The warm sunlight hit my exhausted face, and I slowly opened my eyes, feeling drained and weak.

The sun's rays flooded my eyes, forcing myto shut them again. Gradually, I opened them gently, letting my eyes adjust to the light around her. Where was I?

I sat up, trying to recall what had happened. Lifting the quilt, I was shocked to find myself naked. What had occurred? Why was I here? When did I undress?

I vaguely remembered Tiana helping into a room the night before, but everything else was a blur... until the horrifying realization dawned on me : I had been assaulted!

I checked myself again, and the evidence was clear - the hickey, blood stain, and painful tears confirmed myfears. I was married, and there was no way to explain this to Julian.

How would I tell him that I had given away my precious gift to someone that was not him.

I stood up in haste,picked my clothes that were on the floor, looked around and ran into the bathroom as I heard the sound of footsteps.

At that moment,Julian and his mom walked in along with Lina.

“Our plan has worked, that fool has been taken advantage of. Don't move around much. Just take pictures of the bloody mattress and let's go before anyone comes in.” Julians mother Irene was the one speaking.

“I now have enough reason to divorce without paying a dime and then get married to the love of my life” Julian added like the loser that he was and moved closer to Lina, holding her close to him.

“Very soon my love, we will be married and then I will become yours forever. Now that my sister is out of the way” Lina said, her voice shaking with glee.

I heard their conversation and could not believe what I was hearing. My sister and husband had plotted against me.

I waited until I could no longer gear the footsteps before I came out of the bathroom with my clothes on. I hurriedly moved out of the room, scanning the area

ust in case someone was around.

****

I had always been a strong woman. I married Julian out of compulsion. Their marriage was an arranged one.

Our marriage was just five months old. Even though we did not love each other, we agreed to grow their relationship first before becoming intimate.

Despite the fact that we had never been intimate, I did not feel like it made myany less of a good wife to him. I could have never in my wildest dreams imagined that my sister and husband could do this to me.

My thoughts were interrupted by the taxi driver. I gave him the money and got out of the taxi.

Only then did I realize that I had been crying.

The moment I stepped into the sitting room, I was met with glares that could rival the heat of the sun.

“ sl*t, you clearly have no shame left in you. That might be the reason why you brought that cursed body of yours back into my son's house.” Irene cursed at her.

“You are a married woman, yet you still go around selling yourself out to men. Are you so casual and loose that you do not even consider your status?. Julian ranted.

Hypocrites, I thought. He was pretending to be angry when he had been the one to carry out the evil work. He was the one who gave the drugged drink to her.

“This marriage is over,I cannot stand the sight of you. How do I pretend that I do not know what happened?. Julian eyed mywith clear irritation.

I walked up to him and slapped him. He had gotten on mylast nerve. Irene shouted “why did you hit my son, are you even worth him, low class whore”

“What right do you have to say such nasty words to me? What man would drug his wife in order to trap her?.

Don't think that I don't know about your little affairs with my sister. You wanted a divorce right?. All you had to do was tell me rather than this despicable act” I snapped at him in anger.

“What gives you the right to accuse my son without evidence? A woman like you should not face the society. It would even be better if you could hang yourself.

But look at you, going off pretending after spending the night with your lover boy. Irene continued.

“If you understand what is good for you, sign the divorce paper and leave or else, I will make your life a living hell”. Julian threatened.

Before he could finish his statement, I walked past him and was going upstairs only for Irene to scuttle up the stairs and dragged me by the hair. my head hit the rail.

My scalp stung as my mother-in-law dragged me across the room.

My body was already hurt. Manhandling me seemed to be the Cherry on the cake. Then everything went blank.

**

Three days later, I found myself on the hospital bed. I could remember the last thing that happened but did not know how I ended up in the hospital.

No one was with me there. Tears welled up in my eyes as I thought of how cruel life was to her. I had been assaulted and my husband was the cause of it. I was coerced into a loveless marriage.

My step mother insisted on my marriage with Julian. He was the second son of the Garcias.

They were one of the four richest families in Orland. Even though Julian was not the heir to the fortune,my stepmother made it compulsory to marry Julian.

My step mother wanted Lina, my stepsister , to marry the eldest son of the Garcia's as he was the heir.

But as fate would have, Logan returned from America with the woman he had married. His parents infuriated, stripped him of all the wealth.

I did not know when and how my sister and Julian had gotten entangled with each other.

I was lost in thoughts when the door opened and a man walked in.

3rd person POV

Julian's lawyer walked into the hospital ward looking like someone had stolen his wallet. He stood before Ava before pulling out a seat to sit on.

He opened his bag to bring out the divorce papers. “Ms Ava, please sign these papers and free my client”. The lawyer spat.

Ava did not know if crying was the best option or if she was to smile at this point. He did not even allow her to recover before bringing the papers to her. It had been said that humans were worse than animals, Julian proved that saying right.

“And if I refuse to sign?” She said, to what extent would they go to get rid of her. Oh she forgot, they had already proved it.

Her marriage stood as an obstacle to Julian being with Lina. He was in no position to force her, as he was the one who drugged her.

“ Then my client will have to take drastic actions. Your adultery will be made known to the public. I am sure you would not want that, considering the fact that you are an illegitimate child. Your mother will be questioned. The media will hound you”. The lawyer replied with a smug tone.

Ava felt her heart skip a beat. She had always lived her life differently from her mother's. Her mother gave birth to her out of wedlock. Her mother had died untimely, that was why she was illegitimate as her mother did not marry her father.

She was five when her father had remarried. Then Lina was born. She was kept in the care of her stepmother.

As every stepmother, Jennifer tolerated her. She had kept her hatred hidden. But she never bothered about Ava. They lived together in peace. The peace lasted till her father's death.

Her father had shared the property between his two daughters. When the will was read, Jennifer had been enraged. She wanted everything for her daughter. She had done everything to frustrate Ava.

“Ms Ava, sign the papers fast, I have limited time here.” He was putting pressure on her.

Ava moved carefully to sit upright without the infusion being affected. She collected the pen from the lawyer.

The papers stated that she was not to take anything away from the house. The shares her father had given to her were also not in her possession anymore.

Julian had stated that she engaged in adultery so her property was given to him as compensation. Ava's hand shook with anger and bitterness as she read the conditions.

She took in a breath, stilled herself and signed the papers.The papers that freed her from a loveless marriage, the papers that freed her from her hypocritical relationships. The papers that also thrust her into a life of poverty.

She handed the papers back to him. He collected it and placed it into his briefcase. He then looked at her and smiled. His client would pay him handsomely.

“ Have a good life Ms Ava and take care” the lawyer greeted. He stood up and left the room.

The moment the door closed, the dam burst. Hot tears streamed down her face. She was ruined, financially ruined, emotionally ruined. She was officially empty.

No husband, No parents. No sister. No one to stand beside her. The sister she thought was true was nothing but slow poison waiting to kill. She had no one. Who would she go to for help?

She cried until there were no more tears left. Her eyes stung. She had nothing else besides the clothes she wore last. It seemed the nurse had folded it and left it beside the bed.

*****

The lawyer stepped out of the hospital and into a car. Julian and Shameless Lina were in the car.

“How did it go, did she sign it?” Julian asked the lawyer.

The lawyer laughed”She had to. I threatened her with her scandal and her status as an illegitimate child.”

He boasted.

“She did not want her mother's name to be soiled”.

“I knew you were capable of making Ava dance to our tunes. I will increase your fees, don't worry”. Julian replied with glee. He was like a child who was given candy.

“Thank God, I am now free from that so-called bondage called marriage.”

He had been pretending for the last five months. Seriously, he hated that girl.

“Darling, you are simply the best. '' Lina placed her head on his shoulders, running her hands through his chest, purring like a cat.

They kissed hungrily and the lust blinded Julian was feeling elated. The chauffeur turned the car on and left.

****

No one even bothered about her well being as she remained in the hospital.

She ordered food as she was hungry. She had found her phone by the bedside. She was thankful for it.

Thankfully, she had little money saved in an account only she knew of. With this , she was able to pay the hospital bills. She got discharged. Now it was time to leave. She could not go back to that house, so she had to go to her stepmother's house for now.

The house had belonged to her father, so she still had some right to it. Or so she thought. She would stay there for a while and figure out the way forward for her life.

She hailed a cab and told him the address. She was of the opinion that Jennifer would support her. She would definitely not be in support of her daughter’s actions. Even though she did not care for her , she had been the one to get her marriage fixed with Julian. She was at fault for forcing her to be with that man whore.

If she got to know that her daughter had been part of breaking up the marriage that she worked hard to cause, Jennifer would be angry at her daughter.

The cab came to a halt at the address. He turned to inform her, but was surprised at the fact that she was crying. She was lost in thoughts that she did not hear the driver. She sat still like a lifeless corpse.

The cab driver shook his head sadly, Everyone was going through one thing or the other. He saw that she was sad and distraught but did not know what could be the problem.

He had his battles to fight and as much as he would have loved to help, he could not trespass. He sighed,looking around as he called out. “ Ma'am, we have arrived. ‘

But Ava, lost in thought, did not hear him speak. He called out again and tapped her. Ava was startled , looking around. She saw that they had arrived and the driver was looking at her. She felt embarrassed.

The man had been calling her for a while now and she did not hear him at all. He had to tap her to get her attention.

She wiped her tears, coming down from the cab hurriedly. She gave the man his money. As she moved to go inside , she heard the man's voice “ I do not know you ma'am but I know that you are facing troubles but don't give up. Everything will be alright”. Ava smiled for the first time in a while.

At least a stranger cared for her, even if her relationship had failed , there were still good people out there.

“Thank you” she shouted to the cab driver who was already driving away.

She then walked in the gate. The guard greeted her.

The moment she reached the doorstep, her mind went blank upon hearing the voices speaking.

Ava was shocked to the bone. She was rendered speechless. Even the song speechless was not enough to describe the way she felt.

“I finally got everything I wanted. That fool should have never been allowed to live in this house from the beginning. But now everything was in its rightful place. It all belonged to me” Jennifer said excitedly.

She appeared to be with some people. Ava never thought that she would be a victim of a plan so disgusting, so inhumane.

“I had told you to leave everything in my hands aunty. I stripped her off everything that she had. Ah I not only ruined her financially, I also gave her to a hooker. Now she is not innocent anymore”.

“Who is going to marry a poor and adulterous woman? Such women drive men far away from them.” Julian praised himself like he had done something worth remembering. After all ,Ava refused to sleep with him. It had hurt his ego very much.

“ Mom, hope you see now that Julian Is the best husband for me. I had told you that he would prove himself. He has proven that he is the most competent son in law” Lina announced.

“ absolutely my darling Lina, congratulations on your win” Jennifer said and Ava heard the sound of glasses clinking.

They were having a toast to her ruin?. She pulled the door knob and stepped on. The hypocrites were surprised when they saw her and none of them could say anything for a moment.

Ava's hand clenched into a fist. They plotted against her and she like a fool fell into their traps gullibly.

She looked around, at the people in the room. There were four in number, her dear ex husband,his malicious mother, her pretentious step sister and her wicked stepmother.

They ruined her.

But they would pay, she would make sure of that.

“Tsk tsk tsk, look who we have here, the unfaithful woman. You still have the audacity to return to this house. You seem to have sold your remaining shame, who knows perhaps you gave your body out in exchange as well for good.” Jennifer mocked her.

She scanned Ava from head to toe. She walked over and walked around her. Before she burst out laughing.

“ I believe you must have heard the conversation right?

Well let me tell you about how this whole thing started.

I had planned this a long time ago with my friend. Irene. “

We had his son help us execute the whole plan In exchange for his marriage with Lina. I forced you into this marriage so that we could get everything back”

That is why Julian never touched her and did not have sex with you. He was Lina's before and after. He would not waste his time and his manliness on you. We organized the party solely for this purpose and Julian was the one who drugged you. You were sent to an unknown man and you know the rest like.”

*This house is out of bounds for you. If you dare step here again,I will break your legs. I have taken care of you for all your life. So now you can live with those memories.” Jennifer includes without guilt.

Ava wanted to cry but held her tears. She will not appear weak before the people otherwise they will build on it and use it to taunt her.”

“What have I ever done to you to deserve this ?. Ava asked. She wanted to know what their reason was. Was it because her father had split the properties into two. She was her father's eldest daughter. Or was it because her parents could not get married before giving birth to her. ?

“It is because you are Bosco's illegitimate daughter .” Jennifer replied and eyed her before drinking from her wine glass.

“Julian and I are already married, Ava, look,” Lina interrupted, raising a finger and letting Ava see the diamond ring on her finger.

“Congratulations Lena I wish you both happiness and all that you truly deserve. Ava replied, while Julian was looking at her dumbfounded.

She was not wishing them happiness at all , what she meant by all that they truly deserve was that karma would come to bite them in the ass. It seemed that Julian knew what she was talking about.

He was not in any position to speak about it but he knew that she was bitter and vengeful.

He felt nervous with the way Jennifer treated Ava but what difference was there between them. He was now at a point of no return. He couldn't change his mistakes even if he tried to. It did all this because he was promised the entire Brown empire if he married the legitimate daughter.

What else was Ava waiting for ? there was nothing left for her in that house. She turned around and left. When she reached the gates, she stopped and looked back at the house where all her childhood.

This was the house where her father had played with her where all the fun memories were created. Now she was nothing but a stranger to that place.

She left the mansion, the guard greeting her again. She walked like a lifeless corpse. The tears she had been holding back were now running free. The tears were hot against her cheeks.

She strolled down the street, wandering like a lost soul. She was moving on the road when her friend from her childhood saw her.

“Ava, ava” she called out and ran to her. Ava suddenly turned and saw that a car was coming at high speed towards her.

Clara rushed and pulled Ava away from the road. The car zoomed off, the owner shouting at Ava for standing on the road.

“Do you have a death wish? Ava, what is wrong with you? Clara scolded her angrily. Ava's face was pale, her eyes red and full of tears.

“Thank you Clara, I am just tired” Ava said, she would have been dead by now if Clara had not come there on time.

Maybe dieing was the better option , after all she had nothing left. Her miserable life would be over and she would finally be free of this cruel world. She preferred to die at this point.

Murmurs were heard from the sidewalk,as some people were asking if she was alright while some were asking if she was blind.

The others simply pitied her shaking their head and left.

Clara took her by her hand, mohing away from there.

“where were you going Ava? Clara inquired. Last time she had heard about Ava was that she had gotten married a few months back. It was a quiet wedding as not many knew about it.

“I don't know,” Ava answered truthfully. She did not have a home, niehter did she have anywhere to stay. Maybe of she was lucky , she would find a bench at a corner to sleep on.

Why was she looking so miserable? Where were her family members? Her husband, sister? Clara wondered.

“ How can you say that you do not know? Where do you live? Clara curiously asked. She was married so she definitely would have a house. And her father's mansion as well.

“I have no home anymore, Clara. Perhaps death would be a better option for me”. Ava replied with sobs.

Clara immediately understood the issue. Ava was definitely going through a tough time. It seemed that it was related to her marriage. She wanted to ask more questions but felt it would be inconsiderate of her to do that at this point.

She called a cab and took Ava home with her.

Clara lived with a modest house with her brother and mother. It was little compared to what Ava was used to so she only hoped that Ava would feel comfortable there.

Clara's mother saw that Clara had returned home with someone. She recognized her, it was her child's old friend. She welcomed Ava. She was about to inquire about Ava’s wellbeing. But when she saw her sorrowful look, she did not ask.

“ My dear, you are welcome to stay her as long as you want” Clara's mother said. Clara had told her that she had nowhere to stay for now.

“Clara , show her the guest room. Dear freshen up and come back to eat alright. I have prepared Clara's favorite food today. I hope you will like it”.

She took her bath and ate. Luckily, Clara gave her some clothes to wear as that were almost the same figure.

Ava could not believe that she would be treated so well by someone who was not family. She had received great hospitality from them. Life. An old friend who had become family.

Three days had passed since she started living there. They had spared no effort to make her smile. And it had finally paid off. She smiled to a joke Clara's little brother had cracked.

No one asked her anything for the mean time. Until she became free with them. She was still a bit reserved but nothing like before.

Clara's mother had called both Clara and Ava that evening after a fun time.

“What happened to you, Ava” Mrs Castello asked.

Ava was scared to speak. What would happen to her if Mrs Castello decides that she was an immoral woman and decided to kick her out of the house. It would not really matter if she was at fault or not. Where would she go?