Episode 2
1303 Words
Sheila sat at her vanity, staring at the tired reflection looking back at her. A woman stripped of everything. She straightened her back and reached for her laptop. If Jacob thought he could humiliate her and walk away without consequences, he was in for a surprise.
She pulled up her email, scrolling through the documents Andrew had sent. Her name was there, clear as day—majority shareholder and CEO of Evergreen Designs. The company she had built from scratch long before she became Mrs. Winfrey. Foolishly, she’d let Jacob handle the daily operations after their wedding, believing in the shared dream he sold her. Now, she was taking back what was rightfully hers.
Her phone buzzed with a message from Andrew:
“The board’s been notified. Meeting is set for tomorrow at 10AM.”
Sheila typed a brief, “Thank you.” Then she shut the laptop.
A soft knock at her door pulled her attention. It couldn’t be Jacob. He didn’t knock anymore. He barged in whenever he pleased. After all, he believed he owned the house. A house with her name on the papers.
“Sheila?” came her mother-in-law’s voice.
Her jaw tightened. That voice never sounded warm, never once carried kindness. Always laced with bitterness and contempt.
“What do you want?” Sheila asked, opening the door just enough to look at her. Her tone stayed cold. She was tired. Tired of being dragged through the mud, treated like a stray someone took in out of pity.
Mrs. Winfrey wasted no time pushing past her into the room. “I came to talk some sense into you,” she said, arms folded, her mouth already sour. “You’ve been moping around here like some victim, when you should be supporting Elena. She’s carrying Jacob’s child.”
“Supporting her?” Sheila echoed, her voice cutting. “First it was me, supporting Jacob through everything, through your insults. Last time you gave me your opinion, you slapped me.”
Mrs. Winfrey waved a hand, brushing it off like it was nothing. “Men make mistakes, Sheila. You’re his wife. It’s your job to stand by him.” She scoffed, rolling her eyes. “Besides, you couldn’t give him a child. Someone else did. All you do is point fingers.”
Sheila let out a bitter laugh. “So my duty now is to serve him and his mistress under my own roof? To sit quietly while they rub it in my face?”
“Stop acting dramatic,” Mrs. Winfrey snapped. “You’re barren, Sheila. Jacob deserves happiness. Elena can give him what you can’t.”
The words hit where they were meant to hurt, but Sheila wasn’t giving her the satisfaction. She stepped closer, locking eyes with the woman who had never wanted her here to begin with.
“Let’s be clear about something,” Sheila said, her voice steady, steady enough to unsettle. “I’ve been patient. I’ve been foolish. But I’m done playing the role of the obedient wife. Jacob took everything from me—my pride, my trust. What more does he want to take?”
Mrs. Winfrey scowled. “Leave,” she spat, hands on her waist. “Leave my son alone. Leave his wife alone. You’re nothing but a parasite wasting his money. You don’t work, you contribute nothing. Just leave.”
“Leave?” Sheila repeated, not even surprised. “You want me to leave my house?”
“My son’s house, you wretched barren thing!” she hissed, glaring straight into Sheila’s eyes. “I’ve known your type from the day he dragged you into this house. Homeless and desperate. I knew you’d amount to nothing. Elena has a career. She’s already making plans to grow his wealth—something you’ve never done.”
Strangely, Sheila felt like laughing. Elena? Making Jacob rich? That was the most ridiculous thing she’d heard.
Maybe it was time to run a proper background check on Elena.
“I understand. Elena’s the almighty daughter of Rodriguez,” Sheila said with a small, cold smile. Something about it didn’t sit right.
She’d never trusted Elena. Not once.
But if Jacob couldn’t see it, why should she care anymore?
“Exactly. Just her name will bring this family success. You’re nothing but a shadow, hiding behind—”
“Get out,” Sheila said, cutting her off. Her voice was flat, tired. “Get out.”
“What?” Mrs. Winfrey asked, stunned. “You’re telling me to leave my son’s house?”
“This is my room. At least for now,” Sheila replied, her eyes narrowing. Enough to make Mrs. Winfrey pause. “Respect that. And get out.”
“I knew it. I knew you were hiding your true nature.”
“I won’t ask again,” Sheila said, stepping toward the door and pulling it open. “Out.”
“You won’t last a week in this house. I’ll see to it,” Mrs. Winfrey barked as she stormed out.
Sheila closed the door and leaned her back against it, letting out a slow breath. For the first time in months, a tiny flicker of power sparked inside her again.
Why she’d let herself take so much hate from people she once called family was beyond her.
“We’ll see who really gets thrown out first.”
---
…
The next morning, Sheila stood in front of the mirror, adjusting her tailored navy suit. She looked every inch the woman she used to be. The one who built an empire from scratch.
She didn’t let Jacob see her when she left. No need to give him a hint of what she was about to do.
At the boardroom, Andrew greeted her with a mix of concern and admiration. “Are you sure about this?”
“I’ve never been more sure,” Sheila said. “Let’s go.”
Inside, the board members sat around the table, whispering. The moment she entered, they all stood to greet her.
“Good morning, Mrs. Winfrey.”
She took her seat at the head of the table, reclaiming her place.
“Sit,” she instructed, waving for Andrew to pass out the documents. “I’ll let today slide, since this is sudden and none of you were prepared. Winfrey won’t be my name much longer. You all know what I was called before this marriage.”
They nodded, exchanging murmurs. She let it pass.
“Well, from today forward, I’m retaking my position as CEO of Evergreen Organization.”
Silence. The weight of her words hung in the room.
“You’re firing your husband?” one man asked, reflecting the mixture of shock and quiet relief written on their faces.
“Technically… isn’t that exactly what it means, Mr. Williams?”
“We’ve raised our concerns before. I’m glad you’re finally listening,” another board member said, looking almost relieved.
“There were complaints?” Sheila raised a brow.
“Plenty,” Andrew said. “We’ve sent them all to your email, but you never answered.”
Jacob. Of course. He’d taken over everything. Even her access to the truth.
“We’ll have to call Mr. Winfrey forward…”
“No.” Sheila cut him off. “There’s another meeting tomorrow, isn’t there?” They nodded. “Good. Let me handle it.”
Nothing would beat the look on Jacob’s face when she made it official.
“If you’ll excuse me,” Sheila said, rising. “I have a company to save.”
As she walked out, a small sense of satisfaction settled in her chest.
Andrew followed quickly behind.
“I’ll prepare the documents and forward all complaints to your email. I’ll also book an appointment with Mr. Allison.”
“Yes, do that.”
- Writer
