Just Me And My Child

DARLA'S POV

I stood frozen, unable to move or speak, as Mrs. Gomez's harsh words cut through the quiet. Her piercing emerald green eyes seemed to bore into my soul, and her pale skin appeared even paler with anger. "Leave this house immediately, you slut!”

The guards dragged me out of the grand Gomez Mansion, their cold and unforgiving grip bruising my arms, the sound of my struggles echoing off the marble floors.

What's going on? What have I done?

My mind raced with questions. But I knew one thing was for sure, I was no slut.

My gray eyes flickered up to meet the guards holding me up, hoping to get a hint of explanation from them, but their cold demeanor made me uneasy, and I recognized the sudden change in their behavior.

The massive villa, its grand walls and gardens were a stark contrast to my confusion once we got to the entrance. Mrs. Gomez and Amaya approached me, their faces angry.

Amaya's vicious anger spilled out. Her dark hair seemed to whip around her face as she spat out her words, "Get out of here, you piece of scumbag. You're no longer welcome here!"

The bright sunlight stinging my eyes didn't hurt me more than their harsh words. Despite the circumstances, I remained silent, showing respect. But inside, I seethed with hurt.

Mrs. Gomez's voice echoed out, her Spanish accent thick with disdain, "I never want to see you set foot on this property again!"

The guards then dropped me abruptly, and I fell to the ground, the impact jarring my bones, a pain gasped escaping my lips as I held them.

That hurts! And I'm probably going to get a scar from it.

I looked up to see Mrs. Gomez and Amaya standing over me, their faces twisted in anger and disgust.

Why were they treating me like this?

"You've betrayed our trust, and it's almost as if we expected it from the start. Unfortunately, that's what happens when we try to help those in need—those shameless and poor people like you. They take advantage of our kindness," Amaya spat out.

I tried to speak, but before I could, Mrs. Gomez slapped me, the crack of her hand on my cheek echoing through the air, leaving a stinging sensation.

I wanted to place my hand on the spot, but the guards held me back, unable to react, my eyes welling up with tears.

How did I betray their trust? What do they know that I don't?

"You're an ingrate, and I regret ever letting someone like you into our home!" Mrs. Gomez pointed at me, her anger evident.

"I don't understand, Mrs. Gomez. What have I done wrong?" I managed to ask, my voice trembling as tears continued to well up.

"You dare to ask me that question? You must be crazy!" Mrs. Gomez was outraged.

"I really don't know what I've done wrong," I said, kneeling down in a gesture of apology. The bodyguards allowed me to remain in this position, acknowledging my remorse.

"But I am deeply sorry for any offense I may have caused. I can't imagine how upset you must be with me, but I genuinely want to make things right." I spoke with my head bowed, showing respect and remorse.

Before I could finish speaking, I heard a sudden splash and felt a deluge of water pour over me. I gasped in surprise, feeling the icy liquid envelop my body, weighing me down, and the sound of it splashing on the ground made me shiver.

Raising my head, I saw Mrs. Gomez and Amaya standing over me, devious grins on their faces. They had poured two buckets of water over me, soaking me to the bone.

I glanced around to see three familiar housemaids holding buckets, and three others on Mrs. Gomez's side holding trash bags filled with garbage.

Tears streamed down my face as I wondered what was happening. It had all unfolded so suddenly - just moments ago, I was cleaning Mr. Daniel's room, and now I was being humiliated and called names. This is the height of it.

Once they finished, leaving me drenched, Mrs. Gomez sighed contentedly before speaking again. “This is what you get for getting intimate with my son!” she exclaimed.

No, wait! How did she find out?

Daniel swore to me that no one knew about it. He was wrong. It all makes sense now! The harsh treatment, the despise, that hate - it all makes perfect sense.

Mrs. Gomez commanded, "Guards, wash away her shame!"

The guards approached holding a bucket of water each. I shook my head, my eyes widening in terror.

No. It couldn't be for me.

"Charles..." a whisper left my lips as I called a guard I knew very well. But his face was expressionless…

Before I could even think of what to say to slow the guards down, they descended, pouring buckets of water over me, drenching me. I gasped, shivering as the cold water soaked through my clothes.

Amaya's emerald green eyes seemed to gleam with sadistic pleasure as she recorded my humiliation on her phone.

The guards dumped the trash over me, the pungent smell travelling up my nose so fast. I was overwhelmed as they continued to taunt and mock me. The water and trash enveloped me, suffocating me. I struggled to speak, my voice barely audible. "Please...stop..."

Amaya continued filming, her laughter echoing through the air. Tears streamed down my face as I endured this humiliating ordeal.

Daniel. He was the only one on my mind. The one I love and trust.

If he were here, he would have known exactly what to say to fix this. He is quite the outspoken one in our relationship, whereas I was the reserved one, my voice barely audibly.

It's what I love about him.

"What made you think you were a good match for my son? Huh?" Mrs. Gomez demanded sternly after they were done humiliating me.

I tried to defend myself, but Amaya cut me off. “How dare you speak after what you've done?” she rebuked, her tone harsh.

"We welcomed you into our home and provided for you and your mother, and this is how you repay us? You're nothing but an undeserving and shameless person!" Mrs. Gomez's voice was filled with anger.

"Let me explain, please," I pleaded, my new-found voice cracking with emotions, trying to find the right words.

"Explain what exactly? That you've been deceiving us for three months?" Amaya's tone was cruel.

How long have they known about it? Who could have told them?

I swear, it must be Delilah. She's the only one that hates my guts here, the only one who happened to see Daniel kiss me one time. I won't be surprised if I found out that it's her.

"No, that's not what happened. Please, let me explain," I struggled to say, tears streaming down my cheeks.

"You're nothing but a maid, and you're not even the head maid, and you have the audacity to be sleeping with my son?" Mrs. Gomez's voice was filled with displeasure.

"What was your plan? To trap him into marriage and become part of our wealthy family because you have nothing to offer? Well played, slut!" Amaya said viciously.

"I would never allow someone like her to be part of the Gomez family!" Mrs. Gomez declared.

"Please, listen to me. Let me explain to you what happened," I begged.

"Go on, let's hear your excuse," Amaya said, her tone condescending.

Mrs. Gomez and Amaya glared at me, their faces stern.

I took a deep breath and composed myself before speaking. “I want to make it clear that getting intimate with Mr. Gomez was never my intention,” I began. My voice trembled, and my eyes brimmed with tears.

"Dan-Daniel and I, we're in love. H-he loves me, and..." I struggled to say, my words tumbling out in desperation.

Mrs. Gomez and Amaya exchanged a look, then burst into laughter. "This must be a joke!" Mrs. Gomez exclaimed, wiping tears from her eyes.

I was confused, my eyes blinking rapidly as I wondered what I had said that was so amusing. They laughed uncontrollably, struggling to catch their breath.

Don't worry, Daniel will be back tomorrow and everything will be alright. He'll fix things. He always does. You'll see.

"It's so funny because Daniel is the one who ordered us to throw you out!" Amaya revealed.

My heart skipped a bit and my whole world came crashing down.

That can't be. It's a lie. She is probably just lying to me.

I was taken aback, my eyes wide with disbelief. "No, Daniel wouldn't do this to me.” I muttered, mostly to myself. “Not after everything we've shared,"

Amaya shot back, "What exactly have you shared?”

I replied, "Daniel promised to marry me. He said we'd build a life together, start a family. We're in love." I smiled, recalling our conversation the day before he left for New York.

But Amaya's next words shattered my illusion. "Sorry to burst your bubble, sweetheart, but Daniel will never marry you. He instructed us to throw you out before he returns tomorrow. He claims you forced yourself on him and he can't associate with someone as despicable as you!"

My smile vanished, and I blinked rapidly, struggling to process this revelation.

"That can't be, Daniel," I whispered, tears streaming down my face. "I know him, and he loves me. He can't possibly throw me out."

I can't trust Amaya's words. Never. For all I know, she could be lying on Daniel.

"Why can't he?" Mrs. Gomez sneered. "Who do you think you are, anyway? My son is in New York, preparing to engage himself to his true love, and by the time he returns, you'll be long gone!"

"Engage?" I repeated, incredulous. "Daniel told me he was going for business."

It's… not a lie. Daniel really did this to me.

I feel like I've been punched in the gut. My hands flew to my chest as if to stop my heart from shattering, but even I know that was useless.

My heart feels like it was is squeezed, the pain radiating through my entire body. My grip on the ground weakened, my vision blurring.

I felt a void, like a part of me was missing. I shook my head, refusing to accept it.

No, no, no... this can't be happening. Why does this always happen to me? Can't I just have one happy moment without everything falling apart?

Amaya snorted, "We're wasting our time on her foolish questions, Mother. Let's have her removed at once!"

Mrs. Gomez summoned the guards, "See to it that she never sets foot in this house again!"

I didn't resist, feeling a mix of emotions - despair, anger, fear, and above all… loss.

Why Daniel would deceive me so cruelly? I just don't understand.

The guards tossed me outside the mansion. I was left on the ground, feeling shattered and alone, the rough gravel digging into my olive skin, the silence deafening, and the sight of the mansion's grandeur mocking me.

I can't blame it. Even I would mock me. I look so pathetic right now.

I had braced myself to minimize the impact, however, the guards' forceful throw still left me reeling.

I slowly got up, dusting myself off, and gazed at the Gomez Mansion with a mix of anger and disbelief. My fists clenched as I struggled to comprehend how the one I loved could do this to me.

I began my journey home, feeling my heart harden with each step. I realized I would never open myself up to love another man again.

From now on, it's just me and my child - we're all we need.