Chapter 2 : The final straw

Iridessa

I sat on the bed, the sheets pulled to my chest, and I couldn't stop the tears. I didn't even realize I had started crying. What wrong did I do by loving my own husband? Why was my life like this?

Everything that had just happened to me began replaying in my head over and over again. It felt like somebody had stabbed me directly in the heart.

I got out of bed and got into my clothes. Since he wanted me to go so badly, that was exactly what I was going to do because I was done with all this bullshit. I loved him, and this was what I got in return.

I didn't know why I stayed anyway... Well, that was a horrible lie because every single time he hurt me, I kept convincing myself that he was going to change. He would eventually become the man I fell in love with again. But believing that wasn't going to help me out of this mess, and I was just realizing that now.

I pulled out the small duffel bag I had brought the day he asked me to move in with him. It was dusty and worn out, but at least it was mine, and all the clothes I had brought to this place were still inside.

Slade never allowed me to wear even one of them. The moment I got here, he took me shopping and bought me all designer clothes, but I didn't take any of the designer clothes. None.

I pulled out some of my old coding books. I wasn't sure what exactly I planned to do after this. I was confused, and my thoughts were a complete mess, but I had been crying so much I couldn't calm down enough to process everything.

Was leaving actually the best solution? I kept asking myself that question as I walked out of the room only to find Maya and his mistress.

They were talking and laughing like sisters, and I couldn't believe it. I tried to be close with Maya once. She treated me like garbage, and now she was over here being all giggly with Melanie.

I tried so hard to belong.

I just shook my head, regretting every decision I ever made.

Maybe I should have just let her drown.

"What are you looking at?" Maya said from where she stood.

She had a smirk on her face, same with Melanie, and I didn't need anybody to tell me they had overheard everything.

"Hope you had a wonderful night," Maya asked.

Both she and Melanie stared at each other for a split second before they burst into laughter.

"Stupid-ass whore. You think you'll be able to tie my brother down because you saved my life, huh? Well, sorry things didn't work out as you planned."

"I loved your brother," I said, my voice barely above a whisper.

I didn't know why I was explaining myself to her that way, but I guess I just wanted the truth to be known.

She smiled.

"You know, you're such a horrible actress. Everything was perfectly arranged by you. I have to give it to you—you are really a good criminal mastermind. Saving me from drowning just so you could sleep your way into my brother's heart? That's actually very disgusting."

If no one had ever told you.

Melanie stood there smiling proudly.

"You know," I said, taking a step towards Maya, "I should have actually let you drown. I would have stood there watching you struggle for your life, and slowly you would die, and the world would be rid of someone as horrible as you."

She stared at me in absolute shock, but I honestly didn't care right now.

"You are so horrible that you have no true people in your life. The only people pretending to like you are just around you for your money. Imagine if that's gone. You would be left high and dry. It may not happen now, but rest assured, it will happen."

"How dare you speak to her like that?" Melanie said, all defensive.

"And you," I said, walking towards where she stood by the stairs, "you have some nerve. I really have to give it to you."

I didn't know where this confidence came from, but I was loving it.

She lifted her hand to hit me but ended up missing a step and falling backwards down the stairs.

She screamed in agony.

And Slade, who I knew had been standing down the hall listening to everything his sister was saying without defending me, rushed to her aid.

"She pushed me," she said, crying profusely. "She pushed me."

I didn't say a word. Even if I tried to explain myself, Slade would never believe a word that came out of my mouth. But what I actually regretted was not pushing her.

He stared at me with disdain from head to toe.

"Get out of my fucking house. I never want to see you again."

He had so much hatred in his eyes. I knew he didn't care about me anymore, but I didn't know he hated me this much. I could see it.

If stares could kill, Slade would have killed me with just a glance, and it broke me in more ways than one. I was pretending to be strong when I wasn't.

I was kicked out, me and my small duffel bag standing by the road.

This was a day I had actually dreaded.

I told myself that no matter what happened, I was never going to leave. Maybe I could change him, make him love me again.

But Slade was a monster, and it killed me that I didn't see it soon enough.

I gave him three years of my life.

I wasted three fucking years with that thing.

And what did I have to show for it?

Nothing.

I pulled out my phone and pressed my brother's number, my hands trembling.

The line rang once...

Twice...

Then he picked up.

"Come get me."