The next morning, I was woken by the sound of soft knocking. My eyes were swollen from crying all night, my throat dry from screaming into the emptiness of the locked room. I didn’t even want to open the door—but then I heard her voice.

“Danica… it’s me.”

Ella.

My whole body stiffened.

The door creaked open, and there she was—my best friend, the woman who had betrayed me in the most unforgivable way. Her eyes were red as if she had been crying, but I didn’t buy it for a second. Without asking, she stepped inside and hugged me tightly.

“I’m sorry,” she whispered against my shoulder. “I didn’t mean to do it, I swear. You know how things just… got out of hand.”

I froze, my hands still at my sides. “Got out of hand?” I echoed bitterly, pulling back.

“Yes,” she rushed out. “I thought you were just talking about Brendon, that’s all. You told me once you remembered him—your first love. I thought maybe you reconciled, and that’s why you were asking Johan for a divorce.”

I stared at her, dumbfounded. “Seriously?” My voice rose. “That’s your excuse? You thought I was getting a divorce because of Brendon? Not because you’ve been sleeping with my husband for years?”

Her lips parted, pretending to be offended. “Of course not! You’re my best friend, Dani. I would never—”

The sting of my hand connecting with her cheek stopped her words cold.

Her head snapped to the side, her palm flying to her face. “What the—?”

“Do you think I’d be a fool not to know?” My voice trembled with rage and heartbreak. “You’re sleeping with my husband, Ella. And John—your son—is his son, isn’t he?”

For a moment, her face was a portrait of fake innocence. Then it cracked. Her lips curled into a faint, mocking smile, and a quiet laugh escaped her.

“Oh, God,” she said, shaking her head. “I’m so tired of acting.” She met my eyes, her tone dripping with venomous amusement. “Good to know you finally figured it out.”

My stomach twisted, but I stood my ground.

“So what now?” she continued, smirking. “Are you going to leave him?”

I swallowed hard, forcing the tears back. “He doesn’t want to divorce me,” I said, each word deliberate. “So you better do something about it.”

Ella tilted her head and chuckled. “Don’t worry. I will. Just make sure you actually go through with it.”

“Fine,” I said, taking off my wedding ring. The gold glinted under the morning light as I held it out to her. “Here. Wear it. Be happy. You’ve already taken everything else.”

She hesitated for a second before taking it, her smirk softening into a mock pout. “Well, thanks, Danica. Thank you for giving me your husbandi,” she murmured as I brushed past her.

I didn’t answer.

As I stepped out of the room, a small voice called from the living room. “Auntie Dani!”

It was John. He was clutching a toy car, his face lighting up the moment he saw me. “Look! Daddy fixed it!”

For a brief second, I froze. I used to adore this boy. I used to hold him, feed him, even read him bedtime stories when Ella was too busy pretending to work. He used to call me “Auntie” with such sweetness that I forgot the pain of losing my own son.

But now, every time I saw his face, all I could see was betrayal.

“I’m busy, John,” I said quietly.

He frowned. “No! Please, Auntie! Look, it can move now!” He pushed the toy toward me eagerly.

I stepped back, shaking my head. “Not now, John.”

But he followed me, tugging at my dress, insisting. “Please, Auntie! Just look!”

Something inside me snapped. My voice broke as I tried to pull away. “I said I’m busy!”

He stumbled, and before I could catch him, he fell to the floor, the toy shattering beside him. His small body shook as he started to cry—loud, heart-wrenching sobs that pierced the silence.

Within seconds, Ella rushed into the room, horror written on her face. “What did you do?!”

“It was an accident,” I said quickly, but she was already cradling her son, glaring at me like I was a monster.

“What’s going on here?” Johan’s voice boomed from the doorway. His gaze darted from me to the crying child, and his expression hardened.

“Seriously, Danica?” he hissed. “This is why you don’t deserve to be a mother. You can’t even take care of a child properly!”

I felt my throat tighten.

“This,” he said, gesturing toward John, “is why we’ll never have another child. I’m giving my heir to him. I’ll adopt him officially. He deserves it more than you ever will.”

I swallowed the lump in my throat. My voice came out soft, almost calm. “Okay. Do whatever you want.”

He blinked, thrown off by my indifference. “That’s it? You don’t care?” His voice dropped. “Is it true then? Are you seeing another man?”

“What?” I whispered, incredulous.

He turned to Ella. “She said something about a guy. Who is it?”

Ella raised her hands again, feigning innocence. “Johan, enough. Please don’t hurt her. She’s my best friend, remember?”

He looked between us, jaw tight, then sighed. “Be thankful Ella’s kind, Danica. Now apologize to John.”

I clenched my fists, but I couldn’t bear another fight. I knelt down, my voice trembling. “I’m sorry, John. I didn’t mean to scare you.”

He sniffled, nodding. “It’s okay, Auntie. We can play later?”

“Sure,” I said softly. “We’ll play later.”

But I knew there would be no later.

As soon as I got to my room, I locked the door and sank onto the bed. My mind was spinning, my heart breaking all over again.

Brendon.

The name echoed in my head. The man I’d once loved. The one I’d left behind for Johan—because my father had begged me to marry into a powerful family that could “protect” me.

Maybe Ella’s gossip about him wasn’t so wrong after all. Maybe I could use it to my advantage.

My hands trembled as I picked up my phone and scrolled through my contacts. My heart raced when I saw his name—Brendon Castillo.

I hesitated for a moment, then pressed call.

The line rang once. Twice. Then—

“Hello?” His voice was deep, familiar, and gentle.

“It’s me,” I whispered. “Danica.”

There was a pause. “Danica?” He sounded stunned. “After all these years…”

I took a shaky breath. “Are you still a bachelor?”

He laughed softly, surprised. “I… yeah, I guess.”

“Good,” I said. My voice wavered, but I steadied it. “Because I need to ask you something important.”

“What is it?”

I closed my eyes, my heart hammering in my chest. “Do you want to marry me?”

The silence on the other end stretched long enough for me to hear my own heartbeat. Then came a quiet laugh—soft, familiar, and edged with disbelief.

“Marry you now?” Brendon said, amusement lacing his tone. “After you broke my heart back then? It’s been seven years, Danica. What happened to your perfect husband—Johan?”

I swallowed hard, staring at my reflection in the mirror—pale, hollow-eyed, the woman I barely recognized. “He betrayed me,” I said, my voice trembling but steady enough to carry the truth. “He killed our son. And I can’t live with him anymore.”

There was silence again. Then a sigh. “Danica…”

“Forget it,” I said quickly, my throat tightening. “If you don’t love me anymore—if you’re married or happy now, that’s okay. I shouldn’t have called.”

I was about to hang up when his voice stopped me.

“Who says I don’t love you?” His tone softened, warm and sure. “Seven years didn’t change that. You might’ve hurt me, but I never stopped caring. If you really want to do this, then fine—let’s see each other again. I’ll pick you up, and we’ll get married.”

I froze. For the first time in so long, I felt something crack through the numbness—a glimmer of hope or madness, I didn’t know which.

“Is there anything else you want me to do?” he asked gently.

“Nothing,” I whispered. “Just… don’t make me regret calling you for help.”

And before he could say another word, I hung up.

I stared at the phone in my hand, my chest rising and falling rapidly. The room felt smaller somehow, my heart heavier yet lighter all at once. I exhaled shakily. That’s better now.

After all, Brendon had once been my entire world.

I sank onto the edge of the bed, memories flooding back—his laugh echoing through the empty classroom, his hand brushing mine under the bleachers, his promise that someday we’d see the world together.

We were high school sweethearts—two dreamers who thought love could conquer everything. He’d even saved enough to buy a ring back then, cheap and simple, but it meant the world to us. We were supposed to get married after college.

But life had other plans.

When my father got sick, everything fell apart. My father’s company was in debt, and his business partner—Johan’s father—offered help. The price? My hand in marriage to Johan.

Brendon begged me not to do it. He promised he’d work hard, that we’d make it somehow. But I was scared. I was young and lost. I thought marrying Johan would keep me safe.

And for a while, I tried to believe I was happy. I learned to love him, or at least I thought I did. But now, looking back, it all felt like a carefully woven lie.

I snapped out of my thoughts and stood abruptly. I couldn’t stay here any longer—not in this house filled with memories that weren’t even real.

I opened my closet and began to pack, one item at a time. Dresses. Shoes. Photographs. Each thing I touched felt heavier than the last. My wedding gown was still hanging at the far end, wrapped in plastic. I stared at it for a long moment, then tore it down.

By the time I finished, I was shaking. I gathered everything Johan had given me—the gifts, the jewelry, even the letters—and carried them to the backyard. The night air was cold against my skin. I struck a match, watched the flame catch, and tossed it all into the fire pit.

The gold bracelet he’d once clasped around my wrist melted into the flames, turning black. I watched until everything turned to ash, until there was nothing left of us.

The doorbell rang just as I turned back inside.

I frowned, wiping my tears quickly before opening the door. A man stood there holding a box.

“Delivery for Mrs. Johan Valdez,” he said, handing it over.

“Delivery?” I echoed. “I didn’t order anything.”

“It’s prepaid,” he said, then left before I could question further.

Curious, I opened it. Inside was a limited-edition Audrey Hepburn figurine—elegant, poised, and delicate. My breath caught. I loved collecting them. Johan used to tease me for it.

For a moment, I thought—maybe, just maybe—it was an apology gift. That perhaps he remembered something that mattered to me.

But then I heard footsteps behind me.

“Don’t touch that.”

I turned. Johan stood in the doorway, dressed sharply in a suit, his expression cold. He snatched the box from my hands.

“This is for Ella’s birthday,” he said flatly.

I blinked. “What?”

“I won’t be here the next few days,” he added. “Business trip.”

A bitter laugh escaped my lips. “Of course. Business trip.”

“Danica, come on,” he sighed, rubbing his temple. “Are you mad again? Okay, I’m sorry.” He reached into his pocket, pulling out something small—a cheap replica of the same figurine—and handed it to me. “Here, to make it up to you.”

The fake one. Of course.

He leaned in to kiss me, but I turned away. “Never mind,” he muttered, straightening up. “Just do whatever you want.”

Before I could reply, a loud, frantic knock echoed from outside. Then a voice.

“Johan! Help! Please—something’s wrong!”

It was Ella.

Johan’s expression changed instantly, panic flashing across his face. “What happened?”

“It’s John,” she sobbed. “He’s sick again! Please, come quick!”

And just like that, he was gone.

I stood there, staring at the empty doorway, the silence pressing in like a suffocating blanket. Once again, I was left alone—forgotten, dismissed, discarded.

I pressed a trembling hand against my stomach. The tiny life growing inside me didn’t deserve this.

Tears blurred my vision as I whispered, “I’m sorry, baby… but I have to let you go now. Your father doesn’t want you.”

That night, I went to the hospital. I signed the papers with shaking hands, the nurse’s words barely reaching me as the tears fell silently.

“This procedure… are you sure, ma’am?”

“Yes,” I said, my voice breaking. “I’m sure.”

As the anesthesia started to pull me under, the last thing I whispered was a promise to the child I’d never meet—

“I’ll find peace. Even if I have to burn everything to get it.”

The hospital corridors smelled of antiseptic and silence. I walked out clutching a small white envelope, the paper inside still warm from the printer. Certificate of Abortion. The words felt heavy, cruel—final.

At the nurse’s desk, they handed me a tiny sealed box. “We thought you might want to keep something,” she said softly. Inside was a single silver bracelet—one I’d bought weeks ago, engraved with a name that would never be used: Liam. My baby boy who never even had a chance.

I went home in a cab, the city lights passing in a blur. Every honk, every sound outside felt distant, unreal. When I arrived, I placed the box on the bed. Then I opened my drawer and pulled out everything that still tied me to Johan—the marriage certificate, the ultrasound photo, the wedding ring he once slipped onto my finger, the dried rose from our first anniversary, even the letter my father had written before he died, asking Johan to take care of me.

One by one, I placed them all inside the box, my fingers trembling as I closed the lid. “This is it,” I whispered. “The end of us.”

When I stepped out of my room, I could hear laughter coming from the living room—bright, carefree laughter that cut deep.

Ella and little John were there, both smiling as they packed a pile of beach clothes into suitcases. John looked up, grinning widely when he saw me. “Auntie Danica!” he chirped. “Come on! We’re going on a cruise! Are you coming with us?”

I froze, my hand tightening around the handle of the box. Before I could answer, Johan emerged from the hallway, adjusting his watch like a man already halfway out the door.

“No,” he said curtly. “She’s not coming with us. Someone needs to stay and manage the house.” He didn’t even glance at me. “Danica will do that.”

Ella chuckled, pretending to look apologetic. “Oh, you know how business trips are. I can’t let Johan travel alone as his secretary, and for John, I can’t leave him alone to you like before, I mean…you might… well, get tired easily. And he’s really naughty. You should rest, sweetheart.” Her tone was sweet, but her eyes were mocking.

I looked at her, then at Johan. For the first time, I didn’t feel pain. Just an eerie calm. “Okay,” I said simply, setting the box on the counter. “Have fun.”

They both blinked, as if surprised by my lack of emotion.

Johan frowned, irritation flashing in his eyes. “Why do you suddenly not care?” he asked, his tone sharp. “What, no argument? No questions? No begging?”

I turned to him, my voice quiet but cutting. “What do you want me to say, Johan? That I’ll cry and make a scene again? You said it’s a business trip, right? So I’m trying to be understanding.”

He scoffed, clearly thrown off balance.

“Besides,” I added calmly, “I’m leaving soon too.”

His head snapped up. “Leaving? What do you mean, leaving? Where are you going?”

“To the province,” I said, meeting his eyes. “To visit my father’s grave. It’s their death anniversary after our anniversary. Remember?”

For a second, guilt flickered in his gaze. He sighed, trying to sound sincere. “Danica, look, I know I’ve been… busy. But I’ll follow you after the cruise, okay? We’ll visit your parents together.”

I smiled faintly. “Sure.”

He looked relieved, like a man who had just averted a fight. He reached into his briefcase and pulled out a few documents. “Also—could you sign these? Just some papers for the company. Minor things, nothing serious.”

I took them without a word. I knew exactly what they were—authorization forms meant to transfer a portion of my shares to his name. But I’d already taken care of that with my lawyer days ago. Everything had been moved under a trust he couldn’t touch.

Still, I signed the papers smoothly, my hand steady. He smiled, unaware that the game was already over.

“Thanks,” he said, leaning down to kiss my forehead. “I’ll see you soon, Danica. Be careful, okay?”

I just nodded. “I’ll be careful. You too!”

As they prepared to leave, Ella approached me, her smile bright and venomous. “Goodbye, Dani,” she said softly. “When we come back, I hope we can talk properly. Clear the air, you know? But between us girls… maybe you should take this chance to think about leaving. It’s better for everyone.”

I met her gaze, my lips curving into a faint smile. “Don’t worry,” I said, my voice calm and certain. “When you come back, I’ll make sure Johan regrets everything he ever did to me.”

For the first time, her smile faltered.

Then she grabbed John’s hand, forcing a laugh. “We’ll see, Dani. Take care!”

And just like that, they left—laughing, hand in hand, as if they hadn’t just destroyed everything I’d once held sacred.

I waited until the sound of the car engine faded completely. Then I stood there in the silence, taking one last look around the house that never felt like home.

The portraits on the wall mocked me—our wedding photo, our family gatherings, fake smiles that now looked sinister. I walked to the center of the room and placed the wooden box gently on the coffee table. My entire past—my pain, my losses, my love—fit neatly inside that box.

I put a note on the box and wrote, Happy anniversary, my ex husband. Goodbye!

A black limousine pulled up outside moments later. I straightened my blouse, wiped the last trace of tears from my face, and stepped out the door.

Brendon was leaning casually against the car, a faint smile tugging at his lips. He looked older now, sharper, but his eyes still carried that same steady warmth I remembered.

“Ready?” he asked simply.

I nodded. “Ready.”

As we drove away from the house I once called home, I didn’t look back. I clenched my fist tightly and swore that one of these days, I would make sure they would regret everything they did to me.