Chapter 5

I asked icily, "Are the wounds on my face and shattered antiques all props in this act of yours?" James frowned, dissatisfied with my answer. All his friends surrounded him and said, "James, she's so shameless. How could she show up at your door? You should slap her to avenge Letitia." James didn't move. However, Letitia turned to him. Her eyes were glittering in anticipation. "Just leave," he told me. I asked angrily, "Why am I the one who has to leave? Am I leaving as your mistress? Am I your mistress?" Someone spat on me and asked, "What else could you possibly be? He has a wife and a child." Softly, James said, "No." The crowd went wild. Everyone was standing up for Letitia. He explained, "You've all misunderstood her. We're just friends. I don't know Natalie that well." My anger spiked so much that it turned into hilarity. "You don't know me that well? If you didn't know me well, why are you getting married to your ex in my house?" Someone kicked me. "What are you going on about? This is clearly James and Letitia's house. You're hallucinating, aren't you? She should be paraded through the streets and made an example of." Everyone was reprimanding me. I pulled my phone out to call the cops. However, James took my phone from me and hung up. He grumbled, "Natalie, can you not throw a tantrum today? After today, you can do whatever you want." I was about to speak when a familiar voice added, "Natalie, listen to me. Making a huge deal out of this will not benefit you." I turned and stared at her in disbelief. It was James' mother, Susan Pollack. She'd always chatted happily with me every time we met, and treated me better than one would their own daughter. Time and time again, she warned James not to bully me. She'd be the first to object. Yet, here she was at their wedding. Susan pulled me into the bathroom, locked the door, and said, "Don't worry, Natalie. I will avenge you. James hadn't met you yet when he had this child, so this cannot be considered cheating. Just let him marry Letitia. He can divorce her afterward anyway. It's better to marry a man with a child from a divorce rather than a bastard child, right?" I laughed, on the verge of going insane from rage. "Is there some kind of rule dictating that I have to marry James? I don't have a say in who he marries or whether he has children. Only, this house is mine and I want him to leave. I'd also like to be compensated for everything I've lost." Susan froze. She studied me in disbelief. "Weren't you head over heels for James? You used to be willing to do anything for him. Once, James wanted to break up with you, and you stood outside our house for three hours. "He's just giving Letitia the benefit of the status of his wife. He doesn't mean anything by it. Why are you making such a big deal of it?" Mentioning my past brought up a complicated swell of feelings. I used to be so dumb. I was so careful and pathetic in our relationship. I was born with a silver spoon in my mouth, but I got pushed around by James. My life revolved around him. I was terrified that I'd make him unhappy.