Chapter 4

GINA

I took a deep shaky breath and walked into the mansion, wondering the kind of treatment I was going to receive.

The mansion was broad, it stood tall almost like it was mocking other buildings around it. The fences were low as if daring intruders to come in. Everything felt peaceful. But, this place was nothing peaceful. If anything, the memories were hauntingly painful.

I opened the door expecting to find my parents but it was empty with only their scent all over the place. I breathed out in relief “thank the Goddess” I whispered, my shoulders sagging as I made for the kitchen.

I sat on the kitchen chair and poured myself a glass of wine then drank everything in one gulp.

“You have got the nerves to be back here” I heard a harsh, tight voice.

I paused, recognising the voice “ That's no way to welcome your daughter” I calmly said, tightening my hands around the glass.

I never wanted to come in here again, never wanted to watch my parents belittle me, treat me like a piece of trash….but I had nowhere to go.

My mother's face darkened, “you don't deserve to be here ..not after you have embarrassed our family”

I turned, a scoff escaping my lips. It was a light self deprecating chuckle as my eyes clouded, “Mother, your daughter was treated wrongly and the only way to console her is to say she embarrassed you?”

“You…” my father rumbled, walking into the kitchen, his ears red with anger, “you don't deserve to be my daughter! Of all men to annoy, you chose to annoy alpha Darius?” My father questioned, eyes bulging with wrath, his voice strangely tight.

“The one who is annoyed is me. I was treated wrongly!” I yelled, trying to make them understand but I knew better, it has always been this way. They never listen to me!

I caught sight of Ria, my sister and my eyes burned. “Oh mom, didn't Ria get sent back because she cheated on her husband? Why do you let her stay here? Didn't she embarrass you?”

My mom frowned and pointed at me accusingly, “you…how could you compare yourself to your sister. I don't have a daughter like you. Leave my house!”

My blood chilled. Everyone wanted me gone. First, my husband, then my son and now my parents. I swallowed hard, tears clinging to my eyes. Even as kids, Ria has always been treated better even when she was wrong, I have never been treated right. I was treated like an outsider in my own home.

I ignored them and walked outside to the pool.

I sat at the edge of the pool and submerged my legs into the water. I watched as the sun slowed down the horizon. I heard footsteps behind me but I didn't bother to turn

“Look at you” A feminine voice dripping with mockery said.

It was Ria.

She made a tut sound with her teeth then sighed loudly, “I understand your pain. I mean who wouldn't be sad when even her own son doesn't want her?”

My hands subconsciously clenched as I fought the urge to bite my lips.

Ria walked closer and bent down to my level, “you know, I think you should just kill yourself. Unwanted by everyone, isn't that a sign that you aren't meant to live?”

Tears pooled in my eyes. As expected, Ria always found every little chance to hurt me, to make me feel worse than I already felt.

“Your marriage failed anyways. You think yourself better than me?” I spat back at her.

Ria gave out a mirthless laughter. “At least, I didn't get the extra package of being rejected by an offspring and my own son.”

And that was the last straw that broke the camel’s back. My blood boiled over and I yanked her by the hair, forcing my legs away from the pool back onto the edge. “At least I have a son who rejected me, what about you? Infertile?”

Ria exploded in annoyance and grabbed my hair tightly. “All powerful now? You couldn't even fight your husband’s mistress. Weak. Very weak!” Ria yelled like a crazy woman and forced her weight onto me. I leaned backwards and my leg slipped from the edge and we both fell into the pool.

“Help!” I screamed but I only choked as water rushed into my mouth. I caught sight of Ria struggling too but I soon felt foggy as consciousness slowly slipped away.

****

A few minutes later, I snapped my eyes open coughing vigorously as I vomited water.

“If you want to die, die alone, don't take your sister with you!” My mom shouted at me in rage, “you are not welcome here, you have to leave.”

I didn't get to say anything as my mother dragged my luggage and threw it away. I only stared at her while shivering as my body was still dripping wet.

“Leave,” my father added for good measure, his jaws tight.

I walked away and pulled my luggage up, staring at my parent’s door closed to me. I was really unwanted.

I didn't know how long I walked but I finally arrived at a club. People stared at me weirdly, a few men staring at me with lustfully. Well, I knew what I looked like…like a sexy ghost.

“A glass of tequila please” I ordered as I sat opposite the bartender, resting my luggage beside me.

He stared at me weirdly then nodded.

“A traveler?” The bartender asked, looking at my luggage as he served the tequila.

“Oh yeah” I lied, handing him my card for payment. A strange yet addictive scent invaded my nostrils and I snapped my eyes to the crowd watching a stripper danced. The scent…I felt like it was calling out to me, drawing me like an addiction. I shook my head, ignoring the scent.

I saw the bartender still struggling with the card as it wasn't working. My brows furrowed as a thought hit me.

Darius!

I gritted my teeth and fished out my phone dialing Darius's number. It connected instantly, almost like he was waiting for my call.

“What did you do to my account?” I asked through gritted teeth and I only got a moan as a reply.

My cheeks burned red. He was into an intimate session with Malia?

Shameless! Very shameless!

“I froze it. If you want it back, you would have to come and beg like a good woman and do whatever I ask of you” he said in between groans.

I felt disgust wash over me as my hands tightened around the phone. “Go. To Hell” I yelled, word for word and disconnected the line. He divorced me and also wanted me to also be at his mercy? What a wicked soul!

I glanced up at the bartender and made an apologetic expression “I'm sorry, my account was frozen”

“Oh, well, there's something you can do?” the bartender said, gesturing to the strippers on the dance floor.

I bit my lips, knowing it was the only way to repay the tequila and probably get a place to sleep. I nodded and he grinned widely.

“You got that then!”

******

The light on the dance floor was low as I emerged, dressed like a stripper….more like a slut because I was barely covered.

I felt like a prey exposed to the predator gaze of horny wolves. I gulped, letting the tone of the music lead my steps. I had danced as a stripper once but never been exposed to this many people. Just me with my furniture as my audience. But now, looking at their gazes, I knew I was dancing perfectly.

I suddenly felt nauseous as my stomach growled. “ Oh no” I whispered as the scent of my own blood reached me.

“Not now, not now” I whispered in frustration as I saw everyone's expression suddenly change from lust to disgust. It was my menses and it had to come now when my performance was at its peak.

I badly wanted the floor to open up and swallow me, a way to escape their gazes.

“Take this” a masculine voice whispered, deep and sensual. The addictive scent hit me once more and I felt my body tingle weirdly. What was happening to me?

He wrapped me with a coat, his gaze boring through into my soul. I immediately looked away as my heart raced.

I caught sight of his tattoo and my heart stilled.