He Wants The Heiress Back

Ch-5

Chapter 5

Ariella Rodriguez POV

It has been five days since I returned from the hospital. I’ve been staying in my room, avoiding everyone.

Luckily, Max never returned to my room again after that day so I had the privacy I needed to request a few copies of the divorce papers and placed some in his bedroom and office, waiting for him to sign them and get back to me.

Living like this isn't bad either.

At least, since I returned, I no longer had to wake up by 4 a.m. to cook and clean, making sure Max had his favorite food before leaving for work.

Nor did I have to cook for Zosi while enduring her relentless complaints and schemes to make Max hate me more.

I rang the kitchen a few times for someone to send up a bottle of water. But there's no reply. Damn it! I would rather not leave the room. It has been peaceful these past few days that I didn't step out.

I sigh, force myself to stand up, and grab my phone. I guess I have to go down myself. I open the door and look around, satisfied that the corridor is empty, I step out, intending to quickly dash down and return before anyone sees me.

Suddenly, someone pulls me back as I reach the stairs, startling me.

My heart runs cold. I already know who it is.

She was pretty pissed off that day when Max refused to divorce me and ran after me, ignoring her.

I knew that she would want to hurt me, unable to accept that Max didn't want to divorce me and marry her.

I did my best to avoid her. Who would have thought that she had been watching and waiting?

“You're pretty something, Ariella. You even made Max avoid me just because you threatened him with a divorce.

I underestimated you, you're quite scheming.” She whispers, tugging on my hair.

I grit my teeth and try to struggle but her grip is too strong. My hair might break if she keeps this up.

“I already signed the papers, I'm waiting for him to finalize it. Urge him to sign it instead of attacking me.

Or could it be that he doesn't have such feelings for you? Has it been your wishful thinking all along?” I asked with a smirk, not hiding the mockery in my tone.

“You're seeking death. Very well then, since you don't want to leave in peace, I will make him give up on you.

No, you should die.

Once you're dead, he will have no other choice than to move on.”

Her cold voice terrifies me and I immediately try to reach for a wall to free myself from her grasp.

“Zosia, don't do anything stupid. Otherwise, I will make you pay.” I whisper in a cold, threatening voice, trying to push her away from me.

She suddenly lets go of my hair and gives me a hard push, making my head bang noisily against the wall.

“Bye, i***t. I will make sure to dress well for your funeral.” She whispers and kicks me down the stairs.

I immediately grab her in reflex, trying to bridge my fall. But rather than stop me from falling, the unexpected grasp makes her lose her balance and tumble over me, and we roll down the stairs together.

“Ah! Sister Ariella, let me go, I will never go close to Brother Max. I will leave immediately, spare me.” She shouts, feigning terror as we roll down the stairs.

The maids rush out at that moment, and without reserve, they all rush over my body towards her.

They didn't spare me a look even as I was lying down beside Zosia.

I pulled my phone from my pocket and tried to dial 911, but I kept feeling dizzy, unable to keep my eyes open.

*********

“Congratulations, madam, the baby is healthy!” the doctor chimes in excitement. She searched my face confusingly as I refused to replicate her delight.

I could literally see my soul leaving my body as I stared emotionless at the doctor as I thought to myself.

What does she mean by the baby being healthy? Which baby? And that I am pregnant?

I am pregnant now at all times?

“However, you suffered a severe concussion, and your body is riddled with lethal wounds.

Where's your husband? He needs to come to the hospital for counseling.” The doctor’s voice echoed from the background, but I didn't hear the rest of his words.

*********

I take a deep breath and walk into my parents’ house. The doctor had warned me against getting further injuries after spending two weeks in the hospital.

Going back to Max is not an option if I want to save my baby.

Assuming I didn't dial 911 before I collapsed that day, I would have died.

No single person there cares about me. Although I know my parents will be angry with my decision, I have run out of options.

“Do you think we should call that i***t and make her get more money from Max?”

My mom's voice stops me in my tracks, making me pause in the process of walking into the sitting room.

The door is slightly open, letting me hear everything. I come from a family of modest scientists.

Not too wealthy like Max, but enough to be considered rich. After all, my family lives in a sizable duplex.

As I made my way to the living room, a topic being discussed by the family caught my attention.

I halted in my tracks and stood quietly to listen.

“Of course, what good is she except bringing money home?” my father hissed.

Picking her up from the street that day was a good decision.

Who would have expected that someone wealthy would marry her, and help the family out of debt?

As long as she brings enough money home, especially now that our son is about to get married, I don't care about anything else.” My mother chips in.

“Tch! Poor Ariella. She still doesn't know she's not our family. The last time I heard, she had fallen out of Max’s favor and was beaten ruthlessly.” My sister chips in.

“It's none of my business. I already sold her to him, what he does with her is none of my business.

Whether he cripples or kills her is his choice. He can do whatever he wants with her, as long as he keeps sending money to us.” Mom says again.

Tears cloud my vision as I turn to leave. It all makes sense now.

This is the reason I'm always the one being sacrificed.

Each time I complain about Max’s cold treatment, his mom's cruelty, or whatever else I face in the Valdez family, they will always insist I remain there.

It was not that virtuous women should be meek and submissive as mom always said.

No, they simply don't care about my life.

I don't know how long I walk before I hear the screeching of tires, and something hard hits me.

The lights from a car's headlights fall on my face as the darkness consumes me