Chapter 7

SARA'S POV

The next morning, I dressed up and went to work. The past days without Danielle around had felt like hell itself as I wasn't yet acquainted with staying without her, but when life treats you in the cruelest way, even you'd be shocked at how much you can take in.

I had just stepped into the elevator, a pile of files sitting gallantly in my hands when I saw a group of executives walking towards the same elevator I had just stepped in.

My eyes dropped open. Not in shock. Not wary. But in recognition. 

At the centre was Alyssa, or would I rather say, Derek's mistress, leading the group like she's got everything at her fingertip. 

The same woman who my husband and daughter prefer to me. The same lady who had stolen my spot and made my life a picture of mockery. I saw her lips curve, not into a smile, but a smirk. It disappeared just the same way it came.

I stepped to the side, creating a space for them to enter, but one of the executives' faces turned pale in disgust.

“I can't believe you're still here.” he cussed with a glare. I narrowed my gaze at him, unable to understand where the word was coming out of.

I barely had a chance to say a word and I was already asked to get out of the elevator without hesitation. My jaw ticked, teeth gritted as I turned to glance at Alyssa. 

Crazy. She wasn't even staring at me. She pretended not to notice my presence, or rather, not to know me. The executives were no exceptions either, it felt like a whip, the sting hellish. 

Without another word, it'll be pointless anyways, I clung to the little drop of my dignity, then bolted out.

As I strode back to the office, I could hear my coworkers praising Alyssa's background and elegance. How she came from an influential family, how she always carried herself with elegance, pride and decorum. How her beauty was enough to captivate any man and how dutiful she was with work..

As the murmurs and gossip penetrated into my ears, I could control the swell and thumping in my heart. A tight clench that made it difficult to breathe. 

I was used to all these, but however, one thing which was clear was the fact that I still wanted to deny everything.

A single woman, a mistress, a third wheel and more, had just in a blink, taken everything from me.

My family. Even stole the spot at my workplace. 

Oh, Sara... Pitiful.

The whole office felt like a trap caging me in, but I still forced myself to work. I was focused on my work when I felt a presence beside me. 

I sharply lifted my head up from the system then turned to see a colleague. She flashed a smile at me, holding a document.

“Hey, Sara.” A colleague mouthed and I turned my head to her with a smile, returning back the greeting. 

“I was wondering if you could….” She twitched her lips and I laughed briefly. 

There she goes, I knew exactly what she wanted to do. Make a request.

“C’mon, what is it?” I dropped the files with me and turned fully to her.

“Actually, I'm really pressed but the boss needs these documents to be delivered to him immediately and I can't…”

“Can’t believe that's what you've been struggling to say,” I cut in with a light chuckle.

“Didn’t want to bother you.” She pouted and I rolled my eyes playfully at her.

“Give it and go free yourself. Holding it up for long is dangerous, you know?” I narrowed my gaze at her, stretching forth my hand and she placed the document on it.

“You’re the absolute best, Sara.” She blew kisses at me before turning around on her heels, bolting off. 

I chuckled lightly, then stood with the documents before leaving. 

Derek's office door was slightly opened when I got there, but that didn't mean I had plans to go in with knocking. I barely placed a knock when I saw something.

Alyssa, sitting on Derek's lap, a smile on their lips. They both looked so happy and it was as if Derek was whispering something into her ears.

I froze. Alyssa, who clearly noticed me at that moment, turned swiftly. Her face paled as she stood up from Derek's laps.

My grip tightened around the documents. 

Derek stood, eyes flashing with rage. “What the hell are you doing here, Sara? And who the hell sent you?” His eyes burned with heavy fury as he questioned, each word dripping with disdain and venom. 

“I’m.. I'm sorry, I actually —”

“Give me the documents and leave.” His assistant hurried over, cutting me off. Before I could blink, he grabbed the documents from me.

“Turn around and leave, Sara.” he said again. 

What was I expecting? That there'd be any difference in the way they treated me because I came to deliver some documents?

“Calm down, Derek. Don't let Sara ruin the moment, huh?” I heard Alyssa's voice as I turned to leave, then I scoffed before finally walking away.

'Sara had plans to seduce the boss, but guess what? A mission failed.'

'Alyssa was with boss already and Sara got the embarrassment of her life.'

'What a cheap whore she is.'

The comment I met on returning to the office left my jaw open, eyes slightly wide. How and when did words reach here? Indeed, it wasn't hard for news to spread anyway. It does so like a wildfire. 

I should have been bothered by those words, but no, I was already used to being judged whenever Alyssa was involved.

Derek, Alyssa and I grew up in the same circle. 

Before my parents passed away, my family was just as powerful as. But everything shattered immediately after their death, the company was divided by my greedy uncles and I was no longer seen or regarded as part of the world. 

I became trash. Not only to the world, but by everything and everyone around me. I was treated with disregard and disrespect and those who once treated me well when my family was still powerful turned their back on me. They drifted. 

I knew, I knew right from the start that Alyssa had liked Derek since we were young, but I never expected everything to turn this way, messy even. 

All along, Alyssa did everything within her power to let Derek's mother notice her and good for her, her hard work paid off. She was always good at pleasing his mother, like a daughter in-law should. 

Alyssa never liked me, it wasn't mutual and Alyssa never showed her aversion towards me, not until Derek's grandparents started caring for me after my parents death. But I had always wanted everything to end, at least, back then.... I wanted Alyssa to see I wasn't a threat.

Everything took a drastic turn when my marriage with Derek was arranged, that seemed to spike the hatred Alyssa harbored in her heart for me. She turned others against me, how she was able to do that is what I didn't know but however, Alyssa never gave up Derek even after our marriage. 

She chased him relentlessly and I had cluelessly thought Derek was getting closer to Alyssa to push against his grandparents, not until later when I realized he had truly fallen for him and I'd been casted out.

I sighed at this point, breaking free from the long thought. I sat at my desk, then concentrated back on the work.

The rest of the day dragged on and later in the evening, before I left for work, I got a call from Rina. 

My face lit up immediately as soon as I saw the call. Apart from Derek's grandparents, Rina was another person who cared for me, loved and showed me true affection. 

The call ended with Rina informing me to meet her at the mall, we needed to pick out some jewelry to wear to the upcoming design exhibition and I was extremely excited to tag along.

I would have gone back to my house, but on second thought, I decided to go straight to the mall. 

I was smiling as I approached the store. I pulled out my phone once more to let Rina know I was at the mall already, but however, my breath caught up in my throat when I saw them. 

My husband and Alyssa, Danielle in the middle of the two, hands locked together—gisting, smiling, like a happy family should. 

My heart clenched. Danielle never smiled this way with me.