Audrey

I darted my teary gaze to a giggling Ethan beside me, vibrantly munching on his food without a single worry in the world. A smile escaped my lips as I watched him.

“He’s adorable.” Alexa mouthed.

I managed to nod.

“He sure is."

“Mama is not hungry?” Ethan chirped in his little voice.

“Mama is full.” I muttered, darting a hand to his hair and running my fingers through it.

“Are you okay, Audrey.” Alexa asked.

“Sure.” I lied, forcing out another smile.

For some reason, I hated my life a little more after seeing Mason witness the hell I've been living in since I dumped him.

Blain had not a single ounce of love for me in his heart, he only cared to get in between my legs whenever he returned from his extravagant business trips, and each time he had his way with me, something in me died a little more-but after last night, I broke beyond repair.

“But you don’t look....”

“Ethan is full.” Ethan whimpered and shoved his plate aside, hopping off the chair without assistance.

“We’ll get going, Alexa.” I blurted as I stood to my feet, grabbing my purse on the table and picking up Ethan, sombrely making my way out of the house.

“Are you ready, ma’am.” The chauffeur asked as he pulled the car door open.

I nodded and hopped inside with Ethan.

“Mama’s taking Ethan somewhere?” he asked, trailing his bold green eyes to my face and flashing a bright smile.

“Yes baby.”

The car whirred to a start and slid its way through the gigantic gates of the Carters Mansion. I let out a quiet exhale, wrapping my arms around a bubbly Ethan and sniffing the tears in my eyes away.

Ethan and I were headed to the Bellingtons-not quite far from the Carters. A place I couldn’t call home either.

“Dada’s not coming?” He asked, I shook my head.

The drive continued with the cheerful chatter of Ethan’s bubbly voice. I darted my gaze to the busy world outside, an attempt to stop my head from drifting deep into thoughts.

“We’re here, Ma’am.” The chauffeur announced after what seemed like the briefest drive.

“Already?” I muttered and took a quiet look around-turned out I had still zoned into thoughts.

He alighted the car before I could get another word out and unlocked the door.

“Thank you.” I mouthed and stepped out with Ethan.

“Come on, baby.”

He sprinted on his little legs before I could hold him, making his way into the Bellingtons house.

“Nana!” I heard Ethan squeal as I hastened my steps to catch up with him.

“Audrey.” My mother mouthed and stepped away from Ethan, not picking him up like the child had expected.

My heart sank.

“Audrey, baby... Is it finally happening?” She cooed and came hurrying her way to me, about to wrap her arms around me.

“What was that, mom?” I threw and stepped away from her, my tears welling up quickly as my chest heaved, blood boiling beneath my skin.

“Oh give me a break, Audrey. The child is no good... He couldn’t even look like his own father.”

“Mom!” I whimpered as my tears fell.

“Are you pregnant yet or not?” she demanded, rolling her eyeballs without concern and taking back her seat on the couch.

“You better hurry and bear Blain another child, this one is a ticking time bomb just waiting to explode.”

“Ethan is not...”

“Ethan does not belong to Blain.”

I heard and looked up, spotting my step mom descending the stairs, a scornful laughter escaping her lips.

I grabbed my child and trailed both hands to his ears, covering them.

“Speak the truth, Audrey.... Ethan belongs to Mason.” She added.

I bit down hard on my lower lip as my heart beat spiralled out of control.

“Mind your business, Louisa.” My mom defended me.

“Your daughter is a slut just like you.” She spat and busted into laughter, shaking her head as she made it past us.

My mom shot me a bitter glare.

“Welcome home.” We heard her exclaim as she threw the main doors open. My father and her daughter, Kiara, made their way into the house.

I stumbled on my feet, clutching a confused Ethan tight to me as my heart thundered in my chest.

I never imagined the very person who turned my life into hell in the Bellington's house had returned.

“Look who we have here... Kiara Bellington. The one and only true daughter of this family.” She mocked, making it back with her daughter beside her.

My father brushed past me without a word.

“Come here baby... Come have a seat in your father’s house.”

She led her to the couch and shoved my mom aside, taking a seat with her.

Kiara snapped her cruel gaze my way, her face contorting with disgust.

“I’ll get going, mom.” I shuddered and broke into tears, picking up Ethan and exiting the house really quickly.

“Is mama crying?” Ethan asked, trailing his little fingers to my face and wiping my tears.

“No baby... Mama’s alright.”

We made it back into the car, and the drive began to the other part of my hell.

“Ethan is sad if mama is sad.” He chirped, sending my heart shattering into a million pieces.

“Mama is not sad, baby.” I lied.

“Ethan will tell Dada to make Mama happy.... So don’t cry mama.”

I forced out a dry chuckle and planted a kiss on his cheek.

“Mama’s happy now.”

He smiled as I dried my eyes, forcing out a smile.

“Ethan loves mama.”

“And I love you too, baby.”

The drive continued in silence and after a while the announcement came as expected.

“We’re here ma’am.”

My heart spiralled out of control again.

“Really?”

I looked around and exhaled to calm down, pushing the door open and stepping out with Ethan.

“Audrey.” Alexa came scurrying to me.

“We’re in trouble.” She shuddered.

“What...”

“He found them... he found them, Audrey.”

I handed Ethan to her and lightheadedly made my way inside, spotting Blain pacing and panting in the grand living room obviously waiting for me, alongside the rest of the family. Mr Carter, Mrs Carter and Mason, seated quietly in a corner, smoking.

“Blain.” I called inaudibly.

His gaze shifted to me and I flinched.

“How dare you...” he raged pointing to the contraceptives on the table, my eyes widened.

“You know how desperately I want another child.... And yet you do this to me?”

My lips curled into a sad pout as I stepped away.

“I think it’s time you divorced this slut, son. She’s literally of no use. Your marriage to her has brought no good to this family. I told you Kiara was the better choice, you’d have the Bellingtons at your feet if only you had gone for the real daughter.”

“I’m sorry...”

“Was it too much to ask? To please me, to give me children?"

“Blain, I'm sorry...”

“You hate to carry my child?”

“No... Of course I don’t hate it, we have Ethan.”

“That brat doesn’t even....” he restrained himself and trailed his gaze to Mason, unbothered as ever, blowing out steady streams of smoke.

“I’m sorry...”

He meant to charge at me when I sprinted to my heels, making it up the grand stairs and disappearing from sight, anywhere at all my legs could take me.

“Is everything okay, ma’am.” A maid asked as I scampered down the quiet garden, raking my fingers through my hair as I broke down.

“Do I need to call someone?” She asked again.

“Leave me alone.” I bawled and just in, my phone buzzed from within. I had forgotten the purse was still resting on my shoulder.

I yanked it off, unzipped it and fished out the phone, landing my eyes on the caller ID.

“Ryan...” Escaped my lips alongside a desperate cry.

“Audrey, is everything okay?”

“I need your help... Can I come over to the hospital now or later?”

“I don’t know about that, Audrey..... I am really busy.”

“Please.... If I don’t do something now it’s only a matter of time before it comes blowing in my face, can you help me again like you did years ago.”

“Fine... Come over tomorrow.”

“I don’t know about tomorrow, Ryan. It’s Mrs Carter’s birthday tomorrow.” I mumbled weakly.

“You can’t even make it in the morning?” he asked.

I sniffed in my tears and mouthed.

“Fine... I’ll come over in the morning.”

I ended the call and flung the phone away, looking up and spotting Quinn’s grave secluded in the family cemetery in the distance.

“Are you punishing me?” I cried and bolted forward, making my way to her and breaking down.

“I swear it was a mistake.... I would never do that to you on purpose.” I whimpered, sprawling to the ground and burying my face in my knees.

“I told you.... The next time I see you in my space, I will kill you.”

I looked up quickly, landing my eyes on Mason and a guard some meters behind me, his cold gaze strictly on me.

“Mario...” he called.

“Sir.”

“Your gun.” He ordered.

I broke into dry chuckles as I rose to my feet, he definitely wasn’t going to shoot me.

“Run.” Mason whispered, a smug smirk appearing on his lips as he collected the gun.

“You won’t shoot me.” Escaped my lips.

Mason chuckled.

“Ma’am, I would advise you to do as he....”

Mason fired a shot cutting him off.

“Ahhhhhh!” I screamed crumbling to the ground breathlessly, eyes wide in disbelief.

“I said, " Run....” He uttered. In a low, taunting whisper, the evil smile on his face grew even bigger as I frantically shook.

“Mason...no.”

He aimed the gun at me and before I knew it, he fired another shot.

I passed out.