Done With My Ex, Moving To The Next

Chapter 14: Hope For The Reborn

Chapter 14: Hope Once Again

Valerie rushed in, the keys in her hand creating a rattling sound at every contact.

I was sure she'd driven down to London.

I didn't cry this time.

I didn't smile either. But my heart was relieved as it had always been relieved.

“Stella!" She hugged me, breaking down in tears.

I didn't cry, I pulled her closer, feeling her chest pump against mine.

My nerves burned on the inside, my pulse beating aggressively.

“I'm so sorry," She said in tears, her arms wrapped around me.

The reason she was suddenly apologizing was beyond me. Whenever I was in trouble or in a bad situation, that was what she'd always said.

She sobbed. Even my own parents didn't.

My parents had left twelve hours ago, and I had been here alone with my sister, who insisted on staying back with me after many failed attempts to talk her out of it.

Valerie didn't let go. Instead, she held me tighter like she feared I was going to explode if she didn't.

My sister had gone out of the room to receive a phone call. I'd asked her to put a call to any lawyer she knew who had no connection to our parents.

“Valerie, he is gay, and he used me to protect his identity.ty," I lowered my gaze as I responded.

“What!" She pulled away, settling in the little space that separated my leg from the end of the bed.

“That bastard!" She bit her lip, holding back her words.

"His partner is Taylor. I have not asked him about anything since I found out.” I nodded at the end of each sentence, as though it would stop me from crying, but no matter how strong I tried to be about it, I couldn't help it.

“I'm not mentally strong enough" I admitted, looking away.

I just hadn't brought tears to my eyes.

My little sister walked in, snatching Valerie's stare towards the door.

“The lawyer will be here soon. I spoke to him already, and he just called to confirm our location," She informed, slipping her phone in her pocket.

“You're leaving?" Valerie looked just as surprised as Rebekah had been when I told her I was filing for divorce. She caught on fast.

Her brows sprang up, and more breath followed her words as though she'd just gained freedom.

I knew what they feared—an epic fail. They were afraid that my plans were going to fail like that last time my parents had supported Dylan, denying all my claims right in court and saying I was only ‘spoilt’ and delusional.

I feared it too, but my instincts pushed me to try. If I didn't, how would I never blame myself?

I didn't respond. I only smiled.

I'd lost too much—I’d lost everything. Reputation. Freedom. Myself. My Baby. My Smile. The Woman I Used to Be.

And I was only starting by fighting for one thing: My Freedom.

I'd confided in my sister, telling her everything he did to me while in the marriage and she begged in tears, telling me about how she never knew because our parents kept it away from her.

She'd sat beside me since, begging me to forgive her but the truth was, I was never mad at her.

She was just a baby to me, who didn't deserve to know about such cruelty.

I wanted her to love love as I should have. I didn't want her to fear it as I did.

My heart cut deeper, knowing she had to keep such in her memory.

“Stella, you know I'll walk down any road with you. Smooth or Rough. I'll do anything to get you out of it. I'll trek with you if I have to.” She said, placing a hand on my shoulder, her eyes searching mine as I nodded.

Hearing her reassurance pushed me to the verge of tears, but I said I wouldn't. Not because they weren't worthy to see my tears. But because I was training my mind not to give in easily.

I told Rebekah and Valerie the exact details about what I'd seen when I walked in on Dylan and Taylor and they both cussed. It took them minutes of venting and reassuring me I'd win.

But as they cussed and assured, I could no longer hold it back. I burst into tears, promising myself it was going to be the last time I'd cry.

I warned them to say nothing to my parents, the lawyer, or even the press because I was going to take it far when the right time came. That was my plan.

The lawyer came, and I heard him talk about the charges I could file against Dylan. I didn't tell him anything about his affair with Taylor.

The last thing I would ever do is use his sexuality against him.

The only thing I was taking revenge for—Was using me. Taking my unborn child. Stealing my smile.

When he was leaving, he stood before me and told me a real-life story about someone. A woman. Her name was Felicia.

“Felicia was in the same position as you, Ma'am. She fought, tried, and provided evidence, but had a weakness. I was her weakness" He’d said to me. A knot formed in my guts but he smiled before he continued.

“I was new to this world of practicing law, a fresh graduate who had just been called to the bar. I was scared—it was a case with a political leader being the defendant.” He adjusted his glasses, probably to distract me from the tears that had gathered in his eyes. "He had everything, money, fame, lawyers, killers, people, but I had nothing. I was scared,” He shook his head but I saw something in his eyes. Regret. Pain of Regret.

"I failed her by not fighting. I dropped the case, and she died in his hands, eventually.” He blinked back, but the tears trickled down his face. I cried too.

I had a lot up inside of ,me but, this story had touched a part of me I never knew existed.

"You're my Felicia. I want to make things right with you” He said to me, wiping the tears off his face with the piece of cloth he'd taken out of his pocket.

“I'll get you the justice you deserve. I won't fail you like I failed Felicia" He tone clasped as he said every word. I saw a lot.

I saw a man who was willing to make things right. A man who chose to accept his lies.

“Please, let me help you get revenge and burn the cage around you. I won't disappoint you”

For a long time, I realized something.

Hope.

It was back.

I believed I could survive again.

I wouldn't relent. I'd take everything from Dylan! Just as he took from me.

As the lawyer stood to leave, his phone buzzed.

He glanced at the screen.

Then at me.

“There’s something you should know about Dylan,” he said quietly but, his facial expression said something else