Mistress

Five years had passed since I had heard my father's voice. I still remembered the day I had left, a suitcase in one hand and Roman's empty promises in the other. My father had told me I was making a huge mistake, throwing away my entire life for a lowlife like Roman. My father was adamant that Roman wasn't good enough for me. I deserved better.

Oh, the irony.

How right had he been?

"Ellena? Are you certain about this?" Dad's voice came through the phone, breaking the silence.

I closed my eyes, and a tear fell down my cheek.

"Yes, Dad. I am very certain about this."

"Whatever has happened, you are still my daughter. You always were."

I had not prepared myself for this. I thought I would be met with anger, frustration, and a lot of I told you so, but instead, all I felt was a dad who had missed his only child.

"I will be home soon."

"I have already sent a driver to pick you up, Ellena. You wait there."

"I can drive. It's fine," I said.

"No, you will wait for the driver to arrive," he insisted.

I swallowed the lump in my throat, wiped my face, ended the call, and threw the phone onto the passenger seat. Looking up at the house that held so many memories for me, I decided Roman wouldn't take anything else from me. Not my dignity or my future. He had chosen Vanessa, and that was final.

Just then, my phone vibrated.

A photo of Roman and Vanessa appeared on the screen: they were smiling together, each holding a glass of wine.

I stared at the photo, and my heart tightened painfully.

My ex-husband smiled at her like I hadn't seen in months. She sat beside him, one hand resting on her bump, a huge diamond ring on the other. She really looked every bit the woman who had won the prize.

The caption caught my eye, and I let out a bitter laugh.

"Forever starts now. My baby, my man, my family."

I locked my phone screen and tossed it aside.

How could he do this so soon after our marriage had ended? He had been planning this all along. No wonder he was eager to get rid of me and avoided me for the last few months. Of course, it all made sense to me now.

Pressing my lips together, I refused to cry another tear over that idiotic man.

"Enjoy him whilst you can, Vanessa," I whispered.

Just then, bright lights flooded the driveway as a car pulled up beside me. I glanced into the rearview mirror and saw a familiar driver step out of a Rolls-Royce and approach my window.

I opened the window and gathered my belongings.

"Miss, your father sent me to pick you up," he said politely.

I smiled. "Good to see you again, Craig."

"Are you so shameless that you get your side piece to pick you up from outside my house?"

Roman appeared on the porch steps, looking absolutely furious. Vanessa struggled to catch up with him as he strode towards me. My fingers brushed against the heated leather seats of my father's Rolls-Royce.

I turned to my ex-husband and smirked. "That is not your business, Mr Blakewood. Besides, is it not too cold for your fiancée to be standing outside at this hour? Perhaps you should pack your things and get out of my house, since it belongs solely to me now."

I raised an eyebrow.

Roman looked furious.

"Those papers have not been made official yet," he growled.

Vanessa huffed. "Roman, what does it matter? Let her go. She is clearly sleeping with all sorts of men."

Vanessa wrapped an arm around his waist and glared at me.

I laughed out loud, unable to believe what I had just heard. "That is rich coming from the woman who was fucking a married man for eight months or longer. Who knows?"

Vanessa's mouth fell open, but she said nothing.

Roman's expression darkened. "Watch yourself, Ellena."

"Or what? You will divorce me?" I tilted my head and smirked as his jaw clenched.

I saw something flicker behind that anger. Surprise, maybe. He clearly expected me to cry or beg him to take me back and put things right between us.

I did not care.

I did not want to spend another minute near my ex and his filthy mistress.

Turning back towards Craig, I saw that he was still holding the door open for me.

"Would you mind getting me out of here? I would rather not spend another minute here."

"Of course, Miss Ellena."

Roman shrugged Vanessa off and reached for the car door. "We are not finished talking yet."

"Actually, we are." I looked directly into his eyes. "You wanted a divorce, and you got one. You have Vanessa and a baby on the way. Goodbye, Roman. I expect you and all your things to be gone by morning."

Roman grunted and shook his head. "You are still my wife, and we have to talk about this. Who is the man? How long have you been messing about with him behind my back?" he demanded.

"Sir, please step back from the car," Craig insisted, but Roman ignored his request.

"Tell me, Ellena. Right now."

I pressed my lips together, sat in the seat, buckled my seat belt, and looked back at my husband.

"The second I signed those papers, I stopped being your wife. Goodbye, Roman!"

Craig closed the door behind me and walked around to the front. I watched through the tinted window as Roman furiously shouted something and Vanessa pulled him back.

Craig pulled away from the kerb, leaving them standing alone.

"Sorry about that," I mumbled to Craig.

He looked at me through the rearview mirror for a moment and smiled. "You have nothing to be sorry for, Miss Ellena."

I smiled politely and looked out of the window.

For five years, I had made excuses for that man, defended him, and supported him. I had sacrificed my own life to make his easier.

Never again would I allow myself to do that.

"Miss Ellena, your father has waited a long time for you."

I looked up. "Does he hate me for leaving and choosing Roman?"

Craig's eyes softened, and he shook his head. "Absolutely not, Miss Ellena. Your father loves you."

I nodded and blinked away the tears as I turned back to the window.

Five years without my family, without my father, five years of missed birthdays, anniversaries, celebrations, moments that I would never get back again, but now I was going home.