Chapter 3

EL L E

I was standing in front of Sebastian's parent's house. The familiar mansion I'd been to a couple of times, suddenly feeling cold and unwelcoming.

There was no way I was giving up on Sebastian and our marriage. I love him so much, and I wish he would just see through Emory's lies. He was being deceived by her, and painting me out to be the bad guy.

She was vile and evil and had all this perfectly planned out all this time. She knew what she was doing, and now, she had won.

No.

I can't give up that easily.

Not without a fight.

Emory was going to pay for what she did, but first, I had to get Sebastian back.

"Elle! What are you doing here?" His mother, Mary asked, opening the door for me.

I hugged her, the tears already starting to well up in my eyes. "Oh, no. Come on in, dear." She said, wrapping her arm around me as we walked inside.

I sat down, wiping my face, and trying not to show my weakness.

"What happened, Elle? Did you and Sebastian have a fight?" She asked.

"He asked for a divorce." I managed to say, the words leaving a bitter taste in my mouth.

"What? No, no, no, that can't be true. Where is he, Elle? Did he send you here?" She asked, confused and shocked. We walked into the living room, and she sat me down.

"I came on my own." I admitted, and she gasped.

"Is he crazy? Divorcing his own wife? What has gotten over him? He can't divorce you if he wants to. What has gotten over that boy?" She rambled, shaking her head.

"It's complicated, Mary." I started. "Emory has been telling him lies and she's the reason for this."

"Emory? That's your best friend. She would never do that to you."

"She hates me, Mary. She wants to ruin my marriage with your son. She's been lying to him, making up stuff about me and the worst part is that he believed her."

"Elle, calm down. Let's call him. If he knows you're here, he'll come back."

"But, he doesn't want to see me. He kicked me out of the house yesterday. He wants a divorce. Why won't he believe me?"

"Shh... Elle, everything will be fine. You'll see. This is just a phase. Everything will fall back into place soon." She said, her arms wrapping around me, and comforting me.

"Honey, why are you–" Pedro, Sebastian's dad, came in.

"Honey, it's Elle. Call Sebastian and tell him it's urgent." She ordered, and her husband walked out.

"Oh, sweetie. I'm sure this is a big misunderstanding."

"How could she do this to me? How could she go behind my back and do something so evil? I trusted her, Mary."

"Don't worry, dear. Everything will be fine. We will sort this out, don't you worry."

We waited, and after about half an hour, Sebastian showed up. But, he didn't show up alone. Why did he bring her here with him?

Emory's hand was wrapped around his arm possessively, as if staking her claim on him. She didn't have the right to touch him, or do anything like that. I was angry and frustrated, but I didn't want to do anything irrational.

"Elle, what are you doing here? I thought I told you I never want to see your face again." He asked, and Emory's grip tightened on his arm.

"Son, you will not speak to my daughter-in-law like that. You have no respect." His mother chastised.

"Why did you come here, Elle? You need something?" He asked, not bothering to respond to his mother.

"Don't be rude, son. She's your wife, and you will speak to her with respect."

"Oh she didn't tell you?" Sebastian laughed as he looked at his mother, shaking her head. He looked at me and said, "She didn't tell you of her cheating acts and how she's currently carrying a child that isn't mine?"

The room went silent, and I felt Mary's hand slowly loosened on my shoulder.

"Son, this is not the place to discuss such matters. That can't be true. Elle would never do that."

"Well, that's not the case, mother. She was cheating on me for a while. I can't live with someone who's constantly lying to me and not being honest. I can't deal with the thought that she had sex with another man."

"Sebastian, I swear to God, I didn't cheat on you. That baby is yours, please, believe me."

He ignored me and turned to his parents, handing the pictures over to them. "Here's your precious daughter-in-law, passionately kissing and holding hands with another man in a hotel. You can't deny this, mother."

"Oh my, Sebastian." She whispered, looking at the photos in her hand.

"Why would you do something like this?" Pedro asked, his voice filled with shock and anger.

"Elle, are these true? Please, tell me they're not. This looks so much like you, but it can't be. Please, tell me this is a joke."

I was rendered speechless. How could Sebastian do this to me? He had his own parents believe in Emory's lies. And the sad part was, they were falling for it.

"Mary, you have to believe. I would never cheat on your son. I am being framed and blackmailed by the woman standing beside him."

"How can you call your best friend and accuse her of such things?" His father asked.

"She isn't my friend, I was wrong to trust her. But, the truth is, she's been lying to me, and telling your son lies about me."

"You're not even listening, Elle. There is no point in discussing this matter. Your lies and manipulation have gone too far. I want nothing to do with you. Ever. Again."

"You can't be serious, Sebastian. You know me. You've seen the good and the bad. You know how much I love you. Please talk to your son, tell him all these are lies. I've never and would never cheat on him."

Sebastian's mother didn't say anything. It was obvious that she also believed the lies that Emory and Sebastian were feeding her.

I was disappointed, heartbroken, and shattered.

Pedro finally turned to me, "I am highly disappointed in you, Elle. We took you in like our own daughter, and you repaid us by bringing an illegitimate child into my family? Have you no shame?"

"Pedro, no. That's not fair. I didn't cheat. The baby is his. Emory is lying. Please, believe me." Tears streamed down my eyes, humiliation running through me.

"Enough! You need to leave before things get worse." Mary finally spoke.

I looked at her, my heart clenching painfully. I couldn't believe the woman who'd become a second mother to me, had just turned her back on me.

The same family I sacrificed so much for, had turned their back on me so quickly. The same man who got me disowned by my own family because I chose love over money. The same man who I turned down my family's inheritance for, because I wanted to be with him.

I felt humiliated as they all stared at me. They didn't need to say the word, but I could already see how they felt about me. They saw me as a cheat, and a liar.

"Get out of my house. You're not welcome here anymore." Pedro said, and I knew then that nothing I could say would change their mind.

"Elle, please, let's not make things more complicated. Just go." Mary said.

I choked, swallowing the huge sob that was about to rip from my lips as I grabbed my car keys and rushed out of the house.

I got into my car and the dam of tears broke loose, I sobbed, starting the engine, wanting to be out of here so badly.

As soon as the car drove out of the mansion, the gates closing shut behind me, I couldn't hold in my sorrow any longer.

I broke down.

Tears streamed down my eyes like a river, my chest was tight and painful, and I couldn't breathe.

The pain was unbearable, and I wanted it to stop.

My family was against me, my husband, the man who had vowed to protect and love me, didn't want anything to do with me.

I was all alone, and it felt like the world was ending.

The road in front of me became a blur, my hands trembling on the steering wheel.

"Why is this happening to me? Why is everyone turning their backs on me? Why? Why?!" I banged the steering wheel, crying loudly.

I didn't notice the car coming towards me until it was too late.

Everything happened in slow motion.

The last thing I heard was the sound of tires screeching, and a loud horn, followed by my scream of terror.

Then, there was darkness.