Chapter 2
Frederick froze at my words.
Maybe he hadn't expected me to be so direct.
That night, I slept in the guest room.
At midnight, there was a gentle knock at the door.
Frederick came in and sat down at the edge of the bed.
"Sienna, please don't be mad," he said softly.
His voice was low, with a hint of trying to please me.
"My mom's just like that. She's got a sharp tongue but a soft heart. She's only doing it for my sake," Frederick said.
Same old excuse.
For the past three years, every time Amber made things hard for me or gave me attitude, Frederick always brushed it off with that excuse.
Back then, I would swallow it all, just to keep the family together and try to understand.
Now, I just felt disgusted.
"What do you want me to understand?" I asked.
I opened my eyes and looked at his blurred outline in the darkness.
"Am I supposed to understand how she humiliates me? Or how you just let her do it?" My voice was cold as ice.
Frederick was speechless.
"I... That's not what I meant," Frederick stammered, scrambling to defend himself.
"I only hate myself for being so blind all this time," I said bitterly.
I turned away from him, shutting down the conversation for good.
He was the one I picked to share my life with, thinking at the very least he'd give me some emotional support.
But in the end, he was nothing more than his mom's puppet, a parasite through and through.
*****
The next morning, I showed up at the marriage registry right on time.
Frederick was ten minutes late.
He looked worn out, with faint shadows under his eyes.
"Sienna, do we really have to do this?" Frederick asked.
He took my hand, making one last attempt to change my mind.
I pulled my hand back, like I'd just touched something dirty.
"Frederick, don't make me lose all respect for you," I said coldly.
I walked into the marriage registry without looking back.
The paperwork went through without a hitch.
When I finally held the divorce paper in my hands, it was like a weight had been lifted.
As I stepped out of the marriage registry, the sunlight was almost blinding.
I took a cab back to that so-called "home" and picked up the bags I'd packed last night.
Amber was waiting at the door, and when she saw the divorce certificate in my hand, she was grinning from ear to ear.
She didn't even bother to lower her voice, yelling loud enough for the whole building to hear. "Well, isn't this just great? Frederick's finally gotten rid of that dead weight!
"Next time, he better find someone who actually pulls their weight, not just sits around doing nothing!"
The neighbors stuck their heads out, gossiping and pointing fingers.
I walked past her, expressionless, pulling my suitcase down the stairs.
Behind me echoed her harsh laughter and the neighbors' gossip.
I didn't look back.
I owed this place nothing.
This place was the one that owed me.
I pulled my suitcase and moved into the temp staff dorm at work.
It was a single 150 sq ft room, simple as could be, just a bed and a desk.
But here, I could finally breathe.
I set my bags down, sat on the bed, and gazed out the window. For the first time in a long while, I felt a peace I'd never known before.
My phone rang. It was Yusuf Houston from work.
"Sienna, are you okay?" Yusuf's voice was as gentle as always.
He was one of the few people at the office who really knew why I was reassigned.
"I'm good. Honestly, I've never felt better," I said.
I leaned against the wall, feeling lighter than ever.
"That's good," Yusuf said, his voice sounding genuinely relieved.
"Oh, by the way, you've only got one week left to finish handing over the office supplies and equipment," Yusuf said. "Your clearance ends next Monday, so make sure you tie up all the loose ends before then."
"Got it," I replied. "Thanks, Yusuf."
"Don't mention it," he said with a smile. "I'll be waiting for you in Voreville."
After hanging up, I fired up my laptop and started sorting through my work files.
The only thing of real value in that so-called home was the apartment Amber lived in.
It was a company-provided three-bedroom apartment with a spacious living room, right in a prime location.
Water, electricity, and heating were all free.
Amber would brag to anyone who'd listen, claiming it was all thanks to her son's abilities, that the company gave it to him.
She'd probably never realize that the eligibility, the perks, and every signature on those papers—all of it was me.
*****
Three days after the divorce, I got a call from an unknown number.
I answered. It was Frederick.
"Sienna, it's me." He sounded worn out.
"What do you want?" I asked, my tone icy.
"My mom wants you to come over for dinner. Just... as a sort of farewell meal." He struggled to get the words out.
A farewell dinner?
I nearly burst out laughing.
This wasn't a farewell dinner. It was a banquet of betrayal.