Hailey ignored her and stared directly at Blake. "What about our son? You're already kicking us out. You're not going to give me anything to take care of him?"
Blake's jaw clenched. "You think I'm going to give you money for a child I'm not even sure is mine?" he sneered. "For all I know, he could be anyone's. I'm not giving you a penny."
Hailey's mouth fell open slightly. The final dagger.
"I gave birth to him," she said quietly. "You signed his birth certificate."
Blake's face hardened. "That doesn't mean anything anymore. Get out of my house before I call security. Or better yet, I'll drag you out myself."
Hailey's fists clenched at her sides. But she didn't say another word. She didn't scream, didn't fall to her knees like he wanted her to. Instead, she turned around and walked out.
Her footsteps echoed in the cold marble hallway. Blake waited. He thought she'd come back. Thought she'd change her mind and crawl. But she didn't.
The door clicked shut.
"Finally," Kaira sighed, snuggling closer to him. "She's out of the picture." Her voice grew sultry. "So… when are we getting married?"
Blake didn't answer. He just stared at the door for a second longer than necessary.
**
Hailey and her son were at the Monroe mansion
Together, they entered the mansion.
The Monroe family wasn't exactly the most influential in Velmora city, but neither were they the poorest. Charles Monroe was the patriarch who owned business corporations. He managed to hit it off, but that wasn't enough. He wanted more power since the Monroe name was still talked down upon by more influential families.
Blake's father, Victor Lancaster, was one of the most respected and influential families but he made an announcement he would be stepping down soon and passed down his company, Lancaster Corporations, to Blake. So, her parents took the opportunity and married off one of their daughters to him.
When they'd spoken to Hailey about marrying Blake, she'd wondered why they didn't let Kaira marry him since she was their favorite and biological child.
Desperate to finally get some recognition in the family and be valued, Hailey married Blake only for her to be beaten into a pulp on their wedding night.
Turns out Blake was an abuser, but thanks to Victor's influence, no news outlet ever carried the story. He had a reputation to protect.
When Hailey and Aiden got into the mansion, a servant took Aiden's backpack that contained some of his clothes. Hailey couldn't take hers since apparently, Blake was busy screwing Kaira in their matrimonial room.
"What are you doing here?" Diane, her adoptive mother questioned with a disgusted glare.
From her tone, it already seemed she was already pissed off by her presence. Quickly, Hailey sent Aiden off once again to the kitchen. She had a feeling the discussion was going to be a heated one.
"I found Blake and Kaira sleeping together," she said, trying to keep her voice steady but as soon as the image appeared in her mind, she felt herself tearing up once again.
Charles, who was casually watching the business news slowly turned to her, no sign of shock on either of their faces. It was as if they knew.
"He kicked me and Aiden out of the house," she added, but there was nothing.
They were emotionless, as if they were waiting for her to get to the worst part.
"Is that all?" Diane asked, cocking up an eyebrow. "But then, why did you come here? Do you think this is a home for divorcees?"
Hailey blinked, stunned by the cruelty in her tone.
"W-What?" she stuttered, her voice barely above a whisper.
Diane sighed long and loud, as though Hailey's presence alone gave her a migraine. She leaned back into the plush cushions of the couch, her expression that of a queen addressing a peasant who'd overstayed their welcome.
"You've never been a good wife in the first place," she said coolly. "So I don't blame Blake for divorcing you. When I asked you to marry him, I told you to do whatever he says. Obey him. Please him. Instead, he came to me, complaining that you gave him nothing but headaches. And now," she added with a smirk, "he's saying Aiden might not even be his child."
The words struck Hailey like a slap. Her breath caught in her throat.
"What—?"
"You cheated on him, and he simply did the same thing," Charles said lazily from the leather recliner, not even sparing her a glance. "I don't see anything wrong with that."
Hailey could only stare at them in disbelief. Her ears rang. Were these the same people who raised her? Who claimed to have saved her from the orphanage?
"We only got you two married for a business alliance. It was never about love," Diane said with a shrug. "Now that you're divorced, Kaira can take over from there. She'll handle things better."
"I just hope he's changed," Charles muttered, swirling the ice in his whiskey glass. "If he ever lays a finger on Kaira, I'll make him pay. I don't care how important his family is."
The room went cold for Hailey.
When Blake had smacked her across the face, they hadn't comforted her. They hadn't protected her. They had sent her back, again and again, into a marriage where she had no voice.
Her fists clenched tightly at her sides, knuckles white with rage.
The air shifted.
"I don't think you two are worthy to be called parents," Hailey said suddenly. Her voice was quiet but firm. Steady. Her eyes were locked on theirs.
Both Diane and Charles turned their heads slowly, as if shocked that she'd dared speak.
"What did you just say?" Charles asked, his tone dangerous.
"You heard me," Hailey said, stepping closer. "You are a shame to parenthood. You treat me like garbage. I was never good enough for you because I wasn't your real child. You never loved me. I was just a tool—a means to an end."
Her chest heaved, but she didn't back down.
She swallowed hard, blinking rapidly. But no tears came. She'd run out of those hours ago.
"I didn't ask to be adopted," she continued, her voice rising. "You brought me into this family and treated me like I was second-hand. And now you're telling me I deserve all this?"
Charles rose from his seat, anger flashing in his eyes.
"Watch your tone, girl," he barked. "You ruined your own marriage. You failed to keep your husband. That's on you."
Hailey stepped closer, the fire in her veins daring him to keep going.
"Then don't be surprised when Blake cheats on Kaira with someone else," she spat. "It's what he does. It's what you all do—pretend you're better while you rot from the inside."
Diane stood as well, her nostrils flaring. "Blake would never do such a thing. He's different with Kaira. He said he loved her from the very beginning."
'Of course he did,' Hailey thought bitterly.
She didn't bother responding. She was done arguing with people who had already decided she didn't matter.
Hailey turned to go, but Diane's voice sliced through the air again.
"Where do you think you're going?" she asked coldly.
Hailey paused. Her fingers curled around the railing.
"Did you think I was joking when I said this isn't a shelter for divorcees?" Diane continued. "You and that boy of yours are not welcome here. Get out of my house."
Hailey stood still for a second, her back to them, her spine straight.
Then she walked away.
A few hours later…
Hailey sat in Julia's apartment, the walls dimly lit with warm yellow lights. Aiden was on the floor playing with a toy truck, unaware of how much his world had just changed.
"I can't believe Blake did that to you," Julia said, pacing the room with a glass of water in her hand. "Actually, scratch that—I can believe it. But your parents and Kaira? I didn't think they'd go that far."
Hailey sat silently on the couch, staring into nothing. She looked calm, but it wasn't peace—it was exhaustion. Numbness. Her soul felt like it had been wrung out.
"I don't have anywhere else to go," she finally said, her voice almost hollow. "They kicked me out. Said I wasn't welcome. Not even for Aiden's sake."
"You don't need to worry about that," Julia said firmly, setting the glass down. "You can stay here as long as you need to. And if I ever see that sister of yours, I swear I'll pull her hair out until she's bald."
She laughed softly at her own joke, trying to lighten the mood. But Hailey didn't smile.
Everything had happened so fast. Just yesterday, she was married, with a roof over her head, with a name that held weight. Now? She had nothing. Nothing but Aiden.
But somehow… she felt lighter.
She no longer had to pretend. She no longer had to beg for their love.
She had lost a mansion. But she had gained her freedom.
"Mum…"
The weak voice jolted her from her thoughts.
Hailey looked over—Aiden was clutching his chest, his face twisted in pain.
Her heart stopped.
"Aiden?" she gasped, leaping to her feet.
Before she could reach him, his little body collapsed.
"Aiden!!"