Claimed By My Ex’s Rival

Elyra

"I'm pregnant," I announced as we all sat around the table yet the reaction I was hoping for wasn't exactly the one I got.

Silence fell on the entire dining room for an instant before my mother in law immediately burst out in a terrible laughing that left me not only surprised but confused.

"That's a terrible joke, Elyra. I'd advise you to shut up while we talk about real, normal, and possible things here," My mother in law dismissed turning to Stàr who was practically the centre of attraction this evening.

My husband's child hood bestfriend and lover if I would add.

"Stàr, how's your modelling coming through?" Everyone's attention was already diverted from me as they stared at her with pure reverence in their eyes.

I watched as my husband used his face wipe to dab her face and his fingers slightly grazed her skin making her giggle and he smiled brightly at her.

They really didn't believe that I was pregnant? Well, that should be understandable since it was already acknowledged that I couldn't give the Reigns an Heir after being proclaimed infertile.

"Can I get milk instead of wine, please?" I finally said to the maid who was standing at the corner and she was about to go get that when she was stopped by Nick, My husband.

"Elyra, stop being so problematic. You drink wine so have that instead of having to disturb anyone for your stupid demands." I bit my lips trying to stop the rage fueling in my veins from spilling over.

"It's fine, I'll take wine." I said smiling at the maid and she nodded going back to stand at the corner while I blinked my eyes repeatedly to stop tears from rolling out.

"I recently got nominated for a fashion show in Seattle." Stàr announced as they discussed and everyone at the table squealed in excitement while I stabbed my steak with a fork repeatedly.

"You know," I started in low tones, and their mood all turned sour as they turned to stare at me with discomfort etched on their faces.

By 'everyone' I mean, Nick's entire family. His mum, dad, 4 siblings and of course, the daughter in law his mother would rather have, Stàr.

"I also got nominated for the fashion show in Seattle." I said slightly shrugging my shoulders because I knew they wouldn't appreciate it more.

"Whatever." My mother in law rolled her eyes and turned to continue gushing all over Stàr and at this point, I was practically fed up.

I stood up and stretched over the table, grabbed the bottle of wine that was in front of Nick and poured it directly into my cup.

"Wow, how impressive." I muttered loud enough for everyone seated at the table to hear as I set down the glass violently.

"What was that?" My mother shot me a disdaining glance and I took a deep breath in hoping to find closure and self control but right now? It was far from.

"There's nothing I'm ever going to do for this family that is going to be enough right? No, really. I just want to hear it from y'all directly." I said pointing my fingers to each of them as they gazed at me in shock.

"Elyra, stop it right now." Nick muttered under his breath while chuckling nervously.

"She's joking." He laughed it off and I banged my hand on the table.

"No, I'm not. I just said that I was nominated for the fashion show Stàr was invited to and while I'm not in a competition with her, I expected more of a reaction." This would be the second time in three years that I've tried to stand up for myself and unlike the first time, I wasn't going to back down now.

The first time, I had called Stàr out for disrespecting me but it was then that I realized how much the family valued and respected her more than I, their son's wife.

"Kind of hard to say that you're not in a competition with her." Nick's sister whispered and I gulped down another glass of strong wine before turning to smile at her.

"Well then, I was hoping it doesn't come to this but it's clear that this marriage is a waste of my time." I furrowed through my bag and heaved a sigh when my fingers grazed the file.

I pulled it out and placed it at the center of the table leaning backwards on my chair, biting on my lips as I hoped that my facial expression wasn't betraying the nervousness I was feeling.

"She's joking," Nick repeated grabbing a hold of the file as he glared at me, "You're being silly. What even is this?" He whispered, opening it up to stare at the contents of the file when his mouth fell open probably from shock.

"What is this?" He pivoted to stare at me and I shrugged.

"It is exactly what it is." I smiled, swallowing.

"You're divorcing me?" He half yelled and every one seated at the table turned to stare at us in shock.

"I think its better for us that way. I'll never be enough for this family so its better I leave." I stood, straightening my blouse while I handed him a pen.

"Little bitch is finally coming to her senses. I wondered how long it would take for you to realize that you're not welcome here in this family. It's just about—" His mum was saying when Nick suddenly banged his hand on the table gaining every one attention.

"You're not divorcing me, Elyra. You're my wife and that's it." He warned, throwing the paper on my face.

Why can't he just accept it and sign it? I thought they never liked me so this wasn't supposed to be a hard choice anyway.

"Nick dear, just sign it. She's no use to this family." He looked appalled as he turned to stare at his mother and then Stàr.

Honestly, if I knew that he was the kind of man who waited for his mom's approval to even make a choice, I would have never agreed to this marriage in the first place.

"Listen to your mum, Nick. Do as—"

"What do you want, Elyra? More money? I'll give it to you but hell no, I'm not divorcing. I can't let you get away with half of my assets in the name of divorce. Never." His face was red with anger and I just stared at him in realization like a scale had suddenly fallen off my eyes.

He didn't want to divorce me because he wanted to keep me, he just didn't want to loose his money.

"If you think I want your money even one bit, then you're more fucked up than I can ever think Nick! I don't want your money, I even stated it right there on the divorce agreement. Just let me go." His face slowly curled up into a little smile as he shrugged, skimmed through the divorce agreement and then signed it.

"There you are. You may leave now." Stàr gave me a triumphant smirk and I returned it by smiling maniacally till she felt weirded out.

"Goodbye Radriels." I muttered, picking up my bag and walked towards the door when a soft knock came on the door.

"I'll get it." Stàr offered, hastening her steps and walked past me, slightly nudging me before opening the door.

"Hello." She greeted with her fake ass smile.

"Is Young Miss Elyra here?”