Chapter 3

Sandra’s POV

“What?!” I gasped unbelievably at my father and stumbled backward as the word hit me right in my heart.

“You heard him right. You cannot stay here. I cannot bring in my first daughter that the nation knows got married to the popular billionaire, Brian Fenandro. Have you ever thought this through?” My mother's angry voice filled the air as she glared at me in displeasure.

“You cannot be a disgrace to me or this family,” She spat out and I gasped.

Didn't they say mothers would never leave their children to suffer? Where was my mother’s conscience?

“We are family,” I said, my voice shaking as tears threatened to fall on my face but I held on.

I wouldn't allow more tears to come out this time. They were my family and of course, they wouldn't even let me move out to the street. I had that hope in me as I glared pitifully at my parents and sister. They won’t let me go. They couldn’t.

They all had their eyes elsewhere.

“You just made us lose our opportunities. What is the use of us calling you our daughter when you lost the billionaire himself?! My father yelled out and I frowned.

What does he mean?

“What are you saying, Father? If he doesn't want me anymore then I will come to your home. You are my home and my only family.” I retorted while Melody scoffed, clearing her throat as she started.

“We are your family, really? Did you ever think we were your family before you agreed to his proposal?” She inquired and I huffed.

“Melody? How can you say this? Didn't my husband help…”

“No!” She shook her head, cutting me off. “Your ex-husband”. The man finally got to his senses and made the right choice. I have always known things wouldn't turn out good for you because you are not some Cinderella with some missing shoes.” She rolled her eyes and with her tone smeared in mockery.

Her words felt surreal. I couldn't believe my sister would say this.

My mind drifted to the first time Brian came into the family saying he was ready for me.

“I'm your sister-in-law and I hope you know your duties,” She had said that day, she wouldn't even stop ranting about herself and how she loved me. How she wouldn't allow anyone to ruin my happiness and joy. She had threatened him with the saying “I would tear you apart if you hurt my sister”.

What then changed that girl? My brain couldn't even fathom what was going on. The way I was being let down by everyone who I once called my own, my family, my only source of joy and happiness. And even knowing they had this kind of thoughts in them.

I smiled bitterly. “I'm no Cinderella. And that is why you should consider helping out your first daughter.” I said, hoping that they would change their mind but they didn't even want to hear me say a thing.

“I'm standing on my words, Sandra. You can't stay with us. Leave and go back to your husband. Make things easy for us and beg him to take you back in. We are poor and we barely live right. But since he came into our lives, he has always been there. We would be completely wretched if we let you stay here with us. So back to your husband!” My father said, making me laugh out in pain.

I didn't want to believe my father just talked me into going back to beg Brian after we were divorced. Wouldn't I sound desperate and be tagged as some golddigger? Now I understand. I understand why they were adamant to take me in—they didn't want to lose the opportunities coming from his side.

“Did you sell me to him?” I asked, my lips curled up in disbelief at their words.

“What are you talking about, huh? You need to leave and get back to your husband. You must have provoked him. Go to him and beg,” my mom persuaded and Melody laughed again, clapping in jest.

“Perhaps he must have caught her cheating. She can be a whore sometimes,” She said, playing with her thumb and I squinted my eyes at her.

“What?” She asked, staring at me like what she said was true. “Why do you stare at me like I ain’t telling the truth? You were the only person all the boys wanted to talk to in college. They would say “we only want to be with Sandra. She is beautiful with a kind heart”, and you throw yourself at them and act all saint. That's how you got Brian’s attention too.”

“Remember I had told you I would go instead of you, but you insisted on going alone because the man whom you called the love of your life would be at the party. You finally got him and he dumped you at the end.” She sneered and I grabbed hold of the end of my cloth, gritting my teeth in annoyance.

“That's a lie!” I yelled through gritted teeth and she smiled.

“Do you want to beat me now? Should we get involved in this?” She asked innocently while I nodded my head in pain.

I could have retaliated back but I wasn’t in the position to be arguing with them, I have to at least plead with them to accept me.

“Enough! Sandra, do not cause a ruckus here. Since you didn't appear, we had peace of mind. Leave like I said earlier.” My father said angrily, pointing towards the door as I laughed in pain and disbelief. This couldn’t be real. They must be joking. They must just want to see how much I can hold on to their words before breaking.

Perhaps telling them about the pregnancy could change their mindset. “Father, I'm pregnant,” I said, my lip tint as I waited to see their expression.

“What, Sandra!” They all yelled, staring at me in awe.

“You are pregnant and you are here?” My mother asked, walking over to me and placing her hand on my tummy. “Does he know about this?” She asked and I sighed. She was finally getting my point in here.

“No, he had sent me out before I found out,” I responded and my dad smiled.

“You have the billionaire baby and you don't know how these things work? Hmm… I’ve lost count of how many times I wonder if you’re really my daughter because you don’t take after me in any way. You’re carrying his baby and yet you still didn’t think of your actions and really left his life just because of a useless divorce paper?! By the way, I don’t really care how you go about your life. I still stand by my words, you are not going to live in my house. Not on my watch.” He declared and I stood in shock and stupefaction, digesting all of the inhumane words he could easily say to someone he brought into the world.

“I have a plan,” My mom said as I glared up at her, hoping it was what I was thinking.

“How about you go back to his house? He would be so thrilled to know you are pregnant with his child.”

“What?! “You didn’t just tell me to go back to him because I’m pregnant with his child, did you? Because you want him to accept me for now so once I’ve put to bed, he could finally let go of me huh?”

I cleaned the tears that were beginning to rush out of my eyes, “You know, I thought you as my mother will understand the pain I’m feeling right now and give out a better solution than what you had just said. I should threaten him with my baby? Never!”

“I’ll never do that, even if I was on the point of death, Brian will forever regret abandoning me when I had done absolutely nothing wrong!” With those words, I turned back walking away without looking at their expression.

Maybe going out of here and all of their lives would be the best thing to do.