CHAPTER TWO

I got out of my car and headed into the house, only for me to find both my mother-in-law, Laura, and sister-in-law, Morgan, at the entrance of the house with packed boxes. Seeing them like this, surprised me and at first, I actually thought they were traveling somewhere but with their dressing, it definitely doesn't look so.

"Heading somewhere?" I asked with a bright smile on my face but Morgan only smirked at me as she replied me in a rude manner.

“No, Maya. We’re not going anywhere. You are.”

"What do you mean?”

"Mom, she's a real drama queen. How can she act like everything's fine when Lance just served her divorce papers on a hot plate?" Morgan's said in a mocking tone that cut deep.

What the fuck! They already know about everything?

“Let's not say much. Just leave immediately.” My mother-in-law said with a dismissive hand in the air as Morgan continued making jest of me.

The smile on my face faded immediately and my shoulders slumped. I really had no idea they already knew all about everything but they acted like they didn't. When I was leaving this house in the morning, they were in a good mood and even told me they already had our wedding anniversary planned out and invited guests. Not knowing that what they actually planned out was my divorce.

These cruel monsters…..

This was really the best wedding anniversary gift I would receive from them. But their actions were really no surprise to me as they had never for once truly accepted me as one of their own and always treated me like a trash.

My mother in-law had always dreamed of her only son marrying a wealthy wife. She used to say so many harsh words, always reminding me of my poor background. She even said she wouldn't mind if the rich wife her son married looked like me; ugly and overweight, as long as she had a lot of cash.

Well, she has a reputation of a money gobbler.

With a stoic expression on her face, my mother-in-law silenced Morgan's laughter with a piercing stare and she quickly composed herself.

"These are all your things.” She pointed at the boxes on the ground which was next to Mamita. “The maids packed them carefully. Not a single item was missed. So, leave at once," She declared with chilling finality.

Their words felt like a punch to my gut but I had grown accustomed to their harsh words and maltreatment as I had been enduring this for four good years.

Turning to my mother-in-law, "But why?" I asked, my voice barely above a whisper. "I understand Lance's reasons, but why have you always treated me this way? I've tried to be the perfect daughter-in-law you wanted and you know that. To me, this family..."

"This family has never seen you as one of its own," she interrupted, her words cutting through me like a sharp knife. "Maya, you haven't wronged me in any way but you're just not the ideal daughter-in-law I had dreamed of. Can't you see? You and Lance come from different worlds. An orphan without roots and the only son of a respected family; how do you expect that to match?"

"And as for me, I simply detest you because you are an embarrassment to this family. I can't even introduce you as my brother's wife. People would definitely laugh," Morgan added, rolling her eyes with disdain.

I scoffed at their words as I felt a mix of anger and hurt simmering within me. I looked at the two of them with disgust and my stomach churned at the sight of their callousness. They say the apple doesn't fall far from the tree and that saying couldn't be truer for these two.

“ But what if I am pregnant for him? What are you going to do?” I asked and their eyes widened in shock. I could see fear boldly plastered on Morgan's face.

“ Are you….you.. pregnant?” Morgan stuttered but I contemplated on whether I should broke the news or not as I don't know what the outcome would be.

“ Ac…”

“ Even if you were,” My mother-in-law cut in. “ The only thing that can be done is to take the child away from you. Ashley will raise the child well.” She added and I quickly swallowed whatever words that I wanted to say.

The last thing I would do was to let anyone take away my child.

Without arguing with them, I walked closer to Mamita, the old maid who had been my only true ally in this house. She was more than just a maid to me; she was a friend and confidante in a sea of hostility. Her eyes held a mix of sorrow as she silently conveyed her love and support through them but I understood all her silent words.

Giving Mamita a tight hug, she whispered, "Take care, please," and I nodded in understanding.

As I pulled away, I couldn't help but feel a pang of sadness knowing that this might actually be the last time I would see her but she gave me it's alright look with a light nod.

Turning towards my mother-in-law and Morgan, I gestured to the packed boxes on the ground. "This doesn't belong to me. You can keep it," I said.

When I came into this house, I came with nothing so why should I leave with all this belongings that was only filled with bad memories.

I took off my wrist watch, removed my necklace and earrings and then threw them at Morgan. Both of them looked at me as they thought I would also take off my dress and shoes. But I wasn't going to do that as I couldn't walk out naked.

Morgan's smirk and then turned to Mamita."Since she doesn't want it, then you can throw it all out. Ashley would not like seeing any of her things in the house."

I Ignored her rant as I already knew that she was just trying to provoke me. But I refuse to let them break me any further than they already do as I have something to protect now.

“Do as you see fit.”

I turned away from them and then headed to my car with tears streaming down my face. I tried do hard to stopped my tears as I did not want them to see me broken but I just can't as the tears just flowed heavily.

"You should drop the car key."

My mother-in-law's voice halted me in my track and I looked down at the key in my hand. They owned everything, every single thing and despite the fact that this car was actually a gift to me by one of their distant relatives, they still want it back.

Without a single word, I let the key slip from my fingers and it fall to the ground. I turned my direction again, heading towards the gate and the rain began to fall immediately, adding more salt to my wound.

As I got to the edge of the driveway with my hand clasped together as the cold shiver runs down my spine, the gate flung open and Lance drove in. Part of me longed to go back to him and beg for one more time, but as I started to retract my steps, I paused as I realized that he wasn't alone.

I watched Lance quickly got out of his car and escorted Ashley out. My heart shattered into a million pieces as I watched all of them, smiling and welcoming Ashley in while Morgan quickly rushed closer to them with an umbrella.

It was our wedding anniversary day, a day that was supposed to be filled with love and joy. But Lance chose to welcome a new wife into his life and left me standing here, drenched and broken in the rain.

How could he do this to me?

Lance briefly glanced back towards my direction and our eyes locked for a fleeting moment. My heart ached for him, for us but he turned away and deliberately ignored my presence as if I were just a ghost of his past.

The rain blurred my vision as I realized that this was truly the end of the life I had known and with a heavy heart, I walked away from the life that no longer belonged to me, heading to an unknown destination.