Face Slapping

DAHLIA'S POV 

I don’t understand anything anymore. Why is everything happening at once?

I stand at the doorway, my mouth open, but no words come out. I must look foolish, just standing there like that. But I can’t move. I can’t even think properly.

“What is going on?” Sunny asks as she walks up behind me.

She steps forward so she can see the man better. It is getting dark already. I turned off most of the lights in the house to save power, so my porch is the only one without light in the whole street.

I never used to think about it before. But now… I can clearly see how badly I have been living these past few months.

Everything has been falling apart. First, my business crashed. Then my life followed.

But this past week… This week has been the worst. Every single thing that happens reminds me of how low I have fallen.

“I am sorry, Mrs. Salazar,” the lawyer says calmly, like none of this matters to him. Well, it doesn't! “If you read your lease agreement properly, you will understand that you cannot stay here anymore. And you must also pay for the damages caused by the fire before you leave.”

His words hit me, but I still can’t respond.

“What does that even mean? Let me see that!” Sunny snaps.

She grabs the file from my hands and opens it quickly. Her eyes move fast as she reads. Then her face changes as she scowls at the man.

“No. No, this is nonsense!” she says loudly, facing me. “You didn’t agree to this rubbish! Dahlia, why didn’t you tell me about this? How can people be this wicked?”

She turns to the lawyer again, her eyes staring him down.

“Tell me something. Is this the same kind of agreement you give to other tenants in this estate?”

The lawyer does not look bothered at all.

“No one forced her to sign it,” he explains curtly. “In fact, I was helping her. Who else would even give her a house after everything she has done? We all saw the news. Her case was terrible. And now look, she has not even stayed up to the six months probation, and she already burned the house. Who knows what she would have done next—”

“Stop right there!” Sunny cuts in angrily.

“Let me correct you. She did not burn anything. Her husband did. And he is not even well. It was an accident. Who sets their own house on fire while they are inside?”

The lawyer sighs, clearly tired.

“I am not here to argue about this, especially not with you throwing baseless accusations on my face. If you care so much, you can take her in yourself. Good night.”

And just like that, he turns and walks away.

Sunny scoffs loudly.

“Did he just call that argument baseless? I swear—” she mutters, folding the papers angrily. “I hate how you just accept all this—”

“Sunny…” I say softly, stopping her.

“It was on the news,” I tell her, my voice weak. “Everyone saw it. They saw the so-called proof that I used my fashion company for money laundering. They believe that is how I got rich.”

I swallow hard before going on.

“It became a big scandal. And then all these bad things started happening to me… so people think it is karma. They think I deserve it.”

My chest feels tight, I place a hand over it.

“So how do you expect them to trust me? Even if some of them don’t believe it, they will still stay away. Nobody wants to get involved.”

I take a slow breath.

“This house… was the only option I had. Just somewhere to keep Jerome and myself while I try to fix things.”

My voice breaks a little.

“So please… just let it go.” I turn and walk back inside before I lose control.

Behind me, I hear Sunny sigh as she closes the door. Not long after, she quietly packs a bag for me.

We leave without saying anything. The car ride to her house is silent. Very silent.

That night feels heavy.

Sadness fills my heart, and something strange hangs between us. Sunny does not leave my side, but she also does not try to talk.

Still, I can feel her care. Even without words, I know what she is saying…I am here. I will not leave your side.

In this whole world, Sunny is the only person who has truly stood by me. Sometimes, I feel like even if she lost both her legs… she would still find a way to stand for me.

The next morning, she drops me at the hospital by 8:30 AM. Before I step out, I squeeze her hand gently.

“I won’t do anything stupid,” I say, trying to calm her. “I promise.”

“I’d kill you if you did,” she replies, but her voice is soft. “Don't ever forget that I am always rooting for you, babes.”

She hugs me tightly. Then she waits until I step out before she drives away.

I walk into the hospital. The smell of medicine fills my nostrils. I used to despise the smell of medicine so much that I threw up instantly when I perceived it, but with the constant visits to the hospital, my nose and stomach seem to have grown accustomed to it.

I go straight to the reception, but they tell me to wait for ten minutes before I can see Cleo.

So I sit in the waiting area. There are other people around… patients, visitors…but I feel completely alone.

There is nowhere else for me to go. No one else to call.

The only thing I can do now… is make sure Cleo chooses me.

I cannot let Jerome take her away from me. She is all I have left. The last card I've to play and losing is never an option in this matter.

I close my eyes for a moment. I try to remind myself that signing the surrogacy contract was not a mistake.

When all this is over, I will have money. Enough money to hire lawyers. Enough to clear my name. Enough to rebuild my business.

Eighteen months feels like a long time… But it will be worth it. I thought about it all night.

For my daughter…I can do anything. I cannot lose her too.

I shake my head, trying to push away all the bad thoughts. That is when I notice something.

The room has gone quiet. Too quiet. Everyone is staring at the television. Even the nurses have stopped moving.

The silence is so deep, it feels like you could hear a pin drop on the floor.

Slowly… I look up. And then—

My heart stops.

On the screen… is my husband. My soon-to-be ex-husband. He is standing at a press conference. Beside him are my stepmother and her daughter. For a moment, I cannot understand what I am hearing.

Then his words become clear.

“…I truly apologize,” he says, bowing. “I had no idea the fashion business was just a cover for evil. I am a good man who only married the wrong person because I loved her. But now that I am starting my own business, I have decided to cut all ties with her.”

My body goes cold.

“What about your daughter, Mr. Salazar?” a reporter shouts.

“Of course,” he replies quickly, “I will take her away from that evil woman. I will send her abroad for proper treatment. And when she gets better, she will study there.”

I stop breathing.

This man…

This man I have loved for six years. The father of my children. The man I shared my life and bed with… My entire life and…he was literally leeching off me for years and I allowed it because I trusted him!

He calls me evil?

I don’t even notice when I start crying.

Tears stream down my face, blurring everything. People around me are staring now. Whispers begin.

Soft… but sharp enough to cut deep into my throat so that my windpipe stops functioning.

I feel small. Like an animal trapped with no way out. My chest hurts so much.

How could he do this to me? How did I live with him all these years…and never see this side of him?