Chapter 6: Awakening 

The next morning…

Kelsey slowly opened her eyes. A sharp pain shot through her head, making her shut them again immediately. Her brows tightened as she let out a soft groan. Everything felt heavy… her body, her thoughts… even her breathing.

She was still lost when the door suddenly opened.

Bang!

“Kelsey!”

Doris marched in, her face filled with anger, her voice sharp and loud enough to cut through the room.

“So you are still lying down after the disgrace you caused last night?”

Kelsey froze for a moment before slowly opening her eyes. She remained in bed, too weak to get up.

Doris didn’t stop.

“Rolling down the stairs in front of everyone! Do you even know how embarrassing that was?” Her eyes were full of disgust.

Kelsey said nothing. Her fingers clenched at her sides.

“Don’t blame her, Mum. You know she is always clumsy. She didn’t fall on purpose,” Wanda spoke softly, placing her hand on Doris’ arm, trying to calm her down.

Then she turned to Kelsey, smiling sweetly. “How are you feeling? You should always be careful.”

“You are too kind, Wanda,” Doris said, her voice suddenly gentle as she praised her. She then turned her gaze back to Kelsey, who was still lying on the bed.

“And look at you,” she continued, her voice rising again. “It’s morning already, and you’re still in bed like the useless person you are.”

Her words were harsh, cold, and familiar to Kelsey, yet she didn’t react. She was still trying to understand the images and memories returning to her mind.

“Wanda has to go to work, and you haven’t prepared breakfast for her,” Doris went on loudly. “You know she only eats the food you make.”

Kelsey’s eyes lifted slightly at those words. She thought she had heard wrong.

Why should she prepare food for Wanda?

Then it came back to her. She used to do it.

Kelsey remembered that Wanda had come to live with her and Ramon four years ago, saying it was closer to the company than her own house. Since then, she had become Wanda’s cook. Wanda had said she enjoyed her food, and Doris made sure she continued cooking for her.

Kelsey’s lips curved faintly, almost unnoticeable, at the memory.

But Wanda saw it.

Her brows creased immediately.

“You don’t want to cook for me, Kelsey?” Wanda asked softly, her voice filled with hurt. She paused before adding, “It’s okay if you don’t want to. I understand you are still weak from the fall, but… I really like your food.”

She lowered her head, her fingers fidgeting sadly.

Kelsey scoffed silently.

“Get up right now and go make food for Wanda,” Doris ordered.

“It’s okay, Mum. Don’t force her,” Wanda quickly said, holding Doris back.

“What use is she if she can’t cook and clean the house?” Doris snapped, her chest rising and falling with anger.

Wanda exhaled and rubbed her forehead as though the tension was getting to her. “Calm down, Mum,” she said softly, then turned to Kelsey with a pitiful look.

“Even if you don’t want to cook for me, you should think about little Kendrick. He can’t go to school without food.”

Kelsey’s heart slammed against her chest.

Kendrick.

She swallowed the lump forming in her throat. Kendricks truly had to go to school.

It had slipped her mind.

Without thinking further, she pushed herself off the bed with the little strength she had. The only reason she moved was because of Kendrick.

She weakly walked toward the bathroom to freshen up.

“Just look at her,” she heard Doris say in disgust. “She’s always looking for pity. So pathetic.”

But Kelsey entered the bathroom and locked the door.

Inside, she stood frozen before the mirror, staring at her reflection in shock. She hardly recognized the person looking back at her.

“How did I become like this…” she whispered, her fingers touching the medical bandage on her forehead.

But that wasn’t what shocked her. She knew the injury came from the fall.

The reflection in front of her looked nothing like a twenty-six-year-old woman.

She looked like she was in her late thirties. Even women that age looked better than her. She looked like someone who had suffered from a long, terrible illness.

Her skin was dark and rough, clearly showing it had been a long time since she had even taken proper care of herself.

“How…”

She couldn’t finish the question because she already knew the answer.

She had become like this because of the burden the Holloways had placed on her.

“What are you still doing in there?” Doris’ voice came from outside.

Kelsey’s chest seized painfully. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath. This was not the time to think about everything. Kendrick needed food.

A few minutes later, she was done.

“I don’t know what sin I committed to have her as a daughter-in-law,” Kelsey heard Doris complaining sorrowfully to Wanda as she stepped out and began walking toward the kitchen.

She slowed down when she heard more.

“I just wish she would disappear from our lives,” Doris continued.

“Mum…” Wanda called softly, as if she didn’t like those words.

“I really have to do something. She cannot continue being Ramon’s wife,” Doris said firmly. “That position is meant for you. It has always been yours.”

Kelsey’s brows lifted slightly in mockery when she noticed that Wanda made no attempt to correct Doris this time.

So… she still wanted to be Ramon’s wife.

“Good morning, sir,” someone greeted respectfully.

Kelsey turned slightly and saw Ramon descending the stairs like a king.

Their eyes met. Then he looked away as if she didn’t exist. As if she was a stranger.

He didn’t ask how she was. He didn’t care that she had fallen and injured herself.

That alone told Kelsey everything. He didn’t care whether she lived or died.

>>>>>> Back to Present <<<<<<

“Why aren’t you leaving?”

Kelsey blinked, realizing her thoughts had drifted to the recent events that restored her memories. She returned her gaze to Ramon and saw the cold impatience in his eyes.

He wanted her gone.

“I said I want a divorce,” she said, her voice steady.

She was done.

Done with the hell they called marriage.

It was never her choice anyway. Her father had forced it to protect her—but she was never protected. She had only suffered. And now that her memories were back, she had no reason to stay.

Raman, on the other hand, furrowed his brow deeply. He stared at her for a moment, then stood and walked toward her. He stopped a few steps away.

“You want a divorce?” he asked coldly, as though the request were a crime.

“Yes,” Kelsey responded without hesitation.

The old her would have flinched at his tone and run out of the room. But this time, she stood her ground without fear.

She saw his face darken for a brief moment before his eyes narrowed slightly, as though he was trying to see through her. She knew he was probably taken aback by her sudden change and request.

But then his lips curved into a small smile, and he parted them as if to say something when his phone rang. He picked it up from the table, answered the call, and walked out of the room without giving her a response.

Kelsey watched him leave and licked the corner of her lips. It didn’t matter whether he gave her an answer now or later. All she knew was that they were getting a divorce.