”And what the hell do you think it is?" His cold voice sent shivers down her spine. She stared at him shocked. She threw the divorce papers on the table, before facing Riccardo.

"Why? Why can't you just reciprocate my feelings? Was loving you all these years a crime!?" Vanessa asked as she stood before her husband Riccardo, her heart clenching in hurt. "After all these years, is this what you repay me with?" She asked staring down at the divorce papers on the table, her eyes burning with unshed tears.

She didn't want to cry in front of him, but the continuous pain she felt in her chest made her want to just run away and cry her eyes out. Riccardo didn't reply, he brought out an envelope and handed it over to her. Vanessa's heart pounded loudly in her chest as she tore the seal of the envelope.

Her heart literally stopped beating as she saw the content on the envelope. "Riccardo..." "You don't need to say anything, the picture says it all" Riccardo waved his hands in front of her face. "No. This is definitely not true, I would never cheat on you" Vanessa pleaded.

"You don't have to keep pretending. Sign the divorce papers and get the hell out of my house!" His nostrils flared as he yelled at her. "No Riccardo, Please I would never do that to you" Vanessa pleaded as she tightened her grip on the pictures.

"Just sign the divorce papers and get the hell out of my house you fucking whore!" Riccardo yelled his eyes already red from the anger.

Vanessa flinched, she could barely understand what was going on around her. "Riccardo, please you have to believe me. I would never do such" Vanessa pleaded as she took a step closer. Just then Riccardo's phone rang.

Riccardo fished his phone out of his suit jacket and somehow she got a glimpse of the callers ID. It was his ex-girlfriend.

“She’s the one right?” Vanessa asked.

“What do you mean?” Riccardo asked not taking his gaze away from his ringing phone.

“She’s the one who sent you this picture. Riccardo you have to believe me, this is just an edited picture” Vanessa said.

“Stop saying trash and sign the papers, it’s obvious that you’re the one in the picture” Riccardo uttered coldly.

“It’s crazy how you’re accusing me of cheating on me when you’ve never stopped cheating after all these years. You don’t even trust me, rather you prefer trusting outsiders.”

“That’s right. I’d rather trust outsiders than trust a fucking gold digging whore like you” Vanessa could feel the chill in the air as his cold voice echoed through the empty living room, devoid of any warmth or compassion.

“I guess this marriage is not worth fighting for anymore” her heart clenched in hurt as tears threatened to spill out of her eyes, but she managed to hold it in.

“Sign the papers and leave my house before I get back” with that being said, Riccardo walked out of the house.

Vanessa knees felt like jelly and she slowly brought herself to sit on the cold floor, the tears she had been trying to keep in came rolling down her cheeks and this time she didn’t try to force them in or wipe them, she just let them roll down. The pain she was feeling was so unbearable. Her heart broke into a thousand pieces as she remembered his words. How he spoke to her like a piece of trash. She found it hard to believe that he actually left in the middle of the night to go meet his ex-girlfriend! This just proofed that she meant nothing to him. Absolutely nothing. She has just been wasting her time loving someone as cruel as him.

Just thinking about all the things she had been through in this marriage made more tears roll down her cheeks. “I can’t believe it’s come to this” she thought sadly.

She suddenly began wiping her tears off. She wasn’t going to keep crying because of Riccardo, he didn’t deserve her tears.

She stood up from the ground and reached out for the divorce papers that was on the table. Since his signature was already there, she just signed hers then took the papers into their room and dropped it on the nightstand. So that he could easily find it whenever he decided to come back.

She went ahead and brought out her suitcase from her closet, then she began folding her clothes into the bags, she took all her properties and when she turned around and stared at the wardrobe, it was only one dress that was left hanging there. She left it because that was the only thing that Riccardo had bought for her since their three years of marriage.

She didn’t bother to wake the workers up from their sleep, before leaving. She just walked out of his house and out of his life.

Walking down the lonely streets, she decided to lodge in an hotel to get a little rest.

Few minutes later, she reached the hotel and checked in, she was shown to her room. Getting inside, she didn’t bother to unpack her luggage since she was still going to leave the next morning.

“Such a hectic day” Vanessa muttered as she ran her hands through her already dishevelled hair. Suddenly, her eyes caught sight of the window and she decided to look out from it and see the stars that illuminated the darkness. She walked closer to the window and stared up at the sky, she also saw some customers entering inside the hotel from the window, but that was the least of her problems right now. She stared at the sky, admiring how peaceful they looked. “If only my life could be like the stars” she muttered to herself. She stood there and slowly seconds turned into minutes and minutes turned into hours. She was beginning to feel very tired so she decided to get some rest, but as she was about to leave the window, something caught her eyes, not just something, someone; it was Riccardo and he wasn’t alone, he was with a female. Slowly her eyes got sight of the woman’s face, but it wasn’t just any random woman, it was his ex-girlfriend and both of them were walking inside the hotel together. Before Vanessa’s brain could process what she had just seen, a lone tear rolled down her cheeks.

But she quickly wiped them off and returned to her bed. She picked up her phone from the nightstand and dialed a number, the person picked up after the third ring.

"Hello Mom" Vanessa said.

There was silence before her mom finally replied.

"You finally decided to call?" Her voice sounded from the other end.

"I'm sorry for not calling all these while. How are you and dad doing?" She asked slowly.

"We're fine, but you don't sound fine to me. What's wrong?" Her mom asked.

"Nothing Mom, I'm just tired" She lied.

"Are you sure?"

"Yes, I am."

"When are you coming to visit us? It's been ages"

"Tomorrow" she replied

"Okay, I'll send my PA to pick you up at the Airport"

"Thank you"

"It's nothing, take care of yourself" with that being said, she disconnected the call.

Vanessa brought down her phone from her ear and sighed.

She quickly booked the earliest flight to Madrid, Spain.

After, she was done, she laid on her bed and soon, she drifted off to sleep.

The next morning, Vanessa quickly got ready, she tied her hair into a bun and wore a white Floral gown.

She booked and Uber and soon she was on her way to the Airport.

An Hour Later.

As Vanessa sat in the Airplane on her seat close to the window, she suddenly thought about all the years she had spent here in America. All her efforts to make Riccardo love her, but sadly, everything was just futile.

She still found it very hard to believe that Riccardo could accuse her of cheating.

He didn't even allow her to speak, so she didn't get the chance to tell him about her pregnancy. Her hands subconsciously moved to her flat stomach.

"Don't worry, your mom is going to take good care of you" she whispered.

Now she remembers that picture was taken in a club.

She could still remember clearly that someone had texted her that Riccardo was drunk and throwing a tantrum at a club.

And as Caring as she was or should she say foolish, she quickly rushed to the address that was sent to her.

Reaching the club, she had asked the bartender if something like that happened and he said 'Yes'. He also went ahead to tell her that Riccardo fell asleep and was kept inside one of the club rooms.

Rushing inside the room, Vanessa couldn't find Riccardo, she decided to leave but before she could reach the door, she started feeling dizzy, that was when it dawned on her that the room was drugged.

She woke up some hours later alone on the bed, she didn't give it much thought. If only she had known that then was when such defaming and whoring pictures were taken.

She had gone to ask the bartender about it, but he wasn't there anymore. Oh how foolish of her to have thought that it was a mere coincidence and Mistake.

Now she where it was landed her. But she was so going to make Riccardo regret ever calling her a Gold digging Wh*re!

She was going to make sure that he regrets everything he had done to her!

She'll make him come crawling down on his knees, pleading for forgiveness. And then she'll turn her head and say. "I don't give second chances".

But all that will come later, for now, she was going to establish a good life for herself and her unborn child.

She wasn't going to continue crying over spilled milk. She was going to fight her way to the top of the business industry!

NINE HOURS LATER

Vanessa settled down into the plush seats of the car. Which the lady which she guessed to be her Mother's PA came to pick her up with.

"So, you're my mother's Personal Assistant?" Vanessa asked the young lady who was now driving the car out of the Airport.

"Yes, I am" the lady replied.

It was unlike Vanessa's Mom to hire someone so young to work for her. But three years has passed, maybe even her own mother has changed.

"I'm Vanessa"

"Camila. It's a pleasure to finally meet you. I've heard a lot about you" Camila smiled.

"Really?"

"Yes" Camila replied.

Vanessa nodded her head slowly, before staring at of the window. She inhaled the fresh air.

"Home" she muttered.

Suddenly her phone began to ring. Bringing it out of her purse, she saw the Caller. It was Riccardo's Grandfather, but she couldn't bring herself to pick the call. She just let it ring.

"You're not picking the call?" Camila asked.

"Yes, I'm not" Vanessa replied, her voice a mixture of different emotions.

Once the ringing stopped, she quickly put her phone on Silent mode and kept it bag inside her purse.

Few Minutes Later

"We're here Ma'am" Camila informed.

"Wow" Vanessa muttered as she looked out, her parents had refurnished the Mansion and it was looking so Luxurious.

"Well, you can just call me Vanessa" with that she opened the car door and stepped out. She quickly sighted her Mom who stood in front of the gate to welcome her.

"Mom" she called running towards her, and her Mother welcomed her with open hands.

Vanessa ran into her embrace, she has missed her Mom's warm hug so much. Her Mom wrapped her hands around Vanessa as she reciprocated the hug.

"I have missed you Mom" Vanessa muttered.

She has been away from her family all these years.

If only she had listened to her Mom when she warned her about getting Married to Riccardo.

Just remembering how she had disobeyed her Mother brought tears to her eyes. And soon she was crying uncontrollable.

"Vanessa dear, what's wrong" Mrs Rodriguez asked.

But Vanessa couldn't reply she just kept crying, still hugging her mother. She felt safe in her mother's embrace.

In her mother's embrace, she felt a cocoon of warmth and security. The gentle rhythm of her mother's heartbeat and the soft, familiar scent wrapped around her, dissolving her worries and fears. Every tension in her body melted away as she nestled closer, finding solace in the unwavering love that surrounded her.

Thirty minutes later, Vanessa was seated in the dinning room opposite her Mother.

The big windows let in lots of warm light, and a beautiful crystal light hung over the big, shiny wooden table. There were pretty flowers in the middle and soft, comfortable chairs all around. The walls had wood panels with paintings, and a soft rug covered part of the shiny marble floor.

A cabinet with nice vases and candles stood against one wall, and a small bar cart with expensive drinks was ready for the evening. The table was set with fancy plates, glasses, and silverware, making it look super elegant.

But now, Vanessa felt refreshed after taking her bath and eating the Tortilla Española, her Mom specially prepared for her.

"As soon as the maids where done clearing the dishes, her mom faced her fully.

"You look thin and stressed, just what the hell have you been doing In America?" Mrs Rodriguez asked, her lips stretched into a thin line.

"Mom, I'm Pregnant" Vanessa spoke slowly.

"What? For your husband?" Her mom asked.

"No" Vanessa replied

"What do you mean by that?" Her Mom asked scrutinizingly.

"We've divorced" tears stung at the back of her eyes as she said those words.

Vanessa went ahead to tell her Mom all that had happened, but she knowingly left out the part when he had insulted her.

Her Mom sat composed after hearing the whole story, but Vanessa knew that she was very angry.

"But I warned you about this whole marriage stuff. Now see where you are"

"What are you going to do about the Pregnancy?" Her mom asked.

"I'll give birth to the child" Vanessa said, her voice firm and determined.

"So what?" Her mom asked

"Huh" Vanessa replied confused.

"I mean why did you come back after all these years? Is it because your marriage didn't favour you. So, you came back here so that we can help you?" Her mom asked, staring at her with a mixture of anger, and the other that Vanessa couldn't comprehend.

"No, that's not the reason. I came back because you're the only one I had left."

I stepped into my room after a long day at work, feeling the weight of exhaustion settle over me. As I walked further inside, an unsettling feeling of emptiness hung in the air.

Something felt off, like a puzzle piece missing from its place. I headed to the closet, my heart pounding slightly, and opened the door. My eyes scanned the space, and I realized with a jolt that all of Vanessa's clothes were gone. All that remained was a single dress hanging there, a stark reminder of her absence.

With a sense of dread, I moved to the bathroom. The matching couple toothbrushes and towels were missing, leaving bare hooks and an empty holder. Even the scented candles that used to sit on the nightstand, filling the room with a comforting aroma, had vanished.

"I guess she finally left," I muttered to myself, feeling a mix of relief and sadness.

My eyes were drawn to a stack of papers on the nightstand. Picking them up, I saw it was the divorce agreement, Vanessa's signature already in place. I had expected her to put up a fight, to cause trouble before signing the papers. But she had signed them quickly, without any fuss. It was a small mercy in the midst of this emotional turmoil.

I decided to distract myself, taking a quick bath and having dinner. Then, I sat down with my laptop to continue working. But my thoughts kept drifting back to Vanessa. Was I too hard on her all these years? Had I accused her wrongly, just like she had said? Questions swirled in my mind, each one a sharp prick of guilt, but no answers came.

Then, I remembered the pictures I had shown Vanessa the night before. I grabbed my phone and sent the images to Lucas, quickly dialing his number. He picked up on the first ring. "Hello," he said.

"The pictures I sent, check them for me as soon as possible," I told him, my voice urgent.

"I'll do that now," he replied before ending the call.

As I waited, my mind kept drifting back to Vanessa. Doubts and regrets gnawed at me. Had I been too quick to judge her? Was I too harsh? Just as my thoughts were spiraling, Lucas called back. I answered immediately.

"Any news?" I asked.

"Bro, it's obvious that the pictures were edited," Lucas said.

"What?" I was stunned.

"Yes, the guy was edited into the picture," he explained further.

"F*ck!" I cursed, feeling a rush of anger and regret.

"What's wrong?" Lucas asked. "Did you do something to Vanessa?" He knew she was the one in the pictures.

"I divorced her," I replied, my voice barely above a whisper. I waited for his response, but the line went dead. I pulled the phone away from my ear, staring at it in confusion.

"What's wrong with him?" I wondered aloud, feeling more lost than ever.

I sat there in the silence of my room, the reality of my actions crashing down on me. Vanessa was gone, and it was all because of a lie. The emptiness around me felt even more profound, a mirror to the emptiness now within me.

I stood up from the chair, dressed up, and headed straight to Lucas's house. I needed answers, and he was the only one who could provide them. My mind was racing as I drove, questions swirling about Vanessa and what had really happened.

A few minutes later, I rang the doorbell and stood anxiously in front of Lucas's door. When he opened it, he rolled his eyes upon seeing me.

"Lucas, what's wrong? You suddenly ended the call while I was still speaking," I said, walking into his living room and closing the door behind me.

"Did you really divorce her?" he asked bluntly.

"Yes," I replied."

"Just because of a silly picture? For God's sake, you're supposed to trust your wife!" Lucas half yelled, his frustration evident.

"Why do you sound so angry?" I asked, taken aback by his tone.

"Seriously. I actually thought you were intelligent, but now I know that you're slightly stupid!" he snapped.

"What?" I was shocked by his harsh words.

"On a more serious note, how on earth do you think that Vanessa would do such a thing to you? She has loved you unconditionally for three years! I bet it's even more than that. You don't love her, but the least you could have done was trust her," Lucas said, his voice filled with conviction.

Hearing Lucas's words, I began to feel a deep sense of guilt. I hadn't even given her a chance to explain. I was at a loss for words, not knowing how to respond to Lucas.

"What are you going to tell your grandfather?" Lucas suddenly asked, snapping me out of my thoughts.

"I don't know," I answered sincerely."

Can you help me check for her whereabouts?" I asked, desperation creeping into my voice.

"And if you see her, what are you going to do?" he asked.

"I don't know. I'll apologize," I muttered, feeling the weight of my mistake.

"It'll take more than an apology," Lucas said, shaking his head. He sat down on his couch and began working on his laptop, his fingers flying over the keys.

I stood there for what felt like an eternity, watching him work. After about thirty minutes, he finally spoke up.

"Hey," Lucas said.

"What?" I asked, my heart pounding in anticipation.

"She was last seen at the airport," he said.

"What? Airport? Which country is she going to?" I asked, my mind racing with possibilities.

"I don't know," Lucas replied, his expression serious.

"Can you check where she went within the last week?" I asked, hoping for some lead, anything that could help me find her.

"Yes," Lucas said, returning to his laptop.The minutes ticked by slowly as Lucas searched for any information. I could feel my anxiety growing with each passing second. I thought about Vanessa, imagining her at the airport, alone and hurt because of me. My heart ached at the thought.

Finally, Lucas looked up from his laptop. "I found something," he said.

"What is it?" I asked eagerly, my heart pounding in my chest.

"She visited the hospital recently," Lucas said, his expression serious.

"Why? Was she sick?" I asked, worry creeping into my voice.

"Are you seriously asking me that? I should be asking you. You both lived in the same house," Lucas retorted, frustration evident.

"Send me the address of the hospital," I demanded as I walked out of his house, my mind racing with possibilities.

An hour later, I found myself at the hospital, nervously waiting for a chance to speak with the doctor Vanessa had seen. I knocked on her office door.

"Come in," a calm voice said from inside.

I walked in, feeling a mix of anxiety and determination.

"My wife, Vanessa Rodriguez, was here some days ago, right?" I asked.

"Yes," she nodded, glancing at her computer screen.

"What was she here for?" I pressed, my nerves fraying.

"She didn't tell you? Maybe she was nervous. She took a pregnancy test, and it was positive," the doctor replied, her words hitting me like a ton of bricks.

"What?" I staggered, struggling to process the news. The doctor nodded in confirmation.

I turned to leave, my mind a whirlwind of thoughts and emotions, but the doctor's next words stopped me in my tracks.

"The child isn't yours," she said, her voice calm but firm.

I froze, the weight of her statement sinking in. "What do you mean?" I asked, my voice barely above a whisper.