4|The Downfall

Blaze stood up from his work chair as the door closed behind me. He sat on one of the couches, so I sat across him, with a coffee table between us. Kyle placed a cup of tea and a plate of cookies on the desk and then excused himself.

“What do you want so my father’s company returns to it was?” I asked without preamble.

He tilted his head, then smiled faintly. “You seem to have misrecognized me, Sweet Pumpkin.”

“Don’t call me by that name!” I snapped.

“Why?” He smiled seductively. “That name suits you. You’re so nice to everyone that you don’t realize they’re just using you. Darcy praised your marriage when, behind your back, she was flirting with me. Your father and mother asked for so much money, but you were unsuspecting and gave them everything they asked for.”

He leaned closer, resting his elbows on his knees. “You even came here and asked me to save your father’s company. Where is George? It was his company. He should be the one to have come and knelt to me.”

I laughed in surprise. “What? You expect my father to kneel to you? Dream on!”

“Dream on?” He laughed out loud. “Heather, do you still doubt my abilities after seeing your family’s company collapse? Do you know why George didn’t come? Because he knew you would be the one to represent him to see me.”

My heart almost stopped beating at that sentence. What?

He smirked. “I’ve told you. You didn’t realize your family used you. Did your mom or dad call before the news broke?”

I was speechless listening to all that. How did he know everything? Was he telling the truth when he said I was too nice to everyone? But Dad and Mom were my parents. Of course, I was nice to them.

“A normal woman would slap or grab the hair of a woman who has seduced her husband. Your reaction was intriguing. You just held back when your sister degraded you. Then you lightly gave in and signed the divorce papers.” He chuckled.

“Enough,” I said.

“You also kept quiet when I unfairly treated you. You were my wife for the past year but were so understanding by tolerating my behavior. You didn’t complain when I didn’t come home and accepted my apology through all those gifts,” he added.

“I said, enough!” I covered my ears with my hands.

“To answer your question, no.” He returned to his serious demeanor. “I want nothing for your father’s company to return to it was.”

“Why did you do this?” I demanded. My eyes stung when my tear threathened to fall on my cheeks. “What did I do wrong?”

He stood up and stuffed both hands into his pants pockets. “My work is piling up. I don’t have time to discuss your family problems. You should go,” he shooed me away.

His office’s door suddenly opened, and the familiar scent of perfume entered my nostrils. “Heather? What are you doing here? Oh.” She chuckled. “Do you want to beg Blaze to come back to you?”

“Thank you for your time, Mr. Knightley. I take my leave.” I walked with an upright stride out of his office, ignoring Darcy, who was calling my name.

Remembering the necessary thing in my bag, I took it out and gave it to Kyle. He was stunned for a moment before smiling slightly, understanding the contents of the envelope I handed him. Only then did I walk towards the elevator.

But when I was on the ground floor, my strength suddenly disappeared. I staggered towards the main door until I entered my car. The reality of what he said hit me so hard. I didn’t realize that I was being used by my family.

Tears fell on my cheeks like rainwater. I couldn’t stop them no matter how hard I tried, so I gave up. I burst into tears in the car, alone, without anyone from my family to comfort me.

It couldn’t be. Blaze must have been lying to me. What did he know about my family? I couldn’t believe Dad and Mom would do such a bad thing. I was their daughter, so they loved me. Yes, they did. It was Blaze who had used me, not my parents.

With that determination, I went home. My family was all I had. Reporters stood huddled in front of the gate just as they had in the morning. The security guard helped me to squeeze past them.

“Good afternoon, Miss Bailey,” greeted the butler who opened the door for me. He slid a suitcase towards me. “Sorry, you can only enter up to here.”

I looked at him in confusion. “What do you mean?”

“He means you can’t live in this house anymore,” Mom said. She walked down the stairs and stopped a few meters away from me.

“W-what does that mean, Mom? Where am I going to live?” I asked, confused. Since my flower shop burned down, I had nowhere else to go.

“That’s your business. I don’t want a bad luck child like you living here. You broke your marriage and let your father’s company collapse. If you hadn’t brought that pesky man into our family a year ago, everything wouldn’t have crumbled,” she angrily said.

“But, Mom, I didn’t do anything with Dad’s com—” I tried to defend myself.

“Didn’t you hear me? You’re a bad luck. You’re cursed, Heather.” She looked at me sharply. “You were born perfect, with golden blonde hair, glowing and flawless skin, and a beautiful face, but only lasted a few years.

“You carelessly burned your face and ruined it. We spent a lot of money to heal your cheeks. I thought you marrying Blaze would break the curse. It turned out you brought him to destroy us!”

“Mom—” I murmured in a shaky voice.

“Get out!” She snapped.

“Mom, listen—” I was begging her.

“Throw her out now!” Mom turned to the butler, who was waiting for her orders.

I stared at her in disbelief. She kicked me out of the house without hearing my story. Before the servants could move, I grabbed my suitcase and turned around. I restrained myself from crying and walked with my head held high toward the car, though my heart was broken into pieces.

“Wait,” Dad exclaimed from behind me. I smiled because he would stand up for me. He held out his hand to me as I turned around. “Give me back those car keys.”

My whole body trembled at that sentence. What did Dad mean? Was I only allowed to take one suitcase out of this house? Although I didn’t buy this car with my money, it was my birthday present from him.

“We should have done this a long time ago. Not just your face, but your heart is rotten. Just go and live with him. We’ll rise again and get back at you for everything you’ve done!” Mom cursed.

I looked at them one by one. The people I thought were family had the heart to do this. I persisted in being a good child because I thought they would change their affection for me one day. I was wrong. My parents would never change.

All my life, I was treated worse than an adopted or illegitimate child. I didn’t remember what happened to my face when I got third-degree burns. But they hated me ever since this scar marred my left cheek. Were daughters just things for them to give to the rich man who wanted to propose to them?

“Well, well, well. Look who’s staying in a hotel after being kicked out of her parents’ mansion.” Someone clucked from behind me. “This is hilarious. Things are happening faster than I expected.”

I had deliberately chosen a regular hotel and not an expensive one to avoid meeting people who knew me. Little did I know I would meet someone I never wanted to see again. I wouldn’t be standing here if I had not had to wait for the receptionist to process the room for me.

“Why the silence, Heather? Did you bite your tongue?” He chuckled. His laughter grew louder, but I refrained from getting angry. “I’ve been laughing so hard since this morning. Thank you for the great entertainment.”

He stood by my side while resting his elbow on the counter. “I’ve told you, your father’s company is going bankrupt. It’s only a matter of time. How is Darcy doing? Is she panicking about stepping down from the CEO throne of Bailey Incorporation?”

I allowed him to pour acid on my fresh wounds but didn’t show his remarks hurt me. Silence was one way to get people to stop insulting me. After all, I wasn’t at fault for Dad’s company going bankrupt.

“I was surprised to see your flower shop burn down. Wow, Heather, you have a lot of enemies. I thought you weren’t a bad person. I didn’t realize some people hated you.” He clucked again, mocking me.

“Thank you for waiting, Mam. Here’s your room key and credit card. Have a pleasant afternoon.” The woman gave the cards to me.

I quickly grabbed them. “Thank you.” I turned around, but Cullen stood before me, blocking my way. “Excuse me.” I tried to walk from his right side, but he stood before me again.

“What’s wrong? Are you embarrassed to face me? Take it easy. I’m not like you guys who are so arrogant to people in trouble,” the man said haughtily. “We have better rooms. You can stay in one of the empty suites.”

He held up a gold-colored business card. “We were once family. I’m happy to help you. Take it. Show this card at the front desk. They will get you the best room.”

“Thank you for your kindness. I’m sorry, I have to decline.” I tried to smile. “Excuse me. I have other business to attend to.”

“Are you starting to regret rejecting my proposal? I hope you’re strong enough to endure the media bullying. Your sister will find my replacement easily, but you,” he smirked, “will be alone forever.”

I remained silent, not returning his insult. When I tried to pass him again, he stopped blocking my way. I used the opportunity to rush to the elevator to my room. I clenched my fists to keep from crying.

As I washed my face in the bathroom, I silently stared at my reflection in the mirror. I remembered Blaze kissing my left cheek gently, his genuine smile, and all loving gestures. Then, the image was replaced with him and Darcy making out.

One by one, the pictures of them together on her phone played in my head. They looked perfect together and joyful - the handsome Blaze and the beautiful Darcy. My eyes heated up, remembering all the details. I should not have seen those pictures.

“You are not a woman worthy of a man as handsome, rich, smart, and virile as Blaze.”

“You must not know what it’s like to struggle with him in bed and hear him say your name during climax.”

“You’re a bad luck charm. You’re cursed, Heather! I thought you marrying Blaze would break that curse. It turned out you brought him to destroy us!”

My family’s words were nothing compared to what Blaze had done to give me high hopes, only to smash me hard to the ground. Even though I was ugly, he had no right to marry me just to throw me away.

I gripped the edge of the sink counter tightly with both hands as I felt my legs weaken. Since I was alone, I let the tears fall down my face. It was the last time. I wouldn’t shed tears for Blaze anymore. Instead, it was his turn to cry.