3. Thrown To The Streets

Marina was determined not to give up on her marriage. The next morning, she set out of the house, in search of a job that would fetch her some money to go through the artificial conception method.

Over the years of their marriage, she had asked him to give her a job at one of his companies, but he refused, promising to take care of all her needs and assuring her that she would never lack anything. But he changed. He no longer gave her money for upkeep. That aside, if she needed to save this marriage, she had to have a child with him.

After roaming half of Morvane city, no one was willing to offer a job to a college dropout. Exhausted from the day’s job hunting and all the challenges life had thrown at her in the past few days, she headed back home, hoping that Collin would have considered the love they used to share and change his mind about ending the marriage.

She was ready to do anything. Go on her knees, do the worst thing he would ask her to do. She just needed to gain back his favor.

-

She was welcomed back into the house by four pair of eyes piercing into hers. Lady Carter, Leila, Collin, and another woman she had never seen. She was tall, with distinct feminine features that made her look like a runway model straight out of a fashion magazine.

“The barren is here,” Leila announced upon Marina’s arrival. A mocking laughter slipped past her lips as she linked her arm with the strange woman in their midst. “Just take a look at her wretched dress.”

Lady Carter took subtle steps towards Marina, halting in front of her. Marina dropped her gaze, but she tilted her chin to face her.

“You’ve been the problem all along.” Contempt flowed in her tone. “The reason the Carter family hasn’t produced an heir.”

“Yes, she’s been the reason.” Collin joined his mother where she stood, hand still on Marina’s chin. “She knows this, but kept it from all of us.”

An uncontrollable rage surged through Lady Carter. She released Marina, her palm striking sharply against her face before shoving her away. Peals of laughter spluttered out of Leila and her friend as Marina cradled the stinging flesh, tears streaking down her cheeks.

“You whore.” Lady Carter spat, her eyes gleaming with fury.

“She was one before I married her,” Collin added. “The greatest mistake of my life.”

“I’m glad your eyes are open now,” Leila yelled from where she stood, watching the drama with satisfaction.

“How dare you lie to the Carter family? You knew you were barren, yet you stayed in this marriage, deceiving my son.” 

Marina opened her mouth, but no word came out. Her vision blurred with tears.

“It’s all over now.” Collin stepped in, dusting off a paper before her. “The divorce papers are ready.”

A wave of numbness swept over Marina. She roughly grabbed the papers, scanning through to be sure she heard him right. 

“And I’ll make sure she leaves this marriage with nothing,” Lady Carter said.

“She came with nothing and will leave with nothing.” Leila joined them, the stranger woman still beside her.

The strange woman looked at Marina intently. Pity flashed through her gaze. Then her lips curved in a smile as she walked carefully towards Collin, wrapping her arms around him.

Eyes back on Marina, she muttered. “She looks pitiful, honey.”

“That’s what she deserves for lying to us.” Collin pulled her closer, pressing a kiss to her forehead. “You’re my choice now, Ivy.”

Ivy. Her name echoed in her head, taunting her. Leila had successfully hooked her friend with her husband.

Too weak to stand, Marina dropped to the floor, hands on her face. The tears poured hard.

“Sign the papers now.” Leila kicked her on her tummy, but the pain of a physical assault was nothing compared to the stabbing pain from a broken heart.

“Now.” Lady Carter raised her voice in threat. “We do not want gold diggers like you in our family.”

Marina’s gaze landed on her husband and his new mistress. The weight of the betrayal squeezed her chest so tightly she feared she might not survive it.

He was her entire life. She gave all her life to him. Body, soul, and all she knew to have. She lost herself in the marriage, and now, he was ending it cruelly.

“Sign now, and get the hell out of this house. We have had enough of your bad luck.” Lady Carter screamed this time.

“Collins.” The whole of her body ached. “Please, don’t do this to me. I have nowhere to go.” Maybe he would change his mind if she begged him.

“Then go live on the streets.” He threw a bag at her, forcing the pen in her hand. “Sign now.” His eyes held so much contempt, and she was scared he might hit her if she didn’t take the pen from him. “Now, bitch.”

With a shaky hand, she took the pen from him, her tears dropping onto the paper. She read and signed her part, dropping it on the floor.

Her bones were weak, deterring her from standing, but with the little strength she had, she held onto the couch and helped herself up. Grabbing her bag, she took a firm look at everyone present in the living room, etching their scornful faces on her mind.

“Get out of our house,” Leila yelled, attempting to walk towards her and push her out of the house, but Collin stopped her.

“She will leave when she stops gawking at us like an idiot.” He told his sister, and they all laughed mockingly at Marina. “You should be happy I let you leave with a bag. You came into this house with rags. I clothed you.”

“She was just spending your money while being a liability.” Lady Carter went over to sit down. She crossed her legs and took a sip from her blue wine. “Get out, barren.”

Marina wiped the tears off her face. She grabbed her bag, turning slowly towards the exit of the living room. She took quiet, painful steps out of the house she once called home. Her home.

When she got outside, she looked back at the mansion that stood before her, and only one thing came to her mind.

Revenge.

She didn’t know how, but she would make them pay for treating her like trash.  With that, she walked out of the Carters’ mansion with no destination on her mind.