Shattered Return

Chapter 2

I walked around the city for who knows how long. Finally I gathered the courage to go back to the place I used to call home. The place I had shared with my soon to be ex-husband.

The car that took me there was given to me by Victor. My driver, Daniel, knew something was wrong. He didn't ask. He just kept driving and occasionally glanced at me in the rearview mirror.

I rested my head on the leather seat and replayed the morning in my mind. I still couldn't believe Victor did what he did. After everything we shared.

Our marriage wasn't normal. It started as a contract because of a scandal.. For me it became more than that.

Victor always blamed me for the scandal. I didn't do anything.

A sharp pain hit my chest as I accepted reality. I couldn't believe it. I loved Victor more than anything. This morning I imagined a future with him. Now its just in my imagination.

I thought about our child who would complete us.. Now I have to live alone.

The car approached the black gates of the mansion. The warmth I used to feel at home was gone. Daniel drove through the gates. Stopped in front of the house.

I got out of the car. Daniel opened the door for me. As I stepped out into the sunlight I. Froze.

There was Kate. Standing at the entrance of the house like she owned it. My belongings were scattered on the steps.

She held some of my things. Tossed others like they were trash.

I felt angry at her audacity, cruelty and bitterness. She had Victor. She already won. Wasn't that enough?

"Ah the star of the farewell show has arrived " she mocked, tossing another item onto the lawn. "I've been waiting for you. I thought I'd personally send you off in style."

"If only I hadn't seen your face all " I shot back. Her grin. She seemed pleased.

I was relieved Daniel had already left. At least there were no witnesses to this.

I walked through the scattered mess of my belongings toward the entrance.. Before I could enter Kate stepped in front of me.

"Where do you think you're going?" she asked, raising a brow like she owned the place.

I glared at her resisting the urge to hit her. "To collect my things and leave so I never have to see your face."

"Not dear sister " she said sweetly. "I already took the liberty of placing everything at your feet."

She gestured toward the pile of my belongings on the ground. "Get out of my way Kate " I said, my voice. Firm.

Her expression darkened. "The place you think you belong to no longer exists " she said. "This house belongs to Victor and me now. We're finally together again."

Her smile sharpened. "It was always me he loved. Always me. You were just foolish enough to believe."

Each word hurt. "He loves me more than anything in this world " she continued. "That's why he could throw you away easily."

My chest tightened,. I refused to break. "That sounds like someone trying hard to convince herself " I said quietly.

Her face twisted in fury. "You"

Her words stopped abruptly. Her eyes dropped to my hand to the papers I had been holding.

Before I could hide them she snatched them from my grip. "What do we have here?" she murmured.

I stepped forward trying to take them but she moved away and quickly scanned the document. Her expression changed.

Her eyes widened. For a second something flickered across her face. Shock, then jealousy, then rage. "It's a thing Victor is divorcing you " she said coldly. "At least he won't have to deal with another mans child."

My heart dropped. "It is Victors child, Kate " I said firmly. "Just because you refuse to accept it doesn't change the truth."

Her grip tightened on the paper. "It means nothing " she spat. "Your child will be born a bastard."

Something inside me snapped. My hand rose before I could stop myself and struck her face. The slap echoed through the air.

Kate staggered, stunned, but recovered quickly. Then she pushed me hard.

I lost my balance immediately. "Ah!"

My body stumbled backward my feet slipping on the steps. I reached out for something, anything,. There was nothing.

Then I fell down the steps.

Pain exploded through my body as I hit the ground hard my head striking the pavement first. Everything blurred. My ears rang. Warmth trickled down my face.

Blood.

I tried to move. My body refused to respond. My limbs felt numb distant disconnected.

"Take this as a warning " Kate said coldly standing above me. "If you ever come here again it will be worse."

I could barely see her through the haze of pain. Then she crouched slightly her eyes burning with hatred.

"What a pathetic sight." Before I could react her expression darkened further.

She kicked me hard into my stomach.

A scream tore out of me as agony ripped through my body. My hands instinctively moved toward my abdomen trembling.

No… not my baby…

"I want you to remember this " she hissed, grabbing my hair and forcing my head up. "Remember how weak you are."

"Kate… p-please…" I whispered weakly.

She leaned closer her voice venom. "Just because you're pregnant doesn't mean Victor will ever choose you. He loves me. Not you. Not your bastard child."

She released me roughly letting my head fall back to the ground. Then she stood.

"I hope you survive this " she said coldly before turning

Her heels clicked against the pavement as she walked back, into the house leaving me broken, bleeding and alone.

I tried to call for help. No sound came.

A cold wave washed over my body. My vision blurred. Darkness crept in slowly swallowing everything.

The last thing I remember… was the world fading to black.