Casted out and betrayed.

MICHELLE’S POV.

I fell to my knees in front of Damien’s parents, my hands trembling. My heart felt like it was being ripped apart. “Please… forgive me,” I whispered, my voice barely steady. “I… I didn’t mean to embarrass anyone. I just… I just want to save my mother. Please… I’ll do anything.”

His mother looked down at me, her face cold, her eyes sharp. “Forgive you?” she said slowly. “Do you even know how lucky you are that our son even thought of you to carry his seed? You should be grateful you even have this chance.”

I swallowed hard. “I… I am grateful. I really am. I was selfish and stupid. I shouldn’t have left that day,” I paused, swallowing my tears. “I am back to make things right.”

His father shook his head, his lips pressed into a thin line. “Why did Damien even try to give you a ring? What was he thinking?”

Damien stepped forward, his face dark. “I wanted to give her dignity,” he said quietly, his voice low. “I wanted her to feel like she mattered, even if only a little. But now… I know she doesn’t deserve it.”

I bit my lip, tears falling. I locked eyes with him, gripping my clothes in rage.

I swear, Damien was going to regret this one way or another.

His mother waved a hand, cutting me off. “There will be no wedding. Forget about that. You are not getting married. You are only here to have the children. Nothing more. Nothing else.”

I nodded quickly, wiping my tears.

Damien’s eyes glinted with something cold. “Nah, I need some kind of formal stuff,” he said. “Some evidence that these children are mine. I don’t want questions later. I want proof that they belong to me.”

His parents nodded in agreement. “We will call a priest then. He will make it official. That will be enough for our records,” his mother said.

I swallowed, trying not to cry again. As long as my mother will be saved, I was willing to go through hell.

Two days passed slowly. My mind was a storm of fear and worry. Anytime I remembered what I agreed to, I would feel like screaming my lungs out. The only thing stopping me from doing that was the fact I was doing this for my mother.

Finally, it was the day of the “ceremony.” My legs were shaking as I stood in the backyard. I looked around. Damien was nowhere to be seen.

Panic rose in my chest.

His mother noticed me looking around. “Go find him,” she said. “He is probably somewhere wandering. Hurry before he changes his mind.”

As soon as I turned, he walked in. His arms locked with Sarah. They looked like the perfect couple you see on reality shows and that made my stomach twist with disgust.

“Sorry we are late,” he apologised, exchanging glances at Sarah. “But we have an announcement.”

I rolled my eyes, shaking my head in disbelief. They still want to make a scene at our second chance wedding. How low can they go?

He looked at me lazily, as if I were nothing. “Sarah is pregnant,” he said casually. “And we have decided to keep the child.”

I froze. My heart sank into my stomach.

His mother's face lit up. “Oh my God, congratulations,” she said, wrapping her arms around Sarah. “I'm so happy. Thank you so much, Sarah.”

What the hell was happening? If Sarah is pregnant… no, I shouldn't think much of it.

“What… What about me?” I whispered.

Everyone turned to me, a mixture of disdain and venom etched on their faces.

Damien laughed lightly, a cruel sound that made my chest ache. “You? You are not needed anymore,” he said. “Sarah’s child is enough for the family. That’s all that matters.”

My purse fell to the ground. My mouth fell open in shock.

“You can’t do this,” I said, stepping closer. “You promised! You said you’d pay my mother’s bills!”

Damien’s face darkened. He shook his head slowly and laughed, a low, cold laugh. “Go to hell, Michelle,” he said. “I don’t care about you or your mother. Do whatever you want. My family doesn’t need you now.”

I fell to my knees again, tears streaming down my face. My body shook. “No… please… I’ll do anything. Anything you want. Just… just help me save her,” I whispered.

He moved forward, watching me like I was nothing. “Do you hear me? I don’t care,” he said. “Your mother can die. I don’t care. You can beg all you want. It doesn’t matter.”

My hands trembled as I pressed them together. My heart ached more than I could explain. “You can’t do this to me! You promised me! You are indebted to me.!”

Damien rolled his eyes with a scoff. He turned to the maids at the corner. “Escort her outside the estate. And tell the security not to let the likes of her in ever again,” he ordered.

“No,” I shook my head as they dragged me away. “Please… please,” I cried as they dragged me away. I kept struggling with the maids but their grip was stronger than ironclads.

They threw me outside the gate. I fell on my face. But i didn't stay down, i quickly stood up and ran towards the gate but it shut in my face.

I held the bars, crying like a lost cat. “Please,” I begged as Sarah approached me.

Her lips curled into a cruel smile, her arms folded under her breasts. “It's such a shame, Michelle. It really is.”

“How could you do this to me?!” I screamed.

She scoffed, tilting her head to the side. “Don't paint me as the bad one, Michelle. I didn’t seduce Damien. He did.”

I lunged forward to grab her but my hands didn't reach her.

She moved back slightly, still wearing the cruel smile. “Everyone told you that Damien was far above your league but you wouldn't listen. I warned you too… so, this is kind of your fault.”

“You will regret this,” I growled, gripping the bars tightly so that my knuckles turned white.

She leans forward, her voice dropping. “I was going to talk to Damien to help you but then I remember how your mother treated me back in school. She kept calling me a bad egg, and a spoiled brat.” Her face darkened. “Looks like this spoiled brat will be the reason she breathes her last.”

“I should have listened to my mother.”

“It pays to listen, doesn't it?” She mocked. “Oh well, call me for the funeral. See you around, Michelle,” she added and walked away.