loved, was now lying on the sofa under a woman's body. Darlene closed her eyes, anguished, tears streaming down her face. "I can still bear the wounds all over my body, but seeing you under another woman's... I can't," she whispered. The sight shattered her, even the fact that she was not the biological daughter of Marlon's family felt like nothing. "Olivia..." Landen sighed. Darlene choked up. "So... she's Olivia?" A tightness rose from her chest to her throat. Giving up, there was no more room for her. She was the woman Landen always called him when he was drunk. With trembling hands she dialed Landen's number, her gaze still lingering on the passionately kissing couple. Until finally the man picked up after the fifth ring. More precisely after Olivia broke the kiss. "What's wrong? I'm busy. I don't think we have anything to talk about except the divorce." Landen's voice sounded so heavy, his breathing labored. That man... wouldn't even come out of Olivia's cage. Darlene turned away, she didn't want to look at them any further. "Yes, I'll sign it." "But... did you ever love me, even a little?"
