Chapter Three

The morning sun crept through the curtains, casting a golden glow across the room but it was the opposite for Renee. There was no warmth left in her heart and all that was left was resentment and the thirst for revenge. She lay for an extra minute on the bed knowing that today was the start of her reclaiming her life and ending her relationship with Daniel.

She slid out of bed and freshed up quickly. The weight and pain that pressed on her chest the night before had been replaced by something sharper- the need to erase Daniel from her life.

When she arrived downstairs, she found him sitting at the dining table with coffee in one hand and his phone in another. Noticing her presence, he glanced up with the same sweet smile. He stood up and made his way to her before wrapping his arm around her.

“Good morning, Babe.” He greeted them in a smooth voice and leaned in to kiss her lips but she swerved lightly.

“Morning.” Her reply was cold and unusual. Daniel found himself wondering what the problem might be, noticing that she had the same attitude as the previous day.

Deciding to shake it off as just the ‘female hormones’ acting up, he poured her a cup of coffee and cleared his throat.

“So, I was thinking…” He started and Renee looked at him with a bored expression. “Our anniversary was yesterday and you said you’d get the vacation house for me as a gift. You still remember, right?” He said with a hopeful grin, excited at the thought of him and Chloe having a whole house to themselves whenever they wanted to meet up.

Renee stirred her coffee slowly and scoffed softly, shaking her head in disbelief. She couldn’t believe she had been so foolish.

She had always been the one giving him gifts at every anniversary while all he gave her was the same silver necklace for every occasion.

She didn’t even like silver but she was too lovestruck to tell him that. All she ever did was receive his gifts with a smile.

She looked up at him and replied with a smile. “Sorry, babe. You won’t be getting it.”

The smile on Daniel’s face faded and his shoulders fell.

She had never refused his demands.

“What? Why!” He asked, getting angry.

“I don’t think it’s necessary besides, I have better things to do with my money.” Renee shrugged and turned to leave but he grabbed her arm.

“Listen, Renee. I have been noticing this weird attitude of yours and just decided to not say anything but right now you are pushing me.” He growled, tightening his hold on her arm.

“Are you being like this because I forgot to get you a gift yesterday? Or is it because you failed to get pregnant for the ninth time?” He asked and Renee’s eyes flew open. She pushed him away and pointed her finger at him, glaring sharply.

“Don’t you dare, Daniel!” She hissed, her eyes getting wet.

They had been trying for a child since their first year of marriage but had been incredibly unlucky. They were in their third year and there was still no child in sight. The reality had been weighing heavily on Renee as she was made to believe that she was the problem.

Now that she thought about it, maybe that was why he wanted to be with Chloe. Maybe he had given up on trying for a child with her and now wanted to be with another person who would give him a child.

Daniel took a step back, realizing that he had misspoken. It was too early to bring it up since he hadn’t gotten what he wanted yet.

“Fuck…I’m so sorry, Renee.” He lowered his head in shame. “I’m so sorry. I don’t know what I was thinking. You know I’d never use that against you.” He reached out to her but she backed away, sniffing quietly.

“I’ll have breakfast upstairs.” She said and turned to leave.

“Oh and, I got a text from Jane. She wants us to be at the house this evening for dinner.” She said, referring to her foster mother and without saying another word, she walked away.

*

*

At exactly 7 pm, Renee’s car pulled up at her foster parent's house.

“Happy Anniversary, Daniel!” Her foster mother, Jane cheered and ran to hug Daniel as though it was just his wedding anniversary.

“Come, I have a feast prepared.” She led him into the house, completely ignoring Renee.

When they entered, Chloe and her foster father, Charles were already seated. Renee watched as Chloe’s eyes brightened up immediately she saw Daniel walk in. The exchange of glances didn’t go unnoticed by Renee this time around and it made her wonder how she had been so blind before.

“Welcome, Renee. We barely see you at the house.” Charles said with no excitement in his voice and Renee held herself from rolling her eyes.

She wasn’t exactly welcomed in the house so she preferred staying away.

“Doesn’t seem like I was missed either.” She said under her breath but it was heard by everyone on the table. Daniel gave her a light jab on her arm and fake laughed.

“We’re so happy to be here, father. Thank you for having us.” He said and Charles smiled sweetly at him.

“So, Renee. Are we expecting some good news? It was your anniversary yesterday after all. I’m sure we should be expecting some good news soon, right?” Chloe asked, batting her false lashes.

“She’s right. It’s been three whole years, Renee, and not a single pregnancy.” Jane exclaimed.

“Good thing you’re not our blood. People would have thought the women in this family were barren.” Jane shook her head and sighed loudly.

Renee bit back the tears and chuckled but said nothing.

Even after all these years, they didn’t consider her family.

“Oh, look! The food is here.” Daniel pointed out, hoping to lighten the mood but Chloe was not ready to let go yet.

“Even a miscarriage would do, Renee. It’s not like you don’t have a womb.” She said and paused, her eyes glittering as a new thought came to her mind.

“You have a womb, right?” She gasped, looking around.

“Goodness, Chloe. Of course, she has a womb. Why would you even say that?” Daniel laughed at the not-so-funny joke.

Meanwhile, Renee still didn’t say a word.

The dinner dragged on, filled with meaningless chatter and more hateful words thrown at Renee.

Renee stepped out of the dining room and went into the bathroom but as she was about to return to the dining room, she heard her foster parents speaking in hushed voices in the hallway, just out of sight.

“She doesn’t suspect a thing, I’m sure of it,” Jane murmured.

“After that stunt you and Chloe pulled at the dining table, I won’t be surprised if she isn’t having doubts.” Her foster father, Raymond said and Renee leaned in.

They were talking about her.

“She’s not that smart. Even if she did suspect, she won’t do anything. She’s always been so easy. That’s why we would be getting that company from her without her even knowing a thing about it. We just need Daniel to do his part.”

Renee’s breath hitched.

“She has always been too trusting,” Jane added. “She’ll sign whatever Daniel puts in front of her just like she always has. She’s in love with him, remember?”

A cold chill ran down Renee’s spine and she felt her knees buckle. The world around her seemed to spin and her chest felt like it had been stabbed a million times.

Pressing her hands on her mouth, she turned around and ran as quickly as she could to the bathroom, her tears threatening to fall once again.

“They had been planning all of this together?” She whispered, her vision now clouded by tears.

“Does this mean….Oh my God…” She cried bitterly as the realization hit her.

Her foster parents knew about Daniel’s affair with Chloe and they were all plotting to take her wealth, kick her out, and live happily.

She was the pawn in their stupid game and she had no idea all along!