Thrown to the Streets

Esmeralda’s POV

“I didn’t sign those papers willingly!” I screamed, my voice cracking from the strain. The betrayal still echoed in my ears, louder than my words. I was crying now, though I hated that they could see it. But Antonio stood there, unmoved. His eyes were empty, cold. If there had ever been love in them, it had long since disappeared.

“Esmeralda,” he said flatly, like he was tired of this already, “the mansion, the company, the assets. None of it belongs to you anymore. You’ve lost. It’s over.”

My heart dropped. “Leave…?” I whispered, not sure I’d heard him right. “Go where?”

“To the streets, obviously,” Elena answered before he could. Her tone was mocking, gleeful even. “Go sleep in an alley. Maybe learn what it’s like to work for something.”

The blow wasn’t physical, but it landed just the same. I stood there, frozen, my arms limp at my sides. My home. My life. Taken from me like I was nothing.

“I can’t believe this,” I said, though the words barely came out. “I gave you everything. Antonio, I loved you. And Elena... you were like a sister to me.”

“That’s exactly the problem,” Elena snapped, her expression twisting with resentment. “You gave everything like you were some kind of saint. Always making sure everyone knew how generous you were. You loved to play the role of the perfect wife, the perfect friend. But we were done being your charity cases.”

“That’s not fair,” I said, shaking my head, trying to steady my voice. “I never—”

“Enough,” Antonio cut me off. “Don’t make this more dramatic than it needs to be.”

My hands trembled as I took a breath, trying to calm the rising panic. “You’re making a mistake. One day, you’ll realize it.”

Antonio didn’t flinch. “No. The only mistake would be letting you stay another minute.”

My throat tightened. I felt small. Powerless. The world I’d known had been ripped out from under me, and I hadn’t even seen it coming.

“You’ll regret this,” I whispered. “I’ll fight this. I’ll call my lawyer. This won’t hold up.”

That made Antonio laugh. A cruel, mocking laugh that sent chills down my spine. “Your lawyer? Esme, please. He works for us now. Bought and loyal.”

“You really thought we hadn’t thought of everything?” Elena added with a sneer. “Every safety net you thought you had? We tore it down months ago.”

I staggered backward, feeling dizzy. The walls seemed to close in on me, and for a terrifying second, I thought I might faint. “You can’t do this,” I said weakly, but I knew it was a lie. They had done this.

Elena stepped closer, her eyes glittering with hate. “You’ve seen the documents. It’s over. Now do us a favor and walk out with a shred of dignity.”

“No,” I said, louder this time. “This is my house. If you want me gone, you’ll have to drag me out.”

Her face twisted with fury. She slapped me hard across the face, and the sharp sting brought tears to my eyes. I stumbled but stayed standing, refusing to fall in front of them.

“Stupid girl,” she snarled. “Call the guards.”

Antonio calmly pressed a button on his desk. “Send three guards to the study.”

I bit my tongue to stop myself from crying out. My jaw ached, my pride wounded far worse. I couldn’t let them see how broken I felt. I couldn’t give them that.

“You’ll both pay for this,” I said, my voice shaking but firm. “You think I’m powerless, but I’m not done.”

Antonio leaned back, folding his arms. “Unless there’s some magical inheritance out there, I think you are. You’re finished, Esme.”

The door creaked open behind me, and I turned to see three uniformed guards step inside. Their eyes flicked toward Antonio, waiting for orders.

“She’s not welcome here,” he said. “Remove her.”

The men hesitated, confused by the tension in the room.

“You heard him,” Elena snapped. “Do it.”

I tried to brace myself, but I couldn’t fight them. One of the guards grabbed me roughly, throwing me over his shoulder as I kicked and screamed. They carried me like I was nothing.

“Let go of me!” I shouted, tears streaming down my face. “Antonio, you’ll regret this! I swear it!”

They didn’t look back. The last thing I saw as the front door slammed behind me was their smiling faces.

And then I was outside.

Thrown out of my own house. Onto the front steps, barefoot, trembling, broken.

I stood there, dazed, as the mansion lights blinked off one by one. The gates locked. And with them, every piece of my past.

---

Elena’s POV

I slammed the study door behind me, adrenaline still buzzing through my veins. I could still hear Esmeralda’s pathetic screams echoing in my ears. Finally, she was gone.

Antonio leaned against the edge of the desk, rubbing his forehead. “It’s done,” he said simply. “She’s out. We move forward now.”

But I wasn’t satisfied.

“She’s too calm,” I said, pacing slowly across the room. “Too stubborn. She’ll come back.”

Antonio glanced at me, frowning. “You were the one who insisted on kicking her out.”

“I wanted to humiliate her,” I replied, turning to him with a smirk. “But letting her walk away... that was a mistake.”

He crossed his arms. “What are you getting at?”

I walked over to him and slid a hand across his chest. “We should make sure she never comes back.”

His brow furrowed. “You mean... kill her?”

I laughed softly. “Not with our own hands, obviously. We’ll hire someone. Someone who knows how to make it look like an accident.”

“You’re being extreme,” he muttered, pulling away slightly. “She has nothing now. Why not just let her disappear?”

I stepped closer. “Because she’s still Esmeralda Lawson. That name carries weight. She’s too proud to stay quiet. If she finds anyone willing to help her, she’ll talk. She’ll fight.”

He didn’t reply, but the hesitation in his silence was all the confirmation I needed.

“She’s dangerous, Antonio. And people love an underdog. One sob story, and suddenly we’re the villains. But if she disappears... no loose ends.”

He looked at me for a long time, then finally gave a slow nod. “Do you know someone who can handle it?”

“I know exactly who to call.”

Antonio ran a hand through his hair. “Fine. But do it quietly.”

I smiled, leaning in to kiss him lightly on the cheek.

“Oh, don’t worry. She’ll never see it coming.”

And she wouldn’t.

Esmeralda Lawson had been thrown to the streets. But soon, she'd be buried beneath them.