Chapter - 2

( Madeline )

“No, I won’t divorce you, Damien. I know they have filled your ears against me. Our love is strong. Please, don’t let any misunderstanding ruin our marriage. I love you so much. I can’t live without you.” I grabbed his hands and cried but he looked indifferent.

“Our marriage is over, Madeline. Sign these papers and leave. You can take anything you want in alimony but I don’t wish to see your face ever again.” He jerked me away, his face was void of any emotions.

“Look, Madeline. My son has said this himself. You are nothing but a liability on us. You married him for his money, he was blind in your love before but he can see the truth now. You sold his trust to his enemy. You are no more a part of this family.” Lydia Rosewood picked the papers and a pen.

I was dumbfounded. What were they accusing me for?

“I didn’t do anything. Please, tell me what made you all think me as a gold digger. I never asked Damien for money.” I said in my defence.

“Stop lying, Madeline. Do not test my patience. I am already restraining myself from throwing you out of here.” Damien said in a very low voice. I realized that he’d not believe in whatever I say.

My heart broke into million pieces. I lost my love in the hands of wicked. They were smirking behind him. Undoubtedly, they made a plot against me and portrayed me as a traitor. Whatever, I’ll say in my defence, he’ll only believe what they had shown him.

“Okay, you’re leaving me because I failed to give you a child. I get it. I accept that I am a failure. My womb is barren. So, I have decided to give you what you want from me, Damien. I am not leaving you and your life because you think I betrayed you in some way. I’d never do such thing. I love you so much but you proved that you don’t deserve my love. I am leaving you because I want you and your family to have what you have been yearning for, a child.” I said emotionlessly.

Damien’s face twitched. For a moment, I thought I saw hurt in them but he masked it quickly and his face turned even darker.

I took the papers from his mother, my vision blurred again but I wiped my tears harshly. I couldn’t give them the satisfaction of seeing me in pain. I quickly signed those papers and slapped them back on Damien’s hands.

“Happy Anniversary, Damien. I hope you receive all the happiness you deserve with the person you’ll love and start a family together. I just hope it’s not Rachel Parker. If you have ever loved me truly, please don’t marry her. You’ll regret it for the rest of your life.” I said my parting words to my husband who stood silently.

“My lawyer will contact you from this moment, you can state your demands through him.” He said through gritted teeth.

“I want nothing from you, Damien. I don’t want you to think of me as a leech forever. You took care of a poor girl like me, respected my parents, I am grateful to you but I and my family is no more your responsibility. Best of luck for your future.” I said sadly, my heart felt empty because the last thread of hope just broke.

Turning my back to them, I took a deep breath and let the last tears of grief, pain roll down from my eyes before walking out of the house I built with love, passion and dreams. It felt cold and deserted to me. Damien broke me completely. I loved him with everything, devoted myself in my marriage. I left my family and forgot about my friends because I had to live to the standards of Rosewood family. I am left alone and nowhere to go except my old parents.

I am no longer Madeline Rosewood but Madeline Smith.

“Ma’am, please allow me to drop you at your parents’ house.” My driver said to me politely, I could see sadness in his old eyes. Damien’s staff always treated me with respect because I never treated them as servants unlike other Rosewoods.

“No, thanks, Paul. I am no longer your master’s wife so I can’t use your service or his car. Still, thank you for your services all these years. Take care of yourself.” I refused his help politely and walked out of the mansion.

Walking aimlessly on the deserted street, almost in them midnight with nothing. My tears rolled uncontrollably but there was no one to comfort me.

The lonely streets scared me but I had no money to pay for cab. My love for Damien metamorphosised into coldness wrapped in thin layer of hatred. He could be braver than this and broke with me like a man than accusing me of something I didn’t do.

My phone rang and I saw the caller id. It was from the landline of Rosewood mansion. I ignored the call. It must be a house staff. I kept walking, the cold temperature was making my bones chill. I hugged myself tightly to fight the cold weather.

Suddenly, a car came from other side and stopped in front of me. As the impact of sudden flash of headlights, I screamed and lost my balance.

“Madeline, is that you? Oh My God!” I heard the familiar voice of Adrian Bash, the enemy Damien was talking about.

“Adrian.”

I could only whisper his name. I always saw him as an elder brother but Rosewood family and Damien never liked him because he is the illegitimate son of David Rosewood, Damien’s father.

“What are you doing here all alone at this hour?” He asked me with concern and the last thread of my patience broke. I hugged him and cried bitterly on his shoulder.

“You’re scaring me now, Madeline. Did Damien so something?” He asked me with venom in his tone.

I explained him everything. I told him how Damien and his mother accused me for selling confidential information to him. His jaws clenched.

“He divorced you because he thinks I used you to get confidential business information from him? Ridiculous.” He shook his head and helped me to sit in his car.

“Please, drop me at my parents’ house. I’ll go away once I figure out what should I do in my life.” I said leaning on the headboard. He nodded and drove the car towards my parents’ house. My whole life reeled in front of my eyes.

I saw my marriage, my life collapsing in front of me. I couldn’t save it.

“I hate him but I think he’s misled by his mother and that witch Rachel Parker. He had been disturbed for a few days. He came to me in the afternoon and spat the same shit to me but I didn’t pay heed to his words earlier. Now I understand why did he said all those things to me. You can always count on me if you ever need my help. You’re like a sister to me.” He said to me with a smile when we reached at my parents’ house. I nodded we

akly and turned to go. A chapter of my life ended that day.