"My sister needs your blood, Lilibeth. Hurry here now, we're in the hospital," came my husband, Jason's pained voice over the phone.
Tapping my feet anxiously, I craned my neck as I tried to look over the other passengers on the bus. I could see the bright red lights of the cars in front of us, the traffic was not moving.
"I'm on the way. But there's a traffic jam, and I'm stuck here since you wouldn't let me take the car." I bit my lower lip as I spoke, I was never sure how he would react. I never truly understood why he insisted I commute everywhere when I could buy my own car.
More than once I had offered to buy my own car. But he said I was making him seem like an inadequate husband.
"Excuses! All I hear are excuses!" His voice rose, making me flinch. "Are you truly so heartless?!"
I knew what would come next—his rage, his anger, his disappointment.
"This isn't something I can control, Jason," I pleaded. But no matter how many times I reminded him, the answer was always the same.
"She's terminally ill! She's my sister, your sister-in-law. Do you even care at all?"
"I've given her so much, Jason! How could you say that I don't care?!" People turned to look my way, making me blush in embarassment.
Over the years, since we've been married, I had donated to so much blood to his sister. I even donated my bone marrow to save her life. Still, he accused me of not caring.
I wasn't supposed to react like this. But I had given myself to his family. I, threw away everything for him.
I knew it wasn't right to behave this way. I loved Jason so much I offered my help selflessly.
Loved, yes.
I used to love him. But now, not anymore.
"Just get here now," He demanded.
"Lilibeth, you bitch," I heard him mutter under his breath.
"No, I don't think so." I was stunned when the words left my lips, but there was no taking it back now.
I don't know what pushed me to say that, but I didn't regret it—not really.
"W–W–What did you just say?" He stumbled over his words, stunned by my sudden declaration.
Gone was the meek woman whom he had married all those years ago, I think it's about time I stopped pretending to be someone I'm not.
"We're over, Jason."
It was now or never.
"I'm moving out, and I want a divorce."
"Have you fucking lost your mind?" He was furious, clearly. "Where would you even go? You were so poor that your family didn't even bother showing up at our wedding!"
That wasn't exactly true.
My family hadn't come because of a bet I had made with them—one that I was about to lose.
"That's none of your concern," I said flatly. I had my own money and means, even without my family's help.
"Is that why you married me, Lilibeth? For my money?" he questioned. "I won't give you anything if you leave me."
"I don't need anything from you, Jason. Goodbye."
I immediately dropped the call, knowing that he would demand more from me. Emotional blackmail was his favorite weapon, but I wouldn't let my fragile heart be abused that way anymore.
I quickly got off at the next stop and took a moment to center myself.
Closing my eyes, I took a deep breath to calm the raging emotions I felt.
When I was finally calm and settled, I took out my other phone, the emergency lifeline that I gave myself in case I needed to contact people from my past life, and dialed my favorite cousin's number.
I hadn't contacted him since I got married, all part of my agreement with my grandfather, he would probably be shocked and disappointed to see my call.
"Well, this is a call I didn't want to get," my cousin's deep voice had my chest practically bursting with relief. I missed him, I missed all of them. "I'm guessing Grandpa won this bet, it hasn't been five years."
"No, it's only been three," I admitted.
"Of course, I knew that," he said, nonchalantly.
"I'm not bothering you, am I?" I asked.
"No, just catching up with an old friend, so what can I do for you, Lilith?" he drew out my name, as if he wanted whoever was with him to know it was I he spoke to.
"I need someone to pick me up, can you send me a car? Or maybe…" I hesitated.
I was fairly certain that our Grandfather had my cousin working in the company now and that meant he was extremely busy.
"Maybe I could pick you up?" he asked, completing my statement for me.
"Yes," I made sure to keep my voice steady.
"Sure, I hope you don't mind if my friend tags along?" I couldn't help but wonder. Who was this friend he was with? I was curious to know.
There were very few people that Lexington would trust enough to bring along, and I doubted any of them would want to see me again after what I did.
"Is it someone I know?" I asked. I was probably the best-kept secret in my family, I had left before my grandfather could introduce me publicly and I was never mentioned, as part of my protection.
"Oh yes, someone you trust," his tone made me even more curious, he was teasing and playful, a side I knew he rarely let others see.
"Alright, I trust you. I'll send you the address," I told my cousin. "Come in an hour, I'll be ready to go."
"Perfect," he said over the phone. "Welcome back cousin, the Durfort family will be glad to have you back."
"I think so am I," I said as a smile crept over my lips, it was the first genuine smile in a really long time. "Thank you, Lexington."
"Anything for you, cousin," with those parting words I ended the call.
I needed to get back to my husband's family home before he told his mother and father what I had said and done.
They hated me. They thought I was some poor gold digger who wanted to use their son to get out of poverty.
I couldn't help but scoff at the thought. What kind of person tried to get ahead in life by marrying a lowly employee, especially a Durfort like me?