4| Goodbye, Damien

Victor, the guard at the gate of the Martinelli’s residence had a terrifying nightmare, just before his morning shift.

He had woken up in sweat, and slowly forgot all about that silly dream as he went about his day.

However, the sight before him at this moment had him covered in goosebumps and absolute fear.

A pale ghost was approaching him in the form of a woman!

Her steps were irregular, almost limping. She was in a hospital-like gown with streaks of blood on her hand!

As she got closer, Victor’s jaw dropped. His eyes suddenly went wide with surprise.

“Mrs Martinelli?!

Zia’s eyes held no life in them as she motioned for the stunned guard to open the gate. Her fingers tightened around the document and the phone in her trembling hand. They were the only things she could grab while leaving the hospital. Her body was in a terrible state, but her mind was even more muddled up. She had called her husband’s line all the way but the line kept getting disrupted midway.

In the early hours of the morning, she had reminisced over Damien’s words the previous day and had concluded that something must be terribly wrong.

Her husband may have distanced himself from her these past few days but it must be due to the company stress and workload. This divorce, therefore must be some explainable mistake.

She knew she had to see Damien. Only then will everything be alright.

The moment the guard was out of the way, Zia dragged her body into the compound. As she approached the entrance, her eyes squinted

There was a long line of commercial vehicles in the parking lot and the mansion appeared busier than normal with servants bustling around the mansion.

She had only been gone for a day but this place had changed overnight.

Just as Zia was about to reach for the door, a familiar voice called out from behind. “Miss Zia!”

Turning around. It was Sophie, a maid who had worked in the kitchen with her a few number of times. Sophie was meek and reserved and didn't speak much, but right now, the maid’s eyes were as wide as saucers as she stared at Zia from head to toe. “Why are you here?!” She asked, surprised.

Zia frowned. “Am I not supposed to be here?.”

Sophie panicked, shaking her head fearfully as she reached for Zia’s hand and pulled her to a corner. “I don't know what’s going on ma’am, but you shouldn't be here.. “

“You see, this morning, Madam Martinelli announced that you would no longer be staying here and that we should clean out the attic room. She also asked that the master bedroom be rearranged…”

“Well well... Who do we have here?.”

Having been caught red-handed, Sophie turned pale. She hurriedly bowed to the mother and daughter duo and left in a flash, leaving Zia to her means.

Zia turned and Lizzy gasped at the state of her body.

“Mother…see… how could she come here looking like that?!”

“You have the nerve to show up here!” Madam Charlotte snapped.

Zia flinched, her eyes narrowing as she looked from mother to daughter.

The tender kindness in their eyes as they celebrated her the morning before must have been a figment of her own imagination. The warmth was all gone and now in its place were the mean gazes she was well familiar with.

Zia sighed. “I wondered why you both were suddenly nice to me… I guess it was all a lie..”

Charlotte and Lizzy exchanged a look and busted out in uncontrollable laughter.

Charlotte’s gaze was filled with hatred and mockery, “You must have misunderstood, Zia. I’ve told you from the start. You are not suited for my son!”

“Right,” Lizzy added with a hint of jealousy. Her eyes roamed Zia’s body. From her bandaged head and arm to the many cuts on her body. Zia was pretty and had a very attractive body, so Lizzy had always felt inferior standing next to her. But right now, seeing the state her body was in, she was very satisfied.

“A gold digger like you shouldn't dream of having a child for my brother, talk more of remaining as Damien’s wife!”

“Good thing that bastard is gone and my son has finally come to his senses. To think you would ignore my instructions and try to get smart with me! To get pregnant for my son right under my roof! Do you think you are even worthy?”

Charlotte smirked, a deep hatred evident in her eyes as she glared at Zia, “You must be delusional to think I wouldn't find out…”

Zia frowned as Charlotte’s words sinked in. Her eyes slowly widened with realization. Charlotte knew about the baby… how? The pain in her heart went up a hundredfold. It felt as if many tiny needles had been punched in there, all at once.

“You…” She stammered.

How was it possible? How could she even think of it? A grandmother, killing her grandchild. It wasn’t possible, right? No matter how much that grandmother hated that child’s mother.

Charlotte smirked. “You are more clueless than I thought…”

Everything suddenly started to make sense. The sudden kindness.. wait.. the accident?

A chill ran down Zia’s spine. Zia’s legs gave way. She slowly drifted to the floor.

Seeing Zia’s defeated and confused state, Charlotte was very much satisfied. “Guards!” She called out, instantly calling the attention of many servants who had gathered around.

As a servant rushed to get the guards, Lizzy spotted the white paper in Zia’s hand and snatched it.

She glanced at the divorce papers and frowned to see that only Damien’s signature had been inscribed on it. Realizing Zia was still reluctant to let her brother go, Lizzy gave Zia a mocking smile and threw the documents in her face.

“My brother had let you go a long time ago. If my brother says he's done with you then he's fucking done! Why do you insist on being so shameless?”

“You had seduced my brother into marrying you and brought no value into his life. Did you think you would tie him down forever?!”

“How about this? You crashed my car yesterday, right? I’m willing to be gracious, for all the help you’ve provided to me as my maid all these years. If you sign those papers right now, I will not hold you accountable for that car!” Then Lizzy picked a pen from a servant and flung it at Zia.

“What’s going on here?”

The three women looked up at once at the familiar voice.

Their raised voices had attracted Damien’s attention in the house and right now, he slowly approached them. But he wasn’t alone…

A young woman was behind him. In the morning’s sunlight, her skin was fair and seemed to glow. Her beautiful face was petite and had an innocent allure to it.

Seeing Zia, Damien’s emotions played out quickly on his face. Surprise. Anger, then embarrassment. Protectively, he drew the woman to his side as he glared at Zia.

“What are you doing here?”

Zia squinted. She glanced at the intertwined

hands of her husband and the woman whose face she was quite familiar with.

The young woman’s name was Susan Davis. A well-known model in the city, but to the family and the public, Susan was Damien’s escort.

Susan was the woman who stood by Damien’s side in every event. Since their marriage was not known to the public on Charlotte’s request,

Damien had insisted that it was only a relationship of convenience and as Susan was from a great family and had a high status in the industry, their relationship was beneficial to the company’s growth, so Zia hadn’t bothered to question him further.

Zia ignored the scorching gazes of Susan and the onlookers and dragged her wary body back on her feet.

The warmth in Zia’s eyes slowly faded, leaving only coldness as she turned to Damien.

“Today is our wedding anniversary and no matter how I think of it, I’ve never done anything wrong to be worthy of divorce. I’ve loved you for three years, Damien. In these three years, is there anything you sort my help for that I did not oblige?”

Damien was slightly taken aback. He frowned, finding Zia’s questions ridiculous.

Everyone knew that Zia was dirt poor! Their wedding had been rushed. They were the only ones present apart from the priest! Afterward, Zia had followed him home. She had come into his house with nothing! He had never also met any of her family members up until now.

Thinking of how he had married Zia because of how flashy she looked and lived, Damien gritted his teeth. He had indeed been a fool for too long. Their marriage was an impulsive decision he had made too early in life!

But what was truly terrible was that Zia was a bad investment! How could he even approach her for help? What could she possibly do?

His anger flared up, mixed with a strange feeling of resentment. “If you think this would stall the divorce, you are simply wasting your time!.”

A sudden tug at his arm made Damien’s heart soften.

Susan, who had been watching quietly by Damien’s side gently lowered her gaze as she spoke.

“Damien, Don’t be too hard on Zia. She’s had a hard life and has no idea how difficult it is to survive in a world like ours. She probably thinks the little change she saved up from her allowance living here would be of help to you.“

Damien’s attitude shifted. Zia’s naiveness was the very reason they could not be together!

“You are the worst thing that has ever happened to me, Zia Hidalgo. Are you doing this to get money from me?! I’ve assured you that I wouldn’t send you off empty-handed!”

Zia gave a self-deprecating smile. Her heart broke into a thousand pieces. The worst thing that had ever happened to him?

Amidst all the humiliation and pain she felt, only the hope of having Damien’s love again kept her going. But now, that single sentence had crashed down any hope she had left into the tinniest bits!

Her sacrifice wouldn’t keep him. Remolding herself to fit him would never suffice! Not even the loss of a baby meant anything to him!

Zia’s expression turned icy.

She picked up the pen and documents and slowly scribbled her signature on them. Then she extended her hand to Damien.

“Till the very end, you’ve remained blind. I don’t want your money, Damien. I can survive without it.”

Hearing this, Charlotte and Lizzy laughed scornfully. Even Susan frowned.

Damien pressed his lips together, giving Zia a deep-searching look.

Was she really going to step aside so easily? How could she possibly survive without him?

Seeing the seriousness in her eyes, he let out a cold chuckle. “I hope you won’t regret this.”

Zia gave a bitter laugh. Despite the throbbing pain in her back, she had never felt more resolute.

“Goodbye, Damien.”

With that, she turned around and left. Leaving everyone stunned.

Zia limped to the main road, still in her hospital cotton wear. The day was bright now and people glanced at her strangely as she walked.

Just as she reached the intersection of the road, the large digital billboard at the center of the street lit up a bright announcement, almost blinding her.

It read. ENGAGEMENT OF THE CENTURY!. SUSAN DAVIS, ALLORA’S TOP MODEL, AND DAMIEN MARTINELLI OF STAR ENTERTAINMENT ARE GETTING MARRIED!”

Time slowed.

The honk of a car beamed loudly.

    Zia Hidalgo’s body slowly sank and just before her head hit the ground, a strong arm encircled her.