Chapter 1: The worst

"I thought you wanted me to come and celebrate with you, Mother." Lydia said, her eyes welled up because her fiancé' mother, who was celebrating her 55th birthday, just told her she wasn't invited.

Hanna Chester's fiery gaze burnt so hot that Lydia fell on fire from her head to her toe. Hanna's desire to harm her was evident, yet she couldn't take the chance of others witnessing it. Lydia's words seemed to have had a more negative effect than she expected.

"I am not your whore of a mother! You know the door. See yourself out." Hanna said harshly and walked back from her.

A tear slid down Lydia's face after being disgraced by Hanna Chester, her fiance's mother, and it was too much to bear. She felt hurt when Anthony told her Hanna had thrown a family-only party, which meant she wasn't invited, and it made her feel like she wasn't a part of the family despite everything she had done for them and endured over the years. When she finally received a mail invitation to the party this morning, she thought this was Hanna's way of building a positive relationship between them since she would soon be a part of the Chester family. She was wrong, like always. Hanna didn't want a family-only party; the older woman didn't want her here.

She kept her head low so many wouldn't see her as she waited for her legs to gather enough strength to move.

"Mother! Happy birthday!" Lydia heard Anthony's voice say from behind, and her heart leapt for joy at his presence. It was the relief she wanted to get.

She turned quickly and found Anthony in a blue three-piece suit and black tie. He looked just as handsome as always, and his blue eyes glowed with the nightlight glittering above him. Lydia almost smiled when she noticed Anthony standing beside a beautiful blonde lady wearing a bodycon sequin dress, reaching the floor. She was beautiful with incredibly striking facial features, dark, wide-set eyes, curly blonde hair resting on her shoulder, full red lips, and a pointed nose. She had curves so endowed that would run most men wild, and this showstopping dress did the talking. This lady looked just as beautiful as the models in Cover Girl magazine, and she effortlessly put most ladies here tonight to shame with her elegance.

Hanna turned to her son, and he walked towards his mother, and that was when Lydia realised his arm had been around the beautiful lady's waist.

Lydia's stomach turned in a horrible way, and she knew she would be sick. When she didn't think this night could get any worse, she realised it could. She felt more insecure and miserable than she did a few minutes ago.

It couldn't be.

Anthony was a lot of things controlling, quick-tempered, and sometimes abusive, but he wasn't a cheater. He cared too much about his reputation to involve himself with anyone that would stain his name, or so he had said in the three years they had dated.

She tried to drown out the sound of her pounding heart, which had filled her ear, trying to quell away the sudden weight of dread that settled in her stomach. She knew what this meant but didn't want to believe it. Perhaps she was his cousin-his distant cousin-yes, that was it.

She couldn't make her heart believe the lies she had made up as consolation. She knew what this meant; she knew who this lady was.

"She's just as beautiful as the pictures, Anthony; you got yourself a good one!" Hanna beamed, pulling the lady into a tight and loving embrace.

A smile came onto Hanna's face, and as they walked to her, she took Anthony into a tight hug first and then did the same for the woman Anthony held onto, not letting go of her radiant smile.

"You are more than welcome, child." Hanna beamed.

Lydia's heart shattered in a thousand ways, and she stepped back, trying her best to shield herself physically from the emotional pain this just tossed her into. Her eyes blurred once again, distorting her vision of everything. She bit down on her bottom lip so the sob in her throat wouldn't escape.

Hanna's eyes returned to the corner where she had left her earlier, and she glared at Lydia. "Why are you still here?"

Her words made Anthony turn around, and his eyes met Lydia, who could barely hold her head up. He didn't look remorseful for being seen with his other woman. His emotions were at bay, and his expression was blank. He had never been sorry for anything he had done; why start now?

Anthony whispered something in the other woman's ear and kissed her lips before walking over to Lydia. He approached where she stood and took hold of her hand, taking her away from the living area to a more private corner. She didn't want to go, but she didn't have much strength to say no.

He led her through the hallway alone, and he spoke. "You shouldn't have come, Lydia." He said in a disappointed tone.

She scoffed in disbelief. "That is the first thing you will say to me?" He stared at her blankly as if there was nothing better to say. She bit her lip. "I received an invitation."

"That's a lie!" he snapped at her, taking the same tone his mother had taken towards her. "You are stubborn and rebellious as always, and that is why you are here."

His eyes showed off his anger, but she had had enough of him. He had no right to be angry; she wasn't the one kissing another while their partner stood watching.

She yanked her hand from his. "You didn't want me here. You didn't want me to see her; why did you do this to me, Tony, after everything we have been through, after everything I have done for you?"

A painful tear slid down as Lydia remembered everything she had done for him in the last three years that they began dating, from lying to scheming and so many other things she couldn't even bring herself to remember. She did it all in the name of love.

"I love her, and she's expecting my child. I didn't know how to tell you without you getting mad. She is a sweet and lovely girl, and it was hard to let go of that," he revealed, his adoration for the other woman evident.

"And me, what about me? Does this mean nothing, then?" She asked through gritted teeth, raising her hand to show the engagement ring he gave her two years ago. It was from his mother, a family heirloom, and a sign that he was serious about her.

His eyes lingered on her finger. "I want it back." He replied, and there was no humour in his voice. "I will propose to Scarlet with it."

It kept getting worse.

This was a slap in the face, and she didn't want to give in, but she realised they were away from the guest—from anyone else's eye—and Anthony would happily lay hands on her to get his way. He had done that in the past. He didn't bring her here for a reasonable discussion; he came to take the ring he gave her.

He stretched his hand out, and she wrapped her left hand reluctantly and pulled the ring off, handing it into his palm.

"You should leave now before mom calls security." He said and walked away from her coldly.

Lydia whimpered as tears scalded her cheeks, and her breath came out in short, uneven gasps. She couldn't believe everything that had happened in the past twenty minutes. She would have laughed if anyone had told her today would go this way. The man she had loved for three years just ended things with her in an undignified manner.

With the bit of strength that crept into her bones, she turned around and hurried out of the room as fast as her legs could take her, tears streaming down her face.

She let out a cry on reaching outside, and she clutched her stomach tightly. She didn't want to cry, but she couldn't help it. Tears stopped falling after what felt like forever, and she drew a sharp breath as she wiped off the last tear.

Lydia spotted Anthony's Volkswagen Sports car parked on the left side of the house. He bought it last week and wouldn't let her near it, yet she had the utmost certainty that he brought his new woman into it. Anthony Chester had walked over her the last three years, and she wanted him to know how far a good person would go when wronged.

Lydia pulled off her stiletto and walked to the car. She ran the sharp edge of her heel over the car's body, ruining its perfect paint, before smashing it on the windscreen. When nothing happened, she climbed onto the bonnet and slammed the windshield with her heel over and over until it cracked, and she didn't stop until it shattered.

Feeling happy, she tossed the shoe away only to hear gasps, making her realise she wasn't alone. She turned around and found Anthony, his mom, and Scarlet, who had her hand on her stomach. Lydia's eyes didn't move when they saw Anthony.

"She threw that stiletto on purpose; she wanted to hurt Scarlet and her child." Hanna accused.

"I told you she was no good," Hanna glared at her.

His grey eyes darkened, and he stormed towards her, grabbing her tightly by the hair and hauling her off the car bonnet.

Lydia's heart skipped in fear of the unknown. Anthony was angry at her; he had never hurt her before his family or in public. He appeared so furious that she feared he might hurt her now. She noticed a few eyes on them, but none said anything to stop this assault.

Slap! Slap!

All Lydia saw was complete darkness as she lost her balance and fell to the ground, dislocating her elbow in the process. She cried out, tears once again streaming down her face.

"You are evil, and I should have listened to my family and left you years ago!" he bellowed at her.

Lydia couldn't get up. She had lost the use of her legs, but Anthony didn't look like he wanted to repeat himself, so he grabbed her by the hair and pulled her onto her feet.

"Get up and get out of my sight," he shoved her, making her stumble back a few steps. "Do not come back!"

His eyes, filled with anger and disdain, mirrored the rest of his family. This was his true colour all along, and she had blinded herself with love, believing she could change him. She was the fool, and this was her reward.