6

Chapter 6

The headline news, “Clara Laurent Stalks Ex-husband Derrick Anthony,” stares right at me as my whole face drains of blood.

How dare they? Tears well up in my eyes, but I don't let them down. Crying is for the weak, so I won't cry. I can't.

Instead, a new emotion rises up in me, anger. Only that witch Florida would do something of a sort, so I turn, twist the key, and unlock the door.

Derrick's face is literally fuming as I burst out.

“How dare you spread rumors about me? I am not stalking him; he is my husband, you are the imposter.” I grit out my words so low you won't hear if you don't pay attention to them.

Florida burst out in tears, her palm cupping her wounded lips as she wailed like a pig.

“Baby, look at what she did to me? I won't be able to kiss you like this; it hurts so much.” She cries out, letting her body go as she slumps to the floor.

Seriously bitch, all this drama for a punch to the mouth?

My eyes turn to Derrick as I open my mouth to explain. I don't succeed, though, because he swings his hand forward, gripping my hair in his fist, and tugs.

“Ahhhh!! Let me go, Derrick!” I scream, throwing my fist in the air.

“No! You don't get to talk to my wife like that, you piece of trash.” He barks, yanking me forward by my hair.

“YOU BASTARD!” I scream, sending my foot in between his legs to where the sun doesn't shine.

“You bitch!!!” He cries out, both his hands going in between his legs.

“Ahhh!!” A scream tears out of my lips as Florida drags my hair from behind, screaming madly at me.

“Let me go!” I grunt.

Moving my body swiftly, I turn under her arm, sending her forward before yanking her back by her hair, then I slam my other fist directly into her nose, causing a satisfying crack sound to fill the air.

I pour every pain, every hatred, every suffering that I went through in that prison into every hit that I send their way.

The struggle goes on as I make sure to send in painful hits where I can. Fighting two people is a lot, especially if a man is involved.

But when you are filled with rage and hatred made specifically for the said people who betray you, it becomes easy.

And indeed it was easy until Derrick said something that rippled my entire system.

“I wish you had just died in that prison.” He screams at me, causing the whole fight to leave my body.

And even as Florida fist slammed into my face, I just couldn't find it in me to move or say anything.

Derrick grabs me by my hair, causing my entire body to stumble to the floor, yet he doesn't care; instead, he drags me by my hair all the way down the stairs.

Pain exploded in my system with every bump that came with the stairs, yet it didn't compare to the pain that rippled through my chest.

He wished I were dead?

“Momma, what's happening?” A soft voice catches my attention.

I turn my head to see my little Rose standing outside the door. I didn't even realise he had dragged me all the way out of the house.

“Don't worry, baby, she is just a crazy lady that needs to be taken to the hospital.” Florida lies directly to my daughter.

No, it's not true.

I ache to say those words, ache to tell my baby that she had been lied to.

That I was her real mama, I carried her for nine months and whispered her name into her hair when she was born.

“Please take her to the hospital, and make sure she gets well. I like her; she made me milkshakes when I was scared.” She said in the funniest way.

Her concern, her love, even with all the lies, had a tear spilling down my cheeks, and for my baby, I didn't mind crying.

I don't mind being weak for her.

“Get out of here, and never return. We don't want you here; you are just a burden.” Derrick spits at me, then turns to leave without a glance back.

“Bye-bye, loser. It's all mine now.” Florida mocks, waving her hand at me before turning to my baby with that sick smile on her face.

“You will pay Florida. I won't rest until I cause you double the pain you caused me. I will watch you burn with a smile on my face. For betraying me, I will make sure you pay.” I promise her, every ounce of my body attesting to my words.

“I would love to see you try and touch me.” She chuckles, eyeing me before turning to my baby once again.

“Come on, baby, let's get you inside, then I will come back for the maid.” She says, her smile so fake it makes me want to puke.

“Okay, mommy. Byeeee.” Rose giggles and runs back inside.

With them gone, I start feeling the pain of being dragged down the stairs, not to mention the fight.

All my joints ache, and red liquid trails down my lips to my jaw. The sky darkens as thunder crackles through the air.

Great.

Where the hell am I going to go? I press the heel of my palm on the asphalt, using it to push my body up as I struggle to get up.

My body is bruised, but aside from the blood rushing out of my nose and mouth, all other bruises are covered by my clothes.

Spencer.

His name came out of nowhere in my head, but I refused. I refuse to call him or accept his help. He is just as bad.

I don't want to have anything to do with any member of that family, and getting entangled with Spencer is the last thing I need.

I can get my baby back, I can fight this and win. I drag myself to the nearest cafe, wanting to dodge the rain coming.

As soon as I sit down at the far end, I hear a voice I thought I had left in the past. A voice I dread hearing.

“Hey there, Spitfire.”