Chapter Two.

ELOISE POV:

“Y-you, you don't mean it, Dami" I stuttered, a mirthless laugh about to escape my lips again. “You just want to get on my nerves, right? I-its a joke, a prank—”

“Don't be an emotional fool, Eloise,” My mother-in-law's sharp tongue cut me off.

“You're getting divorced and there's nothing that can be done about it! Vivian is more successful and supportive to Damien than you could ever be so don't you dare dream of staying in his life longer than you already did!” She warned.

“No, mother. What are you saying?” I asked with tears brimming my eyes as it slowly began to blur my vision.

“It's my life we're talking about here, and not that of any child or teenager. You can't just make the decisions without considering how I'd feel, the effects it would have on my life and if I agree to this divorce or not.” I choked out, the tears threatening to spill as they sting my eyes.

“I am your daughter-in-law for Christ's sake, mother. Please don't do this to me. Damien loves me and would never want to let me go. He doesn't want to divorce, it's just a prank, right, Damien?” I asked as my voice cracked, averting my gaze to Damien, who scoffed and looked away from me.

Suddenly, my mother-in-law laughed in a condescending voice that made me swallow hard.

“I believe his actions are a good enough response to your question,” she smirked. “And what do you mean by 'My daughter-in-law?' Who the hell gave you that entitlement when you haven't proven to be worthy of it?” She demanded, her tone hard and serious.

“You want me to consider how you'd feel and how it's going to affect your life?” She asked, and I was hesitant to give a reply as I stared back at her with my tear-filled eyes.

“Do you realize how much effect your barrenness will affect not only the life of my only son but also that of the Ashford bloodline if Damien doesn't get a child anytime soon?!” She exclaimed, and I flinched back, my heart hammering against my ribs because I knew it was damn true.

I was fully aware of the disadvantages it had on the Ashford family, but it's not like I wasn't trying. I was doing my possible best and everything I could to make sure I got pregnant for Damien but no… Every effort I put into it was always futile until I tried one last time and the doctor said it was positive.

“Unfortunately, I doubt if you can fulfill that simple wish we've been asking of you for the past five years because I know it's totally impossible for someone who has been barren for so many years to ever have a child!” She shot, and I bite back the urge to tell her that she was fucking wrong! That I was never barren and in fact I had my baby growing in my womb!

“Many years back when I was newly wedded to Damien's father, it didn't take me up to two months to be confirmed pregnant but take a pitiful look at yourself…" She pointed at my face with her finger as she continued.

“Five years in and you're yet to bear a single child! You're so shameless to stand in front of me and ask that I should consider your feelings and that of your pathetic life after every disgrace you've put the Ashford family through!” She shot at me once again, and I shut down my eyes.

I tried not to cry, but I couldn't help it. My heart broke with every passing second, hoping upon hopes that he would stand up for me. That he would speak to his mother like he always did in the past but none of that happened.

The man I called my husband just stood there like a mannequin, watching as his mother rained insults on me and didn't say or do anything to stop her.

All he could do was to let his mistress warm up to him as he held her waist close, and then glare daggers my way in disgust.

I sniffed, tears rolling down my cheeks as I balled my fist, my nails tearing open the flesh of my palm as my mother-in-law continued trashing me like I had no feelings…

“Unlike you, Vivian isn't fruitless. Just one pleasurable night she spent with my son and it was enough for the doctor to confirm that she was pregnant for Damien. I would have agreed that the reason for your childlessness was from my son but no, it was never from him, but it was from you instead!”

“If the issue was from my son, then Vivian wouldn't have been able to get pregnant for him. The reason has always been you! You! You, Eloise! You have been the witches who have been devouring my grandchildren!” She accused, and I snapped my eyes open in shock because I didn't expect her to go this far.

“Your barrenness is a result from the past abortions you must have had before you got married to my son! I am very sure you slept with so many men and made countless abortions which made you lose your womb—”

“ENOUGH!” I screamed, and they all seemed shaken that I had surprisingly spoken up, especially the woman I had always referred to as my mother.

“I have had enough insults from you, Regina Ashford. You can call me whatever you like, but don't you ever call me a witch and accuse me of the things I would never think of doing!” I snapped and she was taken aback. I had never dared to call her by her name, but today I did because this was the day she lost all the respect I had for her.

“Oww!” I cried out when I suddenly felt my arm being painfully yanked around with force and my purse fell on the marble floor.

“What was the meaning of that, Eloise? You dared to talk back and also threaten my mother?! Who fucking gave you the guts to threaten her?” Damien's thick voice boomed in the living room as he questions, but I was left whimpering in pain as he twisted my arm.

His grip was tight to the extent that I can feel my bones crushing in his hold, and I was sure it was going to leave a red imprint of his hand on my skin.

“You're hurting me, Damien” I cried in a whisper, unable to bear the pain. I tried to pry his fingers from around my arm, but it was too strong.

From the side of my eyes, I could see Vivian struggling to hold in her laughter as she hovered one hand on her lips and the other was cradling her belly bump, watching me suffer in pains.

My mother-in-law also had a satisfactory smirk up her lips to see. Damien had never raised his hand or tried to hurt me, but today because of them, he did.

“You deserve nothing less than this!” He spat through his teeth. “Since you feel you're the boss around here, I would like to see how you survive on the streets after the divorce have been finalized, and you're thrown out!”

“No! Please, you can't do this to me, Damien,” I shrieked, fear surging within me. I couldn't afford to let Damien go. He meant the world to me, and more. A-and my child? It would be a bastard if Damien and I ended up getting divorced!

No, I can't let that happen.

“Try to reconsider. You can't let our marriage end like this. This shouldn't be happening. We've been through a lot to just be separated. Please rethink your decision. Reconsider me. Reconsider us and everything I gave up just to be with you, Damien. I love you, please,” I pleaded, tears burning my eyes, but all I could see was the cold, disgusted, and distant expression written on Damien's face.

“And what are those things you gave up for me, Eloise? Tell me!” Damien demanded, yanking and gripping my arm harder than ever, and the tears began streaming down my cheeks because I couldn't hold in the tears anymore.

“Stop. You're hurting me really bad, please. This isn't the Damien I had always known,” I cried, my body trembling.

“Don't avoid my question, Eloise. I know you have nothing to say. You've never done anything in this house except bringing in bad luck to us and squandering the Ashford wealth on dumb medications like you owned it." Damien barked, and I stopped struggling for a moment because his words hit a soft spot in my heart for sure.