CHAPTER 3
IT WAS ALL A SET UP
Flora widened her eyes as her body trembled in fear. She gazed at the man who just returned to his couch and was seated comfortably, lazily flicking his cigarette as if nothing happened.
She shook her head. She still can't believe that this was the same man that had promised to love her till death do them part.
Now, he is only ruthless and cruel, his heart only guided by his desires for wealth and fame.
She held the papers and breathed deeply.
At this point, she knows that she has only one option; either to choose her grandfather's wealth and risk her life, or she protects her life and loses the wealth.
She looked at the man who had allowed his greed to consume him. Since she knows that choosing her grandfather's shares will make her lose her life, she swallowed painfully and nodded.
"Fine. I'll sign it." She said, her voice barely above a whisper.
Without hesitation, she took out a pen from her bag and scribbled her signature decisively.
As soon as Richard took the divorce agreement, his lips curled up in a contented smile as if he had just won a life long thicket to unbeatable wealth.
"Good of you." He leaned and whispered coldly.
"Now, if you read through the agreement, you'll see where it stated that you're not leaving with a penny from the company or the mansion. Secondly, you're to vacate this building on or before 12:00 noon tomorrow, and you're not to carry anything other than your clothes and other minor belongings." He added.
Flora gagged ceaselessly, her tears flowing like a river. An oppressive chill came up her spine as she packed her belongings that night. The pain of all she had passed through from morning still lingered in her head, and she had to vacate the house and lodge in a hotel that night.
She had texted Debby and one of her distant aunts about the unfortunate incident that has made her lose her marriage, now rendering her homeless.
Immediately, her aunt suggested for her to come over to Mexico and live with her.
She felt a wave of relief surged through her body. After all, she's also exhausted with living among the same people and features that ruined her life.
Besides, if not for the respect of her grandfather's dying wish, she would have called off her wedding to Richard long before it happened.
His insincerity has always been evident in his attitude since their courtship days.
At some point, Richard began to act weird as one who's forced in a relationship against his will. But she chose to ignore those signs whenever she remembers the good days that he promised heaven on earth.
As she got ready to check out in the morning, she discovered that her wallet was nowhere to be found inside her bag.
‘Fuck!’ She has forgotten it in one of the drawers in the Wilson's mansion.
She had to book a boat immediately to drive her down the one mansion she's been warned and threatened never to visit again.
As she walked past the garden, approaching the silver coated front door, her ear lopes perked up as her attention got caught by the chattering of familiar voices around the garden cooling spot.
Those were the voices of Clara and her ex mother-in-law alongside Debby's.
"Hope you're satisfied now, sweetheart. Richard is finally a complete single man. Hope you don't have to feel guilty anymore?" Henya asked.
Those words left Flora dumbfounded.
She tip toes closer to have a clear view of everything.
There, she saw Debby cross her legs and blushed in a contented manner. "Sure Mama. My dad has even decided to invest in the Wilson's Swift Holdings. He couldn't contain his happiness when I told him I'm soon going to be part of the Wilsons." She admitted.
"That's the best news I've heard in a long time! My dear, with your dad's investment in the company, it will make Richard's influence to be incontestable! I knew you were going to be my favourite daughter in-law!" Henya clapped.
"Thank you mama." Debby nodded happily.
"Such a great pleasure for us to finally be a family, right? Trust me when I tell you guys that I know the best way to get rid of that bitch!" Clara chipped in.
Flora squeezed her eyes shut to force back the tears that were threatening to fall. Her feet became deeply rooted as the voices replayed in her head.
Those words sunk more than they should have, not because they were harsh, but because they were unexpected.
‘I’ve cried enough. It's high time I move on with my life.’ She mumbled.
She blinked, and everything flashed back in her head. The connection in events was unconcealable. It was Clara who suggested for them to stop at the restaurant to get her favourite drink before they reach home.
She had left Clara and Debby to use the restroom, and the moment she returned and sipped her remaining wine, her eyes began to get blurry, only for her to wake up naked on a hotel bed without any man at sight.
‘So, this was all Henya and Clara's plan, huh?’ They wanted Richard to divorce me and give Debby a spot, all because her father is interested in investing with the Wilson's holding.’
Flora's heart throbbed painfully at their words and her eyes stung.
At that moment, she lost every bit of patience and walked up to them, her face engulfed in resentment.
Debby was startled, and so was Clara and her mother.
From the look of Flora's twisted face, they already knew that she had successfully eavesdropped on their conversation. Now, the only option for them is to be cruel and show her their true colours.
"Oh, so you still got some nerves to show your disgusting face here, huh?" Henya cursed, her eyes red like a burning iron.
Clara pouted with a smirk, "Don't be too dramatic, Flora! Do you think my brother would stick to you for long just because he's married to some rich spoiled brat?"
Flora scoffed.
‘Spoilt brat? Wow! Isn't this the same family that has always praised me for being kind and humble despite my wealthy background?’ She thought to herself.
How easy it is for humans to change. These were the same people that resorted to all sorts of begging when she suggested that their wedding be paused until she clocks twenty five. Their constant persuasion for fear of losing her to another man forced her to reconsider her decision, making her end up walking down the aisle at twenty two.
She blinked.
"So, you...you all planned and framed me up, right? What did I ever do to deserve this evil from you guys?" Flora asked, her head spinning in disbelief as she gazed at their unapologetic faces.
"Oh, my dearest Flora..." Debby chuckled.
"Do you think Richard was really interested in you? Wise up girl... He was only after your grandfather's wealth! And you're nothing but just a ladder for him to climb up the governor's position in the Wilson's Swift Holdings. It is me that he truly loves!" She added, waving her fingers over Flora's face to show her the expensive engagement ring Richard had given her.
"Mummy, why are we still allowing this lunatic to express her dirty self here? Shouldn't she be on the streets by now?" Clara snapped.
"Sure, you're right." Henya nodded.
"Now, get out of here, Flora! You're divorced, and it's stated that you're no longer welcomed here beyond 12:00 noon." Henya pushed her off.
Flora smiled with an unbridled coldness.
"I'm only here for my passport and IDs. Once I get that, I'll be out of here for good!" She snapped.
"Fine. Direct Clara to where you kept it and she'll get it for you. I need you to go as far as you can from this place!" Henya warned.
“And what will you do if I don't?” Flora raised a brow.
‘What?’ Henya rolled her gaze at Clara and Debby. They were utterly surprised at Flora's sudden confidence in talking back.
Even during their highschool days, Debby had always known Flora to be fragile and indecisive, always avoiding any occasion that'll make her want to exchange words with anyone.
As soon as Flora grabbed her IDs and turned to take her leave, Debby marched behind her and grabbed her arms violently.
"Flora, take it or leave it. Richard only married you because of what he has to gain. And in all honesty, you don't deserve him, not even for a day!" She chuckled.
Flora lowered her head, a faint bitterness spreading across her lips as she glared at the woman that has always been her best friend for more than a decade. But now, all that is written over her is hypocrisy and hatred.
"I have no vocabulary to waste on you for now." Flora said and tried to free her arms from Debby's grip.
"Come back here, Flora! How dare you walk away without answering my question?" Debby dragged her back, digging her long nails painfully into Flora's flesh.
Flora turned violently and raised her hand to give her a resounding slap, but Debby instantly grabbed her hand before it landed on her face. "Who the hell do you think you are to slap me, Flora? I only took over what belongs to me! I am the woman destined to become Mrs. Wilson and not you!" Debby barked.
“And I'm not contesting that position with you. Am I?”
Debby was stunned at Flora's sudden willingness to let go of Richard without any chaos.
‘Wait, was she being insincere when she told me that she won't trade Richard for anything? Or…is there something hidden about the Wilsons that I'm not aware of?***’ Different ugly thoughts ran helter-skelter down Debby's mind.
"So, you conspired with them to ruin my life last night? Alongside Richard, right?" Flora couldn't hold her tears, the pains returned fresh, stroking her heart like a knife.
Seeing her tears, Debby heaved a sigh of relief.
‘At least, she's feeling hurt to some extent.’ she thought.
But there was still something about Flora's expression that Debby couldn't lay her hands on.
Well, she's confident that Flora can't even fight back, because she's got nothing to herself.
But still, those tears don't look hurtful enough.
“But do you really have to go that far to plot against me just to marry Richard?” Flora asked again.
Debby tilted her head toward Flora.
"Yes. That's because Richard and I have been in love with each other long before you came into the picture. Even the fire accident and the collapse of his side business was fake. I needed money as of then to fix my life, because I am the one who has been satisfying him in bed all this while!" Debby declared.
"But too bad for you, Flora.
You've signed the divorce already. So even as you know the truth now, what more can you do?”