Chapter 1

Matilda

I stare outside the window of the taxi i’m in, basking in the moonlight and it's soft glow on the city's tall illuminated buildings. I've already shed enough tears, no more. I couldn't stay back in that house, it wasn't mine anymore the minute I signed on the divorce papers.

My phone buzzes on my thighs, I flip it over and it's mom calling me. I don't know if I should answer because I didn't want her to only talk about Seraphina. Was I being a selfish sister?

“Hello, mom.” I whisper.

“My love, where are you right now?” My mom's worried voice echoes through the speaker.

“What happened? Did something happen with Seraphina?” I was now feeling agitated for my sister.

“No, your sister is doing just fine. I'm...worried about you, dear. I heard your dad taking on the phone with Michael concerning your divorce.” Mom replies and I'm fighting not to cry again, this time inside a taxi where the driver has a grumpy looking face and can snap at any moment.

I always wondered if my dad hated me and just didn't want to see me happy. I can't believe he knew about Michael giving me the divorce papers and actually agreed with him. Was I only just a form of merchandise to uplift my dad's company and nothing else?

“I've signed on the documents, mom. Michael brought the divorce papers home.” I inform her so that she can tell dad that he got exactly what he wanted, to destroy one daughter in order to favor his other daughter.

I hear mom's heavy sigh over the phone. “I was afraid of this, Matilda. I told you not to go ahead with your father's plan but you didn't listen to me. You thought that you could make Michael yours through this marriage but you were wrong, dear.”

“Mom, please don't scold me right now. I feel very terrible.” My eyes were now watery.

“No I won't, dear. You know that Michael only belongs to your sister, Seraphina. He loves her and your sister also loves him. Their love is pure and strong and nothing could break their union, not even you, dear. You thought you could win over Michael and now look, he's abandoned you for your sister who has always been the love of his life....”

“I don't want to talk to you or anyone else. Just leave me alone, you should just be happy that your favorite daughter is out of the coma and is going to be with the man she loves,” I say amidst my now flowing tears and I cut the call before mom can respond. Her words hurt me but it was the brutal truth I chose to turn a blind eye to.

I try to stop crying but I couldn't, and now mom's words only makes me feel worse about myself, thinking I'm a terrible sister. Wasn't I worthy enough of Michael? I know I wasn't as beautiful as Seraphina, with her golden locks, fair porcelain skin and of course, on her way to become a top model. I had white milky skin, freckles all over my face and pale-yellow blonde hair. Yeah, I wasn't that pretty but didn't I deserve to still be loved by a man?

“We're here, miss.” The driver pulls me out of my thoughts and I stare to my left, my friend, Susie's apartment building stands tall in front of me.

“Thank you,” I mutter under my breath and step out of the taxi as the driver helps me take out my two luggages from the booth.

I'm about to cross over to the other stand and the driver stops me for a moment. I turn to look at him and I don't see that grumpy expression on his face anymore.

“Sorry to intrude, miss, but I couldn't help overhear your conversation over the phone. And I want to say something to you. Bad days always promises a better tomorrow.” He smiles afterwards and I feel so grateful for his words. Though simple, but it's what I needed right now to mend my broken heart, for someone to think about me and my well-being for once and a stranger chose to be that person to think about me.

I smile wholeheartedly, my chest feels a bit light after listening to him. “Thank you so much for your kind words, believe me, I really needed to hear those words.”

He smiles at me before he gets into his taxi and drives off.

Now I was wiping my tears away, sucking in a deep breath and was walking towards my friend's apartment.

My friend, Susie welcomes me with open arms. I chose to stay at my friend's house instead of heading back home. I don't want to see my parents' faces and hear how much my dad and mom would scold me for thinking only about myself and not about Seraphina.

Susie takes me to her other spare bedroom and I thank her for letting me stay at her place for a few days until I find a nice apartment for myself.

Susie left me alone to settle in and once I was alone and in the privacy of my room, I can't help but recall how everything was now over between Michael and I. Michael would return to my sister, the person he should have never left. Even though I love Michael and want to see him happy, I know I won't be able to bear it if he and my sister reconciled and chose to be together once again. And I can't help but feel like the worst sister in the world for thinking such because I know that Seraphina wouldn't think the same way.

I stand under the shower and allow the water droplets rain down on my exhausted body. The shower reminds me of the times Michael would make me ride him under the shower and whisper sweet things in my ear. I rub my face and exhale a long tired sigh. I shouldn't think about Michael anymore, he shouldn't matter to me because he only loves my sister while I was only an agreement and a tool for him to get his inheritance and my dad receiving the necessary capital funds for his company.

I feel bad for thinking about Michael time and time again. Now he's forbidden for me and I want to stay away from him, to leave this city but I can't leave right now because of my pending masters degree that's ending in six months.

“I can't believe Michael dared to kick you to the curve just like that.” Susie comes into the living area with two cups of hot cocoa. I try to smile but I fail miserably as I receive the cup from her. I blow on it and just stare at my pale reflection in the clear brown liquid. “He's a jerk.” Susie adds with disdain in her voice.

“It was my fault, I shouldn't have forgotten that he only loves Seraphina.” I whisper calmly. “I was just...” Even the words feels heavy in my throat and it hurts to realize that I was just a mere sex plaything for Michael. I don't blame him but myself because I agreed to have an affair, thinking that maybe he was interested in me.

Michael never took any interest in me before our wedding. I was a ghost to him, invisible even when I was right in front of him. He hated me for some reason I still don't know about till this day. But one night when Michael looked at me differently and wanted me for the first time, I just couldn't say no to him. That night I felt wanted by a man for the first time and that man happened to be Michael, the only man I had secretly loved from afar for the past eight to nine years.

“He used you, Matilda. How should I spell it out for you, he used you like a backup toy, his second choice option, a simple distraction until your sister woke up.” Susie shakes her head with a huff.

“I also betrayed my sister, Susie. I shouldn't have thought of having any relationship with the love of her life.” I can't help but feel so bad and now I lost my appetite to even drink the hot cocoa.

“You got married to Michael, it was your right as his wife to be intimate with him. You shouldn't feel bad nor guilty at all. You and Michael both wanted it.” Susie was right but I still betrayed my sister by even thinking to make Michael fall in love with me.

“You know, I couldn't even look at my sister in the eyes when Michael and I went to visit her at the hospital. I felt like the biggest traitor in the room. I'm a bad sister.” I cover my face with my hands and lower my head down.

Susie comes to sit next to me and embraces me which I clearly need. “You're not a bad sister. Don't forget that you fell in love way before he even showed any interest in Seraphina.”

“I know, but I can't help but want Michael to love me, to look at me the very same way he always looks at my sister. That definitely makes me a monster to my sister, doesn't it?” My mouth trembles. Maybe everyone was right about me, I only know how to ruin my sister's happiness and dreams.

I succumb to crying again and Susie comforts me.

“You have to forget him, girlfriend. He dumped you as soon as your sister came back. That asshole doesn't deserve you or your tears.”

Even though I still feel very terrible, I'm a bit better in Susie's arms. What Michael did to me was still going to hurt for a while but I'm going to get over my heartbreak soon, that is, if I don't see him or bump into him for some days. That's the plan.

But my plans are out the window when the front door is being banged hard by someone.

At first I am scared thinking a thief wants to break in.

“Who's at my door this late at night? Bernie said he had a late night shift at the clinic.” Susie lets go of me to head to the door.

“What are you doing, Susie?! It could be a thief!” I say feeling terrified but Susie brushes off my concern and approaches the door.

She opens the door and the person I never expected to walk through that door actually walks through the door.

“Michael?!”