Chapter 1: The mistake I married

VIOLET

“you are not marrying him end of discussion.”

I paced back and forth, anger coursing through every part of me.

“You do not have the right to stop me from getting married to him. I love him, and there is nothing that is ever going to change that.”

My father shook his head, disappointment clouding his face, but at that moment, I didn’t care.

“Why can’t you see that he’s using you? Justin doesn’t care about you.”

“And you do?” I asked, folding my arms over my chest.

“Of course I do,” my father replied softly. You are my daughter and I love you more than anything.

“No, you don’t. Because if you did, you would allow me marry the person my heart beats for.”

“Violet you are young. You know nothing about love and marriage. This is all his idea, and one day you are going to regret it.”

I couldn’t believe my father was saying all this. I thought he would support me, I thought he would be happy for me that I have found someone I wanted to spend the rest of my life with.

“We are getting married with your support or without it. I am going to marry the man I love, and there is nothing you can do about it.”

My father slowly rose to his feet until he stood inches away from me.

“If you get married to Justin, don’t come running back to me when everything backfires.”

“Oh, please,” I scoffed. “Like your marriage with mom perfect was perfect.

Violet,” my father’s voice cracked as he called my name.

I could see his face drain of colour, his expression filled with shock, anger, disappointment, hurt and sadness.

For a brief second, guilt tugged at my heart, but my pride was stronger.

“If you try to stop my wedding with Justin, then be rest assured that I will disown you as my father.”

Without waiting for his response, I turned around and walked away.

A cold splash of water hit me, and I gasped as I opened my eyes.

Reality came crashing down on me

The divorce papers lay on the table in front of me.

“Sign it,” Justin said, his voice cold and detached.

I didn’t say a word. Silently I brushed my soaked hair away from my face.

Chloe stood there with a satisfied smirk, the empty cup she had just emptied over my head still in her hand.

“You’re just going to stand there and watch her treat me like this?” I asked quietly. My voice was calm —too calm that I felt I no longer had the strength to argue anymore.

Justine looked at me with eyes that held nothing but disgust

“And who the hell are you”

The words pierced through my heart.

six months ago, this was the same man who had promised to love and protect me for the rest of our lives. Now he looked at me as though I were nothing more than a stranger he couldn’t wait to get rid off.

He no longer sounded like the man I had disobeyed my father for. He sounded exactly like the monster my father had warned me for.

“You really don’t have any use for me anymore, so why stay married to me?”

Justin let out a mocking laugh.

“So you only got married to me because I was useful?”

“Of course not, your family was useful. You had assets…things I wanted to get my hands on.”

“I thought you loved me.” I whispered “You told me you loved me.”

He made you believe that because you were easy to fool. Look at yourself. Do you honestly think he would ever choose you over me? What exactly do you have to offer now? Your father's company is bankrupt, you've lost everything, and you're completely worthless.”

She walked over slowly and sat on Justin’s lap.

Everything around me felt unreal, like I was in a trapped inside a nightmare I couldn’t wake up from. I didn’t want this to be real.

I wanted someone to tell me this wasn't happening.

i wanted someone to tell me I would wake up in my bed and find Justin smiling beside me like he always used to but the reality in front of me refused to change.

Another woman sat comfortably on his lap while he held her without the slightest hint of guilt.

The man who once treated me like I was his entire world now looked at me as if I disgusted him.

So many times, Chloe had come into our home pretending to be my friend.

Justin always told me they were only colleagues. He would smile, kiss my forehead, and tell me I was the only woman he would ever love.

I was so blinded by love that I believed every single word he said, never realising they had been making a fool of me all along.

“Sign the divorce papers, Violet” Justin said impatiently Or I'll have someone make you sign them, and trust me, it won't be pleasant.”

He told me he loved me.

I muttered it under my breath over and over again. It felt like everything happening still refused to register in my head. I was in so much denial, and I wanted this to be a dream so badly– a dream I would wake up from and find Justin lying next to me on the bed.

But right in front of me, another woman sat on his lap, and he was caressing her without a single trace of remorse or shame. And he stared at me with disgust, like I was some common piece of trash.

This same man who once adored me, he practically kissed the floor I walked on.

So many times, Chloe had come here, pretending to be my friend.

Justin always said they worked together and that he only had eyes for me. No one else I was so blinded by love, I believed him, not knowing he had been cheating on me right from under my nose.

Sign the divorce papers, Justin, “or I’ll get someone to make you do it and believe me, it won’t be pretty.”

I starred at the divorce papers for a few seconds before reaching for my pen. Without another word I signed my name.

The moment the ink touches the paper, I realised the marriage was over.

Inside me, I felt so much anger. I wanted to scream, I wanted to fight. I wanted both of them to pay for everything they had done for me.

But on the outside I remained expressionless.

My father had warned me. He had seen through Justin from the very beginning.

yet I had choose love over the only man who had never stopped protecting me.

Now I had nowhere to go, and after everything I had said six months ago, how was I supposed to face my father?

I got into my car, the only thing that was actually in my name and drove straight to the home I had sworn never to return to. By the time I arrived, the rain had become heavier.

I remained inside the car for almost thirty minutes, just staring at the rainfall. I didn’t know how to face my father.

My hands rested on the steering wheel, but I couldn't bring myself to open the door.

What was I supposed to say?

Dad..,you were right

I'm sorry?

None of the words felt enough.

Suddenly, every tear I had been holding back came crashing down.

i cried until I could barely breathe.

When the tears weren't enough anymore, I slammed both hands against the steering wheel over and over again.

The pain in my chest refused to disappear.

No one could hear me, or see how broken I had become and that was actually a good thing, because I looked pathetic.

After a long while, I finally stepped out of the car.

I got out of the car, not caring if the rain drenched me or not. Every step towards the front door felt heavier than the last. I rehearsed countless apologise in my head, but none of them sounded enough. None of these could erase the cruel words I had thrown at my father six months ago.

just as I reached the front of the door, my phone buzzed in my pocket. I hadn’t realized it had been there. I slowly pulled it out, and on the screen was a message from Dr. Jade:

Congratulations. Your pregnancy test came out positive.