Chapter One: A Cheater

Elena stared at the article in her hand with a blank face. When they saw her reading it, the maids in the living room held their breaths. The article read that actress Melanie is getting picked up by her man. She scoffed at this. She felt stupid. It was not the first time this had happened. Yet this was the first time it had happened so publicly. She froze, staring at pictures of her husband and Melanie. She felt angry and had a slight urge to vomit. Her husband, Daniel, intended to marry Melanie, but due to unforeseen circumstances, she ended up marrying Daniel instead. She had thought she had chosen well, but Melanie was a wall blocking her way. She did not understand why he would do this to her, and with that woman of all people. She surveyed the room, focusing on the prepared birthday cake on the dining table at the end. She had told him today was her birthday, but he, who should have arrived by now, went to the airport to pick up another woman. She looked up to find the little staff frozen in place, a look of worry on her face. “You can go back now,” Elena waved the girl away, and she hurried to leave, only for Elena to stop her. “Clear the table,” she ordered, and the maid nodded and hurried away. As she watched them clear the table, she felt numb. She picked up her phone and texted Daniel, telling him that she had seen the photos. “Let’s get a divorce,” she said, putting the phone down. She sighed. Why was she doing this? Why was she staying here to suffer? To be disrespected... Daniel did not take long to call her back. She guessed that he must have seen the message. The moment she picked up the call, he was furious. “Are you crazy? What nonsense are you playing now? You mentioned that it was your birthday, but am I still required to attend? When have I ever attended your birthday willingly? I have told you to know your place. Melanie is back, and I need to take care of her. Keep your childish tantrums at bay!” he scolded. Elena felt dead inside. With all the reprimands he was giving her, she was certain that Melanie was probably by his side. “Where are you?” She asked, “Are you with her?” “Elena, it seems leaving you alone has made you grow wings. When was it your place to ask about my schedule?” he asked. “True, I must be crazy,” Elena said. “Don’t call me again to ask random questions!” he scolded. “Fine, let's get a divorce,” she repeated, and the other line went silent. Daniel was tired on his end; why is she threatening divorce? “What game are you playing now?” he asked. “What game? Don’t tell me you are one of those men who think their wives want a divorce to get their attention. You are not that stupid, right?” she asked. When she got silent on the other end, she knew she had guessed right. “Prepare the papers and send them over. Make sure you sign it,” she said. Daniel was pissed when he heard her tone. She was the one who was eager to marry him before, and now she wants to leave just like that. Why should he give her what she wants? “I don’t care what you are messing with; better stay home and stop causing trouble,” he said. “Are you dismissing the freedom I am offering you? Didn’t you always want to be free?” she asked, “Even if you do not care, can that little lover of yours wait?” she asked. “Is that what this is about?” he asked. He had always known that Melanie was bothering his wife. But even if she is acting out, there is a limit. “I do not have time for all your nonsense. Do not call me if there is nothing important.” “If you refuse to sign, I will make your little lover famous. She wants to be the married man's mistress. I will make sure she is all the media talks about. If you know what is good for you, send over the papers, and let's go our separate ways,” she said and ended the call. It was clear she had been a fool all these years to assume that he would love her just because she married him. She felt that she had done herself a great disservice by marrying him. It was either dealing with his crazy mother, his unruly sister, or a mistress on the outside. As she walked up the stairs, she felt like laughing. She could not believe that she, Elena Hamilton, had degraded herself to this point. She walked into the room she had stayed in, a room that should have been their matrimonial bedroom, but her husband had never come back once to lie on the bed. It was as though the room mocked her. She had been a widow in her marriage, keeping vigil all day while he went around with his mistress. Very few people even knew that they were married to each other. Even fewer were aware of his marital status, and those who knew had never laid eyes on his wife's face before. She was somewhat glad that this was so. She thought of the shame she had put herself through all these years and was quite happy that no one knew she had married him. She crawled into bed to sleep, but sleep was hard to come by. Even though she had come to her senses, it did not change the fact that it hurt. Everything about what Daniel had done to her hurt her deeply. She stayed awake deep into the night before she finally went to sleep. When she woke up the next day, she turned to a maid and asked her to start packing all her things. The maid paused but nodded. She dressed and picked up her document to leave. But the moment she stepped out of her room to walk down the stairs, she received a call from her mother-in-law. Cecile was the most annoying woman she'd ever met. She looked down on her because her son, Daniel, was self-mad and she wanted a wife who would be useful to him. From the day she stepped foot in their home, Cecile had been very vocal about not liking her. Elena picked up the call, and Cecile’s loud voice tore through her ears the next moment. “Why are you not here yet? Do you not know that I have things to do today? You desired to be the head of our family, yet you are incapable of even exhibiting the behavior of a good wife. Hurry up and get here this moment, or get lost from our family!” Cecile shouted. This was normal. Every single time Cecile opened her mouth, it was to threaten Elena with divorce. If it were any other day, Elena would have tried to reason with this mother-in-law, but she was not having it today. She was tired and wanted out of this hell hole. And with her fatigue came impatience. “You do not need to worry too much. Your son and I are getting a divorce,” Elena said coldly. She's done with this family.