5 — THEIR AUDACITY…

ASTRID

He “ordered” me to get here by nine. Tsk.

Exactly three PM the next evening, I arrive at my former home six hours late and ready to kick ass.

Why? Because the new Astrid Reyes doesn’t take orders from anyone, especially her shitty ex-husband.

I cried for two hours straight after I got off the call with Nathan last night because the heartbreaking realization that I’ve lost him forever finally dawned on me with startling, painful clarity.

But right now, my hair is laid straighter than my homophonic maths teacher from high school, my Chanel dress is skin tight, clinging perfectly to my figure; and my red bottom Louboutins show off my legs in a thousand sexy dimensions.

Armed with court documents, I’m ready to tear Nathan Callaway to the ground.

A sense of nostalgia attacks me as I ring the doorbell. Three seconds of bated breath later, the door slams open and one of my greatest nightmares appears.

Mrs. Montessori looks me up and down, her eyes narrowing with contempt and a hint of jealousy as she takes in my perfect, put together look.

Looking at her now, it’s hard to believe that I ever considered this woman to be my mother.

Instead of cowering and looking away like the old Astrid would’ve done, I lift my chin and give her a ten thousand megawatt fake smile;

“Hello, Mrs. Montessori.”

“You’re late.”

No “where have you been?” No apologies for not calling or checking up on me for three days. Am I surprised? Definitely not.

“Shocked to see me dazzling in all my glory?” I tease. “You really thought I’d come here looking lost like the deserted and abandoned wife you think I am, didn’t you?

Well, I’m sorry to disappoint you. May I come in?”

Her awestruck face is satisfying enough to cause me to turn around and go home right this moment. But I’m not leaving until my mission is completed.

I push past her stiff frame and walk into the spacious house. I barely take three steps, however, when her voice stops me cold;

“I know you’re here to beg.” She sneers. Stop pretending, Astrid. Lower your pride and beg for money like you actually came here to do.”

So I was right all along. The Montessori family really thought I would suffer without them.

With my smile still firmly in place, I turn to her once again;

“I don’t understand. Why would I beg you for anything?”

“We froze all your accounts, Astrid. How are you getting by without money? And you rejected the nice apartment we bought for you as well. I’m sure you must be living in a hellhole somewhere.”

She takes a step closer, her eyes shining with pure hatred.

“I can see the sad, desperate little lady beneath all that makeup, Astrid. You only have to apologize for what you did to Claire and everything will return to normal.”

“That’s enough, mother!” Claire’s voice comes from behind me. “Stop bullying her already.”

I turn around in time to watch my “ex-sister” glide down the stairs in a fluffy white robe and matching slippers.

Wait a minute…

“That’s my robe. And my slippers.” I point out. “I never gave you permission to wear my things.”

Actually, I had purchased two of those robes in matching colours for me and Nathan’s second year anniversary. The image of it on Claire’s flawless body is like a knife plunged through my chest.

“Oh, I’m sorry. I never thought you’d bother over something as insignificant as a cheap robe.” She doesn’t sound the least bit apologetic.

I try to speak but something interesting catches my eyes and I pause. There’s an… object in the corner, draped in a decorative red ribbon.

My heartbeat accelerates violently as I take a step closer to the gleaming, chocolate-coloured beauty;

“Is that a…”

“Yes it is.” Claire cuts in, her voice dripping with excitement. “That beauty is a Steinway grand piano. It was Nathan’s gift to me after I announced my pregnancy. Isn’t it so beautiful? It was quite expensive too.”

“Yes, I’m well aware of how expensive it is.” I respond through gritted teeth.

I’m aware because I have a burning passion for classical music and for years, I begged Nathan for this specific brand and model of the Steinway piano but he kept insisting that it was a waste of money.

I stopped asking because I did not want to be labeled a nagging wife. But my dearly beloved ex-husband bought that same piano for Claire who doesn’t have a single musical bone in her body.

“You don’t even know how to play the piano.” I whisper bitterly. “Why on earth would he buy you a grand piano?”

Claire shrugs. “I wanted it and he loved me enough to buy it. Besides, I believe it elevates the ambience of the house.”

“Astrid, you’re late.” Nathan’s deep voice suddenly booms from the top of the stairs.

The bitterness in my throat burns harder at the sight of the white robe that sits perfectly on his broad shoulders. The same robe he asked that I burn just last week because it was “taking up too much space” in the closet.

Men.

I swallow my bitterness, determined to move on with the order for the day. I’m severely outnumbered and my emotions are all over the place.

I’ve been hurt so much that I feel like a weak, brittle twig. One mistake and I might break.

“Mr. Callaway. What an honour to have you join us. Shall we proceed to the sunroom?”

I make my way to the sunroom without waiting to see if they’d follow. Of course they follow. I know they’re curious.

“Astrid, what are you doing?” Nathan growls. “I don’t think you have the right to barge in here…”

“Oh, but I do.” I cut in with a smile. “I do have the right to barge in here. You wanna know why? Because this is my house too, Nathan. And just in case you’ve forgotten, I’ve got papers here to prove it.”

I empty the envelope, thrusting the documents towards them.

When they don’t move to grab it, I hand out each copy of the document to three of them one after the other and watch with barely concealed excitement as they scan through it.

Their expressions transcend from confused to shocked and enraged within seconds.

“You’re suing me?!” Nathan exclaims, his eyes gleaming with anger and disbelief. “What exactly gave you the effrontery to institute a case against me?”

“I think you’re mistaken, Mr. Callaway. I instituted three cases against you for bigamy, emotional distress and breach of fiduciary duty for locking me out of my house.

My lawyer is of the opinion that I might be entitled to compensation worth ten million dollars or more. Isn’t that great news?!”

“Astrid!” Nathan roars.

I have to bite my lips to keep myself from bursting into villainous, unladylike laughter.

“Your anger is amusing, ex-husband. But no worries. A Steinway grand piano costs upwards of two million dollars. I’m sure you can sell it to cover most of the cost before we proceed to court.”

“I knew it!” Mrs. Montessori sneers. “I knew you were doing all this because you’re jealous of Claire and Nathan’s relationship and you cannot move on!

Have you no shame, plotting to ruin your own sister’s home before she’s even had the chance to settle in? You’re such an ungrateful bastard!”

“Mother! That’s enough!” Claire snarls.

She turns to me and her lips tip in a thin, cold smirk that has shivers running down my spine;

“Come with me, Astrid. I think we’re long overdue for a private conversation.”

***

“Seriously, you couldn’t find a more dusty and overcrowded place for this private conversation?” I ask sarcastically, my nose pinched in disgust as I scan the dusty attic.

“It’s the most private spot I could find. I’m sure we won’t be disturbed here.”

I roll my eyes. That’s an obvious lie. I own this house and I know this is not the most private spot here.

“I almost broke a heel walking up those damn steps.”

“Then maybe you shouldn’t have put so much effort into dressing to impress.” Claire snaps in a biting tone.

“Excuse me?”

Claire advances until we’re almost standing nose-to-nose, her eyes sparking with challenge.

“You came here wearing this little sexy dress to show Nathan what he’s missing, didn’t you?”

The Claire who acted like she was the voice of reason just moments ago has disappeared. A cold, dark empress has suddenly taken her place.

“Too bad that he’s no longer interested in you. Nathan only has eyes for me now and it’s high time you got used to it.”

“Claire, you —”

I never get the chance to complete that sentence and the next few seconds turn out to be the most traumatic of my entire existence on earth.

One moment, Claire and I are facing off and the next, her eyes widen in horror and she lets out an ear splitting screech;

“Arggh!!! Wall gecko! Get it off me! Nathan!!”

Before I can react, Claire grabs my arm, spins me around and gives me a sharp, hard shove from behind.

It happens in a split second. I don’t even get the chance to blink or scream.

My arms shoot out and flail aimlessly in a bid to break my fall, but I never succeed.

Instead, I fall face first, hitting my belly harshly against the protruded edge of an old sewing machine.

The fall is so brutal that the pain that erupts in my spine and lower abdomen spreads across my limbs like slow burning poison.

For long moments, I lie on the cold dusty floor, trying to figure out that the fudge just happened.

“Nathan!! Help me, I’m hurt!” Claire is still screaming.

Three seconds later, I feel a warm liquid trickle down my legs.

Then it hits me and my heart freezes in my chest.

Oh, good Lord. My baby…