Chapter 2: Rejected

The taxi driver caught up in the difficulties of surviving the economic meltdown in Vegas, didn't have the luxury of time to listen to to Mrs. Anderson scolding her daughter-in-law.

"Madam, if you have the money, please pay me," the driver interjected, cutting through the tension.

Mrs. Anderson shot Andrea a look of contempt before settling the transport fare with the driver. Then, she turned to her neighbour, forced a smile, and addressed her, "Mrs. Wilshire, I will come to your home in the evening."

With that, Mrs. Anderson dismissed the neighbour.

Mrs. Anderson turned sharply to Andrea Singers, fixing her with a piercing gaze that seemed to cmonvey a desire to consume her whole. Her lips curled in a sneer as she spoke, "Andrea Singers, I fail to comprehend what my son sees in you. You are overweight, unattractive, and sorely lacking in the grace expected of a president's wife. Do you truly believe yourself worthy of my son?"

In a flustered state, Andrea Singers hastily replied, "Mother, I apologize. I'm terribly anxious and distressed, which is why I hurried here in such a state. I even left my car behind, there's something of great importance that I need to discuss with you."

Despite her disdain for Andrea Singers, upon hearing her words, Mrs. Anderson relented and extended an invitation inside the house.

Once settled in the living room, Mrs. Anderson observed with growing irritation as Andrea fidgeted nervously, her fingers twisting together in silence for the past two minutes.

"Andrea Singers, have you come to visit me just to twiddle your fingers? Are you so bored with overfeeding that you've come up with such a grand idea?" Mrs. Anderson snorted impatiently, gazing at the once-beauty who had reigned over Vegas for years, now looking like a shadow of her former self. She found it unbearable.

Andrea Singers had once been a source of her pride and boasting, but now she is the source of her mockery and ridicule. 

Mrs. Anderson couldn't bear looking at her face any longer. "Speak up! If you have nothing to say, then leave!" Mrs. Anderson lost her temper and shouted.

Andrea Singers' entire fleshy body trembled as she struggled to kneel before Mrs. Anderson. Gritting her teeth, she gathered the courage to speak. "Mother, you know how much I love Valentine. Lately, he's been cheating on me with another woman; I even caught them together in our bed. Despite everything, I still love him. I don't want to divorce him. Please help me talk to my husband."

Mrs. Anderson's face lit up with joy as she hadn't anticipated Valentine divorcing Andrea. It was evident to her that her son had finally come to his senses.

Turning to Andrea, she exclaimed, "Just look at yourself! No man would want to marry a woman who is overweight and unattractive. If you had taken better care of yourself, things might have turned out differently."

Andrea's face, streaked with tears, betrayed her shock as she struggled to comprehend that her previously supportive mother-in-law could utter such words.

Mrs. Anderson wasn't done yet, she went on, "Andrea, infidelity should never be tolerated in a marriage. If my son is being unfaithful, you should divorce him. It's better for both of you to end things sooner rather than later. A marriage should be based on trust, loyalty, and love. If those things aren't there, what's the point of staying in such a marriage?"

Andrea Singers was stunned by Mrs. Anderson's words, which made it clear that her mother-in-law supported her son's actions. Without hesitation, Andrea sprang to her feet and exclaimed, "No, I will not divorce Valentine; I will not give up on my husband."

With a sense of urgency, she turned and hurried out of the room, leaving Mrs. Anderson to sneer at the sight of her trembling figure. Despite Andrea's dramatic exit, it took her a while to finally leave the room, her departure marked by disdainful silence.

Outside Anderson's home, Andrea ran anxiously, convinced that staying any longer would cost her not just her happiness, but perhaps even her life.

As she fled, she realized she had no money for her transport back home.

As she turned around, the gatekeeper met her gaze with a sympathetic look. "Miss Andrea, it seems you're short on transport fare to get home. Please take this and use it for your journey," he said, as he stepped forward and placed some crumpled dollar bills into Andrea's open large palm.

Tears welled up in Andrea's eyes as she looked at the gatekeeper's kind gesture. Sensing her emotional response, the gatekeeper offered words of comfort, "Mrs. Andrea, there's no need to cry. You must stay strong. If you lose hope and give in to weakness, you'll never achieve anything with that kind of mindset."

Andrea took the gatekeeper's words to heart, expressing her gratitude before hailing a taxi and heading to the location of Benita Valentine's younger sister's shop.

After marrying Valentine, Benita had become very close to Andrea Singers, but recently their friendship had cooled. As Andrea settled the taxi fare, Benita, accompanied by two female friends, spotted her.

"Isn't that your sister-in-law?" asked one of Benita's friends.

Benita's expression soured. "Don't talk nonsense. How could that overweight, unattractive woman be my brother's wife? My brother's wife is the most beautiful lady in Vegas."

Upon hearing Benita's words, her friends fell silent, unwilling to provoke her further. Benita, adamant in her refusal to acknowledge Andrea as her sister-in-law, instructed the manager to prevent Andrea from entering the store.

"Mrs. Andrea, I'm sorry, but Madam Benita isn't in the store right now. Perhaps you should come back later," the polite security doorman informed her. He couldn't believe that the woman he had always admired whenever she visited the store had become obese.

"I'll wait for her here," Andrea Singers replied, her head lowered in embarrassment. She felt too ashamed to meet the security doorman's gaze after realizing what he might be thinking.