Chapter 5

CORA

"Leon! Leon!!" I shouted, banging on the door for the umpteenth time that evening. I couldn't even tell how many minutes I'd been standing outside, begging him to come out so we could talk.

After leaving the hotel, I went straight to our house only to find my things carefully packed outside. Every single thing. I don't know how he did it so quickly, but I wasn't ready to accept that our marriage would just end like that.

The door opened slowly, and my face lit up, only for Candice to step outside.

"Why are you still here?"

My stomach twisted. "I need to talk to Leon," I replied sharply.

She folded her arms. "Well, he doesn't want to talk to you."

"This was your plan, right?"

She blinked. "What are you talking about?"

Before I could reply, Leon appeared from behind her. A smile slipped out of my face, but he glared at me.

"I already told you there's nothing to talk about, Cora. We are done."

I shook my head. "No, we are not. Candice planned this whole thing. She wants to ruin our marriage."

Her eyes flashed.

He scoffed. "There's no marriage, Cora.  We both know Candice has always been supportive of our relationship."

"She wasn't supportive, Leon."

"Well, I don't give a damn anymore, Cora. I trust Candice. Now get off my property."

"Leon."

He walked away. I tried to hurry after him, but Candice pushed me back.

"There's nothing you can say, Cora. Leon would always believe me over you."

And with that, she slammed the door in my face. I stared at the door for a few seconds, trying to understand what had just happened.

The fact that he didn't even care to listen to my explanation was unbelievable. He didn't even try to fight for us. Almost like he had been waiting for a way out because it just didn't make any sense that he wouldn't give me the benefit of the doubt. He trusted Candice blindly.

I tried to push my back as I stared at my things on the floor. I had nowhere to go. I'd left everything for him, and this is how he pays me back?

My phone rang at that moment, and Annie's name appeared on the screen. Sniffing, I picked up the call.

"Cora, are you okay?"

I furrowed my brows.

"I heard the news."

"What news?"

"You're getting a divorce. It has been circulating everywhere that you cheated on Leon on your wedding eve. What happened?"

My legs went weak. How...how did it become news? Did Leon do this? Was it before he served me the papers or after he left?

"You know what? I'm coming to you. Please, don't turn off your phone. Don't be tempted to go to social media, and don't cry, okay?"

The tears dropped at that moment. I couldn't hold it back anymore. Even though I tried hard not to check the media, I couldn't help it. I'd become a public enemy, and everyone was calling me names.

If someone had told me this would happen, I would have laughed in their face, but here I was, trying to believe it's a dream. To think he would go to the extent of tarnishing my image?

When Annie arrived, we moved my things together to her place, and once we were fully settled in, I ended up crying my eyes out.

Even after signing the papers and appearing in court, I ended up crying again. He was cold to me. He acted like we weren't together for years.

And worst of all, as soon as our divorce was finalised, Candice sent a picture of them together to me, and they were kissing.

"I knew they couldn't be just friends. There was something fishy. He just covered up with this whole thing." Annie shrugged. "Who knows? He could have planned everything with Candice."

I bit on my lower lip. It was hard to believe I'd been so blind.

Leon and Candice walked out of the courtroom at that moment, and my eyes met his. He stared at me for a few seconds before Candice dragged him off.

"Just imagine. I'm never forgiving them for playing you this way," Annie uttered beside me.

"Who is not forgiving whom?" Chloe's voice boomed as she walked out the door with a small smile on her face.

She turned to me, her smile slipping.

"You're not thinking of letting him go scot-free, right?"

I furrowed my brows. "You're my lawyer, Chloe. You saw everything that happened."

"I'm your sister before that," she reminded me.

I swallowed hard. We haven't really been in touch in the past few years until my wedding.

"And I'm telling you to get back at him. Get your revenge on them. You can't just watch them ruin your life like this. You're more than this, Cora."

I shared a look with Annie, who nodded in agreement.

Chloe placed her hand on my shoulder, looking straight into my eyes.

"Come back home, Cora."

My stomach dropped.

"I'm sure our parents would be ready to welcome you home."

I shook my head. That was impossible.

"I can't."

"Forget everything that happened. To get back at them, you need the power and wealth. Let them know they can't just humiliate you and walk away like that."

"I agree." Annie nodded. "I'm dying to watch them go down."

I pressed my lips together. "You think so?"

"I know so," they both said in unison before smiling.

I let out a sigh. "I'll think about it." Going back home wasn't an easy decision. I wasn't sure my parents would even be happy to see me.

"Let's go." I led the way, but as I took a few steps, my vision started blurring. My head grew hazy, and in no time, I staggered back.

"Cora, are..."

I couldn't hear the rest of the words as I slipped into darkness.

I'm not sure how long I was out for, but when I opened my eyes, I found myself in a hospital bed.

Annie and Chloe were on both sides, looking as worried as ever.

"What happened?" I groaned, trying to stand up.

"I'll go get the doctor." Chloe hurried off in no time, and I turned to Annie.

"Cora..." She started slowly, her brows pulling together.

"Is something wrong?"

Her gaze met mine.

"You're pregnant."