Chapter 3 Divorce and heartbreak

(Bella)

The doorbell rings and jars me awake. I fling my eyes open, pulling myself up from the couch.

My back hurts..

Just then I realize it's the next day and I had slept off on the couch waiting for Dean.

This only means one thing, Dean didn't come home last night.

The very first day he's sleeping out.

My eyes hurts as fresh tears stride down my cheeks but the doorbell rings again, this time continuously.

I spring up. It could be Dean.

Quickly I move over to the door, and swing it open.

My breath catches in my throat. It's not Dean.

Judy, Elena and an older man. And then when she shifts, I spot Ashley standing right behind.

Before I could process what's going on, Judy pushes me aside, striding in like the queen of England. Elena, Dean's aunt, gives me a horrific look as she walks in.

And then the man and Ashley came in.

Ashley casts me a weird look as she brushes past me.

I step in. "What are you doing here, the both of you?" I'm forced to ask, as much as I'm exhausted, I can't let them intimidate me.

"We should be asking you that." Elena spats back.

Judy settles into the couch, her posture annoyingly serene."This is Dean's house, of course I have every right to stop by and see if you need any help getting your sorry backside as far away as possible,"

"That's right. If there's anyone who shouldn't be here, that's you my darling," Elena seethes at me.

I don't reply her though. That's Elena for you, always poking her nose into other people's business. Oh, she'd give anything to see that I'm out of Dean's life.

I shift my gaze to Ashley, who's supposed to be my best friend and by my side. "Ashley, why are you here with them?"

Judy replies instead. "Stop asking stupid questions, Bella. Now's not the time," she retorts, taking a file from the man and throwing it my way.

My eyes flickers to the file. "What's this?" I ask, as I pick it up.

"I bet you can read. Why not open and see for yourself," Judy says with a poker face.

My heart raced as I pull the papers out. My eyes widens as I read the letters boldly written. "Divorce papers,"

I furrow my eyebrows. "This is between Dean and I. Where's he?"

"Of course it's my, our business, pretty head. You cheated on my son and I'm here to serve you divorce papers. A marriage that wasn't meant to be but you used your sluty body to keep him and then he has seen you for who you truly are," She snaps.

I put the papers back. "I'm not signing this. I want to see Dean," I retort, my tone firm.

Ashley gives a small laugh and I turn my gaze to her. "Don't be stubborn, Bella. What makes you think he wants to see you?" She spat. "You disgust him."

I can't believe Ashley would say that to me. 

Someone who's meant to stand up for me, defend me, tell them I wouldn't do such a thing.

Am I missing out on something?

I can't seem to wrap my head around it but then it clicks.

The birth control pills in the drawer, how did it get there?

It has to be someone close.

The pictures, it was me in those pictures but I can't remember how I ended up in such positions for the pictures to be taken.

I stare on the ground thoughtfully.

A week ago, Dean was gone for a business trip. Ashley invited me out for a girl's night out. We had quite a lot to drink.

I woke up the next day, but she was beside me.

It did feel off at first. Why are we in a strange room and not in her house or mine?

When I asked, she just said we were both too drunk to drive. It made sense, I didn't think much about it.

Putting the pieces together now.

I move over to the table quickly, picking up the pictures. I gasped in shock as I stared at the room, it was the same room I woke up to after that night.

Anger surged through me as I turned to Ashley. "This was all you, right? The pictures, the pills in my drawer. How could you?" I spat, throwing the pictures at her, while tears streamed down my cheeks.

"Oh, please, Bella. We both know you don't fit in here. I'm just doing you a favor," she spat, not remorseful.

God, how do I handle such betrayal?

I'm still nursing everything going on between Dean and I and now it's Ashley.

Why'd she do this to me?

She's supposed to be my best friend, the person that should look out for me, understand me the most.

"You are my best friend, Ashley. How could you do this to me?" I say amidst tears.

Judy clears her throat. "It's a little too late for that. Don't you think so?" She smiles wickedly, I'm sure she's in on this with Ashley.

I ignore her. "Where's Dean? I need to speak with him," I cry out. "Please let me speak to Dean, I beg you," I pleaded helplessly. Not sure what else to do.

"Oh, stop wailing like a child, bitch." Elena fumes.

Judy snickers."You don't get it, do you?" She spat. "He's done with this charade of a marriage. It was pure lust, you trapped him with your body. Now, he can see what you're really like, a filthy slut, a gold digger. You don't belong in our world Bella. Took Dean long enough to realize that,"

My stomach twists, a sharp pain coursing through me. I haven't had anything to eat and it feels like I'm tired out from crying, feels like I'm going to collapse.

I maintain my stance though. "I'm not signing that till I speak with Dean!"

"Then you'd have to wait till forever. Dean isn't coming back and I'm selling the house," she announces.

My mouth drops. Selling our house?

I feel the color drain from my face as realization hits me.

"You have no choice here, Bella. You're either signing this easily or in a harsh way," she winks, her threat is very real.

I'm at a point where I don't know what else to do. I don't want a divorce, but Judy, Elena? they're crazy.

And now that Dean, who always protected me from them, is no longer here.

I can't fight and win against Judy. And I know to take her at her word. She doesn't bluff.

It's either I sign this divorce papers and walk away or wedge war against Judy, which I'd obviously lose even before I attempt.

She has judges, police, politicians in her pocket.

Ashley's watching on with a poker face while the man I assume to be an attorney is transfixed on me.

"Mrs Brennan. It's in your best interest to sign," his tone looks like he's sending a warning.

"It's Bella. Just Bella in a few minutes," Judy corrected him.

I glance at him, to Judy, to Elena and then lastly Ashley. She fixes me with a hard look.

I shift my gaze to the divorce papers I had dropped on the table.

Judy pulls a pen out of her purse as I pick it up, she really came prepared.

I take the pen from her, my heart aches badly as I look

around my home, tears striding down, pouring on the divorce papers.

 Slowly I signed.

This is it.

The end to my once perfect marriage.