On a beautiful yet unbalanced spring morning, Karina hurried into the vestibule of the alluring manor, tears cascading down her cheeks. She had gone to pay a visit to her spouse, Aidan, and share the elating news of her pregnancy. However, upon arrival, she witnessed him in a vehement intimacy with a fair-haired woman. Consumed by heartache and unable to even catch a glimpse of the woman, she fled, her emotions in disarray.
How could he have betrayed her so heedlessly? Strolling over to a settee, absentmindedly, she closed her eyes and reminisced on the look on his countenance when they first met. It was a mixture of vexation, irritation, and surprise. She could have never fathomed that he would be unfaithful to her after all these years of wholeheartedly committing herself to him. After a moment of suppressing her tears, she composed herself as she heard the sound of a vehicle. Aidan had arrived and she was hoping for a plausible explanation for his actions. She turned around as she heard him approaching, unable to meet his gaze.
"Karina!" He bellowed as he entered the manor and strode up behind her with a scowl etched on his face.
"What's your account, Aidan?" she questioned. "You betrayed me with another woman and now you expect to come up with an excuse?"
"You have got to be joking," he scoffed. His retort took her aback, causing her to turn and face him, and she gasped in shock as he hurled some papers that he had taken from an envelope at her. The papers landed at her feet and she picked them up, dazed.
"What is this?" she inquired.
"Don't be naive and examine it closely," he sneered.
She lowered her gaze to the papers. "Divorce papers?"
"Yes. Sign them and let's put an end to this shit of a marriage," he spat with disdain.
Karina shook her head and laughed in incredulity. "Are you trying to prank me or something?"
"Prank?" He smirked and seized her arm. "Do I seem like someone who plays pranks?"
"What? I caught you cheating in your office and now you want a divorce?"
"It's what I have always desired. I was only tolerating you!"
"No," she whispered, her heart sinking. "It can't be true. Aidan, I love--"
His harsh laugh interrupted her. "Don't even try it. You and girls like you are all the same. Trying to latch onto billionaires like me to elevate your low-class status."
She couldn't believe his words. "Is that really how you see me? As a gold digger?"
"That's what you are. You pretended to be innocent and pure but now that my real love is back, I want you gone from my house and my life for good."
"My what? Your true love?" Her voice shook with disbelief.
He sneered. "You were just a pest, Karina. A clingy pest I couldn't get rid of. I only married you as a stand-in for her. Now get out."
And with a rough shove, he pushed her away, causing her to stumble.
Karina was at a loss for words. She opened her mouth to defend herself but no words came out. The door swung open and the rest of Aidan's family entered. Lila, his grandmother, was in a wheelchair being pushed by her nurse.
"Why is this lowlife girl still here?!" Cruzita, Aidan's mother, exclaimed as she caught sight of Karina.
"And I didn't expect to come back and see the girl who tried to kill Grandma still here," commented Wally, Aidan's sister.
"What are you all talking about?" Karina ran up to them, confused. "I've already told you, I didn't try to poison Grandma."
"Don't play innocent. You did a good job of making it look like an accident or someone else's doing, but we have evidence that it was you," Wally said, giving Karina a scathing look.
"No." She shook her head, taking a step back.
"I knew you were trouble, Karina. I warned my mother-in-law to be careful around you," Cruzita said.
"You were treated like a granddaughter by my mother and yet you tried to kill her. How despicable," Cole, Aidan's father, spoke with disgust.
Karina couldn't believe what she was hearing. She looked at Grandma Lila, hoping for support, but Lila turned away, not meeting her gaze.
"Please, everyone. Karina is not capable of such a thing. We all know her too well,"
Xander, Aidan's cousin, spoke up, earning disapproving looks from the rest of the family. Still, In a somber tone, he spoke, "We should not trust just anyone."
"Be quiet, Xander. Amira is someone important," Wolly chided.
"Amira?" Karina inquired as the name reverberated in her mind.
"Yes, Amira, the love of my life, has returned," Aidan stated mockingly, giving Karina a scornful glare.
"She is the only one worthy of the Algernon family name, unlike you, a commoner," Cruzita scolded.
Just then, Amira entered with grace and poise. She walked up to Aidan and kissed him, sending a disdainful glare at Karina who was watching them.
Karina recognized her. From her attire and the way she walked, she was the same woman she had caught kissing Aidan earlier. She had heard of Amira before, but this was the first time she had ever seen her.
"What's the matter, Karina? Surprised to see the epitome of beauty?" Wolly chuckled. "By the way, Karina, someone saw you tampering with the porridge our grandmother ate yesterday, causing her to pass out. It was Amira," Wolly added.
Karina furrowed her brows, unable to speak.
"You gave me the porridge first, but I refused it. When Mother offered to eat it out of concern for your feelings, you had already spiked it and excused yourself so you don't get suspected," Cruzita said. "Your plan to harm me has been exposed. You did a lot to deceive us, Karina."
"No, it's not true. I left to get Grandma's medicine, I didn't add anything to the porridge."
"Hey, good for nothing, I saw you. I actually came to surprise them yesterday and caught you in the act. I left quietly, not knowing what your intentions were," Amira said.
"I didn't do it, you're lying!"
"That's enough talk. Just sign the divorce papers," Aidan growled.
Xander stepped forward. "Aidan, please don't divorce her. She's innocent."
"Shut up!" Cruzita silenced him, fuming. "Have you lost your mind?"
"Aunt, I..."
"Don't interfere!” Cruzita scoffed. “You might be Karina's puppet but remember that you're related to me. Enough of the sidings.”
Karina felt everything was a nightmare she baldly wanted to wake up from. Initially, she faced accusations of attempted murder against the very same woman whose life she saved years ago. Then, she caught her husband red-handed, cheating on her with his first love. And now, he wants a divorce. The thought alone is callous. Never did she imagine that her husband would toss her away like trash.
As she walked up to him, tears streamed down her face, her heart heavy with emotion. A deafening silence filled the room as she held onto his arm, preventing him from leaving.
"Why, Aidan? How could you think such vile thoughts about me? In the three years of our marriage, I worshiped you and served you as if you were a deity. I gave you my heart, my soul, my entire being, and even my body. And this is how you repay me? With a divorce? You cheated on me after all I have tolerated for your sake, and now you wish to discard me because Amira is back?!"
He stared back at her sternly, his gaze cold and disgusted. "I never liked a single thing about you. You were classless, ridiculously naive, and utterly irritating. If it weren't for my grandmother's intervention, I would never have married you 3 years ago. Just the thought of how I've endured you as my wife for so long makes me sick." With that, he jerked his arm off her grasp and hissed.
How can he say this so easily? She was merely a shadow wife to him, never shown to the public. Karina had convinced herself that one day, he would see her true love for him and reciprocate it. But it was all just an illusion. Now, staring into his emotionless blue eyes, she felt her heart grow cold and heavy.
With a slight nod, she turned and walked upstairs, returning later with a box containing her belongings. Everyone was taken aback.
"So you want me to leave, is that it? Fine." Karina wiped away her tears and took a step forward, but Wolly accused her in suspicion.
"We know you've hidden some valuable and expensive items in that box, you petty thief. Open it so we can check."
Karina glared at her, her voice laced with defiance. "I am nothing like you."
Her audacity earned her a fierce slap from Cruzita, who sneered, "You worthless girl!”
Aidan lunged forward, instinctively attempting to intercept his mother's impending strike aimed at Karina. Despite his swift reflexes, he was a fraction too late, watching helplessly as the slap landed with a resounding thud against Karina's cheek.Karina recoiled slightly from the impact, her hand rising instinctively to the stinging mark left in its wake. Yet, to the astonishment of those gathered, a faint smile graced her lips, her expression one of disbelief and defiance.Straightening her posture with a quiet resolve, Karina reached for the divorce papers, her movements deliberate as she swiftly signed them before returning them to Aidan with a measured calmness."You are now officially divorced, Aidan Algernon," Karina announced with a sense of formality, locking eyes with him in a silent exchange that spoke volumes. The room fell silent, everyone taken aback by Karina's unexpected acquiescence."Woah, you actually signed them?" Wally's incredulous remark punctuated the stunne
As Karina wandered through the streets for hours, feeling lost and helpless, she eventually found herself settling near a dumpster. The sky grew dark, and rain began to fall, drenching her in its cold embrace. Looking up at the heavens, she cried out in despair."Why, God? Why do you let me suffer like this? I have no home and no family. Just when I thought I found a new family, everything fell apart." Tears mixed with rain streamed down her face as she poured out her heart. "I gave everything to a man for three years, only for him to cheat and leave me. Now I'm back on the streets, alone and pregnant. How is this fair?"With each word, her voice cracked with pain, and she sank to her knees on the wet pavement, overcome with sorrow. Lost in her regret and agony, she suddenly heard the sound of an approaching car. Startled, she stood up and shielded her eyes from the headlights. But before she could react further, her strength failed her, and she collapsed onto the ground, just as the
~~ Six years later ~~ As the plane's door swung open, a woman descended the stairs with grace, her every step exuding elegance and sophistication. Her chestnut brown hair cascaded in soft waves, perfectly complementing her flamboyant attire that bespoke of wealth and classic taste. With sparkling eyes and a radiant smile, she held onto a cheerful little girl who mirrored her mother's grace and beauty, dressed in a matching outfit.As they stepped onto the tarmac, the little girl's eyes widened in wonder, taking in the sights and sounds of the bustling airport. People stopped in their tracks, their gazes drawn to the pair as they made their way down the railings."Why do everyone keep staring at me wherever we go, Mommy?" the girl asked, her voice filled with curiosity.The woman chuckled affectionately, removing her sunglasses to reveal sparkling daunting brown eyes. "It's because you're so pretty, Sophie, my darling," she replied with a smile.Sophie giggled in response, her infecti
Aidan could not contain his involuntary blinking as he fixated on Karina, who commanded the stage with her ethereal presence and left the audience in awe of her divine appearance. As Karina dazzled the audience with her stunning appearance, Aidan felt a rush of conflicting emotions. His heart raced at the sight of her, while his mind struggled to comprehend the transformation before him. It truly was Karina, his ex-wife, but she appeared otherworldly. She was far from the woman he had last seen six years ago. She radiated like a golden goddess, with an enviable beauty and a figure that could seduce just by staring at her dazzling face framed by perfect hair. Suddenly struck with a sense of suffocation, Aidan excused himself and hastily made his way out of the hall, desperate to escape the suffocating atmosphere. Amira's gaze followed him, her expression a mix of frustration and disbelief. "Gosh. This has to be some kind of sick joke," Amira muttered under her breath, her jaw clenche
Amira's narrowed gaze bore into Aidan's, filled with a mix of incredulity and fury. With a sharp jerk, she wrenched her hand from his grasp, her voice laced with barely contained anger as she addressed him."How dare you interfere?" she seethed, her teeth gritted in frustration. "You know perfectly well—"Her words faltered as Karina's mocking laughter reached her ears. Turning towards the sound, Amira found herself met with Karina's icy stare."Patience is a virtue, gentlemen," Karina remarked casually to her bouncers. "There's no need to waste time on insignificant nuisances."Amira's cheeks flushed with humiliation, her fists clenching at her sides as she fought to maintain her composure.Karina's threat hung in the air, igniting a fiery determination within Amira. She took a step forward, her mind racing with thoughts of retaliation.But before she could act, Aidan intervened, his voice tinged with resignation as he addressed her."Don't escalate the situation, Amira," he urged
Karina stood her ground, her confidence undiminished. "I need you to continue playing along for a while," she stated firmly.He leaned in, his curiosity piqued. "And why is that?""Forget about the why," she dismissed with a playful smirk."Then I'll assume you want to use me to manipulate some situations," he surmised.Karina chuckled softly. "You could say that. I have big plans to pull strings and render people worthless. I just need a little assistance from you.""Alright. What's in it for me?" he asked, intrigued."Well, future lucrative deals and valuable connections," she offered."Interesting," he mused, considering her proposal. "But isn't it risky to strike a deal with someone you barely know?""I'm no fool," Karina assured him confidently. "I presume you're someone of significance. I'm Karina. Everhardt.""Ah, your reputation precedes you. I'm Lucas Salvatore," he introduced himself, taking her hand and giving it a firm shake.Their eyes met, and a silent understanding pass
Aidan hesitated, his silence speaking volumes. Just as he was about to speak, Amira interjected, her voice tense with emotion. “Aunt, don't ask him that. You know he hates even hearing Karina's name. I'm certain he feels nothing for her. His heart belongs to me," she asserted, stealing anxious glances at Aidan. Xander couldn't resist a taunt. “Hey, Amira, you could have let Aidan answer instead of assuming he'd explode." Amira snapped at Xander, her frustration evident. “Shut up. Don't provoke me with your nonsense!" She turned to Cruzita with a pleading look. "Please, Aunt, ask your nephew to show some restraint.” Cruzita nodded and shot a stern look at Xander before stepping away from Aidan. “I wish I had been at that party. I would have put Karina in her place," she declared, her voice filled with disdain. “To heck with your bitterness," Grandma Lila scoffed, her voice tinged with emotion as she thought of Karina. “She's back. I hope I can see her again." “I hope she stays out
The Everhardt MansionKarina, engaged in lively conversation with her grandfather and Aunt Zora, stepped into the mansion. As they entered, they were met with dim lighting, causing them to pause in surprise.“What happened to the power supply?" Zora inquired, scanning the surroundings.Karina lowered her gaze with a smile just as the room burst into glittering lights, illuminating the beautifully decorated space.Sir Lawson looked around in amazement. “Who did this…?”"Surprise!” Sophie's cheerful voice rang out as she emerged from a corner, eliciting gasps of astonishment from Zora and Sir Lawson.“My dear child is here!" Sir Lawson exclaimed with joy as Zora rushed to embrace Sophie, lifting her up in her arms.“Hello, Aunt Zora, Great Grandpa, are you guys thrilled to see me?” Sophie beamed."Yes, darling,” Zora replied, planting a kiss on Sophie's forehead."Our adorable one, I missed you,” Sir Lawson chimed in, then turned to Karina, who wore a mischievous smile.“So, you deliber