Giving up

Serena woke up the next morning feeling jolted out of her sleep, her mind still clouded with the events of the previous day. She rubbed her eyes and looked around, hoping that it was all just a terrible nightmare, but her eyes immediately fell on the divorce papers lying on her bedside table. The sight of them brought her back to the harsh reality that her marriage was on the rocks.

Despite the overwhelming sense of despair that threatened to consume her, Serena couldn't help but cling to a faint glimmer of hope. She had been with Rick for three years, and in that time, he had showered her with love and affection. She had seen the way he looked at her, with eyes brimming with tenderness and devotion. She refused to believe that he could just throw everything away in a single day.

Serena was convinced that Rick still loved her, even if he was unable to see it himself. She knew that he was struggling with unresolved feelings for his ex, but she refused to give up on their marriage. Serena resolved to fight for the love that she believed was still there, buried deep within Rick's heart.

As Serena stepped inside the bathroom, her gaze immediately fell on the mirror before her. Her eyes were bloodshot and puffy from crying the whole night. Serena leaned closer to the mirror and used her fingertip to trace the tear stains on her cheeks. She looked at her reflection and saw a face full of mixed emotions - a hint of sadness, a touch of anxiety, and a glimmer of hope. Her eyes, in particular, appeared to be the windows to her soul, reflecting an inner turmoil that seemed to be consuming her from within. She watched as her reflection mimicked her movements, and wondered how her seemingly perfect life had been turned upside down in the blink of an eye. The reflection showed a woman with tousled hair that fell over her shoulders, her face pale and drawn with deep creases under her eyes. Overwhelmed by her emotions, Serena slowly peeled off her clothes and sank into the porcelain bathtub, seeking solace in the stillness and silence of the water.

Serena emerged from the bathroom, her eyes scanning the room as she took in the sight of Rick packing her belongings into her bags. A knot formed in her stomach as she approached him, her heart beating fast and her hands shaking.

"Rick," she said, her voice shaky with emotion.

He turned to her, his expression stern. "What are you doing?" Serena asked, her eyes brimming with tears.

He paused for a moment, looking at her with a mix of anger and frustration. "And what does it look like? I'm helping you pack your belongings since you refuse to do it."

Serena held Rick's hand tightly, her eyes filled with tears as she gazed into his cold, unfeeling eyes. "Don't do this to me, Rick. Please," she begged in a trembling voice. "I love you more than anything in this world, and I can't imagine living without you."

Rick pushed her away roughly, causing her to stumble and fall to the ground. She clutched at her towel, which was barely hanging on, as she struggled to regain her balance. "I don't love you," Rick snarled, his voice dripping with contempt. "I never have, and I never will. Just sign the papers and get out of my mansion."

Serena was left heartbroken by his words. How could he be so cruel? She picked herself up from the ground and followed him as he began to drag her luggage out of the room. "Rick, please," she called out to him, her voice quivering with emotion.

But he didn't even look back at her as he continued to walk away. Serena gathered herself up, holding tightly onto her towel, and followed him, calling out his name. She couldn't believe that the man she had loved for three years, the man she had married, was now telling her to leave and never come back.

As she caught up with him, Serena forcefully retrieved her luggage from his grasp, her eyes filled with frustration and anger. She couldn't help but question Rick's irrational behavior. "What is wrong with you? Are you really willing to throw away three years of our marriage for a woman who left you without even thinking twice about it?" Rick didn't even flinch at Serena's outburst. His expression was cold and distant as he retorted, "What I do with my life is none of your business. Just sign the damn paper. Living with you for three years has been nothing but hell for me. Looking at a lady who isn't Gina for three years was hell, and now that Gina is back, I have the chance to be with her. I won't miss the opportunity."

At that moment, Rachel, Rick's mother, entered the living room, curious about the tense atmosphere. Rachel immediately asked, "What's going on here?"

Upon hearing Rachel's voice, Serena rushed up to her and went down on her knees, clutching her leg tightly. "Rick, listen to you. Please talk to him," she pleaded.

Rachel moved back, a look of disgust on her face. "Don't you ever lay your filthy hand on me," she hissed through gritted teeth. Serena hung her head low, clasping her hands together in a desperate plea.

"I can't leave without your son," she said softly. "Please talk to him. I don't mind cleaning the whole Archer mansion ten times a day. I don't mind being the Archer slave for the rest of my life. I just want to be with your son."

Rachel, still not understanding what Serena meant, moved closer to Rick and held his shoulder. "What does she mean, son?" she asked, turning to him.

"Gina is back, and I'm getting a divorce," Rick replied coldly. Rachel's heart skipped a beat with joy. Gina had always been the daughter-in-law she had dreamed of - a woman with class and wealth who would bring good name and fortune to the Archer family.

Without a second thought, Rachel called two burly bodyguards in and ordered them to get rid of Serena's luggage. The guards dragged her belongings out as Serena pleaded with them, her voice falling on deaf ears.

"Mother, please don't,"

"I'm not your mother," Rachel snapped back, her tone sharp. "Your mother is probably rotten in her grave. I don't want a daughter-in-law who brings nothing but shame to the Archer family. A woman whose background is unknown and unverified is not worthy to be a part of our family." Her words were sharp, cutting through the air like a knife.

Rachel turned to face Rick, her expression stern and unyielding. "Get her out of this mansion," she commanded, her voice ringing out across the grand entrance hall. Without waiting for a response, she ascended the stairs, her footsteps echoing in the silence.

Serena's tear-streaked face turned to Rick, her eyes pleading with him not to abandon her. "Don't leave me, Rick," she implored, her voice cracking with emotion. Rick rubbed his forehead in frustration.

"How much do you need to get rid of you forever? 100 million dollars? I'm willing to pay more," Rick spat out the words, his eyes flashing with anger. Serena was stunned by his callousness, realizing in that moment that this was not the man she had married and fallen in love with. This was a monster, willing to go to any length to get rid of her.

Serena wiped away her tears and met Rick's gaze head-on, her eyes blazing with a fierce determination. "Is this what you really want?" she challenged him, her voice steady and unwavering.

“Definitely," he said, his voice devoid of any hint of remorse. Serena felt a sense of finality wash over her, knowing that there was no saving their marriage now.

She ran upstairs and returned a few minutes later, fully dressed and with the divorce papers and pen in hand. "I don't need your money," she declared, her voice firm and resolute. "I thought I could make you realize your love for me, but it's clear that it's a lost cause. Fine," she said, her words laced with bitterness. "I'll sign the papers. But just remember this, Rick. You will regret losing me and will beg to have my love back, but you won't get it."

"Goodbye, Rick," she said, taking one last look at him and walking out of the Archer mansion, never to return again.

Tbc.