After He Took It All

Brielle 

The table was set for two. Covered with a white table cloth with rose petals scattered around. Candlelight and the smell of Jason's favourite dishes filled the room. 

I made Creamy garlic shrimp, lemon zest rice and honey glazed chicken for tonight. Just the way he always liked it. 

Today was our anniversary. Eight years together. And I wanted it to be a memorable day for the both of us. 

I wore the red dress he gave me on our anniversary last year — a one-shoulder piece that barely grazed my knees and hugged my curves in all the right places.

He said it was his favorite and I wanted today, or at least what was left of it to go perfectly. 

I smile at the framed wedding photo that I'd brought out tonight and whisper, “Happy anniversary, baby."

I checked the time on my phone again. 

7:47pm. He should have been back by now. 

Why wasn't he home yet?

I tried his number. It just went straight to voicemail. 

Strange.

No worries Bri, I told myself, He must be occupied with work or something. Let's just…wait. 

But it had been three hours and still not a sight of my husband anywhere. I was panicking at this point and wanted to call the police as I put in a jacket and went outside. 

I needed to head towards the company to see what was wrong. 

But as soon as I stepped outside, I saw his car driving in. Breathing a sigh of relief, I went towards the car to welcome him and ask why he wasn't home early but the sight in front of me shocked me. 

He was my husband alright. But my husband was with a child who looked to be about five years old. And a woman was also getting down from the vehicle.

The woman was gorgeous. Tall, smooth caramel skin, and long curled hair that looked too perfect for someone stepping out of a car in the rain. She laughed at something Jason said, casually looping her arm through his as though she belonged there.

I stood frozen as MY HUSBAND lifted the child up in his hands and started walking towards OUR HOUSE. 

The child's eyes shone with happiness. Her blue eyes reminded me of someone but I couldn't pinpoint who. 

"Daddy, can mummy and I please stay here with you? This place is so much better than where we're staying right now." The child pouted. 

Daddy? I was dreaming, right?

Because there was no way in hell I heard that correctly.

"Of course my darling. Anything for you." My husband cooed with a chuckle.

"J.... Jason? Who are they? Why's she calling you Daddy?" I stepped out from the shadows, suddenly feeling suffocated from the reality awaiting me.

But Jason just took one look at me and walked past me with the little girl tucked in his arms. 

"Ruby, from now on, me, your mummy and I will never be separated again, you understand?" He spoke in a calm, sweet voice to her. 

I gaped in disbelief and watched as the girl nodded, and a slow grin appeared on her face. 

I had seen that same grin so many times to not recognize it. My hands flew to my mouth as a sob worked its way out. 

"Jason!" I yelled out, ignoring the dryness that tugged at my throat. If he thought he was going to ignore me without an explanation, then he thought wrong!

He just rolled his eyes at me. My sweet, loving husband rolled his eyes at me in annoyance like he couldn't wait to get rid of me. He set the child down and the girl bolted to the back door where the pool house was and her mother went after her, leaving me and Jason alone. 

"Let's get this over with quickly. You see that woman and child," he pointed in the direction they just took off, "they're my family. So it's either you accept it or get the hell out of our house." He said coldly. 

I laughed, then burst out into another laughter—the sound cold and bitter even to my own ears. 

But nothing was funny about this situation. 

"Your house? You seem to be forgetting that this house is in both our names and ......" I didn't even finish my statement before he interrupted me with a scoff.

"You seem to be mistaken. Do you remember the documents you signed three months ago? Yes. Those were transfer shares. Of both the house and your company. Into my daughter's name." He said proudly. Like he had achieved something.

I was frozen in shock. No. 

This wasn't real. I couldn't be. 

I could barely breathe.

It was as if the air in my lungs had turned to smoke—choking, bitter, disorienting. My heels clicked against the floor like gunshots as I spun around and bolted for the stairs.

Jason didn’t follow. He didn’t even flinch.

I reached the bedroom, tore back the rug, my hands fumbling for the lock to the small, old safe tucked beneath the floorboard. My fingers shook as I input the digits—our wedding date.

It clicked open.

I grabbed the envelope marked House Ownership—the one we’d filed away after the wedding. I unfolded it, each word a dagger carving into my chest. I blinked. No, no.

Anastasia Ferdinez.

That was the name on the deed. Not mine. Not ours.

The same name I just heard that little girl being called.

I yanked another paper from the safe. Company shares agreement. Jason had told me to sign it after our honeymoon. “Routine stuff,” he said, kissing my forehead. “Just in case we need to consolidate things for tax purposes.”

My name wasn’t on the final line.

The beneficiary? Anastasia Ferdinez. Again.

I staggered back, almost tripping over the edge of the bed. My heart beat violently, like it was trying to escape my body. My lips moved but no sound came.

Jason appeared at the doorway, leaning against the frame like he was watching a movie.

“You can go to court, you know,” he said nonchalantly. “If you think it’ll change anything. But let’s not forget—my father’s the judge.”

I looked at him with wide, burning eyes. “You—you tricked me.”

“No, Brielle.” He smiled coldly. “I outsmarted you.”

Then, with zero remorse, he added, “You never gave me a child. Not even a miscarriage. What did you expect me to do? Wait forever?”

I didn’t even know when the tears began. But they came. Silent, hot, endless.

★

The rain had started by the time I left.

I couldn't stay in the same house with him and his mistress and their….child.

The rain came down violently. Not even a drizzle or a soft pitter patter. 

I walked barefoot. I’d left the heels behind. Left everything behind, really. All I carried with me was the taste of betrayal.

The streetlamps blurred through the water in my eyes. My soaked dress clung to me like a second skin, revealing every trembling breath, every broken sob. People watched from behind windows. Curtains twitched. Neighbors peeked through blinds. But no one came out.

Not even to ask, ‘Are you okay?’

I passed the house three doors down—the one where we had our first Christmas. I saw the bench where Jason once kissed me under fake snow. I saw the puddle reflecting my shattered face.

All I wanted was to disappear inside it.

Somewhere behind me, the sound of a door opening. Laughter resounded everywhere around me. And then, silence.

The rain muffled it all.

I kept walking. I was slower now. Dizzy. My arms wrapped around my chest like they could hold me together.

The road was slippery and headlights danced against the wet asphalt.

I stood at the edge of the sidewalk, blinking through the downpour, trying to focus. My head ached and my legs felt heavy.

One step.

Two steps.

I wasn’t sure where I was going—only that I couldn’t go back there. 

The next thing I saw was a car speeding toward me. My limbs didn’t move fast enough. The light blinded me. My ears rang. I couldn't breathe as the oxygen got knocked out of my lungs. I couldn't see anything. 

What was I going to do? Slowly, I tried to get up to my feet but ended up slipping back to the ground.

You can't just give up, A voice in my head sounded. It was coming towards me. I could hear the horns telling the other drivers to get the fuck out of it's way.

But still I lay there because I thought. Would it be such a bad thing to end it all? What's my use anyways?

So I lay there letting it get closer and closer and closer until....

Nothing. 

I waited for the pain to come but I didn't feel anything. 

Instead, I heard the opening of a door. Maybe a car's door and then strong arms caught me.

A chest pressed against mine. A warm hand cradled the back of my head. 

“Brielle?” a voice said. A voice I hadn’t heard in years.

It was deep and gritty around the edges like a memory I’d tried to erase.

I blinked up.

Brown eyes. Dripping hair. And a sharp jawline I’d only seen once from a distance.

Jason’s older brother.

Axel.

The black sheep of the family. The one they never talked about except to shame. The one who never showed up—not even to our wedding.

He pulled me tighter, shielding me from the rain with his coat.

“What the hell happened?” he muttered under his breath.

I couldn’t speak. My throat burned. My lips trembled, trying to form words that never came.

“Don’t talk,” he said gently. “You’re safe now.”

He looked around, then scooped me into his arms like I weighed nothing.

The world tilted, but this time it didn’t feel like it was crashing down. Just… shifting.

The rain drummed against the roof of his car as he opened the door.

He laid me carefully on the seat, pulling the blanket from the back.

He leaned over, eyes fierce and protective.

“Don’t worry,” he whispered. “I’ve got you now.”

I stared at him, eyes filling up with tears before darkness completely took over, knowing I was safe.