CHAPTER TWO

“Divorce papers,” he blurted out. His words crushed her heart, leaving it shattered on the marble floor.

“Sign them!” he said coldly.

Tessa staggered, grabbing the edge of the table to steady herself.

“You’re kidding, right?” she asked, but he responded with a mocking smile.

“He’s not kidding. Sign them and get the fuck out of his life!” Sophia replied bluntly.

“I’m not talking to you!” Tessa shouted at her.

She tried to reach for Declan’s hand, but he stepped back, tightening his grip on Sophia’s hand.

“Declan, we can talk about this. Please, we can work things out!” she begged, tears filling her eyes.

But her pleas fell on deaf ears. He had already made up his mind, and he wasn’t willing to listen to anyone.

“Listen, Tessa, you know I met your sister first, and I loved her before I ever loved you…”

“But you loved me too! Why are you doing this to me?” Tessa cried.

“Yes, but not anymore. I haven’t been happy for a year. I only married you because I wanted a wife, someone to have by my side, not because I loved you or anything like that. You need to move on and sign the divorce papers. I really don’t want to be with you anymore,” he said, looking directly into her eyes.

Her jaw dropped, and a strange coldness swept through her body like a sudden fever.

“Declan, don’t feel sorry for her. She deserves this. Even though she knew you loved me, she still went ahead and married you. Tessa, you’re nothing but a traitor, and you deserve far worse for betraying me,” Sophia added.

Tessa wasn’t surprised that Sophia saw her that way. Her sister had always been jealous of her since childhood. Sophia wanted anything that belonged to Tessa. It was obvious that she hated her, and this was nothing new.

But Declan?

They had been together for three full years. Did that mean he had only pretended to love her? They had been fine that morning, and even the night before, everything had seemed okay.

He claimed he didn’t love her. Yet, just last night, he had kissed her forehead and promised her forever.

Had that been a pretence too?

The affection, trust, honesty, attention, and care had all been fake. He had never loved her. His heart had belonged to Sophia all along.

“Why?” she asked, her voice cracking.

Declan scoffed. He thought she was making a scene over something so simple. To him, her reaction was unnecessarily dramatic.

Sophia couldn’t stop smiling. She felt as though she were on top of the world. Winning Declan was a dream come true. She had promised herself that she would take him away from Tessa, and she had succeeded. She wasn’t just taking Declan, either. She wanted everything that belonged to Tessa.

“Sign the divorce papers! Stop wasting our time!” she shouted.

“What have I done to deserve this?” Tessa asked, ignoring Sophia.

“That’s exactly the point. You’ve been good to me, but I need to be happy, and she’s the one who makes me happy,” he said.

The poison of betrayal sank deep into Tessa’s heart. Little did she know that even worse pain was still waiting for her.

A maid dragged Tessa’s suitcase downstairs and brought it over to them.

“What are you doing with my suitcase?” Tessa asked, shock shining in her tear-filled eyes.

“Dear sister, you don’t need to worry. Besides, you already have enough money…” Sophia said.

“Declan, what is all this?!” Tessa shouted, struggling to control her emotions.

“You can’t stay here while Sophia is here. You should sign the divorce papers and leave. It’s for the best,” he replied carelessly.

Where did he expect her to go? She was financially stable, but where was she supposed to go at a time like this?

“This is our home! You’re throwing me out because of her!” Tessa cried, her voice trembling as her cheeks burned with shame.

“When will you understand? I’ve already told you that I don’t want you anymore. There’s nothing left between us. Sign the divorce papers and get out of my house!” he insisted.

As if cheating on her wasn’t enough, he was now throwing her out of the home they had built together.

Tessa shook her head and took two steps backward. Declan smiled, grabbed the suitcase handle, and reached for her hand, but she quickly pulled away.

“Don’t be stubborn!” he shouted, grabbing her forcefully.

Sophia watched with a satisfied grin, enjoying every second of it. She folded her arms like a queen watching her enemy fall.

“Let go of me, Declan! I’m not going anywhere!” Tessa struggled, but his grip was too strong.

He opened the front door and shoved her outside.

“Declan, where do you expect me to go?” she cried, pleading with him.

“Please, let me stay. I can’t just go out there. I’m…”

“I don’t care where you go or how you manage to survive. But you can’t stay here tonight,” he said.

“Declan, please, you can’t leave me. I love you. Remember, I…”

Declan slammed the door in her face.

Her body trembled with shock as a tear rolled down her cheek.

She stood there, frozen. The cold wind slapped her face, but it couldn’t compare to the chill that pierced her bones. Her fingers clutched the handle of her suitcase as though it could somehow bring her back to the reality that had just been shattered.

The rain began to fall, slowly at first, with gentle drizzles touching her skin and mixing with the tears streaming down her face.

Her legs wobbled beneath her. She wasn’t sure whether it was because of the cold or the weight of the betrayal crushing her chest.

“Declan, please don’t do this to me…” she whispered to the closed door, her lips trembling.

“Please, don’t… I’m pregnant…” she whispered, the test report and ultrasound results still tucked inside her pocket.

When no response came, her hands slowly fell away from the door. Her eyes remained fixed on the handle, as though she were hoping it would turn and Declan would return, apologize, and tell her it had all been a cruel joke.

But it didn’t happen.

The silence from the other side of the door screamed louder than any argument.

Sophia was inside, wearing her robe, sipping her wine, and lying in her bed.

Their bed.

Tessa’s knees gave way, and she collapsed on the porch, hugging her suitcase like a child clinging to a lifeline.

Everything was gone. Her life as she knew it was over.

Three years of her life had disappeared like ashes scattered by the wind.

How had she failed to see it coming? How had she slept beside a man who had never truly loved her? A man who held her tightly while his heart belonged to another woman.

Not just another woman, but her own sister.

Her stomach twisted. This betrayal wasn’t just about love. It cut deep into her blood.

Sophia, her twin sister, was supposed to love her unconditionally. Instead, she had driven the deepest blade into Tessa’s back.

And Declan, her husband. The man she had loved, prayed with, cooked for, and shared her dreams with. He had looked her straight in the eyes and told her she was nothing more than a body filling the place of a wife.

Nothing more.

The rain grew heavier, soaking her clothes, hair, and skin. Still, she didn’t move.

She had nowhere to go. Her phone might have been inside her bag, but her fingers could barely feel anything. She couldn’t even think of anyone to call. Who could she explain everything to? Who would listen to her?

Her drenched body needed rest. The doctor had told her to rest, but she hadn’t listened.

She had built her entire life around Declan, and now she stood alone among the ruins.

Suddenly, the door creaked open, and she saw him standing in the doorway.

“Declan,” she called softly.

Hope flared in her chest.

It was Declan. Had he come back? Was he going to take her inside and apologize?