Having no energy to deal with the old woman, Danica lied.

"My father's ill, I'm going over to his house to look after him for a while."

Martha scoffed. "Who gave you the permission to leave?"

Danica eyed her.

Had she truly made these people view her so small?

She needed permission to go anywhere?

"Who's going to look after this house if you leave?!" Martha thundered.

"We have household staff for that."

And then, she realized she had become one of the household staff to Martha, obeying her commands and serving her.

She had thought pleasing Martha would make Gary always love her.

Danica laughed out loud, feeling so stupid.

"What's so funny?!" Martha thundered. "And what's with that look on your eyes? Anyway, you're not allowed to leave the house at the moment. I have an event to plan and I have some errands for you to run."

"You'd have to get someone else to do that." Danica replied, calmly.

Maybe Jenifer.

Martha looked stunned by her response.

"What's gotten into you? And why are you acting as if your father is a big deal to you? You're just an adopted child. You don't even know your real father. Still, the Finnegans allowed Gary marry you! We gave you a name, a family. And now, you're all packed up to go spend God knows how long with your adoptive father?! There's no need for that so go back upstairs."

"You keep acting as if Gary marrying me brought me great honor or something. Or made me some kind of special being."

Martha gasped. "You ingrate! How dare you speak to me like that?!"

"What the hell is going on here?" They both turned to see Alana, Danica's best friend walking in.

Alana had just got back from a business trip and she had wanted to come hang out with Danica.

She was surprised to see Danica's luggage as well as the screaming mother-in-law.

"Maybe you could talk some sense into this ungrateful friend of yours!" Martha let out.

Alana had never liked the old woman and the Finnegan family in general but she tried to be respectful. After Danica finished explaining that she wanted to leave but Martha wasn't letting her.

Alana turned to face Martha.

"It seems you're forgetting that this house is registered under Danica's name. She can go and come as she please. She doesn't need your permission."

"This is my son's house! And as Gary's mother. This is my house and Danica has to follow my rules. It's the least thing she can do. After all, what other values has she brought to this family? Instead, she makes Gary question his decision to inherit the family business, all she brings is bad luck!"

"I've told you countlessly. That has nothing to do with me! And I do not bring anyone bad luck, maybe the one who does is you!" Danica shot at her.

Enraged, Martha moved forward and slapped her across the face.

Alana gasped. "You!"

Danica quickly held Alana back.

Straightening, she stated at Martha, squarely.

There was no need beating around the bush anymore so she lashed out.

"This house is a marital property to both me and Gary. You never belonged here and this is the last time you'd ever lay your hands on me! Your son isn't even worth all these!"

"How dare.?"

"Gary and I will be getting a divorce. So maybe you can marry your son or give him out to any one that suits your taste. I'm done here!"

Danica signaled at Alana and they both headed out of the house, ignoring Martha who kept shouting and cursing.

*************

After leaving the Finnegan's Mansion, Alana and Danica had stopped by a cafe to get coffee and talk.

Alana had been quite shocked to see Danica standing up for herself against the Finnegans. For awhile, she had tried to make Danica see that a man who loved her would not allow his mother treat her that way.

But Danica always defended Gary and it seemed now that she had finally accepted that Gary never loved her.

Danica opened up to Alana and told her about Gary and Jenifer's affair. She also told Alana that she and Gary has had separate rooms during their three years of marriage.

Gary always said he valued his personal space so he rarely let her enter his bedroom. Danica realized now that he had kept a safe distance from her so she would not ever get suspicious about him cheating.

She wondered if he had cheated on her during the entirety of their marriage, she wondered how many woman he'd cheated on her with.

Shaking her head, she realized that there was no need to wonder about all that anymore.

He clearly never loved her, she had to get a divorce and move on from him.

Alana held her hand, assuring her that everything was going to be okay.

"I thought you were coming back next month, why are you here so soon?" Danica asked, changing the topic from the depressing state of her life.

"My father ordered me to come back. He says it's high time I learn the ropes of the family business. I'm even assigned to a project already. And it's a major one at that. My old man has so much faith in me,"

Danica smiled. "Well, I do too. I know you're going to kill it."

"Oh, the project involves Ford Group. You know Ford Group, right? Owned by the richest family in town."

"The Buford family?"

"Yes, I think Dad said the eldest son of the family is leading the project from their end, Donovan Buford."

Danica frowned.

The Donovan Buford she knew was a top lawyer.

"Is it the same famous lawyer, Donovan Buford?"

Alana nodded. "You know him?"

Danica swallowed.

The same man she had tried to seduce last night was the eldest son of the most powerful family in the country?!

Just as she was reeling in her shock, someone walked into the Cafe.

Alana was the first to notice the man who had just walked in.

She leaned closer to Danica and whispered.

"Speak of the devil. He just walked in."

Danica's eyes dilated. She wasn't ready to see him again after what had transpired between them last night.

But then, she slowly looked around and it was indeed him, Donovan Buford.

Danica quickly pulled her hair out of her bun and used it to shield her face.

Alana was confused by her sudden tensed behavior.

"Why are you acting like this? It's as if."

"Is he gone?"

Alana frowned. "Who?"

"Donovan Buford."

"No. He's actually coming this way."

Danica bit her lower lip hard, wishing her ground could open up and swallow her.

"Hello Danica."

That voice sent her nerves into shreds.

But she tried to calm down. She shouldn't run away from what happened. She should face it.

Sitting up, she slowly ran a hand through her hair, making it in order.

"I haven't gotten any call from you."

Danica knew what he was hinting at.

What she had wanted to do last night with him was because she was intoxicated. Filled with alcohol and heartbreak. But now that she was very much sober, she didn't want to go through with it.

She realized that there was no need to cheat back on Gary. What she needed to do was get a divorce, start her life all over again and become the best version of herself.

She absolutely didn't want the drama that came with getting involved with a man anymore.

Calmly, Danica reached into her bag and brought out his business card.

"I'm honestly sorry for bothering you last night. I do not need your help with anything. I apologize again for what happened. I hope we can put that behind us."

Danica cautiously studied Donovan's face.

It was unreadable. She couldn't tell if he was angry or willing to forget about last night.

Just then, her cellphone rang out.

She reached for it and without checking the caller ID, she picked up.

"Danica, what did you do to my mother?!" That voice sounded at the other end of the call.

It was Gary.

Danica winced at how loud his voice was.

"What did I do to her?" Danica sneered, knowing Martha must have cooked up lies for her son as usual.

"My mother is currently hospitalized. She had a heart attack and I was told she fainted after arguing with you. I swear to God, if anything happens to my mother, Danica, you'll pay for it!"

Danica's brows furrowed.

Martha really did yell a lot today, she even kept yelling even as Danica left with Alana.

Had she been that upset that she fainted?

Shouldn't Martha be happy that she finally left the house?

Wasn't that what the old lady had always wanted?

Not wanting to be blamed for anyone's condition, Danica quickly bade goodbye to Alana and Donovan, then she headed for the hospital.

***********************************

Danica was allowed into the hospital as the daughter-in-law.

She easily located Martha's ward and as she walked in, she found Martha sitting up, eating a fruit and looking perfectly healthy.

Danica scoffed.

"I should have known this was nothing but a false alarm, you've always been an attention seeking old lady."

Martha was shocked by Danica's bold words.

"You little! What are you even doing here? You came to check if I had died? Well, I'm sorry to inform you, I'll be alive for a long, long time and I'll never let you have peace with my son!"

"I don't even want your son anymore. You don't have to fake an illness to make him hate me. I already told you, you can have him!"

"I don't know what you're plotting by pretending not to want my son anymore, but let me inform you that it won't work."

Danica rolled her eyes. Talking to this woman felt like talking to a brick wall.

She would not entertain anyone from this family anymore and so she turned to leave.

Suddenly, a shattering sound filled the ward and that startled Danica.

She quickly turned around to see that Martha had shattered a glass cup.

The old lady suddenly burst into tears, screaming hysterically.

Gary rushed into this ward. On taking in the scene, he quickly hurried towards his mother.

"What happened here?"

Martha cried out. "Danica shattered the glass. She was furious that I had survived the heart attack and she threatened to cut my wrist. She wants me dead. She said she could only have you fully to herself if I die."

Gary turned to face Danica furiously.

"How could you do and say all that to my mother?!"

Danica wasn't surprised by the lies Martha had just spilled. She was only surprised at herself for putting up with this for so long.

"Go on your knees and apologize to my mother right now!"

Danica stood frozen to the spot as she recalled the many times Gary had made her apologize to his mother.

She had apologized for lies Martha made up. She had apologized anytime Martha felt like watching her beg.

She had apologized anytime Martha wanted.

She had done all that so her husband wouldn't be mad at her. She had truly believed pleasing Martha meant pleasing Gary.

Now she realized, she had only made herself worthless in their eyes. She had made them see her as a pushover, she had made them see her as a maid that would always serve the Finnegan family no matter what.

Danica felt so bitter for allowing this people trample on her self-esteem.

They might have done it for so long but she won't allow them to anymore!

She wanted nothing to do with Gary and his family ever again.

Lifting her head, she said to Gary.

"Let's talk."

"You're yet to apologize to my mother." Gary reminded.

Danica eyed both Gary and his mother she left the ward.

That infuriated Gary to no end as he stormed after her.

"You know, I was hoping what my mother had said might be exaggerated, but the way you just glared at her proved she was telling the truth! How could you? My family has been nothing but nice to you! Why would you want to kill an innocent woman? Why are you acting up? This isn't you!"

Danica ignored his words until they got to a tea house beside the hospital.

There, she sat up and went straight to the point.

"Let's get divorced."

"A divorce? You want to divorce me?" Gary asked, a mocking edge in his voice.

"Yes." Danica replied, seriously.

He laughed. "Fine, tell me what exactly you're mad about and I'll apologize, happy?"

Danica grimaced as she stared at him, recalling the times he'd apologized and pet her the few times she had expressed anger.

But then nothing changed after the apology. She realized she should have stopped falling for that.

And now, no amount of apology could fix things. He had cheated on her. That was simply unforgivable.

"I do not want any long divorce process so I don't wish to fight for anything. I'll send the divorce papers to you. You sign them and we're done."

Unsettled by how serious she looked, Gary sat up.

"I just said I'd apologize."

"I don't need your apology."

"What do you need so you can stop throwing this fucking tantrum. Do you want to go on a vacation? Oh, I remember you wanted to go to Paris, just the two of us. Fine, I'll plan the trip. I'll spend more time with you so can you stop."

"I want a divorce, Gary." Danica insisted.

"You don't. You're just acting up."

"Why would you even think that? Isn't this what you've always wanted? Isn't this what your family has always wanted? Oh, aren't you tired of messing with me?"

"Did your confrontation with my mom really piss you off that bad? You're willing to divorce me just like that? I thought you said you loved me more than anything in this world!"

Danica laughed.

The audacity for him to say that while he was shamelessly balls deep in someone else at a fucking banquet.

She stood up, grabbing her bag.

"I'm done trying to reason with you. You'll be hearing from my lawyer."

As she turned to leave, Gary got up and grabbed her hand.

He forcefully turned her around to face him.

"I'll talk to my mother, okay. I'll settle whatever conflict there is between you two."

Danica roughly tugged her hand away from his.

"I'm no longer interested in you! I'm not interested in being your wife anymore. Is that so hard for you to understand?" Danica lashed out.

Gary glared at her.

Yeah, that was pretty much hard for him to accept because he had been certain Danica would remain his docile housewife for life, the one who barely complains while he does whatever he likes.

He was used to her doing whatever she was told, he was used to her obeying and pleasing him so seeing his wife standing her ground was shocking and unbelievable to him.

"Like I said, the divorce papers would be sent to you so you had better sign it asap or else, I'll drag your ass to court and demand half of your property! You better sign it while I'm being nice." She warned.

That totally enraged Gary, he grabbed Danica by the hand and stormed off, pulling her with him.

"What are you.let me go!" Danica tried to struggle with him but his grip was too strong.

Seeing he was headed for the restroom, she tried harder to fight him off.

Worst.there was no one around the hallway.

He pushed her into the restroom and shut the door, standing before it.

Danica panted, not liking the look on his eyes at all.

"I tried to be nice! I tried to be gentle but if it's this way you want. You'll get it! You're mine, Danica. I'm the only one who can say when this marriage can end or not! Until then, you stay mine and it seems I need to remind you of that."

Her eyes dilated on seeing him take off his jacket.

"HELP! HELP ME!" Danica yelled, frantically at the top of her lungs as she tried to reach for the door and get out but she couldn't fight off his strength.

He tackled her to the floor and tore off her shirt.

"A divorce! How can you ask that?! I'm going to fuck that thought out of your head."

"Don't touch me, you fucking animal! Get off me! HELP ME!" She continued screaming, refusing to give in.

Even as he tried to seize her legs, she kept kicking at him and throwing hands at him, hitting and scratching at his face.

Gary grabbed her both hands and pinned them above her head.

"Will you fucking calm down?! I am your husband. This is my right!"

She spat on his face and hissed. "I'll rather die than ever sleep with you!"

Speechless, Gary gasped. "You."

She continued to screamed for help and struggled with him but he also had no plans of giving up until he had her.

Suddenly, a loud sound was heard behind them and the door came crashing down.

Before Gary could see the person, a punch landed on his face first sending him to the floor and off Danica's body.

Danica quickly scurried to the side, crying and hugging her knees.

Wincing in pain, Gary turned and saw Donovan.

"Mr.Mr Buford?"

"Mr Finnegan, so you're a fucking rapist?" Donovan asked, bluntly.

Gary swallowed. He was well aware of Donovan's position in the Buford family. It was literally a dream for any company to get any investment from the Ford Group. Not to mention the Buford family's great affluence.

No one wanted to be on their bad side and he also didn't want to be seen as a rapist either. Donovan was a freaking lawyer.

Clearing his throat and swallowing the pain from the punch, he smiled and let out in a friendly tone.

"What do you mean rapist, Mr Buford? This is my wife and we were having a little.you know."

"I heard cries for help and her reaction right now says otherwise." Donovan replied, gesturing at Danica.