The Ex-Wife's Revenge

Chapter Two: Feel a Void

I froze in front of my dad.

This can’t be real. Please, tell me this is just a nightmare. Tell me everything’s going to be alright, please, God. I’m begging you.

Still not fully processing what I was seeing, I told the maids to call for help. Maybe...Maybe my dad is still alive? But I knew what I saw, and my eyes weren’t lying. No amount of help is going to change anything now, but I just couldn't accept it. I didn't even get to have a meal with him today. We hadn't even had a proper conversation all week. No... I refuse to believe this is real. I can't.

"David! David!" My mom rushed in, but froze halfway through the door. Her legs gave way, and she crumpled to the floor in horror. Not long after, she began crying angrily. "f**k! No! David, no! Why did you do this? What’s going to happen to us now? How could you..." She pounded the floor with her fist, and a tear slipped down my cheek. I couldn’t believe what I was hearing from her.

"Those f*****g Ramirezes, I’m gonna kill them all! This is all their fault! How dare they accuse your father of stealing? They didn’t even have proof!" She screamed, her voice hysterical. "And because of them, we’re as poor as a church mouse!" I pulled her into an embrace, trying to soothe her, but nothing seemed to help.

Everything happened so fast, I barely noticed the authorities coming in, confirming it was a suicide. I couldn’t stop wondering: how heavy must his heart have been to do this? And if I could just turn back time, I would tell him I loved him. But now, all of these regrets felt pointless. I had to remind myself to stay strong because my mom...My mom is all I had left.

She became completely non-verbal after that day. I didn’t know how to help her; the trauma had taken her words away.

The days blurred together, as if time itself was telling us we didn’t deserve to mourn. Our helpers left too. I wanted them to stay, but we couldn’t afford them anymore. My dad was really gone, and I had no idea when or if my mom would ever speak again. It felt like she had gone with him. I skipped all my classes after that. Everyone at school looked at me with pity and concern, but I couldn’t bring myself to care. I didn’t care about graduating anymore. My mom needed me now more than ever.

My phone rang constantly. Ava flooded me with messages, but I couldn’t bring myself to read them. I just wanted to be alone.

One day, I decided to go for a walk, hoping it would distract me from the emptiness gnawing at my chest. But as soon as my feet hit the pavement, I was blinded by camera flashes.

"Miss Hera! Is it true that your dad killed himself to run away from the crimes he committed?" A reporter shoved a microphone in my face. I was stunned, my mind reeling. Anger surged through me, hot and uncontrollable. How dare she say something like that?

"Miss Hera! How did your father kill himself?"

"Is it true your mother is mute now?"

"How much money did your father take from the Ramirezes?"

Questions rained down on me, insensitive, cruel, unnecessary. How could they do this to my family? I barely managed to escape their barrage of questions. Once I was locked in my room, I pulled out my phone to see what was going on.

My family was all over the news. My heart dropped as I scrolled through malicious blogs about us, filled with hateful comments, all over my social media. It was too much. I had no choice but to deactivate everything. They didn’t even know us, yet they acted like they understood our lives. It made me sick.

I went through Ava’s messages. They were all about the same thing asking if my mom and I were okay. I left her on read. I couldn’t deal with anything else. It all felt overwhelming. Why was all this happening? Why did bad things keep piling up on top of us?

My dad couldn’t even rest in peace because of the Ramirezes. The words my mom had screamed that day kept echoing in my head. Maybe she was right. Maybe it really was the Ramirezes who destroyed us.

I gritted my teeth.

There was only one thing left to do. I had no choice but to find a way to destroy them and I don't care if I had to involve someone innocent. This was war, and they brought this. I would do whatever it took to make them pay. I am not a Gonzales for nothing. This is about my family and I will not tolerate this anymore.

I smiled bitterly at the papers in my hands, realizing I had no right to back down now, not after everything. It had been weeks since my dad completely left us. Even now, I refuse to believe he’s really gone. I tell myself he’s still watching over us, somewhere out there. I know he did this to escape the weight of all the pressure he’d been carrying, and I respect that. But still, it haunts me.

The grief that clung to me for so long started turning into something darker. Hatred. While the Ramirezes go on with their perfect lives, my family’s been destroyed because of them. I’ve been robbed of everything: my family, my friends... and I can’t even dream anymore. I cried that day when I thought I lose the ability to. Dragging myself through the day as if my body had to carry every ounce of pain. Eventually, exhaustion overtook me, and I passed out like a child, drained from the endless tears.

The next morning came, but I almost wished it hadn’t. I stood near Hugo Ramirez at a bar he always goes to, just out of his line of sight. I could see him clearly, but he didn’t notice me. I drained my fourth glass of tequila, eyes locked on him the whole time. He didn’t even seem interested in anyone around him, least of all the girls practically throwing themselves at him. My jaw clenched, trying to suppress the rage building inside me.

So this is what your perfect life looks like, huh? While mine has fallen apart, he’s out here living it up, acting like he didn’t ruin someone else’s world. By the time I finished my fifth drink, the room was spinning. I’m not a drinker, but the pain made it feel like the only thing I could do. I couldn’t think straight anymore, but the plan was clear: seduce Hugo, make him agree to a deal with me. It felt stupid, but it was the only way I knew to bring them down.

I could feel the warmth creeping up my cheeks, no doubt from the alcohol. But I steadied myself, preparing for the battle I intended to win tonight. I combed my hair to the side, letting my bangs fall just right. Taking a deep breath, I walked toward him, making sure to lock my gaze to him as I approached. I knew his friends were watching, but I didn’t care. I was here for one thing.

Again, Hugo didn’t even glance at me. For a moment, I felt embarrassed until the alcohol whispered in my ear to forget it. I didn’t know what I was doing, but the words left my mouth before I could stop them:

“Can we dance? And if you like it, buy me a drink.” I bit my lip just enough for him to notice, letting the shine of my lips catch his eye. Confidence radiated from me. Alicia Gonzales, my mom, invented a temptation, and only a fool could resist me.

Finally, Hugo raised his head. I froze for a second. Damn, he was hot. Tan skin, chiseled jawline, those hunter-like eyes… He looked like he stepped out of a magazine. I hated that my body responded to him that way, but I couldn’t deny it. So, this is why girls go crazy with him huh?

I brushed off that thought. Instead, I forced a flirtatious smile and extended my hand toward him. He stood up, towering over me, making me feel like I was looking up at a giant. How tall this guy could be?! I’m tall myself, so it’s rare for a guy to make me feel small.

"Sure," he said, his voice low, his eyes still locked on mine. It felt like he was studying me, sizing me up like I was some kind of prey.

I couldn’t help but laugh at the thought. He had no idea he was already falling into my trap. I didn’t care what he thought or what he was going to do next. One thing was for sure: we were going to be each other’s prey, Hugo Ramirez.