Chapter 3

GINA

Two days passed in a blur, two days from the day my own son rejected me, two days after being rejected by my mate and husband in public and sent away.

I didn't give up, Daniel was my son, so I tried everything. I went to visit him, I tried to make him eat my food, but …not only did he refuse all my efforts, he chose Malia, a strange woman over me again and again.

My heart clenched as I watched Daniel sitting opposite me, his gaze sharp with brows furrowed to the extreme. He obviously wasn't happy to be in this restaurant with me. I had forcefully dragged him from school during his break to talk to him, to explain that I never abandoned him. I couldn't let go of my chance to explain things to him, not when the court hearing was in a few minutes.

“How …how are you?” I managed to ask, steadying my voice and sounding as calm as possible even though my veins were rippling with anxiety.

Daniel glared at me, clasping his hands together, and asked coldly, “what do you want?”

“I want you to know that I never abandoned you” the words slipped instantly. Enough of the pleasantries. I needed to explain.

Daniel leaned backwards, then folded his arms stubbornly, “ I know” he said calmly and my eyes brightened up.

He knew? Was he pretending so that his father wouldn't blame him?

I felt excitement fill up my chest and I leaned in closer but…

“I know you didn't abandon me, you abandoned everything. You went away with another man, so I'm asking, what do you want?” Daniel added, voice tight.

My face paled instantly, my earlier excitement reduced to nothing but aching pain. Eloped with my new lover? I…had been out for Darius's sake, I had tried to please Darius, how could he say I eloped with someone?

I reached for Daniel's hands in a frantic way, garnering attention from other people in the restaurant, “No …no, I …never abandoned you, I never had another man. I had gone to close a business deal for your father…I..” I said, my voice breaking with despair. “He sent me to do it for him…”

Daniel slapped my hands off, his cheeks and ears burning bright red. “Don't touch me!” He barked and my blood froze.

My son …he was staring down at me with hatred. My chest burned with pain as my throat tightened.

“Stop lying, enough of your lies already. You should go and be with your new man and let me be. You never wanted me!” he snapped and stood up, walking away.

I sat down, staring at his back in a daze, then tears slid down my cheeks. I wiped it instantly.

No! I needed to explain more.

“Wait!” I yelled, rushing after him. My knee hit the wooden table, the pain catapulting into my chest but I bit my lips, fighting the urge to scream in pain.

I held out my hands and reached for him, “your dad lied to…you. He lied…”

Daniel pushed my hands away, “even if he did, do you think I want to have an irresponsible mother who drinks and drives?!” he said and turned to leave.

I froze, my breath becoming shallow as it felt like I had been slapped a thousand times on the cheek. Irresponsible? Was that what my son called me?

Trying my best to love him and be there for him was irresponsible?

My phone buzzed. A message. “Where are you?” The message read. Tears clouded my eyes and I immediately hailed a cab still dressed like a half-crazed woman. I didn't know how but I found myself in the court room a few minutes later.

I saw Daniel sitting with Darius and Malia. My hands subconsciously clenched. She had the nerves to appear at the court room. The judge spoke but his voice was like background noise as I couldn't hear whatever he was saying but I knew damn well that it was not in my favour.

A file appeared before me and my hands moved on their own, I signed everything in a daze. My gaze fell on Darius and I saw a mocking yet triumphant smile laced on his face. He looked satisfied.

He had achieved his aim. He planned all of this from the beginning when he sent me away to get the contact for him. He only used me and now he was dumping me.

“Master Daniel, do you wish to stay with your mother or your father?” It was the only thing I heard the judge ask and my hands trembled. Some part of me wished that he would choose me, the other part of me had already given up.

“My father” his voice resounded in the court room and my heart shattered. I knew what his reply was going to be but hearing it from him shattered the little hope I had.

I turned around and left, my figure swaying like a broken image at the edge of a cliff. I heard whispers, giggles as I walked but all felt like background noise.

******

The next day, I arrived at my ex-husband's place, my hands clenched beside me. I couldn't face them but I had no choice, I had to take all my belongings.

I walked in and heard giggles. They sounded happy, like a football club that emerged victorious.

I caught sight of Daniel eating beside Malia with a smile on his face. Darius stared at Malia like she was his lifeline. My heart broke at the scene. The kind of life I wanted, the kind of love I longed for, for seven years. Now Malia had taken it from me with no shred of remorse.

“Oh, you are here? Do you need help?” Malia asked, her voice dripping with scorn. They all turned to look at me. The expression on their faces was that of disgust …and anger.

My palms burned as I forced a smile, “no” I gritted out and walked into the room. I quickly packed my things, never wanting to face either of them. Not even Daniel.

A few hours later, I stood before a large mansion. The walls surrounding it had been the cage I thought I had escaped from forever but here I am anyway. This was the last place I never even wished for my worst enemy.