Chapter Three

Allison got home and the two maids at the house welcomed her. 

“Welcome, Mrs. Reynolds. What…”

“I don't need anything for now.” She interrupted them. 

Charles' mother will be here to dismiss them soon, leaving her to do all the house chores alone, in the past. When Charles asked her why she dismissed them, she said it was to cut off expenses.

Her mother-in-law never treated her well in the past, but Allison was able to endure her mistreatments because of Charles. 

With an exasperated sigh, Allison darted into her room and started packing her stuff in a brown suitcase. There was not really much for her to pack because she didn't bring much when Charles married her. Soon, she was done packing. 

She slammed the door shut behind her and strode down the stairs with the sound of her suitcase hanging in the air. 

Getting to the living room, she met Charles' mother, Elizabeth Reynolds, sitting on the couch with one of her legs crossed on the other. 

“Oh shit! Why does it have to be now?” She grumbled and cursed under her breath, not ready to deal with Elizabeth's troubles. 

“What are you doing at home today?” Elizabeth asked, her eyes flashing with a hint of anger and disdain. 

Unfazed by her fierceness, Allison raised an eyebrow in confusion. “I don't seem to understand your question ma'am.” She said, tugging a strand of her hair at the back of her ear. 

“Are you not supposed to be at the office? Do you think my son married you to just come to spend his money lavishly on some vacations or something?” Elizabeth spatted, anger brewing in her eyes. 

She never supported her son's marriage to Allison. She still wondered why her son decided to marry Allison who was not favored by her mother in the house. Left to her, she'd have preferred Bella, the heiress of the Brown family who would bring more value to her family.

“Office? Well… I guess you've not heard yet. I'm divorcing your son and leaving this house right now, not going on any vacation.” Allison said with a stunning smile, startling Elizabeth into speechlessness. 

Allison walked past Elizabeth with a wide grin that appeared on her face. She had almost gotten to the door when Elizabeth regained her composure. 

Elizabeth walked up to her in a fit of anger and pulled her sleek blonde hair that hung to her waist. 

“What did you steal from my son? I'm taking everything from you before you leave here.” She scowled.

Allison's eyes flushed red in fury, she gritted her teeth and kicked Elizabeth with her right leg which made her loosen her grip on Allison's hair and fall on the couch.

Allison spun around to face her lying on the couch.

“I wouldn't have done that if you had known your place.” She said, running her hands through her hair to put every strand of it back in place.

Elizabeth's eyes looked with shock and disbelief etched on her face. 

“I didn't steal anything from your son and I owe him nothing. Mrs. Reynolds, don't you dare cast an aspersion on my integrity.” Allison yelled out before finally leaving the house.

As she trudged towards her car in the compound, she felt happy and energetic. From the moment she was reborn, she felt so alive and life felt great. She loved this new version of herself. 

*

“Gloria! Are you home?” Allison asked while knocking at the metal door. 

She was about to give up on knocking when the door creaked open, revealing a young lady in her early twenties. 

“Allison!” Gloria called, wiping her hand over her face to be sure she was fully awake from sleep.

“What happened? Did you see a ghost in your dream?” Allison asked, her voice tinged with a playful tone. 

Gloria was her best friend and the only one she considered a family apart from her stepfather. 

“I’m not dreaming, right? It's really you, Allison?” Gloria asked again, disbelief etched on her features. 

“Well… please come in first,” Gloria said, helping her with the suitcase. 

“What's up with the suitcase? Traveling?” 

“No Gloria. Can I pass the night here please?” Allison asked, her voice laced with worry. 

“Of course, you can. But tell me what happened first. How's your husband?” Gloria asked worriedly. 

“I'm filing for a divorce, Gloria.” She replied. 

Gloria’s eyes widened in shock. “Uhn, divorce? Why? What’s happening?” 

Tears welled up in Allison's eyes and Gloria noticed it, she decided not to push any further. 

“All right dear. Whatever it is, I'm rooting for you okay? We can talk about this later.” Gloria said, patting her back comfortingly. 

Gloria took Allison's suitcase to the visitor's room, before going to the kitchen to prepare sandwiches. In a few minutes, she brought sandwiches with juice and asked Allison to have some. 

“How's My Allira brand doing?” Allison asked. 

‘My Allira’ is an online design brand that she founded secretly with Gloria

before she got married to Charles. 

She remembered pulling out a huge amount of money from My Allira brand to invest in Charles' company in the past. No one knew she owned the store apart from Gloria who manages it on her behalf while she does the design. 

“It's really doing well lately. And the last set of designs you made, has a very high demand. I guess we will have to produce another set soon.” Gloria explained, her face beaming with joy. 

“That reminds me, the Vogue Nouveau Awards is coming up soon. Shouldn't you consider participating in the competition this year? It will help bring more exposure to My Allira design. Or what do you think?” Gloria asked.

“The Vogue Nouveau Awards?” Allison whispered. 

In the past, her mother, Emily, asked her not to participate in the competition even after she had applied for it. She had to give up her slot for Bella. 

Emily said she should only focus on helping Charles revive his company if she wants to be cherished by his family forever. 

She felt so stupid for believing her mother in the past. 

“When is the registration set to commence? We are participating in the competition.” Allison answered and a dulcet smile tugged at Gloria's lips. 

This time, she wouldn't relinquish a thing for Bella. She'd do the opposite of the things she did in the past and make things right. It's time to make Bella and Charles pay for what they did to her.