Chapter Three

I let out a sigh as I shut the door to my room in the Dale mansion.

It took an hour before I got home and tucked Ruby in bed.

Rowan's words were still playing in my head.

I hate myself for falling for him. For seeing the truth in front of me and still choosing to stay.

I hated him so much too.

He didn't want me, and yet he didn't want to let me go.

At least Russ knew what he wanted. He wanted Elora to be his Mom, not me.

Thinking about it broke my heart even more. I felt my eyes growing moist.

I tiptoed out of the room and shut the door. I was about to head downstairs when someone slapped me across the face.

"How dare you humiliate our family in public!" Theresa Dale, Elora's Mom yelled.

I didn't say anything, I just ignored her and was about to walk away, but she pulled me back and pushed me, slamming my back into a wall.

"I allowed you into my roof because I thought you could be of use to me. But yet you came into my home and stole my daughter's husband. Now you want to humiliate our family by getting a divorce, right? Don't you have any shame?!"

I wasn't sure what happened, but I doubled over, laughing.

It was all so funny.

Theresa took a step back, confused.

"So you have finally gone crazy," She muttered.

Though she tried to hide it, I knew she was frightened.

"Tell me, Theresa, why are you trying to act surprised when everything is going according to your plans?" I asked.

Shock flickered in her eyes, but she blinked it away.

"What the hell are you talking about?" She asked.

I chuckled. "Elora is a lot of things, but one thing she isn't is smart. I know you planned everything. I know you told her to get close to Russ. Elora isn't smart enough to think about that herself."

"How dare you?!" She yelled, her features etched with fury. "Is this how repay me after everything I did for you?! I let your father bring you into my home and this is what I get for my kind gesture?!"

I snickered. It was obvious that everyone took me for a fool who was oblivious to what was going on around her.

Well, I'm done. I'm done letting people walk over me—not Rowan or his family —and definitely not the Dales.

"The only reason you let your husband bring me in was because your daughter needed a kidney or else she would die." My lips tugged into a smirk. "Or have you forgotten how you got on your knees and begged me to save your dying daughter?"

Theresa snapped. She raised her hand and was about to hit me again when someone yelled, "That's enough!"

Dad stood at the stairway staring at me in disappointment.

"Apologize to your mother now!" He ordered.

There was a time when his words would make me flinch, but not anymore.

"I'm sorry Dad, but she is not my Mom. My Mom died on the day I was born."

He shook his head as he pointed down the stairs.

"If you are not going to listen to me in my own house then I suggest you leave," He instructed.

"Fine Dad. First thing in the morning I will—"

"No, Alessia. I mean now," He said.

I felt my heart clench as I stared at him. Was he seriously willing to throw me and his granddaughter out that late?

To think I left Mom's family all because I was curious to know who my Dad was.

Grandma and Grandpa were right. I should have never trusted him.

From the start, all he cared about was Elora. To him, I was just a kidney donor and not the daughter of the woman he claimed to have loved with all of his heart.

"Fine," I muttered, wiping the tear that had fought its way out of the corners of my eyes.

"If this is what you want, then I'll leave."

***

I stood up from the bed by 4:30 a.m. as usual. I left the room and headed straight for the kitchen.

I switched on the light and started putting together breakfast.

I crouched down a bit, leaning in to get some things from the fridge.

The moment I turned around, my eyes landed on a woman with disheveled hair and a pan high up in her hand.

We both screamed at the same time, dropping the things we were holding on the floor.

"What the fuck, Jessica?! You almost scared me to death!" I yelled, trying to steady my ragged breath.

"Scared you? You're the one acting like a burglar so early in the morning!"

"Well, it's not my fault," I said, picking up the pack of beef I had pulled out earlier. "I need to make breakfast for..."

My voice trailed off as I recalled what had happened last night.

I never would have thought my life would take a drastic turn in just one night.

I had no husband, no son, and no father.

After Dad chased me from the house last night, I drove over to Jessica, my best friend's place.

It took me an hour and a half to get there.

To think those I loved hurt me this much.

"Don't tell me this is the time you wake up every day," Jessica muttered.

I looked away, hoping she wouldn't see the tears that were streaming down my cheeks.

But it was too late.

New droplets of tears left my eyes leaving behind a wet trail down.

"I still can't believe that I've been so stupid Jess. I thought I was loved, but instead, it was all just a facade. I left Grandma and Grandpa all because of Dad and Rowan. I'm such a fool!" I cried out.

She pulled me into a warm embrace, letting me cry my eyes out on her as she patted me gently on the back.

"Thank you," I said a while later, pulling out.

She nodded slightly.

"So tell me, what are you going to do next?" She asked, staring at me curiously as we walked into the living room.

"Well, first things first, I really need to get that divorce and..."

Suddenly, my phone beeped.

I pulled it out from the pocket of my pajamas to see who it was.

"What's up?" Jessica asked when she saw the surprised look on my face.

I turned the screen to her.

"It's a message from my Grandma," I replied.

She leaned in closer, staring at the screen.

"Come back home, Alessia," She read out loud. "This is your last chance."