chapter 3

Emily

I stared at the woman whom I had only seen on magazine covers and billboards. 

Vanessa Hartman, the famous model. She was breathtaking, with long legs, flawless skin, and hair that shimmered under the lights. 

Her presence alone was enough to make the air feel heavier, but what shocked me even more was how my mother-in-law’s face lit up with joy immediately after she saw her. 

"Do they know each other?" I mumbled to myself. 

“Oh, Vanessa!” My mother-in-law exclaimed, rushing over to her with open arms. “My dear, it's so good to see you!”

Vanessa smiled sweetly, walking up to her as though they had been close for years. 

“Mother!” she said, embracing her like they were family. “I have missed you so much.”

I blinked, Mother? I had never heard anyone else call my mother-in-law that. It was a title she had never allowed me to use. “Mrs. Thompson” was as close as I got.

They spoke like old friends, like they had known each other forever. My stomach twisted with unease as I stood there, watching them as I couldn’t understand what was happening. 

“When did you come back to New York?” my mother-in-law asked, her voice warm with affection, something I had never experienced from her.

“I’ve been here since last month,” Vanessa replied casually. “I thought Alex would have mentioned it. We’ve been seeing each other ever since I got back.”

Her words hit me like a slap across the face. I blinked, unsure if I had heard correctly. 

Alex and her have been seeing each other? Did Alex know her? What's their relationship? 

 

My heart pounded in my chest, a cold dread creeping into my veins. I forced myself to speak,  “You and Alex have been seeing each other?” my voice trembled. "What's your relationship with him?" 

Vanessa turned to me, finally noticing I was there, her eyes cool and indifferent. 

“Oh, you must be Emily,” she said, “I’m Vanessa. Alex’s special friend.” She introduced with a smile, stretching out her hand for a handshake. 

Alex special friend? But Alex has never tell me about her throughout the four years that we have been together. 

If she's Alex special friend as she claimed, why hasn't Alex mention her to me or is there something else behind it? 

I looked at my mother-in-law for some kind of explanation, but she just gave me a cold, disdainful look.

“She’s Alex’s wife,” my mother-in-law said, but the word "wife" dripped with disgust. 

“At least for now.”

My heart shattered at her tone. I had tried all my best to please her, to make her like me for the past four years but I have never been good enough for her, hearing her speak about me like this in front of Vanessa... it felt like I was being torn apart. 

I opened my mouth to say something but my mother in-law didn't let me as she continued, 

“Well,” she said, gazing at me with disgust, “That won’t be for much longer because I will make sure Alex divorce her. I won't allow my son to continue staying with a slut.” 

Her words struck me like a bolt of lightning, I felt like someone had punched me in the gut. I couldn’t breathe, my heart was shattered.

“No,” I whispered, shaking my head. “Alex wouldn’t... He would never divorce me”

“We will see about that.” She replied mockingly.

“Mother, please take it easy on her. I think Emily is a good woman and Alex loves her so much.” Vanessa said, gazing at me with a smirk that made my heart feel uneasy.

My mother in-law looked at her with a smile, “Oh, Vanessa. You are such a sweet soul. This is why you will always be the daughter in-law I will ever recognise.”

Vanessa blushed, “Oh, mother.” She whispered, holding my mother-in-law's hand.

I was speechless as I stood, trembling with emotions.

My mother in-law looked at me with disgust as she took Vanessa's hand and went away.

I ran into my room and broke down in tears. My heart was burning with pain as everything happening in my life right now felt like a nightmare.

Few minutes later, my door was forcefully pushed open, making me jump in fear.

“Alex, it's Alex.” I thought with my pounding heart.

I turned to look at Alex but I was disappointed when I saw that he wasn't the  one but my mother-in-law.

She walked in, holding an envelope.

What does she want again? Has she come to mock me?

She looked at me and hissed before handing me the envelope with an evil grin that made my heart skip in panic.

“Alex asked me to give you this.” She said coldly.

With shaking hands, I took the envelope from her and I gasped in shock as I read the title: Divorce agreement. 

What!!

Alex truly wants a divorce?

But, How can Alex send her to give me divorce paper? If he wants to divorce me, if he is done with me, why not bring the paper to me himself? Why send his mother to bring it for me? 

My world crumbled in an instant. My fingers trembled as I opened it and my heart was heavy with pain when I saw Alex’s signature at the bottom of the page. 

He has already signed it. He is done with me.

My knees weakened and I stumbled back, feeling like the air had been sucked from the room. Tears filled my eyes, blurring my vision.

 “No... this can’t be happening. Alex can't do this to me…"

My mother-in-law smirked as she watched me fall apart.

 “I told you it's just a matter of time before he will come back to his senses. Sign the papers and leave my son alone,” she said coldly. “You are not worthy to be his wife. I will never recognize you as my daughter in law. Vanessa has always been the one for him. She's the only daughter in law I have. They were engaged, He was supposed to marry her before you came along, claiming to save his life and ruined everything.” she lashed out, her eyes filled with hatred. 

Vanessa was Alex's ex fiancee? Why hadn't he mentioned that to me? 

“I thank God he was able to see the kind of person you are. I'm very sure he wanted to make things right with Vanessa which was why he sent this divorce later to you. Make sure you sign it and don't think you can come in between them this time around because I won't allow you.” She threatened with rage.

Her words were like a punch to the guts. I couldn’t breathe. My throat felt tight, and my chest ached. 

This is all too much. I couldn’t understand how my life had spiraled into this nightmare.

 “I loved him,” I whispered, my voice broken, tears blurry my vision. “I gave him everything.”

“Then do the right thing and let him go if you truly love him,” She snapped. “He deserves to be happy, and you... you’re standing in the way of his happiness.” She said and angrily left my room.

My heart twisted with pain as I couldn't process what was happening. 

My heart was broken. Alex betrayed me, he lied to me. 

Now I know, She might be the reason for his change in attitude towards me. He still has feelings for her. 

The thought of it shattered my heart into a million pieces. 

How could he? How could he betray me like this? What have I done wrong? I have been a loving and caring wife to him. What crime have I committed to deserve this from him? 

My heart ached with pain, tears blurry my vision as I stood, trembling with shock and emotions.

I collapsed onto the bed, clutching the divorce papers to my chest. 

I picked up my phone and dialed Alex’s number. I needed to speak to him, to clear my doubt, to ask him questions about his relationship with Vanessa, to tell him that I'm innocent. 

My heart was pounding with desperation as the phone rang and rang, but he didn’t pick up.

Is he ignoring my calls? Is he with Vanessa? No, I can't allow this to happen, I need to hear from him. 

I continued calling his line all through the day and I was so excited when he finally answered in the evening. 

"Hello, Alex..." my trembling voice came out in a whisper but was cut off by the voice I heard. 

"Did you like it?" I could hear Vanessa’s laughter in the background. She was discussing with Alex and the sound of their laughter echoed through my phone. I can't remember when last I heard Alex laughing so hard like this. 

My heart was broken all over again. I couldn’t say anything. I just hung up, too shattered to speak.

I don't need to confirm anything from him. Hearing him laugh made me believe that there was something going on between both of them. 

How could he do this to me? I have never cheated, never betrayed him. But he has moved on with Vanessa. The reality of it was too much to bear.

He doesn't want me anymore. He was the reason why I was able to keep up with his mother's ill treatment all these years. Now that he has moved on, there is nothing left for me here. 

I can't continue staying here, the pain is too much for me to bear. 

I glanced down at the divorce papers in my hand, and my eyes filled with fresh tears. 

Alex had already signed them. He wanted me gone. 

With trembling hands, I signed my name next to his. I slipped off my wedding ring, staring at it for a moment before placing it on top of the papers. The life I had with Alex is over.

I packed up the few things I had brought into the house, leaving behind everything else. 

There is nothing left for me here. I had nowhere to go, no one to turn to. My father is dead, and my stepmother had turned the board of directors against me and she took over my father's company with her daughter, Anita.

 She spread lies, saying I was an illegitimate child, making everyone view me as the daughter of a mistress. 

My marriage to Alex was the only thing I had left but now, it's all gone, I have nothing except the little life growing inside of me. 

As I wandered the streets, lost and broken with nowhere to go, I saw an old woman struggling to cross the road and my heart skipped when I saw a car speeding toward her. Without thinking, I threw my bag aside and rushed toward her. I pushed her out of the way, but the car hit me instead.

Pain exploded through my body as I crumpled to the ground. The last thing I heard was the old woman’s voice, crying out for help, before everything went dark.