Chapter 5: Marked Enemy

~Isla~

The streetlights blurred through my tears as I forced myself to keep moving. My body was screaming for rest, but hunger and desperation pushed me forward. I spotted a small, warmly lit restaurant ahead. The smell of hot food drifting out made my stomach twist painfully. I had no money, but maybe, just maybe, someone would show me a little kindness.

I pushed open the door with trembling hands.

“Hi there. Table for one?” The waiter greeted me with a polite smile.

I shook my head, tears already pooling in my eyes. “I… I’m hungry, sir… and I don’t have any money. Please… help me. I’m pregnant.”

He stared at me in surprise for a moment, then blinked. “Sure, uh… what would you like to eat?”

A small wave of relief washed over me. “Anything… anything at all, please,” I whispered gratefully.

“Please, have a seat, ma’am.” He gestured toward an empty table in the corner.

“Thank you so much,” I said quietly, my legs nearly giving out as I sat down.

But the relief was short-lived. The waiter muttered something to a stern-looking woman, the manager, I assumed. Her eyes landed on me, widening first in surprise, then narrowing in recognition and disgust.

“That whore!” she barked loudly, striding toward me like a storm. I jumped to my feet in fear. “The only thing you’re getting is leftovers!”

“I’m not a whore!” I yelled back, my voice shaking but defiant. “Don’t you dare call me that!”

She gasped in mock shock. “So you have a big mouth now?” She turned to the entire restaurant, raising her voice so everyone could hear. “This woman is married to Marcus Calloway! The owner of Calloway Industries!”

Gasps and whispers spread through the room like wildfire. Customers turned to stare at me with judgment in their eyes.

“It seems you haven’t watched the news today!” the manager continued viciously. “Her hypocrisy has been revealed. She was sleeping with the gardener and got pregnant by him!”

“That is not true!” I cried, my hands instinctively moving to protect my stomach.

“That bastard in your stomach will starve until you’re on your knees begging!” she spat.

“My child is not a bastard!” I shouted, tears rushing down my face. “I don’t want anything from you or this restaurant!”

She laughed cruelly, calling me every horrible name she could think of. The entire restaurant watched as I was humiliated in public. I fought the urge to smash something in anger, but I held back. I couldn’t afford to go to jail now, not with my baby depending on me.

“All of you will pay for calling my child a bastard!” I cried bitterly before running out of the restaurant, my heart heavy with shame and rage.

I collapsed to my knees on the cold pavement outside, sobbing uncontrollably. The whole world now believed I was a cheating whore carrying a bastard child. Marcus had made sure my humiliation went public. How was I supposed to survive this?

“Hey,” a soft feminine voice suddenly spoke beside me.

I jolted, quickly wiping my tears as I rose to my feet. A kind-looking waitress stood there, her eyes gentle and filled with sympathy.

“I’m sorry for what happened back there,” she said softly. “The boss is a grumpy, mean woman. Don’t take her words to heart… she treats everyone like that.”

I nodded weakly, too exhausted to speak properly.

“I don’t have much… but I got you some sandwiches, a chocolate smoothie, and a bottle of water.” She handed me a small bag, her sweet smile encouraging me to take it.

Without hesitation, I accepted the food. I ate quickly, the simple meal tasting like heaven after so many hours of hunger.

“Thank you so much,” I said between bites, my voice thick with emotion.

“It’s nothing,” she whispered. “I know what it’s like to be kicked out by the man you love.”

She looked at me for a moment, hesitating, before sighing. “You can come stay with me until you get your own place.”

My eyes widened in disbelief. “Really?”

“Yes… and um… there’s a club looking for servers. Maybe you can try your luck there.”

“Thank you so much!” I pulled her into a grateful hug, tears stinging my eyes again. “You just saved me and my baby. I’ll be forever grateful.”

“It’s nothing,” she said, rubbing my back comfortingly. “I’ve been in your position before. I know how hard it can be.”

Her name was Kora. For the first time since the nightmare began, I felt like I could breathe again.

I hated clubs. The loud music, the smell of alcohol, cigarette smoke, and desperate people, everything about them disgusted me. But I had no choice.

After moving into Kora’s small apartment, I borrowed her clothes and spent days searching for decent jobs, cleaning, serving, anything. But every door slammed shut in my face. Marcus had blacklisted me. As long as I remained in New York, no respectable place would hire me. His revenge had already begun.

That was why I took the job at the club. I would work hard, save every single penny, and eventually leave this city, maybe for Los Angeles or somewhere far away where I could start over with my baby.

“You!” The manager’s sharp voice snapped me out of my thoughts. “Stop standing there and move. VIP table just asked for a server. You’re taking it.”

“Alright,” I nodded, rushing over while smoothing down my cheap uniform.

My heart stopped when I reached the table.

Marcus.

He was sitting there with a group of wealthy friends, a beautiful woman perched comfortably on his lap, his strong arm wrapped around her waist. She whispered something in his ear, and he actually smiled, a real smile I had never once seen directed at me in five years of marriage.

Melissa Tate. The same woman Linda and Cara had always thrown in my face, saying she was more worthy of being his wife.

Anger boiled deep in my chest as I approached the table. One of his friends waved me over. I tried to keep my head down, hoping he wouldn’t notice me.

But the moment his piercing blue eyes landed on me, disgust and cold fury filled his gaze. His jaw locked tightly.

“Never knew you would stoop so low as to serve in a place like this, hypocrite,” he said, his deep voice cutting through the loud music.

Melissa let out a mocking laugh. “She’s probably here to find another rich guy so she can pin that bastard on him!”

“My child is not a bastard!” I snapped, my eyes blazing with newfound fire.

Marcus’s eyes darkened dangerously. He stood up slowly, towering over me. “You better enjoy this shift. It will be your last. I’ll make sure they fire you tonight.” His voice dripped with hatred. “You will suffer severely until you admit that thing inside you is a bastard!”

“My child is not a bastard!” I cried, tears pooling in my eyes. “Marcus, mark my words! You will regret ever calling my child a bastard! I will make you pay for this! For everything you’ve done to me!”

He looked ready to strike me, but I didn’t wait. I turned and stormed out of the VIP area, my heart pounding with rage.

Marcus was determined to destroy me completely. To him, I was nothing but a toy for his revenge. But something inside me had finally snapped.

The same way he wanted to ruin me, I would rise from the ashes and destroy him. I would make him regret every cruel word, every betrayal, and every time he called my child a bastard.

One day, I would return stronger. And when that day came, Marcus Calloway would beg for my forgiveness.