Betrayed: Reclaiming His Contracted Wife

CHAPTER TWO

~Sloane

“No, I'm not in the wrong place. This is my house. I was in the hospital for weeks. Why are you here?” I protested, shaking my head in complete defiance, referring to her and the guards behind her blocking the entrance.

“What nonsense are you saying?” She imploded, voice rising, clearly at the edge of her patience. But it's mine, right? I'm fighting for my rights. I didn't care if she got upset.

“Where is my family? Nathaniel. Let me see, my son. Where is he?” I screamed, standing on my toes, eyes narrowed towards the door; a man who seemed like her husband walked out with a little girl dressed in an oversized sweater and joggers.

“Mr. Liam leased this house for six years,” he said, his words dressed in a grenade. My face dropped, shoulders shrinking under the weight of her words.

“Lease?” I said slowly, the words like bile in my throat, tears streamed down my cheeks—hot and betraying my poorly practiced confidence.

“To end the drama you're bringing up here.”

The man said, stretching forward a paper of agreement. My eyes blurred, I couldn’t read out loud, my voice was hoarse, and the venom of the agreement attacked my insides.

Liam’s signature—his name scrawled over itself with bold slashes—held more power than I’d expected. And yeah, they own the house, for the next six years. My knees buckled. The single paper became heavy; my sweaty fingers trembled at the edge.

“I’m...I'm his wife. Do you know where he is?” I said, my voice cracked, almost pleading, tears blurring my vision.

Their faces shifted; one of them finally talked.

“I don't care where he is.” The woman raged, eyes burning with pure anger.

The man pulled his wife closer and said quietly, "Didn't you see how she's dressed? She might have escaped from a care home.”

My ears were ringing, but I caught a few words.

His wife stood silent for a moment, hand hovering over the screen of her phone as she stared at me occasionally like a predator planning on how to attack its prey.

“I've tolerated your nonsense enough. I don't care who the hell you are to him. Get out of here. Don't let me see you around anymore, or else I'll be forced to contact my lawyer. I've had enough.” She beckoned to two of the guards, who had been standing, awaiting her instruction; they stormed towards me, grabbing my arms.

The lady hissed, turned her back, and stormed inside. I tried to peep in through the opened doors. My beige-inspired interior is now white.

“No...no...you can't bundle me out... This is my house. “Let me in,” I yelled, struggling to break free, legs pressed so hard to the ground. But I had become so light and weightless. The guard yanked me off the ground, carrying me up to his shoulder.

“Leave me!” I screamed, my weak fist pounding on his back, hoping he'd release me. His hands wrapped tightly around my legs, and I screamed, my voice fading away.

But he didn't until he got outside.

He dropped me to the floor and went back inside. The gate locked with a heavy and final click. My strength drained, and I just sat there, on the bare floor, the heat radiating through my clothes.

My brain felt like foam—dense and foggy. The tears didn't come anymore, like every fluid in my body dried up. Minutes? Hours? I didn't know how long I was there.

I stood up, gathering a bit of strength; passersby stared at me. I wouldn't be surprised if I met myself in psychiatry; I was getting crazy, I knew.

“Mrs. Walters” A familiar voice called, running towards me.

Somewhere in my mind, it was the server coming after me with the divorce papers or the guards calling me back to say it was a lie. After a moment of hesitation, I turned back slowly.

“Silas,” I called, my face lighting up; at least he could provide answers to this mystery.

He sighed in exasperation, and he began, his voice drowned in pity, before he said a word, I knew it wasn’t anything good. “Mr. Walters told me to leave; he said he'll be back…. I don't know when, but I passed by the mansion, and everywhere has changed.”

“He let out the house on lease.” I muttered, more to myself than to him.

His eyes shone with surprise but he quickly brace up “I’ll return to the agency soon. Can I get you somewhere to stay, ma? Maybe he'd be back soon.”

He's already given me divorce papers. Liam wouldn't come back.

I nodded negatively, took a last look at his face, and walked on. He called behind me, and as I moved further, his words blended with the surroundings until I stopped hearing him.

I didn't stop. I continued walking. Because if I fall, I might not be able to stand up again, and that'd be the end. Nothing. I was left with nothing; he froze my bank accounts and took my child away with him. I thought Liam loved me.

Where would I go without anyone bombarding me with questions less than the ones clogged in my head?

Then, the thought rushed in: I can return to the hospital if my essentials are there. Maybe I'd get my phone to call someone, if it's not damaged.

I felt empty. I walked past a tall building, a park stood a few meters away, stirring memories of my son. The sound of the car engines driving past filled my ears. Memories flashed into my mind—how we met, how sweet he has always been. How could he leave me now?

Then, a strength I'd never known surged within me, resolving not to let Liam’s actions ruin me.

A black Aston Martin approached, closer to the curb than normal. I thought it was Liam; my heart raced, unsure of what he'd say when he saw me. I froze waiting for the car to stop.

The back glass whirled down to his neck level. His green eyes stared at me, his thick eyebrows etched with something I couldn't place. But one thing - he didn't look dangerous.

“Get her into the car,” he ordered. The words took me seconds to process. I couldn't move; my eyes ran instead of my legs. Before I knew it, a husky man stormed toward me, grabbed my arm, and dragged me into the car.