PROLOGUE

Hi, Elara.

I'm breaking up with you.

I read the text which had popped up in my phone when I was in class and laughed.

Not because it was funny - but because there was no way, this is real.

Surely, Rex just wanted to play a prank on me.

Something he was very fond of doing.

I shook my head, got into my car and headed home. Perhaps I should pretend and act like I believed him so he would get the satisfaction of thinking that his prank got to me.

I could. But God knows I've got a very crazy day at work - so I'm just gonna opt out and play along next time.

I parked my car in our garage about one hour later and walked into the house.

Rex was in the sitting room, sitting down but the smile on my face slipped when I saw his mother there too - and she looked so serious.

Not that Agnes ever looked unserious.

“Hi mum. Hey baby, you didn't tell me mum was coming today.” I bent to kiss him but Rex's reaction had me raising my brow. He moved his face away and shoved me lightly away from him

“Did you not get my text?”

I shrugged, “I did baby, but I have had a very long day so I'm really not in the mood for one of those pranks - I'm sorry.”

Rex's mouth opened as if to say something, but closed again and he turned to his mother who hadn't said a word to me since I walked in.

“Prank?” She asked, folding her arms, “whoever said it's a prank? My son is breaking up with you!”

I laughed, “that's a joke.”

“I told you she will not take it seriously mother.”

“Of course I won't,” I snapped my heart suddenly beating faster as I realised that this was no prank, “what do you mean breaking up with me? Out of the blue! Over what?”

Agnes stood up, and covered the distance between us with three long strides, her eyes flaring.

“Well you better believe it. Rex is breaking yo with you and that's it!”

I turned to Rex, “Are you serious Rex?”

He averted his gaze, “it's time for me to move on, Elara. You are doing nothing but tying me down and I'm tired of it. “

His words hit me so hard, I staggered back shocked to the bone.

“I…I'm tying you down?” That would have been so laughable if I wasn't feeling like my heart was being ripped out of my hands.

“You heard him right,” Agnes's chimed in glaring daggers, “Rex here has found an amazing opportunity. He just got hired in the Wilson's corp company thanks to his granddaughter - his new girlfriend.”

A breath left me.

“Yes. He already has a new girlfriend who's pushing him to rise .”

You've got to be kidding me.

“I single handedly saw your lazy son through school. Paid 10 million dollars into his account which he blew away in a few months because he wasn't smart or strong enough to get up and start something on his own,” I said my voice rising, “and I'm the one tying him down? Have you ever for once thought - that perhaps he's just too lazy to be a man.”

A loud smack followed my words and it was only the sharp sting on my cheek that made me realise that Angela had slapped me.

“Shut your dirty mouth. Whatever you say now is irrelevant. He's breaking up with you - take it or leave it.!”

I cupped my stinging cheek and breathed out ignoring the pain - not just physical one - but the one deep in my heart, the pain that was tearing through me like the sharp edge of a sword.

“Oh, I'm taking it quite alright,” I said, “gladly. Good riddance by the way. So, Rex, you have one hour to get out of my house and oh! I'll need my 10 million dollars back before that!”