Chapter 3: The Leave

Beverly POV

That night, sleep refused to come.

Every time I closed my eyes, the same image forced its way back into my mind Vanessa in Marcus’s arms. The way she fit against him so easily. The way his hand rested on her waist like it had always belonged there.

And the worst part?

They were in the master bedroom now, my bedroom the same room I had shared with him just yesterday. The same bed where I had cried myself to sleep countless nights, hoping tomorrow would be kinder. Now it belonged to her.

Vanessa.

The same Vanessa who had almost ruined his life.

How and when did they even get back together?

My chest tightened painfully as the questions crowded my mind.

Was I really not good enough?

Was it just about my weight, or was there something else something Marcus hadn’t had the courage to say? Something that made bringing his ex back into our lives unavoidable?

The same ex he knew had a way of bullying me. Of belittling me with her looks alone.

I could already imagine how unbearable my life was about to become now that she was back under the same roof.

But I had been diligent faithful and loyal to him aside from my weight which I couldn’t magically fix overnight I had done everything right. I had cooked, cleaned, supported him, stood by him when everyone else walked away.

So why couldn’t he just look past my body and love me for the woman I was inside?

Or… had he never loved me at all?

Had he only been attracted to my beauty back before the weight, and stress of life wore me down.

No.

That couldn’t be it.

I wiped my face roughly, sniffling as tears and mucus ran freely down my cheeks. My chest felt raw, sore from crying.

 My gaze drifted down to the photo frame I was holding in my hand the one I had picked up earlier while packing a few of my things from the master bedroom.

The photo showed him, me, and his mother on our marriage day.

Our smiles were wide real and genuine bright enough to light up an entire room as we posed for the camera.

When did we stop looking like that?

How did things get so bad?

No—why did things get this bad?

Was I perhaps cursed or something?

As if growing up an orphan wasn’t enough, marriage to the man I loved the man I believed would be my saving grace was now collapsing right before my eyes with him only inches away from throwing me out, meanwhile I had nowhere to go.

No damn where.

I cried for a long time that night. Hard, broken sobs that shook my entire body until my eyes burned and swelled, until my throat felt dry and scratchy from dehydration. When the thirst became unbearable, I finally forced myself to stand and go get some water.

As I passed the master bedroom, laughter floated out joyful and happy.

The sound pierced straight through my chest like a knife.

I swallowed hard, ignoring the ache, and made my way towards the water dispenser opposite the staircase.

Just water, I told myself.

Get the water and go back to the guest room which had noe becoming my new abode.

I grabbed a cup from a tray nearby and turned on the tap but before I could think of drinking, I heard soft footsteps behind me.

I didn’t need to turn around the thick sickly sweet smell of her perfume filled the air announcing her presence even before her voice did.

“Well, if it isn’t the dutiful wife.”

 I ignored her, turned off the tap, and took a long gulp of water. Today had already broken me enough and the last thing I needed was to engage with her.

But then she spoke again.

“Marcus said he already talked to you,” she continued calmly. “And as someone with self-respect and decency, I expected you to have packed your bags and left by now. Now that the rightful owner of the man you call your husband is back.”

That did it.

“Rightful owner?”

I slammed the cup onto the table I had picked it from so hard rattled my blood boiliing hot as I turned sharply to face her.

She shrugged lazily. “Of course. It was obvious Marcus was mine from the beginning. You were just a little bitch who sneaked her way into his life after a misunderstanding pulled us apart. Despite how much I tried to make you understand that he was mine, you stayed"

Her lips curved into a smug smile.

"Well, I’m here now and I think it’s time I remind you of your place.”

“My place?” I scoffed a bitter laugh tearing out of my chest.“You’re forgetting something. I’m no longer the girl silently crushing on him while you flaunted him back then in college. I’m his woman now. His wife.”

I lifted my hand deliberately, flashing the expensive diamond ring he'd wedded me with before her.

I didn’t miss the dark flicker of jealously that flashed in her eyes as she stared at it sharp and unmasked. For a moment, satisfaction stirred inside me and I thought I'd won but then her expression soon twisted into a scowl.

“Wife?” she sneered suddenly. “You mean the wife he treats like trash? Oh, I was here when he insulted you, Beverly. You’re only his wife in name.”

Her words cut deeply into me, but I refused to give her the satisfaction.

“At least what I do with him has a name,” I shot back. “Unlike you. You can’t even show your face with him in public, can you?”

She glared at me.

“Even so,” she said calmly, “I’m the key to his heart. One word from me and you’ll be gone from his life.”

That one hurt because I knew it was true and I couldn't help but glare at her.

“And what do you even take me for huh?” I let out a bitter laugh my chest burning. “A joke? You think you can ruin his life and come back whenever you want?”

"Seems like it" She retorted coolly tilting her head to the side. “But you saying I ruined his life is kind of a stretch. But you know the funniest thing? Even after everything I did… the moment I returned, he ran straight into my arms.”

Her smiled widened this time as her eyes bored into mine.

“Doesn’t that remind you who he truly belongs to?”

This time I had no reply because it was true.

I was the one who stayed when she left him was the one who endured with him when he was going through hard times and yet, the moment she returned he didn't hesitate to take her back.

“Though, if I must say,” she added again after a brief silence, “you did a good job, Beverly.”

 “Got something else to say to me?” I growled immediately as I looked up to her my patience and self control wearing thin now with the more time I spent with her.

 She was deliberately pushing my buttons with her words and as a matter of fact I should have walked away at this point but for some reasons I stayed behind.

“Oh, plenty.” She set the glass of milk she'd been sipping from down and turned fully toward me. The shirt she was wearing I now recongnised to be Marcus’s rode up slightly as she leaned against the wall opposite me comfortably.

“First, thank you for taking care of Marcus for me,” she started sweetly. “The Marcus I dated back then, it wasn’t certain he’d amount to anything. But look at him now—he now has a business of his own.”

There was something sharp in her eyes when she said it something calculative and full of greed.

“You don’t love him, do you?” I asked quietly already figuring her out.

She shrugged casually. “Who knows?”

It hurt more than it should have and I didn't know why I mean I should have found it pleasing that the woman he loves was just fooling him but all I felt was this immense anger and hate towards her.

“You gold-digging bitch.” My hands curled into fists as I stepped closer to her.

“Say whatever you want,” she smirked. “But why do you even care? With everything he’s done to you, why do you care what I do with him?”

“You don’t love him,” I repeated, ignoring her words as I continued my strides towards her.

Her eyes suddenly flicked behind me but I was to consumed by rage to look at what she was staring at but when she looked at me again pure fear and terror was written on her face one I knew she was faking.

“You don’t care about him,” I continued irregardless.

"No please that's enough Beverly" She shook her head already stepping back her eyes glistening but I was just too enraged to care.

“All you care about is his money. You scam!” I screeched out the last part as I crossed the last distance to her but before I could get her.

“And what the hell is going on here?”

Marcus’s voice suddenly snapped through the air and I regained my senses almost immediately.

I looked at him shocked as to how he suddenly got here while he stared at us his gaze cutting from me to Vanessa with me in the most implicating position on the verge of grabbing her.

"Marcus..." Vanessa voice broke the silence as she suddenly broke into tears and Marcus didn't hesitate before rushing to her side.

"What happened babe?"

“We were just talking,” she sobbed quietly. “When she tried to attack me I think she's trying to hurt the baby!” She accused her hands moving to her belly as she finally looked at me.

“What?” I whispered in shock my heart dropping to the floor at the accusations, that wasn't the case.

“What did you do?” Marcus without waiting to hear me out growled as he spurned around to face me.

“She’s lying,” I whispered already backing away in fear because I knew what that lie could do to me. “We were just talking I didn't—”

“Liar!”

He didn't wait for me to explain as he lurched at me.

I moved back instinctively trying to escape him but shit my luck as my my foot unexpectedly caught the edge of the stairwell. My weight betrayed me and before I knew it fell hard from the staircase to the living the impact knocked the breath from my lungs and I felt the familiar liquid rushing out of my head.

From up the stairs Marcus and Vanessa stared at me with a shocked look written on their face but none of them made any attempt to help.

“Marcus… please,” I begged him already feeling weak and dizzy with the amount of blood I was losing.

But the shock faded from his face in that instant replaced by cold contempt and without a word or any sign of help he grabbed Vanessa and walked away and that was the last thing I saw before darkness took over me.

* * *

I opened my eyes slowly, my head pounding as if someone had struck it with a hammer. The first thing I saw was a familiar face one of Marcus’s men standing beside the bed, watching me closely.

My entire body throbbed as I tried to shift, pain shooting through my skull and down my spine. The sharp smell of antiseptic filled my nose and the steady beeping of a machine echoed faintly in the background. From the sterile white walls and the stiff mattress beneath me, I didn’t need anyone to tell me where I was.

I was in the hospital.

“How do you feel, ma’am? Should I get the doctor?” the man asked gently.

I barely heard him. My eyes scanned the room instinctively, searching for one face in particular. Hope foolish and unwanted rose in my chest as the memories of everything that had happened came crashing back.

The fall, the blood and Marcus walking away when I begged him to help me at least tell me he had somehow, had a rethink somewhere along the line and was the one who brought me here.

“No,” I said hoarsely. “How long have I been out?”

“Two days since the fall, ma’am,” he replied. “Fortunately I found you just in time and brought you here.”

The words landed like a dull blow and my eyes dimmed.

“You’re the one who brought me here?” I asked disbelieving hoping I had heard wrong.

“Yes, ma’am.”

At that, I stopped searching the room. My heart already knew the truth the moment I hadn’t seen him. Still, some small part of me had hoped stupidly that maybe it was him.

Did I really not matter to him anymore that he didn't think twice before leaving me to die in the staircase?

“Now how do you feel, ma’am? Should I go get the—” the man started again.

“It’s fine,” I cut in, my voice tired. “I just need to be alone.”

He hesitated, shifting his weight.

“Are you really sure about that ma'am you don't look too good maybe I should call the—”

“I know,” I said softly, forcing a small, convincing smile. “I just feel hungry go get me some fruits, okay?”

He studied my face for a moment, then finally nodded and left.

The moment the door clicked shut, I pushed myself upright despite the pain. My teeth clenched as I reached for the IV line and pulled it out in one swift motion.

My mind was already made up.

Marcus had abandoned me on the staircase. He had walked away while I bled and I was sure he hadn’t come once during my recovery and if his men hadn't come to my recuse I might have died. Now If that didn’t tell me how little my life meant to him, nothing ever would.

I couldn’t do this anymore.

I might have nothing. Nowhere to go. But I would be damned if I returned to that house after everything.

I swung my legs off the bed slowly, steadying myself as dizziness washed over me. I looked around me I didn’t have my phone neither my credit card with me and at such doing what I had in mind was impossible but then my suddenly eyes fell on my finger.

The diamond ring wedding Marcus’s had gotten me was still there.

A small, bitter smile tugged at my lips as understanding settled in. I slipped it off carefully, holding it between my fingers for a moment before closing my hand around it.

That would be my way out.

After making sure no one was watching, I quietly slipped out of the ward and the hospital as a whole.

Finally, I was ready to leave Michigan for good.

* * *

It was late afternoon when I arrived in Dasu after spending hours on the plane with nothing but a cheap dress and a low-quality handbag I had bought with the money from selling my wedding ring.

The moment my feet touched the ground, a strange mix of emotions washed over m relief, fear, and a hollow ache I couldn’t quite name. The air felt different here. Warmer and familiar in a way that made my chest tighten.

An hour later, I stood in front of the one house I hadn’t visited in years.

My hands trembled as I raised them to knock. I prayed silently that she would be home. I hadn’t been in touch with her for years. I hadn’t even called before showing up like this.

“Coming,” a familiar voice called from inside.

I exhaled deeply, trying to calm my racing heart as I waited.

Seconds later, the door swung open, and I was met with a face I hadn’t seen in a long time. She looked slightly older now, time hardening her features, but she was still the same woman I remembered.

“Who are—?” Her words trailed off as her face twisted into a frown. Her brows furrowed as she assessed me from head to toe, her eyes lingering a little longer than necessary. I couldn’t blame her for not recongnising me immediately It had been years. And my weight… it changed everything.

“Wait…” she said slowly. “Beverly?”

My chest loosened instantly the moment she said my name, her eyes finally shining with recognition as they met mine.

“Aunt Camilla,” I breathed.

Everything I had been holding in broke free at once the tears spilled down my face before I could stop them.

“Oh my God, what the hell happened to you?” she exclaimed, pulling me into a tight hug almost immediately.

I didn’t hesitate before wrapping my arms around her, her warmth grounded me as I cried into her shoulder.

“It’s a long story, Aunt,” I sobbed. “You were right. Ditching my dreams of going to medical school just to go after a guy was a big mistake. But now I’m here to make things right. I’m here to focus on myself.”