Twisted Ties: The Brother's Claim

Rejection

~Hannah~

As soon as Nathan and Liam disappear into the house, I am pulled back to my reality. I am reminded of my pathetic life, of the fact that my ex lover just witnessed me getting hit by my husband. I could have endured anyone else witnessing this, but Nathan seeing me in this condition after I boldly broke up with him? Tell me, what could be worse than this? My pride is in shambles, if at all I have any left.

A knock sounds on the door startling me. I become still. “Who?” I ask. No one is supposed to show up until after a few more hours. Liam made it so.

Liam is a man of pride. He hates to wash his dirty linen in public. No one knows he hits me. He never does it in front of anyone. To the outside, he is a perfect man. To the people outside, he is a god; kind, wealthy and befitting of a role model title. Especially now that the Alpha elections are coming closer. He will not have anyone sabotage it. Hence, he keeps his private business, including hitting me, away from people's eyes especially the servants and guards who are known to be the major carriers and distributors of rumours in this Pack.

“It’s Clara. Lunch is set, ma'am,” the servant replies from outside.

“Lunch?” I mumble, allowing my eyes to find the wall clock. I want to open the door and let Clara in but stops as my face is probably still in a mess. “Isn't it too early for lunch?”

“Lady Durk orders. She wants us to serve lunch now because master Nathan is back.”

Hearing Nathan's name again makes my chest tighten. How will I possibly survive being in the same house with him now? Not after what he just witnessed. Not after what we shared three years ago.

“I will be there soon,” I inform her after a small sigh. I walk to the large mirror in the room and look at myself. Contrary to what I thought, my face isn't all that battered. Just the split in my lips which my lipstick can mask.

After the first few times Liam hit me, I learned to carry a few of my make up things with me around.

This room used to be a meeting hall but is now abandoned. The only reason it doesn't have cobwebs lined up in it is because of Liam and I.

It is Liam's favorite place to hit me without anyone noticing.

I sigh in relief. At least I still look beautiful on Nathan’s return.

“Why do you care how he sees you now?” Nina questions. I search my head for the perfect clap back but my head is empty. I shrug and ignore her.

Satisfied with my look, I start to head to the main building. My make up did a great job making me look different from how my insides feel.

I join the dining table minutes later. Everyone is already seated by the time I arrive. Including Nathan.

“I know you had no parents to teach you manners, which by the way is no one's fault, but can you at least show some courtesy and arrive at the table in time?” Lady Durk says with disgust in her face. She cast me a look that is enough to make me not be able to digest whatever I'll be eating for lunch.

Lady Durk. The lady of the house, Liam's mother and Nathan's foster mother. An extravagant woman and a very hard one to please. From the moment I married Liam, she has never failed to show her dissatisfaction at Liam marrying me. She says Liam married low. In her words ‘I am an orphan and will bring nothing but ill- luck to the family’. She also asked Liam to reject me. I don't know how Liam was able to pacify her or what he did to appease her that got her to finally approve our marriage.

“I'm sorry. I got the message late,” I say, taking my seat.

She hisses and starts to eat. But she only takes a spoon before she stops. “Nathan, now that you are back, although I don't know how that will benefit any of us here. What are your plans?”

Nathan looks up from his plate. “I–”

“Just help Liam become the Alpha. He has only one rival. You can at least do that after everything I have done for you in this family and despite you not being a part of us. Consider it your test to accept you back into this family.”

Lady Durk hates Nathan. Probably more than she even hates me. I did not realize it because Nathan left home as soon as I married Liam but even after he left, she never stopped spiting him. Same way she did not fail to remind him how he is not a part of the family is the same way she never misses to remind me I am an orphan.

The alarm clock beeps reminding me it's time to pick up my daughter, Olivia, from school. Maybe it's because of what happened but I especially miss her a lot today. Most importantly, I am grateful that I get to leave this torture of a lunch. I am never able to digest my meal each time we eat together. I only pity Nathan who will be unfortunate to sit through it.

“Thank you for the meal,” I say as I get up from my seat, barely able to contain my excitement. “I have to go pick up Olivia from school.”

“Sit down,” Liam rumbles.

I look at him, confused if he's referring to me. “I have to pick up Olivia,” I repeat.

“And I said sit down,” he growls and slams his napkin on the table. “Leave all of you!” he commands the servants. The servants scampers off. I'm still confused about what he's on about.

“Liam,” Lady Durk calls calmly. Normally she's the only one able to tame Liam. Lia grabs my wrist causing me to wince. He drags me out, knocking off a seat in the process.

I forgot to say. While Liam is careful about the servants finding out he hits me, he doesn't mind hitting me before his mother.

“She goes around wagging her tail at men. The last man is from Olivia's school. She will no longer be allowed to pick Olivia from school or drop her at school,” Liam clench.

“What?” I blurt, my head suddenly feeling light.

“You heard me correctly. Until you quit being a fuvking slut, Hannah!”

I have never felt so much anger. The resentment builds in me, crawls up my throat and lodges, making me vibrate. I glare at him and the knot holding my sense of reasoning intact goes loose. Throwing whatever caution I have to the wind, I snap his hand off me and I face him leveledly.

“Let's get a divorce, Liam,” I demand with a grit I didn't know I possess. I don't know where this guts has come from, especially not after I have gladly allowed him to abuse me and treat me better than a dog would be treated in the last three years. But the truth remains that I may have been able to tolerate anything but never for him to try to separate my daughter from me.

“What?” Liam scoffs. “We are mates. Fool. You think we'll get a divorce and you will be free?”

“Well then, we won't be anymore.”

His eyes narrow at me. But before he will ask, I reject him on the spot. “I, Hannah Blanco, reject you, Liam Durk as my mate.”