Ch 5: Hello Ex-Husband

Elle is admiring herself in the mirror. Her floral pink dress compliments her sweet looking face and her long dark hair is tied in an elegant bun. The jewelry she’s wearing has been gifted to her by Hector, amongst it a beautiful blue diamond placed on her neck’s choker. 

“You look beautiful, madam!” Mrs. Lee, Elle’s personal maid, praises her. “Sir Hector is going to be very pleased.”

“He will be,” Elle smiles. The makeup is light but she looks gorgeous. It’s her day and this is the moment she has been waiting for. Marrying Hector, the man who will make her very happy. 

He will make me happy, she tells herself but there’s a stinging pain in her heart. As much as she tries to avoid it, the pain won’t go away. 

“You’ll make a fine wife to him,” Mrs. Lee goes on. “Far better than that…that one!”

Mrs. Lee shudders at the thought of Scarlett. Ever since they were young, Scarlett has always tried to harm Elle. It’s Elle’s benevolent heart which always ignored Scarlett’s mistakes.

“Please don’t talk about her like that,” Elle reproaches in a soft tone. “She’s my sister and I’m deeply hurt that she’s not here.”

“You’re very kind but she won’t show up. She’ll be damned if she does!”

Elle shakes her head but says nothing. It’s true. Scarlett wouldn’t dare to show up. She has heard that her sister has been released but the woman won’t show herself out of shame. After all, she’s the scorned and humiliated woman while Elle is the heroine of this story. Elle is everything Scarlett cannot be. Sweet, innocent, and an angel. Everyone loves her.

Even Hector. And so does…

No! She tells herself. I can’t think of him!

Another maid enters the room. “The guests have arrived, Ms. Swanson,” the maid informs her.

“I’ll be downstairs in a minute,” Elle tells her. She turns back to face the mirror. Nothing will smear her happiness tonight. Nothing.

Meanwhile, the part time workers are lined up along the dinner table. Each of them is holding a tray full of food, ready to serve. Scarlett is standing amongst them, wearing a maid’s uniform. Her hair is tied into a ponytail and even though she wore no makeup, her beauty makes her stand out. Mrs. Miller is studying all of them and finally decides that Scarlett should be among those who will directly serve the important guests.

“Don’t mess up,” she tells the maids. “This is an important party and if anything happens, I’ll be cutting the cost from your wages!”

The part timers nod. Scarlett doesn’t bat an eye. She’s here for something else.

The guests have arrived at the lavish ball. Golden lights are shining all throughout the hall with a large, open space in the middle for the guests to stand on and mingle with each other. The walls are painted purple and silver with matching balloons hanging from the ceiling. Everyone is impressed by the luxurious decorations but they’re also whispering amongst themselves.

“How’s Hawkins affording all this?” One guest murmurs.

“I heard that he’s been into shady dealings lately,” another guest mutters. “The project they got. It brought in a lot of money but there’s more. He’s been dealing with the Eastern blocs lately. They’re looking for a smuggling point and this project will be crucial.”

“Shh! Don’t say all that. Hawkins might hear and make you disappear!”

The whispers of the guests don’t go unheard. Scarlett offers the guests drinks but is hearing snippets of the conversations too.

Eastern bloc? What does all this mean? She wonders. What project?

Before she can hear anything else, the lights dim and a spotlight falls on the top of the staircase. Scarlett’s lips thin when she sees Elle walking down the stairs with Hector, hand in hand. She looks radiant in the pink dress, her smile wide. Hector is also looking handsome in his dark blue jacket and sleek hair. Both of them look like a couple who sprang out from a fairy tale.

“She sure is a modern day Cinderella,” one guest remarks. 

Yes, her stepsister is Cinderella. The very thought makes Scarlett want to vomit.

And Hector…

Her wretched heart is overwhelmed by him. She can’t stand the sight of him in someone else’s arms. He was supposed to be her husband, the love of her life. They could’ve had a wonderful life together, filled with love and joy. For years, Scarlett planned her revenge but she didn’t expect to be overcome with so many emotions. 

Tears sting her eyes and she quickly turns away.

“You look beautiful, my love,” Hector whispers in Elle’s ear. She smiles and blushes, yet her heart isn’t in it. 

They start to mingle with the guests, not noticing Scarlett in the crowd. She tries to calm her heart. Suddenly, the thought of Hector being so close to her is making her tremble and weak. 

She quickly steps away from the crowd and heads towards a secluded part of the mansion. Once out of sight, she breaks down into tears.

“Why…why Hector…” she sobs to herself. She’s Scarlett D’arcy. The mighty and fearsome woman who had the world at her feet. Everyone was envious of her.

And she’s weak when it comes to love.

“Why couldn’t you love me?” She cries. “Why?”

CREAK!

Scarlett is startled when she hears the sound and turns around. To her shock, there’s another person who’s watching her. A person who’s on a wheelchair.

She slowly looks closer only to be astonished.

“Amelia?” She whispers.

Sitting on a wheelchair is a girl around Scarlett’s age. She has the same blonde hair as Hector only with gentler features and a kind demeanor. But the girl isn’t moving at all. Instead, her head is tilted to her side and she’s staring into space with no inclination of her sanity. Drool is dripping from her open mouth but Amelia doesn’t process anything.

“Amelia!” Scarlett gasps and is instantly by the paraplegic girl’s side. 

This is Amelia Hawkins, the only sister of Hector and Troy Hawkins. She was once Scarlett’s best friend and the only person who supported her against Elle. 

And Scarlett was framed for her state.

“I’m so sorry…” Scarlett bemoans. “I’m so sorry…”

She’s crying even harder at the sight of her best friend. What happened to her! 

“Amelia…can you hear me?” Scarlett begs. “Please…just talk!”

But Amelia remains silent, her brain not even comprehending that her best friend is with her. Scarlett is too sad, too broken by all this. Hector getting remarried, Amelia’s state, and her mom’s death. All those years in jail and yet, Scarlett never felt so helpless. 

“I’m so sorry!” She pleads. “Just come back…come back…”

“You’re not sorry yet, b*tch!”

Scarlett’s blood freezes when she hears the voice. She slowly turns around to find Hector standing there, smiling like a demon.

“I knew it was you!” He sneers. “I thought I saw you back there.”

“Hello ex-husband,” Scarlett says in a cold tone. “Missed me?”