LAURA'S REVENGE

Gone

With heavy footsteps that resounded on the tiled floor, she jerked towards the gate, her heart throbbing inside her chest.

Her thoughts raced as Noah's words kept replaying in her mind. Was he cheating with her all this while? Is that why he opted for a divorce? Because he has seen another woman?

Her mind was unrest as those unanswered questions lingered around her.

She halted a taxi and hopped inside without having a second thought if she was with cash or not.

“22, Darvins Street,” she explained relaxing in the back seat. The driver, a man in his early fifties with etched lines drawn at the corner of his face, nodded his head, ignited the car and sped off to the destination his passenger just told him.

He peeped at her through the rearview mirror, noting how distressed she was, but he shrugged it off and focused on his driving.

They arrived at the entrance of a towering building. It was so breathtaking that the driver's mouth went agape.The skyscraper was a modern marvel of steel and glass, with some buildings crafted from classic brick. The building was surrounded by lush trees and greenery, adding to the impressive aura of the condo beautification.

The driver after observing the ambience of the environment tilted his head towards Laura's direction, “Ma'am, we've arrived.”

“Oh!” she exclaimed, as she was jolted back to the real world. She stepped out of the taxi only to realize that she was empty; No phone, no purse, not even her Black card, just her and her fitting green gown. Her eyes bulged out abruptly.

The driver couldn't discern the new expression written on her face. All he thought was that she was lost in her imagination again as she did was lean on his taxi.

“Miss, you haven't paid,” the driver reminded her as his patience wore thin

Laura's mouth went tight-lipped as she pondered on the word she could utter to the driver whose patience wore thin at the moment.

“Erm ... .ern,’’ she paused and continued,

"I don't know how to explain myself to you now but I forgot everything at home. I'm not with my cash, purse or even my phone.”

With the words that poured out of Laura's mouth, the driver pushed open his door, took off his cap and stood some distance away from Laura. He sighed and rubbed his temples, “ What and who do you think you're? I drove you for over 20 minutes and you're telling me that just now?” The driver's irate voice cut through the neighborhood which was creating awareness from passersby.

“I'm sorry for the inconvenience. Please can I just go in and get the cash for you.” She pleaded.

“Just because you're someone of affluence doesn't give you the right to think you can go and start treating people the way that interests you, No. Please settle my fare or I'm going to get the police involved in this case.” The driver urged.

Abruptly, the gate of the house opened slowly and a woman in her late fifties with her face contorted with make-up that shines during the day, her nails fixated with a polish artificial nail, with her blonde hair packed in a bun walked outside.

As Laura saw her, her hope revived.

“Mother-in-law,” she called out. As Mrs Allen's eyes swept past Laura's body, she wrinkled her nose in distaste, and her countenance went sour. She ignored her and approached the driver.

“Hey!” She snapped her finger at his face making it appear dismissively “What's it? And why did you choose to create a scene at the entrance of my house? You do know I can call the security to toss you away?” She admonished impassively.

“That woman over there, if she's your daughter-in-law, refused to pay the fare.” The driver explained.

“How much?” She inquired.

“$20, ma'am.” The driver answered.

She smirked and rolled her eyes over the driver, “Just $20 is making you yell like a poor wretched man?” She sighed.

She unzipped the gold shimmering purse she held in her hand that was worth a fortune, brought out a $100 note and tossed it to the floor. “ You can take this and keep the change. I don't want to feel your poor wretched aura around my surroundings anymore.” With the words, she walked away from him.

The driver stared at her and shook his head in disbelief. He grabbed the money, stormed inside his car and sped off.

“Laura, what prompted you with this unannounced visit, and why are you looking so disheveled and disorganized?” She turned to her daughter-in-law, and gazed at her with a look of thin contempt.

“Mom, I'm very sorry. I was carried away by something unprecedented that transpired today.” Laura pleaded.

“And is that why you decided to embarrass yourself in front of my house this early hour of the day?" Her words held anger as she stared at Laura.

" And for the umpteenth time, don't Mom me. I can't be a Mother to an unattractive and plus-size woman like you.” She sputtered in a deadpan voice.

Laura felt stabbed by her words but swallowed up her emotions so as not to resurface.

“Whatever you have to spill this morning, let's hear it.” She gestured towards the entrance and he strolled inside with Laura behind her.

Inside the sitting room was decorated with glowing chandeliers, and the wall decorated with impressive artworks.

She settled down on the plush sofa relaxing her mind as she was about to drop the news.

Mrs Allen sat at the other end. She yelled at her maid and ordered her to bring a coffee to Laura.

“So, I'm asking you again, what prompted you to come to my house at this hour?” Mrs Allen inquired.

“Noah has decided to cut ties with me.” She answered, her heart heavy as tears encircled her eyes.

Feeling unmoved by the news, Mrs Allen leaned into the sofa and placed her coffee on the glass-topped table as she crossed her legs.

“Wow! That's good of Noah,” She cheered happily. Laura froze at her reaction. Her eyes widened and her whole body shivered.

A voice echoed from the stairs of the room. “Mom, I thought Noah had already told you that he had divorced her already.” A feminine voice cut through the room. And from the Voice, Laura was able to deduce it was.

“Wait, I don't get it. You forced Noah into ending things with me, Mom?” Laura asked in a sad but trembling tone.

“How can you ever think that I supported the fact that my son, one of the renowned men in the States, decided to settle for a meatball of a woman like you? You're not attractive, your reputation is nothing to speak of.” She paused and swept her eyes at Laura devouring every part of her body.

She continued.” I can't fathom whatever charm you cast on Noah that made him love you, even up to the brink of marrying you. But the universe made the coin flip to my interest and you became useless in the end.”

Laura's face was drenched with tears, each drop falling on her dress. Her fair-skinned face became reddened.

Her world shattered into pieces. Inside her heart felt like a hole was dug, and a scar also was made.

She sniffed up and tried to compose herself. It was no doubt that her mother-in-law's words wounded her.

It hurts too much.

“Is the reliant woman crying?” The same voice mocked, this time getting nearer and closer.

Clothed in her robe and fidgeting from the stairs, Adriana's eyes were fixated on her phone.

She was a tall and slender woman with a symmetrical sectional face and a pointed nose complemented with small rounded lips.

“Watch yourself Adriana.” Her Mom warned.

She turned to Laura, “You shouldn't be crying over spilt milk. Just move on. Hundreds of men may consider your status and choose to settle with you.” She admonished sardonically.

Adriana burst into laughter understanding the tone of her Mom. Laura couldn't utter any words as she felt betrayed by the people she called family.

With no words, she got up from her position and walked away from the room.

“Do you need a ride back? ” Mrs Allen rendered a faux care and Adriana sneered as Laura turned deaf to their snickering comments.

She dragged herself out of the gate and hollered a taxi with just one thought in her mind.

She was going to make them pay.