When she strikes back

Miriam's heart slammed against her rib as her son's tiny voice rang out, piercing her heart; "The three of us look more like a family without mom."

His words struck her hard, her feet went numb as they turned white as porcelain. Without thinking twice, she flung the door open. Her grip on her bag weakened until it descended to the floor.

In the living room, her worst fear became crystallized before her eyes. Her husband, Dante, was kissing a woman who had become infamous online as his mistress, openly cheating in front of her

"D-Da-Dante," Miriam stammered, her voice trembling in disbelief. She had been hearing rumors about her husband's cheating, but refused to believe it.

The sight of him betraying their marriage in their own home cut deeper than the rumors she had heard about him.

His expression remained stoic and detached. "You're back so early," Dante uttered flatly, not minding the reality that he had been caught in his cheating acts.

"Dante, who's she? Why did you kiss her? What is she doing in our home?" Miriam asked, clenching onto her white floral dress tightly. She had rushed home to deliver good news to her husband, only to be stabbed with a knife in the heart.

"She's the mother of my unborn daughter. Anyways, I'm glad you're here. What a perfect timing." He said, his smile devoid of warmth.

Miriam's heart thundered in her chest. She held her tummy gently as her eyes went to Charlie, who was nestled in Bellamy's arms. The happiness on his face was a contrast to the betrayal spiralling inside her.

Dante approached her, his steps calculative. "Today is your birthday, and I have a gift for you," He announced, walking past her, then returning holding a brown envelope.

Miriam's eyes never left Charlie, who returned her gaze with an unreadable expression that cut her deeper. His small hand clutched onto Bellamy's tightly, sending a painful reminder of the shift in his loyalty.

"Miriam, this is your birthday gift. I trust you will understand what it means," He said, the envelope’s weight matching the severity in his tone.

Miriam's shaky hand stretched forward as she took the file from him. "Dante, what's this?" She asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

"You’ll see for yourself," Dante replied coolly, a trace of triumph in his voice. In response, Bellamy snickered in a mocking rhythm, her smile sharpening as she squeezed Charlie a little tighter.

Miriam's fingers unfolded the paper inside. Bold, uncompromising letters stared back: “DISSOLUTION OF MARRIAGE.” Every stroke of the ink felt like a verdict to her.

"You don't belong here, Miriam," Dante continued. “You never did. I should have married Bellamy from the start. She’s everything you could never be," He spat out, holding Bellamy gracefully.

"I hope you enjoy our birthday gift," Bellamy chipped in.

"Our marriage has been nothing but a series of disappointments. You have no child for me, and you’ve failed to bring any fortune into this home. Instead, you’ve drained everything without giving back," Dante asserted. Each of his words felt like a hammer smashing Miriam's heart.

Miriam clenched her fists, her nails digging into her palms. "Dante, I'm pregnant," She said, hoping she could win back her husband with her good news, her eyes glinting for a comeback.

"It's too late," Miriam's heart clenched at his words.

"Too late? After everything I’ve done for you? After everything I’ve endured? You're rejecting our baby after serving me a divorce letter, referring to it as the best birthday gift ever," Miriam asserted, shockingly.

Dante scoffed. "And yes, I'm rejecting the baby, I don't love you anymore. Just accept the divorce letter as the best birthday gift ever." His eyes gazed irritably at her.

"Miriam, what exactly have you done for me? You quit your job, sat around this house, and gave me nothing but headaches. No abundance, no wealth, just a burden I’ve been forced to carry. And let’s not forget how you always made things difficult for my family," Dante added, flatly, and in a cold demeanor.

Bellamy chuckled. "Oh, poor Miriam. You want to play the role of a victim." She tilted her head and stroked Charlie’s hair as the boy rested against her. "Look at him. He’s finally at peace. You never made him this comfortable."

Miriam’s heart was wrenched. Charlie had never smiled that freely in her arms. He had never clung to her the way he clung to Bellamy now. The betrayal was beginning to suffocate her.

"I quit my job because of you and became a full-time housewife. I took care of your home and your son for two good fucking years while enduring all those maltreatments from your obnoxious mother and spoiled sister. I took care of Charlie as if he were mine. I said nothing when I heard dirty rumors about you, fucking a woman with no dignity. Yet I chose to ignore those rumors only to get slapped on the face with a divorce paper," Miriam expressed, scoffing at his treacherous acts.

Dante sneered. "And that makes you a fool."

Miriam’s breathing grew unsteady. "How can you be so cruel? How can you do this to me?"

Bellamy laughed, the sound sharp and cutting. "Oh, don’t start with a drama. You’ve suffered, and that’s great so why don't you consider these papers your ticket to freedom?"

Miriam stared at the papers, her mind spinning. Then she looked at Charlie, at the way he fit so perfectly against Bellamy, as if she had already taken her place completely. The fight drained from her.

With dignity, she grabbed the pen on the table and signed the dissolution papers, flinging them at Dante. "You can all rot in hell! And don't you ever come back to claim any child paternity," Miriam shouted.

Then, without another word, she turned on her heel and was about to head upstairs to pack her things when an unfamiliar voice cut through the chaos.

"Are you Miriam Wellington?"

Miriam froze, her eyes locking onto the uniformed men standing at the door. The police.

"Yes," She answered, barely above a whisper.

One of the officers stepped forward, his expression unreadable. "You’re under arrest as the primary suspect in the murder of Lawson Harold.”