The Real Rivera
1293 Words
“Cressida, what the hell is wrong with you?” Richard snapped, adjusting his trousers as he stepped protectively in front of his half-naked mistress.
“Are you seriously defending this slut?” I gestured toward Melissa, who stood behind him with her dress in disarray. Her lipstick was smudged like a bad joke, leaving its prints all over my husband’s face.
“Careful Emily. Don’t you dare talk to Melissa like that.” Richard warned.
He turned to his mistress and cupped her face gently in his hands. A loving gesture I had long stopped receiving from him. “Are you alright, my darling?” He asked her softly, and she nodded.
Emily looked over his shoulder and smiled at me. I scoffed, disgusted by their shameless display of affection.
“Jealousy doesn’t look good on you, Emily. Are you surprised Richard chose me over you?”
“Richard,” I called, ignoring Melissa. “What the hell is going on?”
Richard turned and glared at me. “What does it look like, Emily?” He took a step towards me. “You had no right to barge into my office and hit my woman.”
“Your woman?” I repeated, stunned. “You mean your secretary? The one you’ve been parading to be me at events, behind my back?” I laughed dryly, shaken. “Richard, are you actually cheating on me with your secretary?”
Melissa’s smile widened as she buttoned the last clasp of blouse. “Oh, I’m not pretending anymore.” She thrust her right hand in my face, brandishing a diamond ring on her finger. The same one Richard had promised to get me for our fifth anniversary.
“Richard and I are engaged,” she said sweetly, pressing a kiss to his cheeks
I went quiet.
The room seemed to grow small, and the air was suffocating. I wanted to deny it, but her words echoed in my head. That slug smile she wore on her lips. The ring she’d waved in my face like a trophy. It was clear as day. Richard was actually engaged to Melissa.
I felt a lump in my throat, but I swallowed, not just the pain, but to hold the tears that tried to break free. I walked back to the door and picked up the gift box.
Turning back to my husband, I said quietly, “Richard, today is our third wedding anniversary.” I pointed to the ring on my finger. “I'm your wife!”
Richard let out a hearty laugh, enough to split my soul in two.
“Why are you being delusional, Cressida? You're not my wife anymore. Didn't you get the divorce papers I sent to you?” He asked.
My lips parted slowly, but no words came forward. I stared at him, confused and hurt. I had received some documents a few days ago, but I didn't bother to go through them.
“Richard, you're making a mistake.”
“Mistake?” He scoffed. “The only mistake I ever made was marrying you. I knew it from the moment I watched you walk down the aisle. But you were so fragile and helpless. You couldn't even survive without me”
Richard walked back to his table and brought out a cheque book. He scribbled down some numbers on it and tossed the cheque towards me.
“There, I'm sure two million dollars should be enough to take care of you. You'd better take it; we both know you're never going to see that much money again.”
I watched the slip fall like a feather onto the ground. “Is that really what our marriage was worth to you, Richard? Something you could buy out of whenever you please?”
“Is it not enough?” Melissa asked, smiling. “I know you're a gold digger, but at least have some shame, Emily. Take the money and leave. Richie and I have a wedding to plan.”
I scoffed. Richard hated hearing his name shortened. Yet here he was, smiling like a five old while his secretary caressed the strands of hair around his jaw.
“Richard. I'm giving you another chance to tell me this is all a misunderstanding. Don't do something you're going to regret.” I said softly.
He shared a glance with Melissa, and they both laughed.
“Emily, you're so funny,” Melissa said, taking Richard's hand as she leaned into him.
“Why would I regret dumping you when I'm about to marry into the biggest family ever? Besides, Melissa is smart, beautiful, and much more useful to me than you'll ever be. Her family name alone is worth millions.”
I blinked at Richard. “What are you talking about?”
Melissa smirked. “I’m the Rivera heiress. The one and only surviving daughter of the Rivera Legacy.”
I stared quietly for a moment, then a soft laugh escaped me. It wasn’t of joy, but disbelief, and amusement. Of all the lies that had been told by people, claiming my identity had to be the funniest thing I’d ever seen anyone do.
“You?” I asked Melissa in utter mock shock. “You’re the long-lost Rivera heiress?”
Melissa smiled proudly. “I am. Eduardo Rivera is my father.”
“Of course,” I nodded with a grin. “And I’m the Queen of England.”
Richard scoffed. “You think everything is a joke? Melissa is the real deal.” He walked to his table and brought a file of his new partnership deal. “She got me a contract from her father’s company. Ace Empires. Something you could never do.”
I chuckled, and for a moment I almost felt pity for him.
“Do you really believe Ace Empires was her doing?” I asked softly. “You don’t think those contracts went through because of me?”
They both laughed again.
Melissa rolled her eyes. “Such confident talk when you're nobody. You think you scare us? I'm the Rivera heiress, and you? You're just an abandoned orphan who thinks she's Cinderella.”
I smiled, despite the burning ache in my heart. My lips twitched, but I took a deep breath and looked down at the gift box in my hand. I'd spent the last weeks saving up for it. The watch, the written note, and even dinner reservations at his favorite restaurant.
I scoffed as I walked past him and set the box down on his table. “Well then,” I said. “Happy last Anniversary Richard.”
“I’ll save you the trouble and sign the divorce papers. My brother was right. You’re not worth losing my inheritance.”
I turned to Melissa. “And you. Going around impersonating someone else. How shameful could you be?”
Melissa’s smug smile faltered for a moment, but she quickly regained her composure.
“Oh, please,” she scoffed. “You’re just jealous that I’m living the life you always wanted.”
I folded my arms, shook my head and smiled at her. “You must really think you’re clever, Melissa. But you’re just a pawn in a game you don’t understand.”
She blinked, her smile wavering.
Then I turned to Richard. “You always mistook my loyalty for weakness. But don’t worry. This is the last time you’ll ever see me beg for something you never deserved.”
I left for the door, but stopped just before closing it behind me.
“Melissa darling,” I said without turning. “I hope you remember this moment.”
She tilted her head. “Why?”
“Because the real Rivera is coming for you.”
- Writer
