hapter 11
After my sister shed, I mamed her husband, Nick Ambrose That made me the stepmom to my five year old nephew, Jayden Ambrose)
Du my bratislaw, I accidentally wore one of my late sister’s dresses |
lo font of everyone, five year old Jayden threw my buthuday cake straight into
He looked down at me, covered in frosting, with the same cold, emotionless stare as his faiber
“Don’t think you can replace my mom just because you matted into the Ambrose Family,” he sneered “You gold digging tramp“.
Then his voice dropped into something darker, hateful |||
“I wish it had been you who died. Then, we’d be lighting candles for your memorial, not your damın birthday‘
“I swear, when I grow up, the fast thing fin doing is kicking you out of this house!“)
The cake, overly meet with extra frosting, slid toward the comer of my mouthy, but all I tasted was bitterness ¦
Istoned at the little boy Had raised with my own hands and, strangely, I just felt.. donell
it a child doesart love you, maybe it’s time to let god
But after I left, both Nick and Jayden came crawling back, hill of regret, begging me to forgive them 20
“Ana, are you sure about divorcing q Nick?” Mrs. Fusco asked me over the phone, her voice full of concem. “Jayden’s still so young. He Deeds you“.
I stood at the stove, one hand braced on the counter and replied calmly, “I married Nick because of the agreement. Jayden’s five now–ho can take care of himself. He doesn’t need me anymore.“X
Lowed Mrs. Fusco a huge debt. To repay her kindness, I agreed to a five year marriage contract. Five years of playing house, acting like the perfect Ambrose wife, taking com of Nick and his son. But the contract ends tomorrow I’m finally free X
Before she could respond, I felt a sharp sting on my forehead. Something hard hit me.X
A rock clattered onto the tiled floor.X
My hands flew up to cover the gash. Illood trickled down my face as I turned to see Jayden standing just outside the windowl
His ans were crossed, eyes narrowed with disdain 20
“Snitching to Grandma again? Looks like that little lesson I gave you wasn’t enough. I should be sending you to mom a company!“)
I stared at him, stunned, as everything from an hour ago came rushing back.
the ground, keep my
it was my twenty–fifth birthday. I’d never celebrated one before, so i treated myself to a small cake. But I accidentally wore my late sister’s dress and the sight of it sent Jayden into a rage X
He snatched the cake and scrawled “RIP” across it with black paint. Then, for the final touch, he stuck white chrysanthemums on top- flowers meant for the dead
My birthday cake had turned into a funeral offering.X
He laughed, delighted with his work. “You think you deserve a birthday? If it weren’t for you, my mom wouldn’t be dead. And would have a broken family. Remember this: from now on, today isn’t your birthday–it’s your death day.”
Then, with everyone watching, he slammed the coke into my face and ruined the only day I’d been looking forward to
I didn’t yell. I didn’t cry. I just walked to the kitchen in silence.X
He followed me in, angry that I hadn’t reacted X
thing I’m doing is kicking
Jayden wasn’t satisfied “What, you upset now? You’re so petly!” he snapped. “I swear, when I grow up, the first thing I you out of this house”
Hooked at him–this child I’d poured five years of love and energy into–and felt my heart sink.
I was so tired I
“You won’t need to, I told him quietly Tim leaving this house tomorrow”
Then I walked out and went to the living room to clean up the wound on my forehead. I was bandaging my bleeding forehead when i heard the shattering of glass from upstairs.I
A chill ran down my spine
Iran up the stairs and found the only keepsake my mother had left me–a jade bracelet–smashed into glittering places. The shards. sparkled under the light stabbing into my heart.
I dropped to my knees and picked them up one by one, careful not to cut myself. I hadn’t cried when Nick’s parent gave me hell for years Thądn’t cried when Nick treated me like a stand in for my sister, using me for stress relief and never anything more. I didn’t even cry when Jayden publicly humiliated me with the cake
But now looking at the broken bracelet my mom left me?
I broke
The tears came fast, hot and out of control
That bracelet was the last thing I had from someone who truly loved me. Jayden stood nearby, watching me crumble. Then, be smirked “Humi, doesn’t it? Having the one thing you care about destroyed? That’s what you get for killing my mom. Now I’ll destroy everything you
Hurts, doesn’t it? Having the one thing you care about destroyed? That’s what you get for killing my mom. Now I’ll destroy everything you
care about Murderer”
That’s when I finally lost it
eces up now and put them back together!”
I grabbed him by the arm and dragged him forward. “You pick all the pieces up
Shock flashed in his eyes. Probably because he had never seen me in such state. But before he could react, a hand shoved me hard- sending me back to the ground.
“What the hell is wrong with you?” Nick glared at me with bloodshot eyes. “It’s just a bracelet. How could you go off on a kid over it?”
I sat there on the floor, stunned, staring up at the man I’d once vowed to love.
To him, it was just a cheap piece of jewelry. But to me, it was a treasure–the most priceless thing in the world.
Ten years ago, there was an earthquake in my hometown. My mother died protecting me–she used her body to shield me from falling concrete. The cement slab pierced right through her
I lost her that day!!!!
Mrs. Fusco found me years later when I was fifteen, paid for my schooling, gave me a future. That’s how I ended up here.
Nick must’ve realized he’d gone too far. He pushed Jayden out of the room and closed the door
He came over, lifted me from the floor and laid me down on the bed, gently brushing away my tears.
“I thought you were more mature than this,” he said softly. “You shouldn’t be lashing out at a kid. You owe Jayden an apology” Then he leaned down and started unbuttoning my blouse!
“It’s your birthday. Let me make it up to you. Consider it a reward for everything you’ve done for this family!”
Tinhaled sharply and pushed his hand away?
“Nick,” I said, voice calm but firm, “I want a divorce.”
