Chapter 2

With a swift motion, Rosie snatched the paper and strode to the cabinet, her eyes flashing with determination. She scrawled her signature across the page, the pen scratching out a permanent goodbye. 

As she turned to face Archie, she tossed the paper at his chest. "Take it," 

A bitter laugh escaped her lips as she bit back tears. "God, I've been such a fool for staying this long," she spat, the words dripping with regret. "This marriage has been a sham, and I'm the idiot for not ending it sooner,"

As she gazed at Archie, a mask of calm washed over her face, and she forced a bright smile. "Guess I should thank you for finally setting me free. It's never too late to start over, right?" 

Her eyes locked onto Archie's, a glint of warning sparking within them. "This might be the end of us, Archie, but it's just the beginning of your reckoning. You'll reap what you've sown,"

Rosie took a deep breath and turned to face Phoebe, her smile gleaming with a mix of sarcasm and pain. "Phoebe…" she said, her voice dripping with irony, as if savoring the name. 

Phoebe, however, didn't flinch, meeting Rosie's gaze with a defiant stare. "What do you want?" She snapped, her tone laced with aggression. 

Rosie's expression faltered for a moment, but she quickly regained composure, donning a mask of bravery to conceal her inner turmoil. "Congratulations on snagging another woman's husband. You've finally fed that insatiable hunger of yours."

With a subtle yet firm gesture, Rosie pushed Archie aside with the back of her hand, her eyes fixed on the wardrobe as she approached it. "I'll free up some space for you both," she said, her voice laced with sarcasm. "I'll pack my things and be out of your hair," 

"Do you think you're worthy of unpacking them?" A voice cut through the tension, and Rosie turned to face Clementine, her manipulative mother-in-law, who had appeared out of nowhere, entering the room with Arabella walking behind her.

"How dare you mouth off when your dirty laundry's just been aired?" Arabella snapped, her voice low and accusatory. 

Rosie's gaze locked onto Arabella, a hint of amusement dancing in her eyes. "Hey, sweetheart, you'd do well to watch your mouth," she warned, her tone dripping with condescension. "You're coming across a bit... juvenile. Tread carefully, or you'll find yourself on the receiving end of a reality check."

"Hunh!" Arabella's eyes widened in shock, her voice barely above a whisper. She hadn't expected Rosie to stand up for herself, to refuse to be pushed around. For the first time, Rosie's submissive facade had cracked, revealing a flash of steel beneath. 

Without the ties of marriage to Archie, Rosie felt unshackled, free to speak her mind without restraint. She wanted to lay it all out, to give Arabella and the others a piece of her mind, and she was just getting started. 

"You think I'm talking to someone else?"

She jabbed a finger at Arabella, her gaze locked onto her adversary's, a fierce determination burning within. She cocked her head to the side, a hint of defiance in the gesture. "My words are for you, and only you," she declared, her voice steady and unwavering. 

"What exactly do you plan to do about it? Think you can bully me around like you always have? Newsflash; I'm done cowering. Done shivering at the sound of your bark. Try it, and you'll find out what I'm capable of."

Arabella's anger boiled over, her face twisted in rage as she lunged at Rosie, palm raised for a slap. But Rosie was ready, her swift reflexes allowing her to snatch Arabella's wrist mid-air. 

With a calculated precision, Rosie's fingers closed around Arabella's skin, pinching down with a searing pressure.

"Ahn!" Arabella's scream pierced the air as Rosie's grip tightened.

"You should've listened," Rosie said, her voice low and even. With a swift shove, she sent Arabella tumbling backward, her body crashing into Archie and their mother; the three of them collapsing in a heap on the floor.

As they scrambled to their feet, Clementine's expectant gaze settled on Archie, her eyes silently demanding he intervene. But Archie remained frozen, offering no support. Clementine's attention snapped to Rosie, her face twisted in outrage. 

"You think you can just lay hands on my daughter?" Clementine spat, advancing on Rosie with a furious stride, her hand cocked back, ready to strike.

"Are you trying to harass me?" Rosie's question hung in the air, and Clementine froze, her eyes wide with indignation. 

Rosie crossed her arms over her chest, a soft, mocking laugh escaping her lips. "Let's be real. The divorce papers are signed. Your son's mess is no longer mine to clean up," 

Her gaze locked onto Clementine's, a challenge sparking within. "But go ahead, hit me. Harass me all you want. I'll just make sure everyone knows what the Moore family is really like; the kind of people who think they can treat someone like me like dirt for three years and get away with it,"

Rosie's voice dripped with a newfound ferocity. "Don't underestimate me; I've got nothing left to lose, so watch me unravel it all. But you? The Moore name will be the one in tatters once the truth comes out,"

Her gaze bore into Clementine's, a cold smile spreading across her face. "The divorce papers didn't just sever my ties to your son; they cut me loose from any obligation to this family,"

"I've no reason to protect you now. So, if you want to salvage what's left of your precious reputation, let me leave in peace. I'll pack my bags and be gone, freeing you from the burden of my presence in this suffocating mansion."

As she turned back to the wardrobe, a fleeting thought caught her attention, and she paused, her gaze sweeping across the room, lingering on each face. "Honestly, I'd say this entire mansion isn't enough to compensate for what your family put me through. But I'm not taking anything; not a single thing. I came here with nothing, and that's exactly how I'll leave."

With a calm, deliberate motion, Rosie stripped off her wristwatch, necklace, and earrings, tossing them at Archie's feet. "These are yours," she said, her voice even. "As for the clothes I'm wearing, consider it a loan; if we ever cross paths again, I'll make sure to return them."

The room fell into stunned silence, everyone frozen in shock as they watched Rosie's unexpected display of defiance. Clementine and Arabella seethed with anger, their faces reddening, but they remained paralyzed, unable to react. 

Phoebe, however, chose to keep her composure, mindful of her goal to win over the Moore family; she bit back her impulse to confront Rosie, opting instead for a calculated calm.

Rosie stepped closer to Arabella, her voice dropping to a whisper as she leaned in close. "Your family's toxic, and honestly, I don't expect much better from a daughter raised by a mother like yours," she said, her words laced with a sharp sting. "I'm not blaming you entirely, though; you've had no one to teach you better," 

Her breath was warm against Arabella's ear as she continued, her tone softening slightly. "You're a lady, and if you keep going down this path, I doubt you'll ever find happiness. Peace of mind will elude you, and true love might pass you by. It's time to turn over a new leaf before it's too late,"

Arabella's eyes blazed with fury, her face reddening as she fought the urge to lash out at Rosie. But a flicker of fear held her back, the memory of Rosie's strength still fresh in her mind. 

Rosie's lips curled into a knowing smile as she pulled away from Arabella's ear, her eyes locking onto hers. She winked, her voice dripping with a mix of amusement and warning. "Be a good girl, hmm? It's not too late for you,"

Her gaze shifted to Clementine, her eyes flashing with a quiet intensity. "You'll reap what you sow," she said, the words hanging in the air like a promise. There was more she wanted to say, but she kept it brief, her expression conveying that she saw no value in prolonging the conversation. 

Clementine's face burned with humiliation, her anger simmering just below the surface. She longed to lash out, but a thread of caution held her back; Rosie had become a threat to the Moore family's reputation, and Clementine knew better than to provoke her further.

Rosie's gaze turned to Phoebe, her eyes flashing with a mix of anger and betrayal. "Karma's coming for you," she said, her voice low and even. "I just hope it hits hard enough to shatter you into pieces,"

Instead of anger, her face broke into a sweet, almost innocent smile, the contrast jarring. Then, her eyes locked onto Archie's, her voice taking on a softer, almost wistful tone. "Take care, ex. All the best. You'll know the truth one day, and maybe by then, it'll be too late; your heart will already be in pieces."

With a final glance, Rosie turned to face them, her head dipping into a gracious bow. "Thank you all for bringing out the best in me. I'm looking forward to the future... until then, enjoy," she said, her voice laced with a mix of gratitude and subtle sarcasm. 

As she straightened up, she strode elegantly toward the door, her steps long and confident; a poise that commanded attention. 

The moment she stepped out of the room, she turned back, her eyes sweeping over the group before she waved goodbye, her smile radiant. "Bye," she said, the word lingering in the air as she walked away, leaving behind a room full of stunned faces, their mouths agape in a mixture of shock.

As she descended the stairs, each step seemed to echo with a quiet voice of doubt, whispering regrets and urging her to turn back, to apologize and smooth things over. But she steeled herself, drawing on the well of courage that had driven her to stand up to them. 

"I did the right thing," she told herself firmly. "I've had enough. There's no going back…" 

With each step, she seemed to distance herself further from the past, her resolve growing stronger. "Archie and his family aren't worth it," she repeated, the words becoming a mantra that propelled her forward, until she finally reached the bottom of the stairs, her heart still racing but her determination unwavering.

As she arrived at the living room, her gaze swept across the spacious area, her thoughts echoing her frustration. "It's just big for nothing," she muttered to herself, the emptiness of the room mirroring her feelings toward the Moore family. 

She walked over to the sofa, grabbed her bag, and pulled out the pregnancy test result, her fingers tracing the edges of the paper. "This doesn't belong here," she thought, a sense of closure settling in. But as she reached for the door handle, a nagging voice in her head erupted, its words piercing her resolve. 

"Go back and apologize! You have nowhere to go! No one to run to!" The voice grew louder, echoing her deepest fears; her father's rejection, her isolation, her reliance on Archie. 

For a moment, her hand hesitated on the door handle, her mind torn between the courage she'd summoned and the vulnerability she'd tried to shake.

"No. I don't belong here! I need to go!" Her scream drowned out the doubt. 

She shook her head, and the internal noise ceased. When she opened her eyes, her gaze was steady. Without another moment's hesitation, she walked out of the house, her footsteps firm on the pavement. She didn't look back, refusing to glance over her shoulder until she'd left the Moore compound far behind. 

Only then did she allow herself to pause, her mind flooding with uncertainty. 'Where will I go now?'

'What's next for me?'