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Chapter 3

Jessica Hemsworth

A painful laugh tore through my throat, tears blurring my vision as I stared down at the credit alert displayed on my phone screen.

"Five hundred thousand?" I chuckled again, tears dropping from my eyes as my fingers tightened around my phone. My heart twisted in my chest, my breath heavy and shallow.

Is she mocking me?

After sacrificing my career for her grandchild and in-law, this mockery is what I get in return?

I was a fast rising designer with big dreams of owning my own fashion house one day, but she and her family stole my dream from me. If she didn't steal away eight years of my life, perhaps I would've made that dream come true. And five hundred thousand dollars? In exchange for everything she stole away from me? My career, my life, my youth?

"You'll be fine, Jessica. You are strong. Don't let her break you." I whispered to myself, but the truth is, she already broke me. Every piece of me.

I hauled down the next cab and the ride to Viktor's apartment began.

Thankfully, Viktor wasn't in the house by the time I got back home, so I headed straight to our room and packed all my belongings.

My heart twisted in my chest as I stood in front of the mirror, staring at my reflection. It felt I was another person. I didn't expect otherwise after being the shadow of someone else for years.

I walked over to my suitcase and held the handle, my fingers tightened around it. And for the last time, I looked around the room that I once cherished. The room that held memories of eight years of my life, before hauling my suitcase out of the room, holding the divorce papers in my other hand.

Leaving quietly was the only thing I wanted, but I guess that won't happen, because I heard Viktor's voice as I approached the living room. Not just his voice alone but Jeremy's too.

“You don't have to worry, sweetheart. I will make you something to eat. Something delicious.” I heard a familiar feminine voice. Susanne Blake. Viktor's best friend.

“You are the best, aunty Susan.” Followed by Jeremy's voice.

My eyes flashed with surprise when I saw Susan, lying on the couch with her head on Jeremy's laps, and Viktor… he was peeling an orange.

He paused when he noticed my presence, but continued as if I wasn't even there.

I scoffed silently. What a jerk.

I walked over to the center table without saying a word to him, and dropped the file, heading toward the door afterwards.

“And where the hell do you think you are going?” His voice made me halt abruptly on my track, my fingers clutching the suitcase tightly as I clenched my jaws tightly.

“What is this, huh?” Viktor was already on his feet, holding the brown file up by the time I turned around to face him.

“Check it yourself.” I replied to him, my voice dripping with disdain. I wanted nothing at that moment more than to walk out of his house forever. Besides, the marriage binding us together has been annulled.

Viktor stared at me for a few seconds before he tore the file open, taking out the paper. However, his eyes flashed with shock the moment he saw the divorce papers. As if he had not expected this from the get-go.

Oh, he wasn't. He never knew about the deal between my aunt and I. I still remembered how he insulted me almost every single day that I was glad his wife died so I could marry him.

Victor scoffs, running his fingers through his hair. "You want a divorce?"

"Yes." I replied flatly.

He threw the papers back on the table and walked over to me.

"Are you doing this to get my attention, hmm?" He lifted his hand to my face, his eyes piercing into mine with suppressed anger blazing in them.

I slapped his hand off, but what he did next made my eyes shot open. Viktor grabbed my neck and slammed me hard against the wall.

"Isn't this what you've always wanted? That I marry you? Bitch, you seduced me! You couldn't even wait three months after Anna's death before scheming to marry me."

His words struck my heart, stomping on the piece of my broken heart. Will he ever know the truth? That I never wanted this marriage? That this whole thing was planned and forced on me by my aunt?

"Why do you want to leave now? And what makes you think that I will let you go leave freely just like that after everything you did?" His hand tightened around my neck, choking me. He never went easy even as I tapped his hand, trying to breath.

"In your dreams, Jessica. You belong to me, Jessica. You are mine to torture for the rest of my life! If I am not happy, then you will never be!" He finally let go of me, pushing me to the floor.

My eyes stung as tears build up in them. I looked up at Jeremy. He was glaring daggers at me. Like he wanted to kill me.

"Get your things back inside, Jessica. I won't repeat myself." And with that, Viktor turned his back on me and started walking away.

"I’m getting that divorce, one way or another."

He paused, turning back to me, a smirk curled around his lips as he said, "I'll see you try, sweetheart."