No one said anything when my stepmother slapped me in front of the other family members. Even out of the corner of my eye, I could see Shirley secretly grinning happily at me.

I just smiled bitterly realizing this. Now I realize that all this time I could only rely on myself in this house.

"What do you mean by slapping me like this, Auntie?" I gently rubbed the side of my lip, which was torn again, and stared at my stepmother with a cold gaze.

From the beginning, my stepmother didn't like me when she and Shirley entered my family. I didn't show my interest in them either, even though I was always envious of Shirley, who was so dear to my stepmother.

"You still dare to ask me questions?" My stepmother glared at me, her hand raised again to land another slap in my face.

I held her hand and threw it away forcefully. I wouldn't let these bastards treat me like that again. Even though I am powerless at the moment, I don't want to be seen as weak in front of them anymore.

My father, who was surprised by my behavior, also began to get up and help my stepmother. I had guessed that no one in this family thought about me.

In fact, Melvin was making out with Shirley right in front of me. Although Melvin was still looking at me with a slight sense of guilt.

Shirley hugged Melvin tightly and put her arms around Melvin's arms while resting her head on Melvin's chest.

My heart ached when I saw that scene, even though my parents didn't scold them even though I was Melvin's wife, not Shirley!

"Eleanore! Why are you being so rude to your stepmother, hurry up and apologize to her." Dad stared at me sharply and his voice sounded like an order that I had to do.

"Darling, I'm fine. Eleanore doesn't need to apologize to me, it's just that I can't let what she did to Shirley slide!" At a glance, I could see the sly gaze of my stepmother.

Ah! It turns out that this was my stepmother's goal. She intended to drag my father into this matter so that I couldn't do anything.

After hearing her mother's words, Shirley got up from her position and pulled Melvin with her.

"It's true, Dad! Eleanore tried to kill me when we were trapped in the fire," Shirley replied, immediately putting on an innocent and innocent face, seeking sympathy from my father.

"What?!" My father looked shocked when he heard Shirley's words. He even looked at me with a disappointed look.

"It's not like that-"

My words stopped when I heard Shirley start crying with her crocodile tears; even Melvin, who was next to her, now looked worried.

"I know that I am not your blood relative. But how could you try to kill me to save yourself, Eleanore?" Shirley said so, sobbing miserably.

Melvin and my stepmother, who were next to Shirley, tried to calm Shirley down by saying words of love and affection to her.

In the corner of my heart, I felt envious of Shirley because I had never received that love since my mother left this house.

In fact, my husband, Melvin, who was supposed to share his love and affection with me, cared more about Shirley and ignored me completely.

"Eleanore, did you really do that to Shirley?" Dad asked me, but I felt cornered by his question.

Moreover, my father no longer looked at me warmly. There was only a cold gaze that pierced my heart.

"Dad, I didn't do it! Shirley was-"

"Dad, if you don't believe me, you can ask Melvin who came to save us." Shirley quickly cut me off.

I knew that Shirley would not let Dad know what really happened because she was the one who tried to kill me in the fire.

"That's right, father-in-law. I found Shirley injured and almost burned to death when I came to save her," Melvin replied to Shirley's statement.

At that moment, I stared at Melvin in disbelief; how could Melvin choose to defend Shirley over me, his wife?

I stared at Melvin in disappointment; it seemed like his love for me was completely gone.

It seemed like my last hope for Melvin was destroyed entirely. There was nothing more I could defend for Melvin at this point.

"Honey, you heard it yourself! Eleanore really intends to kill Shirley!" My stepmother also started to provoke my father.

Now, I could feel everyone in the room staring at me with a look of contempt. They had believed Shirley and all the lies she had told about me.

I laughed bitterly when I realized that I no longer had a place in this family, that they no longer needed me.

"You don't even intend to give me time to explain. In that case, it's up to me." I waved my hand, not caring, then walked to my room on the second floor.

My steps stopped when I was about to leave the living room. Out of the corner of my eye, I could see that it was Melvin who was holding my hand.

"What else do you want?" My gaze for him was no longer gentle; my feelings for Melvin were dead at this stage.

Melvin looked stunned when he saw how I was looking at him now. However, even so, Melvin did not ignore it and still said something that made my heart hurt even more.

"You have to apologize to Shirley. Your actions have been outrageous," Melvin said seriously.

"What did you say? I have to apologize to her? Come on! "I wrenched Melvin's grip until it came off. I gave him a toothy smile and walked away.

"Eleanore! Apologize now while I'm still talking to you nicely!" Melvin started to get angry when I ignored him.

The atmosphere in the house has been tense since the day I brought Shirley home from the hospital, and even Melvin refused to sleep in the same room with me.

I don't mind now if Melvin doesn't want to sleep with me; that way, I can prepare my plan more quickly. But, still I feel sad about this, Melvin has been really cold to me since the fire case.

My cell phone vibrated, indicating an incoming message. I quickly opened the message and smiled happily as I read it.

[Your plane is coming in three days, so get ready to go back.]

"I know you must be happy to hear that I accepted the offer to return to the company," I muttered quietly. I had already decided to leave this house.

However, before that, I had to do something for Melvin. I had prepared a gift for him, and I was sure he would like it.

I took my branded bag that was on the mattress and then walked out of the room. Not really feeling some ease within this room again.

When I walked through the dining room on the first floor, there was Shirley and my stepmother having lunch.

They saw me but didn't say hello at all, in fact they looked away and started talking about something bad about me. I'm used to being treated cold like this by them. "If that bitch still has any shame, then she will apologize to you immediately, sweetheart." My stepmother said that in a rather loud voice while affectionately rubbing Shirley's head.

Her treatment of Shirley and also of me was completely different. Since mom left home, I never felt loved by my stepmother. Even though I kept quiet and accepted their words, my heart still aches when I heard them.

"Never mind, Mom. I know Eleanore must not have meant to push me that time, "replied Shirley with her pretense.

"My goodness, you're too nice to her, Shirley."

I was sick of hearing their conversation. I could throw up if I stayed here any longer. I rolled my eyes lazily and left, no longer looking at the two of them.

"What's the point of being nice if it's just pretending?" I said that before leaving to make fun of Shirley.

I knew Shirley would be upset if she heard me say that, but I didn't care and walked away from my father's house.

Today, I intend to take care of my divorce papers with Melvin. Yes, this is my last gift to Melvin. I know that he would like this gift I present to him.

This way Melvin can be with his beloved Shirley, even though my heart was completely broken when I made this decision.

. .

I had previously asked my lawyer to take care of the file, so today, I just need to pick it up from my lawyer.

I wrapped the divorce letter that I had signed in a sweet gift box, and I decorated it beautifully.

"At least my last gift should look as beautiful as I am," I muttered quietly, giggling amusedly.

I put the gift box containing the divorce papers in the room Melvin is currently occupying; that way, he will definitely find this box later.

I decided to stay in Melvin's dark room. I deliberately didn't turn on the lights in this room. I want to feel this gloomy and dark feeling that lingering in my heart after all this time.

There was a single sofa by the long window in this room; I decided to sit there while taking out my cell phone.

I sent a message to Melvin, who was at the company at the time.

[Melvin, I have prepared a gift for you. I hope you will see it when you get home.]

I sent the message to Melvin, and it didn't take long for him to reply.

[Don't expect me to accept your gift if you don't apologize to Shirley!]

Shortly after the message appeared, Melvin blocked my number. I could only smile bitterly as I stared at Melvin's last message. Not even my tears want to fall anymore.

"Even until the end you still chose to betray me," I muttered in a low voice, almost a whisper.

With a limp step, I got up from my position and walked out of Melvin's room. It was time for me to prepare to leave the place I once called home.

. .

For the past three days, Melvin had been at the hotel with Shirley. He had ignored Eleanore because he had not apologized to Shirley and he was upset about this matter.

However, for some reason today, Melvin felt uneasy, so he decided to return home with Shirley.

Melvin immediately looked for Eleanore when he arrived at the Willete family home. And Melvin found Eleanore's room empty when he checked it and he could feel that his heartbeat tightened with unease.

"How dare she leave when I was gone!" Angrily, Melvin walked towards her room, which was next to Eleanore's.

A pastel pink box with a blue ribbon was easily visible on the small table near the single sofa, catching Melvin's attention.

Melvin immediately remembered that Eleanor had intended to give him a gift that day. Quickly, Melvin opened the box to see what was inside.

How surprised Melvin was when he saw the contents of the box. His eyes rounded in disbelief, even his hands holding the box trembled helplessly.

"It's impossible! Eleanore wouldn't want to break up with me!" Melvin shook his head in fear.

With trembling hands, Melvin took out his cell phone and unblocked Eleanore's number; he quickly called Eleanore.

Unfortunately, Eleanore's cell phone was dead, and she could no longer be contacted.

While Melvin was busy contacting Eleanore, his assistant rushed into his room with a pale face.

"Sir, Madam has left. And I heard that the plane has been hijacked!"