The Billionaire's Ex Wife

Chapter 3: Behind The Mirror

I opened my eyes, and the first thing I felt was pain. It burned through my throat every time I swallowed, dragging me back to the memory I desperately wanted to forget.

Nothing changed. I was still on the floor, in my matrimonial bed, in Nathaniel's mansion.

I wished I had died rather than the emotional pains.

For a moment, I thought I imagined what had happened. I sat up and touched my neck and the memories came back.

I remembered clawing at his wrist.

I remembered fear.

I remembered the look he gave me while I was passing out.

It wasn't his anger that hunted me.

It was how little hesitation there had been.

I walked to the bathroom and moved closer to the large mirror in front of me. I lifted my head and caught sight of the red imprint of fingers with bruises around my neck.

It was at that moment I realized that I had spent years making excuses for Nathaniel, convincing myself he would never hurt me, but the woman staring back at the mirror could no longer tell that lie.

For the first time, I feared my husband.

Chloe came around in the morning to greet her favorite sis in the whole world. That's what she loved calling me. Ever since the death of Mom and Dad, she saw me as her only parent, though we were too young to understand how massive responsibilities could be.

“My favorite sis in the whole world,” she said happily.

Her hands opened wide as if telling me to give a hug. Chloe was the kind of sister that relieved my pain when she was around. She didn’t need to know a bad situation before spreading positivity.

“ You haven't changed a bit, seven years in China and you still act immature," I said while laughing.

“You think I am? But guess what? Am not a baby anymore."

“Oh spare me Chloe, still a sister's girl”.

“forever her sister's girl”. She said, popping a wine she had taken from the fridge.

She continued sipping the wine while explaining how hard life was in China as a student. I was only two years older, but she treated me more like a mother than a sister.

“ Thank God I am not going back, I am finally in my country."

She was so excited. Looking back at how hard we fought to survive in the streets of Los Angeles, we both deserved the happiness we craved. Whenever I wanted to give up on myself and her, then I would remember my mom’s last words on her sick bed.

“Life will sometimes break your plans, shake your confidence and test your patience, but remember the strongest people are built through the hardest.”

Those words still echoed in my ears.

Dad had died six years before mom, but the night mom passed away was the first chapter of hell for myself and Chloe. She had died from a heart attack. Chloe and I watched in sadness as her corpse was being buried in a local cemetery. Chloe was a replica of her beauty, seeing Chloe was like seeing mom.

“Why are there bruises on your neck?” she asked. The look she gave me showed how concerned she was.

“Oh I… I… think I hit my neck on the edge of the bathtub," I said, stuttering.

I knew Chloe to be very stubborn, and I knew she would never agree with that theory.

“You think? You are not sure”. She said, looking at me like a suspected thief.

“Don't worry Chloe, it's nothing I promise.”

I raised the glass that was on the table and was about to drink out of it when she asked a question, a question I asked myself as well.

“Why didn't you follow Nathaniel to the red carpet event?”

“ I was too busy, and I have been feeling sick lately." I said

“Or are we expecting a baby?” She said, touching my stomach and placing her ears, trying to hear the heart beat that wasn't there.

I wished there was a baby there. Maybe, just maybe Nathaniel will look at me more, maybe he will sleep at home often and hold me like before.

My phone rang, and the name displayed on the caller ID made my heart drop. “Mine”... I wondered if he was still mine.

I wasn’t sure if I wanted to talk to him or just ignore him and continue the chit-chat with Chloe. It rang the second time and this time I decided to listen to him. What if he had come back to his right senses, what if he wanted to apologize, what if he wanted to make it up to me and apologize?

“You shouldn't have spoken to me like that,” he said immediately when I placed the phone close to my ear.

“Learn to act like a wife that you are Brittany.”

I was dumbfounded, I ran out of words to say.

“Am sorry”. I said, feeling defeated.

“A package will be delivered soon. I hope you will love it, I am hanging up now.”

I should have known better than to expect sincerity from Nathaniel. He didn't call because he cared, but because he was scared I could leak his assault to the media.

“I want to ride around the city, will you drive me?” Chloe asked.

“I will tell my driver to do that.”

I said hurriedly, heading to my room. I didn't want her to see the tears streaming down my cheeks.

I heard the sound of my car leaving the garage. I wanted to go see the city as well, it didn't matter if I was used to it. I wanted to go to the ocean side and look up to the moon. I wanted to do a lot with my sister.

I was about to pick up the phone to call Chloe. It was already getting dark, and I didn't want her coming in too late. I was about to dial her number when my phone buzzed, another message from an unknown number.

A video of Nathaniel and the same woman.

I hesita

ted.

My thumb hovered over the screen.

With my heart pounding against my rip, I pressed play.