- You were never there for him

Molly

“Daddy, daddy!"

A little boy of around four years, looking exactly like my husband, ran to his side. Gasps erupted around the room, and I could feel the stunned silence enveloping us like a thick fog. Guests exchanged bewildered glances, their expressions morphing from curiosity to disbelief.

Not only that, the mansion my husband claimed to build for me had pictures of himself and a woman displayed everywhere. Intimate photos that caused the gazes of these strangers to pin on me.

I must have endured a lot of shame in my life but for a husband welcoming me into a house he claimed to build for me on our anniversary day having these kinds of pictures, I wanted to dig a hole and bury myself in it, the disgrace, causing my knees to wobble.

A cold realization hit me. I was the one who came between them. We got married after two months of dating, so I knew Wesley for exactly two years and two months, whereas he had a son who was over three.

I did not get the chance to stabilize myself when I heard him mention the familiar name once more. "Kitty, what are you doing here, and why did you put those pictures on the wall?”

I snapped my head to see who this Kitty was, and there I saw the woman who was not only Wesley’s mistress but also my kid sister.

Rage surged inside of me. I could feel my blood boil.

Kiara, whom I had not seen for over three years, was my husband’s mistress.

The cheating, lying bastard took me for a fool, saying he didn’t know what I was talking about when I mentioned Kitty.

"It's about time she knows. You said you were going to divorce her after the mansion was ready, so here you are. I prepared everything for you," Kiara said without a hint of guilt in her eyes, presenting some documents to him.

I partly guessed they were the divorce papers, as she lifted her son in her arms, giving her to a woman I assumed to be a nanny.

Four years ago, my singing career was at its peak. Only one night later my life was destroyed, and I fell from grace to grass.

I woke up in an empty hotel room with a heavy hangover from last night’s celebration banquet. I didn’t know how I ended up there, but when I left the room , intimate pictures of me and my producer were circulated all over the internet and magazines, framing me for being a homewrecker.

No one would believe me when I said I knew nothing about it. I felt no different that morning, meaning nothing had happened between us but an impression formed was too hard to erase.

Don’t ask me how I managed to dodge waves of angry fans who raged like they wanted to eat me whole. My producer wanted nothing to do with me, and he used the worst way to cut ties with me, signing my sister.

Painful as it was for me, all my unreleased songs were sung by Kiara after, aiding her quick rise. I had no idea how she laid hands on the songs I worked so hard on.

Kiara’s fame was rising so fast, coupled with the fact that she spearheaded the spread of the scandal, gaining the attention and favor of my producers and fans. The more I fell, the greater she rose.

As my fiancé at the time, Wesley still decided to marry me despite my scandal, and that truly saved me from the darkest hellhole. His perfect act of love blinded me so much that I trusted him so fast and now this.

"Wesley, how could you do this to me? You knew about the scandal yet, you let this happen."

Everything collapsed around me, making my eyes blurry. I felt weak and alone in the midst of wolves with no one to comfort me, just like it happened four years ago.

My knees sank to the ground, and I wept like a child, knowing everything was over for me.

"I'm sorry, everyone, but the party's over. Security, see them out," I heard Wesley announce in a heavy voice. He waited for his guests to leave before responding to my heart-breaking accusation.

"Look, I tried, but I don't feel attracted to you. This might be Kitty’s idea, but I wanted to end things with you too. I just couldn’t find the right time to do so.”

I didn't realize it when my lips stretched. It was a smile, but it was filled with so much bitterness that it made me want to puke.

At this point, there was no need for a fight with these shameless people anymore. Kiara won again. She betrayed me twice, and I fell for it. My life was ruined the second time, but this time, I was going to take my life seriously.

I would face my fears including the slander and make my life better because I still had the company.

The company my parents poured their heart and soul into. They encouraged me to co-manage the company when I ceased my singing career, but I wasn’t too confident in doing so at that time due to the situation at hand, so Wesley took that position from me and helped the company escape the predicament caused by my scandal and grow bigger.

I was once very grateful for him taking care of my parents’ company like his own business, but the thoughts turned sour when his parents constantly accused me of living an easy life by not helping with the company. As if Wesley would give me a chance when I asked for it. He said running a company was too complicated.

Since my parents passed away, the company became my only link to them, and I won’t give it away to some despicable cheater and his cunning mistress.

"Okay. I will sign the divorce papers, but I need my company back." I removed the ring from my finger, throwing it at him.

Wesley's expression changed at the demand, no longer remorseful like before. "That is not possible. You know how much I have invested in and sacrificed for this company when it’s experiencing the downturn. It’s already a completely different company from what it was at the start.”

I was completely shocked. “Are you stealing the company from me? You said you were just helping!”

“You signed everything over to me. Let’s not forget that."

"You lured me. You told me you couldn’t secure new contracts with investors knowing that the company belonged to me because of the scandal,” I reminded him, rage bubbling in my heart.

That was the reason I had to be a fool. The slander kept popping up, and my parents had died mysteriously. I had no one to help me but him, the perfect angel, unknown that he was a demon.

He convinced me to not make it known that I was involved in the company, making me agree to be a housewife. Back then, he did it with care, pitching it in my interest but only if I had known his real intentions.

Perhaps our meeting then was not a coincidence in the first place like I thought.

"Come on, sis, I'm equally entitled to everything because Dad left it for both of us," Kiara's grating voice sounded close to me. A smug smile lifted the corner of her lips.

"You were never there for us when dad was ill. They left everything for me," I reminded her. As soon as I was kicked out of the entertainment industry by producers, Kiara's fame rose beyond limits.

We were nothing to her, and she never recognized our parents nor respected them for anything since she started to get fame. Even when I called to inform her about our parents' funeral, she told me to let the dead bury their dead.

I wanted to do the right thing, so I called her again when the will was being read, but she rubbed it in my face, saying she wasn't interested in peanuts.

Then as fast as she rose, her fame died because none of the songs she wrote ever sold. She had run out of the stolen songs, and she did not have the creativity to create more.

With her doing this, I believe she went bankrupt along the way.

"Molly, why are you so dumb? Do you think the will is still legal when you are not my parents' biological daughter?”

That was unexpected. The shock was enough to get me back on my feet. "That isn't true."

"I have all the DNA tests to prove, including these pictures. Turns out my parents found you when your parents' car had an accident and adopted you."

I stared at the pictures and documents she stuffed into my hands with blurry eyes, wondering why I was still alive and not dead.

This was too much for me to take, as Kiara continued to hit me where it hurts most. "So why should an adopted child get everything a legitimate child wouldn't?"

I never knew about this but if it were indeed true, then why did my adopted parents still will everything to me?

"If they knew about my parentage before giving me everything, then how is that my fault? You were just a shameless brat who never made them proud."

Oh, I must have said too much because my face burnt from the sting of Kiara’s slap. My ears buzzed and my head spinned. I met her menacing glare with my own and raised my hand, only to be stopped by my own husband.

"I'm sorry, but I can't let you hit her." I quickly pulled my hand away and stared at him with disgust.

"Don't ever touch me again."

Kiara always had her way with everything since we were kids, and the only time I got something was my parents' will, and yet, she still stole everything from me again and again.

"Shut it, Molly. I always thought everything belonged to you and have been very gentle towards you, but turns out, you are just a shameless rag like my parents said."

That was Wesley, but his words no longer mattered to me, though it hurts how I have been a fool to desire him so much, thinking he was mine.

Kiara had a victorious smile on her face, wrapping her arms around Wesley’s neck and kissing him on the lips.

Wesley welcomed her and after pulling away, she faced me with their arms wrapped around each other.

"I already prepared everything for you, Molly. Sign the papers and get the hell out. And stop trying to get your hands on the company. It belongs to those who truly deserve it, not to say I lawfully own it now. Don’t make things ugly for yourself.”

I was shaking from boiling rage. "I still have the will, the lawyers, and all to attest that everything belongs to me. My parents left them for me."

"They aren't your parents, and I already gave you proof. Out of here before I get the guards to throw you out. If you like, you could be my maid," she sniggered.

Now I understand. Every single one of those I once considered family, Wesley, Kiara, and very likely Wesley’s parents, was conspiring together behind my back to steal everything from me and my parents. How could I have been so blind not to see through all this, and allow my life to fall apart into millions of pieces?

"You,” I looked at both of them, “will regret this one day." It wasn't a threat. I was willing to work my ass off to get the money to hire the best attorneys. This was not going to end here.

"Oh, poor thing. You couldn't even get pregnant. Who knows? You might just be barren, and this is what bitches like you deserve. I hate you with my soul, Molly. You got the voice and talent I always dreamed of and all the love of my parents. Sign the divorce papers and get out," she reminded me.

I always loved her and treated her like a sister would, but today, she declared exactly what she always harbored in her heart.

I didn't believe that my parents adopted me. I felt she was saying that to cover up something, but I needed time to claim back all that belonged to me.

With that thought, I summoned my last bit of confidence and said,

“I’ll sign the papers, just send them to my email. I need to let my attorney go through them first.”

Kiara wanted to protest, but Wesley stopped her.

“Sure thing. But you can’t run away from me, Molly,” Wesley said with a cold smile, “wherever you go, I will find you, but the next time I see you, I won’t be as nice. So think twice and be smart.”

I ignored him and left the mansion. I couldn’t stay with them for another second.

I had no one, nowhere to go. So, I decided to check my bank account. I still had my purse with the card I had before marriage but no cash.

I was just realizing that I had been kept at home without seeing the outside world for all these years. My mother-in-law bought everything we needed at home, and I cooked and cleaned every day.

Wesley and Kiara played me so well. There was just 2k in my bank account, but I had no idea where to start. Was there even a motel close by? This area was foreign to me, and I could not trust anyone for guidance.

I don't know how long I walked, but it grew dark, and I continued walking aimlessly, not caring who looked at me until I saw a lot of cars.

Girls with skimpy clothes were walking in. This was one of the places I met with other celebrities during my time of fame.

It was a club, so I figured I'd just get a drink to numb my sorrow, even if it were just for a night. It was over four years since I was kicked out of the music industry so no one would recognize me but how wrong I was for entering there? I soon regretted it.

– This is going to be fun

Molly's POV

“Molly. Molly Campbell," a female voice yelled my maiden name right at the entrance. I turned around, about to leave, but she caught up to me and held me by the shoulder.

"Molly, where have you been?" She asked, warmth and relief resonating from her. However, I had faced too much betrayal to trust anyone or believe that she genuinely cared.

What if she was there to mock me like the others before? "It’s nothing. I have to go," I turned to leave, but she blocked my path.

Our eyes met, and I could see the hurt in her eyes. Yet, she still comforted me.

"It’s okay. I can give you a shoulder to lean on. You can’t be coming here alone at this hour for no reason. We weren’t exactly friends, but that doesn’t mean I don’t care or believe in the rumors."

Nora was one of my backup singers by then, and her care broke me into pieces. What I so desired from family, I was getting from a stranger I never cared much about before.

"All I want is something to ease the pain. Do you have any hard drinks?" I asked, feeling pathetic in my situation.

Nora was in casual clothes, so I could not tell what she was doing there, and her tag was flipped.

"This is a club. Of course, we do, but I won’t advise you to mingle. Those rich folks can be dangerous."

She wasn’t pretending, and that made me understand that there were still a few kind people out there. I didn’t have a choice but to trust her. "You have no idea what I have been through."

"Alright, come with me." Her voice was tranquil, and as if she knew I was going to refuse, she held my hand firmly and led me to one of the VIP booths. But I pulled her back. I had to be honest with her.

"I can’t afford a place like this."

"Don’t worry. It’s on the house. I’m the manager here, so let’s say today is your lucky day."

She left and returned with some drinks, and I gulped down the first glass she filled for me. "I’m very stupid, Nora." The liquor helped me to open up, and she comforted me.

"No, you are not."

I felt she was saying it because she didn’t know what I had been through. After gulping down three glasses of martini, it was as if my parrot mode was activated.

I never talked much, but after losing everything, there was nothing to lose by letting it out. My dignity and everything that made me, me, had already been taken away.

"You can sell my necklace, shoes, and dress to foot the bill. They are worth over a million." These were expensive items my parents gifted me on different birthdays before their passing, and they were very expensive.

Drowsiness was taking a toll on me as a result of the alcohol, so I let out a yawn after narrating everything to her.

She didn’t judge me, only offering to help. "Let me get you a room. We can go to my place after. You don’t deserve this, Molly. I believe you."

I wish I had been nicer to her in my times of fame. Perhaps we would have been good friends, and maybe, just maybe, I would not have ended up with Wesley.

"I want to pee," I said to her. She stood up and held out her hand to me. "Come with me."

I saw the signposts, so I knew where the restroom was. "I can take care of myself."

"No, you are drunk. Someone might take advantage of you," she said seriously. Worry dulled her eyes, and it felt strange that she cared so much.

I mean, it would be okay if she showed me sympathy, but she actually cared. As soon as we stepped out of the booth, a waiter approached her.

"Ma’am, we need help with a difficult client in booth five."

Nora did not seem like she wanted to leave me alone. "Get Sampson to take care of it."

But the waiter insisted. "He’s already handling another problem in booth three."

Nora stared helplessly at me, but I assured her. "I will be fine. I will wait here for you."

"The restroom is that way," she showed me, but as soon as she turned around, I saw a smirk in the corner of the waitress' lips, but I was too drowsy to care.

I staggered to the restroom with the loud music hitting my eardrum, but when I returned, there were two men in my booth.

"What are you doing here?" I slurred. One of them smirked. "Beauty is back."

My heart dropped to my stomach, and I looked around for Nora, but I couldn’t find her. Beauty was a taunting word they used during the time of my fall.

Most people addressed me as a beauty without brains, so I knew that these men recognized me. Everyone was somewhat busy, drinking, dancing, or doing whatever made them happy.

I caught the wrist of one of the waiters. "Where is Nora?" I asked him.

"Boss could be anywhere," he shrugged and pulled his hand away. I felt a hand wrapped around my waist. It was one of the men in the VIP booth.

"Come on, drink some more," he offered me a glass of liquor after dragging me back to the booth, but I could not accept it.

I was nervous. "No. I’ve had enough."

"Who said you have a choice? Kiara paid us very well to take good care of you," the second man said leisurely, staring at me like a piece of trash.

Hearing her name, uncontrollably tears escaped from my eyes.

So, it was Kiara again. After taking everything, what else did they want from me?

I felt a harsh pain in my scalp, making me scream, but the loud music dominated my voice, as my head was tilted backward, and the drink was forced down my throat.

It burned, and my eyes blurred with tears, but I began to feel strange. It was the same thing that happened four years ago, and all I wished for was death before it happened, but I was too weak.

The blend of alcohol and whatever was in that drink they gave me was too much for someone who had not taken any strong drink in two years.

"Don’t worry, everything will be recorded, just so you won’t say that we forced you."

Tears streamed down my cheeks. I felt helpless, and yet, worse things awaited me. "We have to show her the video first," the guy who dragged me into the booth said and brought out his phone.

On the screen was a video of Kiara. "Big sister, I just thought you should pay for being with my man for two years. If you don’t sign the divorce paper within 7 days, this video will be played to the public, just like old times."

Wesley appeared beside her, nibbling her ears as she moaned before saying.

"And that reminds me. If you fail to show up at the court, the video will still be aired. Enjoy, my big bitchy sister." The video ended, and I felt numb. The drug must have been an aphrodisiac, reminding me of all that I went through four years ago.

It was a mistake for me to come here, but now, it was too late to escape. With all my dignity gone, all I could do was beg.

"No, please don’t do this," I cried, looking around for any sign of Nora, but she wasn’t there. I was lifted off my feet, but my body was feeling funny as he walked through the crowd of dancers into a room.

I knew that something was not right, but I lost control and began removing my clothes. I was feeling too hot, I needed a release.

"This is going to be fun," I heard one of the men say, as they began to undress, but a force so strong sent the door flying in the air, and three men walked in.

I saw blurrily, Nora behind them, but I couldn’t hear what they were saying. Someone covered me with his jacket, and I wrapped myself around him. His scent was so calming, but I couldn’t hear anything he said to me.

Words were coming out of my mouth, but they weren’t making sense as he when we got to a much bigger room.

I couldn’t see his face, only my body being immersed in cold water, I liked it because of how hot I was feeling before. I could not remember anymore, as everything turned dark.

I don’t know for how long I drowned in my unconscious state, but I woke up in a strange luxurious room with a painful headache.

As if that was not enough, there was a strange man in the bed with me. Not again...

Author's note:

Thank you for your support. Please vote for the book on the main page and leave a review to attract more readers. Your feedback is greatly appreciated.

– Lie on the bed

I woke up in a strange luxurious room with a painful headache. As if that was not enough, a man was in the bed with me.

Remembering the events of last night was a complete disaster, increasing the pain in my head so I sneaked out of bed, my heart heavy with fear making me wonder why my life always turned out like this.

Why was there so much pain in my life? This reminded me so much of what happened four years ago, I did not want it to happen again.

His face was buried in the pillow, but my heart rate was already uncontrollable. What if he was somebody’s husband like my former producer? How could I have allowed this to happen again?

I cursed myself internally, hating the fact that I had been foolish twice because of a strong drink. Checking myself, I knew there hadn’t been any form of intercourse, except that this time, my clothes had been changed.

Where do I begin searching for them, including my diamond necklace? That was a gift from my mother. Those two men, I wondered what happened to them and if they had taken my diamond necklace.

Still, what mattered was for me to get out of here before another scandal happened, but I could not help wondering where Nora was. I remembered her from last night, but most of the events after that were blurry, and I hadn’t taken her number either.

I almost thought I had escaped this one smoothly when my back was harshly pinned against the wall.

The swift movement scared me out of my wits, a familiar and yet fearful voice heated my ears, forcing me to focus my gaze on the man before me, his arms caging me, pinning my back against the door.

Strangely, his morning breath was rather minty, unlike the bad alcohol breath Wesley always woke up with. “Is this how you repay me after I saved your life?”

His voice was a little familiar but also mixed with power and dominion. I was trying to avoid eye contact, due to the shame I felt in my heart for allowing this to happen.

It seemed that I was indeed unhurt, and I could vaguely recall the shadow figure appearing before the two men before I lost consciousness. Determined to show my apology, I looked him in the eye but the realization suddenly hit me.

“Gianni?”

Memories from six years ago tentatively flooded my mind, the last part being the most painful.

It was during my high school days. I went to eat in a restaurant when I saw him. So handsome and so wild. His food was served, and he stood up to answer a call. It was brief, but one of his friends was pouring a whitish substance into his food.

I videoed it in time and stopped him from eating. When he returned, I showed the video to him, making him force his friend to eat the food. The rest was resolved at the hospital. He found me a few days later to thank me with a bouquet of roses.

His gesture touched my heart, and we fell in love. He told me how his friend confessed to wanting to get rid of him because of jealousy. He didn’t say more, especially when I asked about his family, but since then, he was always there for me, even during prom.

That was how he became my high school sweetheart, even when he was already in college.

I enrolled in college too, and during my second year, he came to visit, and that was when he took my virginity. It was an unforgettable night, but when I woke up, he was gone. There was no note or trace, and his phone was out of coverage area.

Ugly thoughts came to me when I realized I could be tricked. But who would spend years to do this, and make it so real, just to take a girl’s cherry? Especially for a charming man like him?

When my rage faded, I began to get worried. Hope failed me when I didn’t hear from him for months, eventually accepting that perhaps, he died in an accident or something worse because if not, then why would he leave me like that? Without a trace.

“I’m so sorry, Molly, I never meant to hurt you,” I heard him say, but all I felt was the anger boiling inside of me. His betrayal was the worst I ever faced, only living with it after accepting or should I rather say that I convinced myself that he was dead.

I don’t know what came over me but my hand lifted before I could stop it, and I stood on my toes releasing the hardest slap of my life, but the tall man before me was unhinged. Only my palm burned from the slap I gave him, it made me furious, and I began hitting him in the chest.

“So, you are alive.” Tears burned in the corner of my eyes, warmly flowing down my cheeks, as my punches began to weaken. He has grown stronger than I ever saw him as if he was made of steel.

My aching fingers forced me to stop, as I hugged myself in the end like the temperature in the room just dropped. Gio, or Gianni. He loved whichever way I called him back then, but my legs felt like jelly when I looked closely at him.

He had changed so much and I could not tell what it was. His hair color was still a dark shade like before, just like his eyes but there was a strange aura around him, that made me wonder what he had been up to.

“Did I do something wrong?” My voice came out as a whisper. I hated him so much after what he did to me that I tried to forget about him.

I succeeded, except that our paths crossed again in the most unexpected way.

Remorse shone in his eyes but I could not feel any form of pity for him, only hatred.

“It wasn’t your fault. There was something I needed to take care of urgently, but getting home was worse than I thought.”

That should be a tale for babies, not a woman of the 21st century. “Not even a phone call.” Sarcasm laced my voice. I could not believe a word he said to me because I was the kind who trusted only once.

It felt odd how his expression suddenly toughened. “Honestly, it’s best for us to be away from each other.” His words pierced my heart. I couldn’t see any remorse in his eyes whatsoever, making me regret the day we met.

How in the world did I wind up with him again? I gritted my teeth together, remembering my promise to myself.

My zeal to be strong and handle things on my own. “You are right. Thank you for your honesty, but I owe you no appreciation. We are even now.”

Adrenaline surged through me, and I garnered the strength to open the door, but it was locked.

“You have nothing, Molly, you can’t leave.”

His words intensified my headache, and I could not hold it in. “My head,” I groaned. He hastened to the drawers and took out some pills before pouring me a glass of water.

“This will make you feel better.”

I feared a little, remembering how I was knocked out last night and could not remember much of it, but if he saved me from those men… “What’s in this for you?” I asked suspiciously. His expression grew tighter than before.

Giovanni had changed so much, that I could not detect if his expression meant anger or confusion, but there was something so scary about him anytime our gazes met.

“You think I would drug you? G****e it.”

The understanding was clear that he was upset. I swallowed the pill and drank the water. If he drugged it, he won’t tell me to research it before drinking. “I know it wasn’t you. But why are you here?”

“Lie on the bed for a while,” he instructed, ignoring my question. It irritates me. “No. I have to go.” The headache was reducing anyway, but that was when he reminded me.

“You have nowhere to go, Molly. Let me help you, just to make up for old times. No strings attached.”

My heart stopped at the reminder. I indeed had nowhere to go, and those divorce documents were still in my email, so how could I forget Wesley and Kiara’s warning?

I needed a lawyer, but I did not know if it was right to take advantage of Giovanni. He hurt me before, so I don’t have to feel guilty using him to get back at Wesley and Kiara, right?

“How do you plan to help me?” I asked seriously, wanting to know if we were on the same page, but his revelation caused my heart to bleed.