Chapter3
1134 Words
Anaya’s fingers curled into fists. Her entire body trembled, not just from the slap but from the injustice of it all.
“You think this is funny, Phillip?” she spat. “You think breaking your vows, humiliating me, and sleeping with my own sister-in-law is a joke?”
Raquel smirked, stepping closer to Phillip. “Well, technically, I was your sister-in-law first. And now, I’m something more. Life is funny that way, don’t you think?”
Another slap, this time, it came from her father.
“You will not raise your voice in this house!” Mr. Hawthorn l’s voice was colder than she had ever heard it. “You are a disgrace, Anaya!”
Tears burned in her eyes, but she refused to let them fall. She swallowed the lump in her throat and looked at the people who were supposed to love her.
“You’re taking their side?” she asked, her voice hoarse. “You believe them over your own daughter?”
Mrs. Hawthorn scoffed. “Raquel has been nothing but good to this family. Phillip is a respected businessman. And you? You’re just an ungrateful wife who couldn’t keep her husband.”
Raquel sighed and leaned into Phillip, resting her head against his shoulder. “Honestly, Anaya, maybe if you had paid more attention to your husband, he wouldn’t have come to me for comfort.”
Phillip smirked. “And what comfort she gives. You were always so… cold, Anaya. It was hard to stay married to you.”
Anaya’s nails dug into her palms, her body trembling with suppressed rage. “You’re both disgusting.”
Phillip chuckled. “Disgusting? No, sweetheart. We’re just being honest, something you should try.”
Anaya’s breath came in short, uneven bursts. Every word out of their mouths was like a knife carving into her heart, but the worst pain of all came from her parents. The very people who had raised her, the ones who should have defended her, were standing against her.
Mrs. Hawthorn folded her arms. “From today onward , you will not bring this up again. You will act like a proper wife, or you will leave this house with nothing.”
Anaya’s stomach twisted. “You want me to stay married to him? After everything?”
Mr. Hawthorn nodded. “Divorce is not an option, Our family’s reputation comes first.”
Raquel’s lips curled into a satisfied smile. “Don’t worry, Anaya. I’ll take good care of Phillip while you figure things out.”
Phillip laughed, wrapping an arm around Raquel’s waist. “Who knows? Maybe one day, you’ll even thank us.”
Anaya felt the world closing in around her. This was not a nightmare. This was real. Her husband had betrayed her. Her parents had abandoned her. And Raquel… Raquel had taken everything.
She took a slow, shaky breath and stepped back.
“You will regret this,” she said, her voice quiet but full of promise. “All of you.”
Raquel pouted mockingly. “Oh, sweet Anaya, revenge doesn’t suit you. You wouldn’t even know where to start.”
Phillip pressed a kiss to Raquel’s forehead, his eyes gleaming with amusement. “Face it, Anaya. You’ve already lost.”
Anaya turned on her heel and walked away, refusing to look back.
But as she left, she made a silent vow.
They would pay, all of them.
Anaya barely slept that night, She had spent hours wandering the city, the cold wind biting at her skin, before returning to her tiny apartment. The betrayal of her family and Phillip played on repeat in her mind, but anger burned brighter than the pain.
She would never forgive them.
Morning came too soon, a sharp, impatient knock on her door dragged her from the restless sleep she had finally fallen into.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
Anaya groaned, pushing herself up from the couch. She hadn’t even made it to her bed. She shuffled to the door, rubbing her temples as she swung it open.
Evelyn Hawthorn stood there, her face twisted in impatience. Behind her, two security guards loomed, their expressions blank.
Anaya frowned, “What do you want?”
Evelyn’s eyes raked over her disheveled appearance, lips curling in disapproval. “Get dressed. You’re coming with me.”
Anaya scoffed. “Why would I go anywhere with you?”
Evelyn stepped forward, her voice lowering. “Because I said so.”
Anaya folded her arms. “After what you did last night? You think I’ll just obey like a trained dog?”
Evelyn’s jaw tightened, but then she smiled. It wasn’t warm…it was sharp, calculating. “Anaya, this isn’t up for debate. If you don’t come willingly, I’ll have the guards carry you.”
Anaya’s fingers curled into fists. “Try it.”
Evelyn sighed dramatically. “I didn’t want to do this, but… it’s about your grandmother.”
Anaya stiffened. “What about her?”
“She hasn’t been feeling well.” Evelyn’s eyes gleamed with false concern. “She’s asked for you.”
Anaya’s heart clenched. Her grandmother was the only person who had ever shown her kindness. If she was sick—
Evelyn saw the hesitation and pressed on. “If you care about her at all, you’ll come.”
Anaya didn’t trust her mother, not after everything, but if there was even a chance her grandmother needed her…
She grabbed her coat and stepped out. “Let’s go.”
The car ride to the Hawthorn estate was silent, but Anaya could feel something was off. Evelyn looked too pleased with herself.
When they arrived, Anaya didn’t see any signs of her grandmother. Instead, Richard, Raquel, and Phillip were gathered in the grand living room.
Raquel sat with her legs crossed, looking smug as ever. Phillip stood beside her, completely at ease, as if he hadn’t destroyed Anaya the night before. Richard sat in his usual chair, watching her like a hunter eyeing prey.
Anaya’s stomach twisted. “Where’s Grandmother?”
Evelyn walked past her and sat beside Richard. “Sit down, Anaya.”
Anaya stayed standing. “You lied to me.”
Richard sighed. “Enough of the dramatics. We have a proposal for you.”
Anaya scoffed. “A proposal*? After what you did to me?”
Raquel smirked. “Oh, sweet sister, don’t be so emotional. This is business.”
“Business?” Anaya laughed bitterly. “Is that what you call backstabbing your own family?”
Phillip chuckled. “You were never really family, Anaya.”
The words stung, but she refused to let it show. Instead, she turned back to Richard. “Say what you need to say and let me leave.”
Richard leaned forward, his fingers steepled. “You are going to marry Lucien Rodrigo.”
- Writer
