Five Years Too Late, Ex-husband!

Chapter 2: Happy Birthday To Me

~ DAISY’S POV ~

Abort it…

Abort it…

Abort it…

My head is spinning with those words, my heart shattering into a million pieces. I can’t breathe. I can’t think. I can’t even do anything when he ignores me and walks past me, leaving me alone on my knees in the midst of the shredded remains of my happiness, my body surrounded with the torn fragments of my baby’s first picture.

What the hell just happened?

What the hell did he just say to me?

Abort my baby? Our baby?

No. He can’t mean that. He doesn’t mean that.

“Bastian wait!” I hurriedly rise to my feet, my legs nearly giving out beneath me as I run after him. But he is already at the door, his phone pressed to his ear.

“Vanessa, where are you?” There is fear and pain in his voice and he also sounds desperate in a way he has never sounded for me. “Baby, please answer me. I’m coming to find you right now.”

Baby. He called her baby.

“Sebastian!” I reach the living room, still holding onto the railing of the stairs. “Don't leave! We need to talk about this!”

He spins around and walks up to me, looking at me with pure hatred on his face that makes me flinch.

“There’s nothing to talk about, Daisy.” His voice is ice-cold. “Vanessa is out there crying because of you. She’s been through hell, the same hell you put her through.”

“But I didn’t do anything to her,” I whisper, my voice breaking. “I'm your wife—”

“You were never supposed to be my wife!” he yells, stepping closer to me as I take some steps backward. “You're just making everything worse, and even back then, you were useless, but now, Nessa is back, so I'm done pretending in this meaningless marriage.”

With those hurtful words, he turns and storms out the front door, slamming it hard behind him.

I stand frozen in the living room, my hand instinctively moving to my stomach where my baby is growing.

Our baby. The baby he just told me to get rid of.

Hot tears stream down my face as reality crashes over me.

I have lost him.

And now, I’m alone. Completely and utterly alone.

~ ~ ~ ~

At 4 p.m, I wake up from my headache-induced sleep, and suddenly, I start hearing the sounds of different voices downstairs. Lots of different voices.

What's going on?

Curious, I stand up and smooth down my simple dress. I haven’t bothered with makeup or fancy clothes lately.

What’s the point?

As I make my way downstairs, the voices get louder. Soft music is playing. Classic soft music.

And right then, a reminder hits me instantly.

Today is my birthday.

Between going to the hospital and later coming back home and getting my heart broken after seeing Vanessa in Sebastian’s arms, I forgot that today is my birthday.

But now…

A smile spreads on my face when I finally reach the end of the stairs, my eyes taking in the beauty around me. The entire house has been transformed with gold and white balloons hanging everywhere. A champagne tower sits on a table surrounded by expensive-looking appetizers, and there are so many guests dressed stylishly in dinner attires. I even recognize some people from Sebastian’s business circle.

Wow. When did all these guests get here? I'm not a deep sleeper, but I guess one happens to fall into a deep slumber when they haven't had enough sleep for three days.

Feeling more excited, I leave my standing spot on the stairs, my eyes now searching for Sebastian. Maybe he remembered my birthday and organized this party to surprise me unlike how he always forgot to celebrate my birthday for the past three years.

Still searching for him, I turn a corner into the living room.

And the moment I arrive, the smile on my face dies instantly.

At the center of the room, standing under a spotlight, are Sebastian and Vanessa. Dancing. Together. Sebastian's arms are wrapped around her waist, pulling her close like she is the most precious thing in the world. She is wearing a stunning white dress that hugs her curves perfectly, her honey-blonde hair cascading down her back in perfect silky waves.

And Sebastian? He's looking at her like she hung the moon and stars.

This party isn’t for me.

This entire beautiful, perfect celebration isn't for me.

It’s for her.

“Oh my God, they look so perfect together!” Someone gushes behind me.

“Poor Daisy, though. Imagine being the second option.” Another person comments.

My heart sinks into my stomach at those piteous words. Feeling so ashamed, I try to back away, to disappear before anyone notices me.

But the instant I turn around, a sickening familiar voice shouts my name.

“Daisy! Oh my God!” Vanessa’s voice rings out, sugary sweet and fake. “You are finally here!”

Everyone’s heads turn to look at me.

Fuck.

Smiling, Vanessa pulls away from Sebastian and walks towards me. She reaches me and takes my hands in front of everyone, her smile making my skin crawl.

“Daisy, I’m so happy you could join us!” She squeezes my hands and her grip is so tight and painful. “Sebastian insisted on throwing a party to celebrate my return! Isn’t it wonderful?”

Wonderful?! Is she serious right now?!

“I know this must be so hard for you,” she says, her voice dripping with fake concern. “However, I would appreciate it if you could help serve food to our guests!” She yells so everyone can hear her. “Mrs. Hart can’t seem to manage alone and I’m sure you wouldn't mind helping out, right?”

WHAT?!

I look round the room and everyone is staring at me now, waiting for my response. Even Sebastian is just standing there watching without saying anything.

“Vanessa, I don't think—”

“Oh please Daisy!” She pouts and clasps her hands together, her eyes shining with fake tears. “I feel so terrible asking you to do something like that, but you’re so kind and generous. I know you want to help make this party perfect.”

I look at Sebastian, silently begging him to say something, to stand up for me and tell Vanessa that this is wrong.

But he just stands there.

“Bastian?” My voice cracks. “Say something.”

He takes a slow sip of his champagne and sets the glass down. “Just do as she says Daisy.”

My heart stops.

“What?”

“You heard me,” his tone turns darker. “Do everything Nessa says and try not to make a scene.”

Vanessa smiles triumphantly as she gently pushes me towards the kitchen. “Thank you so much Daisy! You're such a sweetheart!”

In the kitchen, my hands shake as I pick up a tray of appetizers.

This is my house. Today is my birthday.

And yet, I’m being treated like a servant.

During the rest of the party, I serve food to the guests, my face burning with pure humiliation while Vanessa plays the gracious hostess, laughing and dancing with my husband.

In my house.

On my birthday.

Truly, I feel like the most worthless person alive.

~~~~~~

The next morning, I wake up early to leave the house. The private investigator I hired to help me prove my innocence called last night to inform me that he finally found some evidence. Proof that I didn't push Vanessa off that cliff three years ago.

I make my way to the Vista Royale restaurant where we planned to meet.

Arriving there, I sit down and order a bottle of red wine while waiting for the investigator. In the restaurant, the TV is playing a commercial.

But afterwards, ‘CUPID NEWS’ a popular live couple’s interview, starts showing on the television.

And instantly, my glass of wine stops halfway to my mouth as I watch Sebastian and Vanessa walk into the show, holding hands like they are the only two lovebirds in the world.