Hazel's pov
I pressed my hand to my cheek in disbelief as my eyes locked onto Monica's icy gaze. "How dare you call her a thing?" She snapped.
Without hesitation, she raised her other hand and delivered yet another stinging slap to my left cheek. A small cry escaped my lips as tears streamed down my face, yet they did nothing to ease the heavy ache in my heart.
Turning my gaze towards Ryan, I saw him wrapped up in making out with Ruby right before me.
Fury boiled within me, causing my fists to clench tightly. I lowered my head, letting the tears flow freely, but Ryan didn't even spare me a glance.
"Sign the documents, you barren woman," Monica spat, washing her hands with the water from the table as if she had just touched something disgusting.
Ruby pulled away from the kiss and, with a sultry smile, said, "How could I forget to invite you to such an important celebration?" She giggled as she rummaged through her purse.
"Here it is," she exclaimed, extending her hand toward me, holding a bright red card. I hesitated to take it, but she pressed it into my palm. "I'm getting married to Ryan by next week, so I really hope you'll come and wish us well."
My chest tightened, and silent sobs threatened to escape as I turned to Ryan, silently hoping and praying for some sign that this was all a cruel joke.
But Ryan said nothing, he just smirked at me while groping her butt. "You look tight baby", saying it loud enough for me to hear.
He had already replaced me, and the cold truth gnawed at my insides. I was living with my enemy, and the weight of that realization was almost unbearable. I fought back tears, blinked them away, and stood tall once more.
Hope had become a distant memory. My gaze fell on the divorce papers spread before me, the ink blurring from my tears, rendering some words nearly unrecognizable.
With a steely resolve, I picked up the biro and scrawled my name at the bottom left corner. "If this is what you wish, then we are done."
Surprise flickered across the faces of the three watching me, quickly masked by nonchalance. They hadn't anticipated my willingness to sign the papers so readily, but I was done absorbing their contempt.
I had learned my lessons the hard way. Love was a cruel master. I stormed off to our room, determined to gather only the belongings that were rightfully mine.
Ryan excused himself from Ruby, claiming he needed to ensure I wasn't taking any of his things. Ruby, oblivious to the tension, suggested joining him, but he deftly convinced her to lounge on the sofa instead.
I stepped into our room and closed the door firmly behind me. Moments later, Ryan followed, his expression unyielding.
"What now?" I challenged, meeting his gaze. The hatred in his eyes cut deep; I couldn't fathom what I had done to provoke such loathing.
"Don't get your hopes up. I'm not here to beg," he replied, his gaze sweeping over me with a disdain that made my skin crawl. "And remember, don't breathe a word about my condition, or you'll regret it." A cruel smirk tugged at the corners of his lips as he turned to leave.
"Wait," my voice caught in my throat, but I pressed on. "Does your soon-to-be wife know about it too?"
His body stiffened, brows furrowing in an undignified mix of surprise and anger.
"None of your business," he snapped back, but I saw the simmering tension beneath his facade.
I forced a smile that held no joy. "I bet you haven't told her yet. I was prepared to face this with you, Ryan. Why are you turning your back on me?"
He exhaled, a deep sigh full of burdens. "If I don't divorce you now, my parents will start asking questions, and that's something I can't allow. I need to inherit the family business, or Mason will take it all from me."
The shock of his confession hit me like a punch to the gut. "And you're willing to sacrifice me for that? There are so many solutions—we can brainstorm together. We can tackle this if we stand united."
He stared at me, eyes steeped in contempt. "Don't you find it pathetic, begging for a man's attention because you can't sort anything out yourself?"
His words landed on me like a slap. "How can you say that after everything we've been through?" Each syllable forced its way out, a small crack forming in the dam that held back my devastation.
"I trusted you with my life," I managed, my voice barely above a whisper. I wasn't sure he even heard. He regarded me as if I were a stranger.
"I was never with you, Hazel. I chose you in high school because I knew you fit the role I needed. Now, I can't even stand to look at you."
The weight of his cruelty pressed down on me, and I felt as if I could hardly breathe. A manic laugh escaped my lips—was that me, spiraling into madness?
"You are breaking me, Ryan," I said, summoning the last shreds of my strength, but he responded with only indifference, as though my very presence annoyed him.
Just then, the door swung open, revealing Monica and Ruby, caught in the tension like deer in headlights. "What is she still doing here, Son?" Monica seethed.
I glanced at Ryan, who had turned his disinterested gaze toward me, and in an instant, he was dragging me out of the room. Confusion flared within me as I realized he was heading for the front door.
"Please, it's late! Let me stay until morning," I cried out, panic rising within me as he remained unfazed.
"You can't just throw me out in the middle of the night, and on our anniversary too!" The desperation in my voice felt palpable, but my pleas fell on deaf ears.
By the time we reached the grand entrance, I was so weak from the mental drain. Ryan stopped abruptly, his grip tightened for a brief second before he released me. The sudden loss of support made me stumble, but before I could catch my balance, he shoved me with force.
I fell hard on the gravel outside, my knees scraping the ground as I landed with a thud. Pain shot through my legs but it was nothing compared to the ache in my chest.
Ryan stood in the doorway as he looked down at me. His smug smile revealed the satisfaction he felt seeing me in such a condition.
I was desperate at the moment. But there was nothing I could do but beg. "Please.. Ryan, don't do this. I'll do whatever you want, I'll dress sexily from now on. I'll be a better person. Don't leave me out in the streets alone".
"You'd be better off dead than alive. I'm just doing the thugs a favor, giving them a late-night snack," he said, sizing me up once more.