3

"Drex." I stepped back.

Did he just say that? Did he just tell me to leave? So... stern at that?

Surely I hadn't heard him clearly.

Right?

His next words however, proved me wrong. "If you insist on staying, then I'll have to get you dragged out." He didn't even blink as he continued. "This house was never yours. I thought you knew that already."

My lips parted, but no words came.

Seriously?

I had to take a step back, eyes locked on the man I had called my husband for three years.

A man I thought would at least have a little bit of respect for that period.

My chest tightened, but I refused to cry. Not now. Not here.

Especially not with how he was treating me like I was nothing.

I bit my lower lip hard enough to feel it bleed, then managed a nod.

My dad's place might be hell, but heck this moment. Standing here in front of a man that didn't want me... it felt worse than hell.

Which was why I gathered my bags into the boot of the car, ignoring all the eyes on me. The workers. The guards. Cassie.

I tried to not shrink under their gazes.

When I was done, I turned to him and managed to keep my voice steady when I said... "Alright, Drex. I'll leave."

A part of me expected him to say something. Or at least look sympathetic.

But other than the cold uncare, he did nothing.

He didn't even stop me as I got into the car or when the driver started it.

When I stared at Cassie, she had a smirk on, before rushing over to him, taking his arm in her hands.

“Oh baby, we can finally be together.”

He nodded once, and that alone was enough to make my heart ache.

I couldn't take it.

“Get out of here.” I told the driver.

As it zoomed off, my fingers curled around my dress. I fought the urge to stare back at them.

What was the use? Heck, what was the use of anything?

He didn't love me.

His heart had always been beating for her alone.

The woman he had been assigned to get married to for over ten years.

His first love.

I held back the tears that threatened to fall just as the car pulled over in front of my dad's mansion.

My fingers fiddled with my dress as I got down and walked in.

Rachel, my step sister and the only one that made my life here bearable, was the first to notice me when I entered.

"Lisa?" Her brows furrowed and she quickly rushed over. “Oh my goodness, what happened?”

When I didn't reply, she asked, more concerned this time. “Come on, say something. Did something happen to Drex? Did he do anything? Lisa!”

“What's going on here?” Dad was walking down the stairs, my step mom, Trish trailing beside.

"Lisa?" Trish sneered. "What are you doing? Don't you remember your promise?"

How could I forget? She made me promise never to step foot here the day I got married.

It was one of the reasons why I had my head down in shame.

And when I spoke, my voice was low, barely audible. “He kicked me out.”

"What?!" Dad growled, storming over. "Don't play with me!"

"I-I'm not playing, dad."

His hand flew to his bald head. "Have you lost it? What do you mean he sent you away?"

"David, please calm down." Rachel quickly said, but he ignored, staring wide-eyed at me.

"You want to ruin me? You want to ruin my business?" His stretched both arms in the air. "Lisa, I took you when your mother abandoned you, this is not how I expect to be repaid."

I had to bite back tears, hating how he always used that one thing on me.

The same thing he said that made me get married. The same thing he said every time I wanted to call the police on Trish when she'd abuse me.

Now he was doing it again.

Using guilt to ruin my life.

"But what about me?" My voice was low, barely above a whisper.

"What?"

"He doesn't love me. He never has, dad. And I know he never will. This divorce is really for the best."

He rubbed his temple like I was giving him a headache. "That—"

"Leave it, darling." Trish placed a hand on his arm. "Let me handle this."

Slowly, she stepped forward till she was only a few feet away.

"Love is a stupid emotion, dear." Her voice was calm in a way that gave me goosebumps. "It's not going to get you anywhere.

"But you see... if you leave Drex, it will get you somewhere." She placed a hand on my shoulder, squeezing it hard. "To where your mother is... Hell."

My eyes squeezed shut that a drop of tear escaped, rolling down my cheek till it hung on my jaw.

"If your stupid search for love ruins me and your father, then I promise to make your life miserable."

"Mom, this isn't fair." Rachel said.

"I'm not talking to you." She snapped, before turning back to me. "You know how things are in this house, dear. I'd hate for us to get back to that. Do you understand?"

She sounded serious. Very serious.

And if there was something I knew about her, then it was the fact she enjoyed making my life miserable.

I turned to dad, wondering if he would say anything in my defense, which was stupid, because when had he ever.

I bit my lower lip, knowing it was either I stayed married or Trish ruined me.

A life I did not wish to have.

Finally, after what felt like an eternity of silence, I nodded. "I won't get a divorce."

"Good girl."

Rachel squeezed my arm pitifully, but said nothing.

“I expect you to…”

Trish trailed off at the sound of heels. The type you would know anywhere.

They each stared wide-eyed over my shoulders, and even before I turned, I already knew who it would be.

Cassie stopped right beside me, a smile spread up her lips.

“Oh, am I interrupting a family meeting?” She asked unsympathetically. “Don't worry. I won't stay long, I just have a little something to give Lisa here.”

She shoved a file my way. “You forgot to sign this when you left.

“The divorce papers.”