CHAPTER 1_Divorced

Charlotte stood in the kitchen, she was making her husband's favorite dish since it was their third anniversary. She texted him and asked him to come back home, so she was in a hurry to be done cooking before he came back.

She hoped that he had read the text or at least remembered the anniversary, she hoped it wouldn’t be the same as the previous years. 

The sound of the kitchen door opening interrupted her thoughts. Assuming it was the maid, she called out, “I can handle the dishes myself. There’s no need to help me.” She spun around to find her husband standing there instead. “Milton?”

Milton’s glare was colder and more pronounced than ever before. “Sign it,” he ordered, his voice devoid of warmth as he handed her a sheet of paper. “We are getting divorced, Charlotte.”

Confused, Charlotte dropped the spoon she was holding and took the papers from him. Reading the words "Divorce Agreement," she shook her head in disbelief. “Milton, what is this? This must be a joke, right? We can’t get divorced.”

“Do you think I didn’t know what you did three years ago?” he demanded, his eyes narrowing with contempt.

“What are you talking about? Three years ago—”

“Shut up!” he snapped. “I knew you would try to lie and gaslight me like you did to my mother. But I know the whole truth now.”

“Milton—” Her eyes pleaded with him, fear gripping her heart. “Why are you divorcing me all of a sudden? I haven’t done anything—three years ago—”

“Don’t start!” he snarled. “I don’t care what you have to say. This marriage was arranged; it means nothing to me, and I am done living with you.”

She froze, his words cutting deep. A three-year marriage meant nothing to him?

“Maybe you just had a terrible day at work and are taking it out on me. You know I always love you, no matter what happens, right?” she mumbled, trying to convince herself that he was joking, even though his eyes told her otherwise. “I made your favorite, and it’s our anniversary today. Why don’t you sit, and I’ll dish out your food?”

A deep scowl appeared on his face, and she flinched at the pure resentment in his eyes.

“Your sister has woken up from her coma. You were nothing but a replacement for her. Don’t think that I don’t know of your plans of hurting her three years ago and taking her fiancee from her? Hurry and sign the divorce papers before she gets discharged.” Milton said, coldly.

At the mention of her foster sister’s discharge, Charlotte’s heart shattered. It all made sense now—he was divorcing her for her foster sister. Her heart shattered and her gaze turned to the food that she had just made. 

“Not only have you hurt her, you have tried to take her place but I am not going to let that happen.” He alleged. “You are unworthy to be called her sister. It all made sense that you were adopted.”

Seeing that she wasn’t paying him attention, Milton’s teeth gritted in frustration. He reached for the pot of food she had made and hurled it across the floor, spilling its contents. 

A small amount of hot food splashed on her arm, but the physical pain was nothing compared to the agony in her heart.

“Sign the divorce papers, goddammit!” He bellowed, his voice echoing through the kitchen. “I don’t have the time to wait for this.” 

As he waited, his phone began ringing and he answered the call. A familiar voice filled the air, adding more ache to her heart. 

“Milton? Are you the one to pick me up? I have been waiting for a long time, what is taking so long?”

His lips curled up into a smile as he answered her foster sister with a gentle voice that he had never used on her. “Wait a little bit, I will be there in a minute. I just wanted to clear the trash in the house before I brought you in.”

“Okay.” 

Pinching the bridge of his nose in frustration, he hung up and turned back to Charlotte. “You must sign those papers and leave the house before I return. Don’t expect any compensation. I am leaving you with nothing.”

With that, he walked out of the kitchen, slamming the door behind him. Charlotte collapsed to her knees, her face blank with shock.

She felt pain ripping through her heart as the look he gave her flashed in her head. He had never loved her, he was choosing someone else.

The door opened again and this time it was the maid who had walked in. She rushed to Charlotte's side. “Madam, are you alright? I heard all that happened. Why don’t you just divorce him? He made you suffer a lot.”

Rising slowly, she barely acknowledged the maid’s presence as she made her way to their room. Taking a pen from her nightstand, she signed the papers, tears streaming down her face and splattering on the documents. 

Minutes later, she stepped out of the gates, dragging her bag behind her. Four men, their dark hair matching hers, surrounded her immediately.

“Are you sure you have divorced that scumbag?” Carl asked as he snatched the bag from her. 

“That idiot! I have always known that he wasn’t worthy of you.” Earl muttered, a frown on his face, he was pissed. “If I ever catch that scumbag.”

Their words seemed not to affect her because she brushed past them and headed for the car. The men exchanged glances, concern latched across their faces. 

“Are you alright?” Ralph inquired, opening the car door and waiting for her to get in. “

“You can say the word and I will go after that bastard right now!” Luther said. 

She silently shook her head. “No! Just take me out of here, I don’t want to be here anymore.”

“Fine, little sis.” The men agreed, but they weren’t going to let Milton off so easily, not after he had hurt their little sister.