Goodbye Ex-mate! You've Lost My Affection

A Ray Of Hope

CHAPTER 02 -

The sound of feet stomping behind me made me turn around, and immediately, Cindy, my mother-in-law, landed a slap on my cheek.

"Smack!!!"

The resounding slap echoed off the walls, leaving a red imprint on my cheek, as I clutched tight to the spot to soothe out the pain.

My jaw clenched, my eyes going wide with shock as they settled on the fierceness of her angry eyes.

Seeing Mrs. Cindy here meant she must have come here to celebrate today's event with her son as well, but why she slapped me, taking sides with Karen before she heard my part of the story, puzzled me the most.

I spurn around on my feet to face my husband, my eyes laying its deepest complaint to him, but to my humiliation and disappointment, he met my gaze with an indifferent look.

Not even a word in my defense?

If he could watch his mother assault me, it only meant that he supported her. If given the chance, he would do the same.

Tears brimmed my eyes. Even if we didn't get along, couldn't he save me the embarrassment?

"Mum!" Karen exclaimed scurrying to Cindy like a scared cat, while the latter embraced her.

Karen's voice broke into a feigned cry as she pointed at me, "She slapped me twice Mum, despite knowing I was pregnant and sickly."

I watched, shaking my head in disbelief as tears rolled down her cheeks. She looked so vulnerable, like a baby robbed of their favorite toy.

“Mother, she was…” ‘Almost f*****g my husband in his office’, I was about to say, but my words caught in my throat when I realized she would never listen to me.

Cindy closed in the distance between us, glaring daggers at me as her steps threatened to deal with me.

"We let you stick around like a leech, sponging off our family's wealth but you overstepped your boundary the moment you hit Karen who's carrying the heir you couldn't give us for three years,"

Cindy fiercely pointed to the floor,

"What the hell even made you believe you're worth anything in this family?" Her lips curled in disgust while the smug grin on Karen's face widened, making me wonder what manipulation Karen used to gain their support and trust.

Cindy was almost right. I was a housewife, not because I didn't want to work, but because that was what Drake wanted.

"I thought you knew your place, Susan. Barging into my office space and causing a nuisance is unbecoming of you," Drake accused with a flippant expression, his eyes, threatening to get me kicked out.

My heart constricted at his words.

Didn't people get mated to get the love and support that came with knowing someone has their back for the rest of their lives?

Then why was mine different? Was love a crime for which I'm miserably paying?

I was going to keep my pregnancy a secret from Drake. I had given my heart to him, but he crumbled it like trash, what difference would it make if I told him about our baby?

I didn't want to feel mad anymore. I was just done being his mate.

I sniffled, "I, Susan Lasko of Greywood pack, rejec…”

I wasn't done when he rushed over to me, his thick palm covering my mouth, while his other hand grabbed my throat.

“I dictate when this union ends! I'm not done with you just yet. Hear me?” He screamed lowly in my ears, his voice hoarse.

I nodded through tears when the air in my windpipe became exhausted and slowly, he released his grasp on my throat and mouth.

Looking at Karen, she didn't look exactly pleased with what had just happened but that's the least of my worries right now.

I turned around and left the conference room. People started giving me pitiable glances, probably wondering why I looked so horrible.

When I got out of the building, my driver was nowhere to be found.

I tried calling his line but his phone number led me to voicemail.

I decided to take a little walk to where I would hail a cab. Of course, I wasn't going home now, not when all that just happened.

I wanted anywhere to clear my head, even if it were a bar.

As I walked, a black car stopped in front of me, and before I could move, the side door was opened and strong arms dragged me in.

I yelled, struggling to set myself free as I kicked my legs and punched my arms in the air.

“Let go of me! You've got the wrong person.” I screamed repeatedly.

There were two men seated on either side of me. One of them dipped his hand in his pocket and brought out a small cloth which he used to cover my nose and mouth while the other man held me in place, making my body go limp as I collapsed against the leather seat, and then, my mind went blank.

I slowly came to, finding myself in a strange yet familiar-looking place.

As cold seeped into my skin, sending a shiver coursing through my veins, making me wrap my arms around my body, my eyes gradually adjusted to the dimly lit basement, finally settling on the rusty metal racks and cob-web shrouded crates.

One night turned to three days, yet no one came looking for me.

Hunger pangs gnawed at my stomach and I sobbed, pitying the fetus in my womb, and hoping it wouldn't die of hunger. It's all I've got in this cruel world.

“Drake, why? How could you leave me here to rot? Even if my love wasn't enough, what did I do wrong to deserve this cruel treatment?” my voice cracked, a final, desperate plea escaping my lips.

Then, I crumpled against the cold, damp wall as it dawned on me that I was paying the price for catching him with her.

On the evening of the third day, just when I was about to give up, I heard the door creak open.

Jerome, one of the maids walked in carrying a tray of food, a bunch of keys jingling in between her fingers. Her eyes were glued to the floor and her fingers, which carried the tray, slightly trembled. But I couldn't blame her. Maids couldn't be seen talking to family members. Besides, she must have been instructed not to say a word to me.

As she lay the tray of food beside me, a plan formed in my head. I lay still, my breathing soft, giving her the 'weaker than I appear' act and luckily, she bought it.

I could see her panicked looks when she tapped me to wake but I remained still. She laid the key on the floor, her full attention now on me. Good.

I took my chance and snatched the keys, and just before her shocked expression could register in my mind, I was out of the place, locking her in there as I did so.

Soon, I was out on the streets. Luckily, I found my way around.

I flagged down a moving cab and got in, telling him to drive straight to the hospital because I wasn't feeling well and desperately needed to see a doctor.

I coughed, clutching tight to my chest as pain spread there. My breath came in short gasps as my vision blurred, and my head got dizzy.

Although we lived together, Drake never knew I was suffering from Hypochromic microcytic anemia, an iron-deficiency anemia, caused by chronic blood loss.

"Fast." I urged faintly, finding it super hard to breathe.

Just then, my eyes began fluttering shut. Panic engulfed me as a truck, three times the size of our cab headed straight for our car.

The driver swerved to the right

, but it was too late...

The truck slammed into our car with brutal force, sending shards of glass, flying everywhere. My body rammed against the rear and then everything went blank.