Chapter 2

Madelyn’s POV

His words echoed in my head. He loves her? Then what about me? What about all the years we were together?

“Still processing it, huh? My foolish sister.” Yolanda arched her brow. “You just borrowed this life from me. Be grateful I even let you enjoy it.”

Henry came out of his room and rushed to us. I kept my lips tight.

Yolanda beamed upon seeing Henry and she leaned forward, her arms open and inviting an embrace.

“Come to mommy, darling Henry! Look, I have a gift for you.” She pulled a limited edition toy car from a famous brand from her bag and wiggled it, enticing my son. “Do you like it? Let’s play! Mommy will play with you every day from now on!”

I watched my son’s eyes light up with joy, his focus was on the shiny toy in Yolanda’s hands, taking tiny steps towards her.

When Henry looked back at me with a bit of confusion in his eyes, my heart swelled with pain. 

No, he is my son. No one could take him from me. That was my thought when my instinct won over.

My feet were in a hurry as I reached to hug Henry, wanting to take him far away from them. But before I could reach him, Yolanda shielded her arms around my son, throwing a glare at me.

“Don’t touch him!” Yolanda seethed at me.

The nerve of this bitch.

“You don’t touch my son!” I gripped her arm, trying to peel it off Henry. Yolanda tried to scratch my hands with her manicured long nails, but I fought it. My mind was full of fear from the moment her hands came in contact with Henry.

“Stop it, Madelyn! You’re hurting Yolanda!”

Hurting her? She’s the one clawing the flesh out of my skin.

“Stop your bitch from touching our son or this will be bloody, Carter.”

“FUCK! Just stop!”

“He is our son. Not yours, bitch!” Yolanda shouted, still holding Henry tight in her arms.

I wanted to take him. I needed to take my son from her.

Henry started crying loudly, the boy was clearly frightened by all the tugging and shouting. He got scared by our scuffle, and I froze.

Carter took my moment of weakness to his advantage. He stepped forward and harshly pushed me away with rough force.

I stepped backward from the impact and met Carter’s angry eyes.

“I said stop!” he yelled. “Your role as a mother is done, Madelyn! Yolanda is here now, and she is the real mother of Henry! Accept that!” He crouched down and embraced Henry and Yolanda. “You’re scaring our son.” he blamed me.

It hurt. His words cut deep and my chest ached like I was stabbed multiple times and I couldn’t do anything about it.

“Shh, baby, mommy is here.” Yolanda gently rubbed Henry’s back, my son still crying in her arms. “Finish it with her, Carter.” She stood and headed towards Henry’s room, comforting my crying son in her chest.

I was about to go after them but Carter stopped me.

“You’re not going anywhere, Madelyn,” then he grabbed his briefcase and I watched him pull a paper inside. “Sign this and get over it.” He slammed the paper into my chest, forcing my hands to hold it.

A divorce paper.

My eyes widened as I read the title of the document.

“You’re divorcing me?!”

He shrugged arrogantly. “What did you expect? For us to live happily ever after? Wake up, Madelyn. Yolanda is the only one for me and she is the only one I will ever want. This playing house between us? It’s over. So sign the damn thing and get out of here.”

I couldn’t believe him. Playing house? That’s all we were doing all this time? I slaved myself to be a dutiful mother and wife! And this is what I get?

“And you expect me to sign this?”

Carter let out an evil laugh. “The real question is, why won’t you? I’m compensating you with ten million dollars as alimony. That’s a gain, Madelyn. Henry is not yours, and I don’t want you as my wife. You didn’t lose anything in this marriage to begin with. So do me a favor, sign the papers, and get lost from our lives.”

My lips trembled and my eyes started to water. Carter didn’t just point out facts, he took every ounce of hope I had for us. I know I have no place here now, but I couldn’t force myself to believe it.

“No, no, I won’t!” My lips were trembling but the words came out firm. “Henry is mine, Carter! I’m not signing this!” I throw the paper in his face and he shuts his eyes tight, nostrils flaring.

He smirked. “You’re really a pain in the ass, you know?” He grabbed the paper on the floor and grabbed his suitcase again.

My breathing was fast, my chest heaving so fast. Is he finally giving up on the divorce?

I watched his hand grab something, a rectangular-shaped ink pad.

My action was too slow before his plan registered in my head. Carter grabbed my wrist hard, yanking me forward. He stretched my arms, placing the paper and ink pad at the table in front of him.

“What are you doing?! Let me go, Carter! Let me go!” I struggled to get my hand back. I was behind him, my arm was being squeezed by his arm, while he forced my fingers open.

“No! Don’t!” I fought, yanking my arm back, punching his back, but I didn’t succeed. I tried hard to close my fist, but his force in opening it and taking my thumb was stronger.

“No!”

I felt the ink wetted my thumb before it was placed down on the paper.

It was done.

He forced me to sign the divorce papers.

I could only whimper and cry silently when Carter let go of my arm. Weak. I felt weak.

“Just so you know, the contract states you can never see Henry again.” my cries get louder.

Carter gripped my arm tightly and looked me straight in my eyes. “Now get the fuck out of my house, Madelyn.” He didn’t wait for any word, he yanked me forward and forcibly dragged me out of the house.

“Carter, please! Don’t do this. I love Henry so much, please, don’t take him away from me.” I pleaded but it seems he didn’t hear a word.

When we reached the front door, Carter pushed me out so hard that I staggered.

“Don’t ever think of coming back, Madelyn. You don’t have a place here.” Then he slammed the door shut in my face.

My knees were weak and I staggered backwards, getting a full view of the mansion that I once called home. I have nothing now. My dreams of a happy family and life were taken from me by force.

I looked at the mansion, and a whimper came out of my throat.

Henry. My son, Henry. I need to do something to get him back. Maybe my father can help. I need to go to Father. Now.