Arriving in our home country felt so surreal after all these years the entire entrance was all decked out in cultural recognition of it's ancestral people. Stopping in at duty free I got my brother to buy enough bottles we each were allowed that got a shocked look from Rain as she stared at my brother bug eyed that I laughed and rolled my eyes "Being the youngest as it's perks," I teased her as she blushed at my comment before assisting in purchasing some bottles too while we headed to the food court for a feed before Logan's phone rang stating they stuck in traffic. It gave me enough time to try a bit of everything from maccas and kfc cause they don't taste the same even though it's the same franchise.
Siting down waiting patiently was something I was good at so I stood up several times before collecting both meals at the same time. My brother just laughed as he also order his own meal and got something for Rain who stared at our spread as we ate our food and conversation flowed around us when another person joined our table when I noticed my other older brother Liam who sat staring at our spread.."Hungry baby?," he spoke as I nodded and continued stuffing my face without pausing.
"Starving Liam," I spoke when Logan stared at Liam and filled him in on my divorce, meeting the ex and watching the interaction of his lawyer that made Liam angry. I watched as my brothers had matching frowns as they discussed my disaster I call a marriage. To be treated so badly and let it go I sat there staring around me at how things had changed over the last time I had come home and I sat there quietly when my phone started ringing.
Without looking at the phone I answered it and Adrian's voice floated through the phone. "Why did you leave the country I needed you here to process the divorce," he stated when I laughed and responded curtly "It's the cooling period Ile be back when it's done," I spoke when I heard his breathing through the phone. "You could of stayed the cooling period, I hadn't even spoken to you," he mumbled but I caught it regardless. I fumed in my seat "You didn't give me the decency to tell me privately you let your mommy do it. So no I won't stay in your country nor will I communicate with you. We are DIVORCED," I spat as I hung up and stood from my chair and went over to the bar and ordered me a cocktail before taking a seat facing the window.
The phone rang again and looked at the caller id seeing it as Adrian again I sighed before putting it on speaker and looking out the window. "What now," I said as I sipped on my drink. "It was my mistake to pressure you with my family. I am sorry Serena I didn't want this to happen," he said as I took a large gulp of my drink "You cheated me out of a husband, out of a family, you have another woman in the waiting and you brought your family into my home I shared with you. I got nothing out of our connection, no children, no respect, no common courtesy, no trust, practically nothing yet all you can say is sorry. You should be sorry, you murder our love, you trampled on my trust, my privacy and our vows. You reap what you sow Adrian," I spoke as I hung up again and drank the last of my glass before turning to see Rain standing in front of me frowning "We leaving Rain?," I spoke as I focused on her "Yeah," she spoke as she lead us out to where both my brothers stood waiting as we all piled in the luxury car in front of us.
Walking in the doors of my childhood home that I stared all around me and just stood there taking it in. I was suppose to go away for school then return home after graduation but I found myself hopelessly in love with my husband that I forgot my family in place of my new outlook on life. I had started to believe that I can start my new journey in life with my husband happily married. Thinking about a house and fill it with children and instead I got a house filled with in laws who were adults and they ended up making my home life just miserable that I imagine the look on Adrian's parents face when they meet my family. When I felt arms wrap around me and looked down to see my mother in my embrace, when my arms lifted and wrapped around her when I felt her body shaking against me that I held her tighter.
"Hi mama, I'm home," I spoke as I see her head lift to meet my eyes that stared at her softly "No more going anywhere, you can't be trusted to return," she colded as I laughed and nodded "Ile be going back for four days to receive my divorce certificate, will you come with me?," I said when my mothers face softened "Yes baby we will come," she said as I hugged my mother so tightly that I felt her tap my arm three times when I laughed as I let go, "Did you just tap out?," I teased her as she rolled her eyes taking large gulps of air "Funny," I said as I followed her into the family room which is located at the back of the house. The entrance was just a foyer that has a hallway that leads to the back of the house where the stairs are situated for the rooms upstairs.
My parents designed it while we were all young and since my brothers were always trying to get out, the main room was on the other side of the house to prevent run away children. The lay out had always amazed people at the whole lay out that the front of the house looked out into the front of the property while the kitchen hosted a panoramic view of the entire back yard. While the rooms had a beautiful view of the entire lay out of the property that each room is sectioned to give each sibling privacy even though the boys tried to share their quarters my mother frowned at there childish antics and still separated them all and made one living area upstairs and one living room attached to the open planned kitchen that captured the heart of the family who owned this beautiful villa.
Entering the living room my father sat up real quick that he knocked his glasses of his head at the movement. "Baby?," he questioned as I stood before him with a soft smile "Hey Daddy," I said as I climbed in his lap "Your back?," he asked as he refused to cuddle me which made me frown but I knew I'd have to say it "I got divorced, I gotta go back in twenty eight days to get the certificate," I said as I looked away from my father's frown when he nodded "Okay we go back get that done," he said as I smiled before I stood knowing I'm probably crushing him.
"I need you to sell the assest and Ile finalize everything before we leave there." I said when my sister walked in dramatically before throwing herself at me "You didn't even look for me," she complained as I laughed "I just got to dad, I've only just entered sissy," I spoke to my eldest sister who was being a drama queen when my mother peeled her off and sat her on the closest chair away from me that I laughed at my mother's stern expression to my sister and her small smile and roll of her eyes at my mother's stance.
"I will have them all listed and the villa and car will be cleaned by a cleaning service when we leave so that the owners can take possession the next day." My father spoke as both my elder brothers entered looking at us strangely "What's happening?," they spoke at the same when I turned to look at the pair "I'm selling my apartment, the villa and my car. I am not gonna return back there in the future, not even for holidays," I said when both nodded there heads.
After the traumatic event in my life for the next few weeks I basked in my family's embrace and just enjoyed being around them again. I had just reached twenty when I left for school and now I am returning at twenty eight, divorced, homeless and heartbroken what a way to return. Wallowing in my pain for a few days had helped grieve the loss of my marriage. To be surrounded by my family has filled the void as well and getting back into work was a lot easier then I had anticipated.
Before I realised my thirty days was up and me and my family were flying back to support me in court. To see who sent me home, broken and hurt. My parents and siblings were obviously in cohoots with each other as I was ushered through our airport and sat in my chair. The flight was more lively since we all were sat with each other and that also lessened the burden of my divorce.
The scars had healed, my heart had hardened on the outside except for my family and the luxury I was raised with was returned as well. My parents have me full control of my money now but I still had to work in the business with my siblings ass that what it was intended for and that's where our wealth comes from. The lively atmosphere around me soothed the impending doom I was feeling when I stepped on the plane. Drinking with my sister was fun, we were cut off three hours in and we're both asleep just as fast. Waking up groggy and disorientated gave me the impression I was in car.
Disembarking the plane we were swiftly placed in our cars and taken to the villa an hour away from the airport. My brother Logan drove us all back to villa with Liam in the front passengers, my parents in the middle row while my sister and I commanded the back of the car to continue sleeping. Oblivious of the world around me, not knowing that I had eyes on me the moment I stepped off the plane.
My phone started ringing incessantly that I put it on silent as I entered the villa behind my family. We all had similarities in looks my mother was tall, fair skinned and light green eyes as my father was tall, big build, Chestnut brown with hazel green eyes and tanned skinned which made us all up of all those qualities.
Logan, Liam and Alyssa were triplets as both boys had mums blonde hair and dads green eyes, as for Alyssa and I have dad's Chestnut hair and moms green eyes. The slim chance we are all together you could see the family resemblance. All of us have the same features different shades of skin tone but we all smile the same, talk the same and we all sound similar that's how close our family is. Even as I was the youngest and only one to be married now divorced my siblings have kept me going, getting me out of bed, listening to my complaints and then feeding me when I was hungry.
The same girl that was head of heels in love with her husband is now back feeling better then ever. The crying mess that left the country was not the one that returned. Putting my luggage in my room and taking a hot shower managed to soothed my frazzled nerves when I headed down to dinner with my family. They had the hot food laid out and knew my parents got us some helpers to be here with us during this time. Logan sorted out the apartment sending me the money from the sale. The car and the villa has been paid for and will be received two days after we leave so I sat and chatted with my family well into the night before jet lag caught up to us and forces us all to rest.
Waking the next morning I felt more alive then I have in weeks. The smile that lit my face was a testament to my previous struggle. Heading downstairs only my parents and Logan were wide awake waiting for me. "I think it safe to take us three with you before the other tornado wake up." My mother announced as I smiled sitting to eat breakfast with them before we headed out to the courthouse.
The drive there was easy as we chatted about the next few weeks of hour collaboration together and how o will be announced to the entire company now as I will be up to speed with it. Parking up and stepping out I stood at the back of the car with my bag searching for my document folder when a shrilling voice spoke beside me "I knew you were defective and now Adrian knows too," Leigh Anne spoke as my head snapped up and I smirked at her "Defective is what your son is, impotent and childless is what your son is," I snapped when my mother stepped up beside me with her regal beauty and wealth that outdid Leigh Anne who was shocked.
"Renny we don't talk to strangers," my mother admonished as I was pulled away from her and walked into the building. "Don't engage unless we are with you," My father spoke as I nodded and entered the room after my brother and parents. Only to be met with Adrian and his father as I refused to look at both of them. Keeping my expression blank while dealing with Adrian "Why did you leave?," Adrian asked as I refused to answer and stared away from him and his father.
"Your husband is talking to you girl,"Oscar spoke as I rolled my eyes at them "What husband, I am divorced," I spoke calmly as my family sat rigidly beside me and my father was just staring at both of them when the Judge stepped into the room. Reading the report in his hands and stated calmly "Both parties are aware of the cooling period during this meeting and it's straight forward before I proceed I would like to inform you that questions are for the end and no interruptions will be granted. The order on this that has been decided can not be overturned unless you seek legal counsel and any disruptions will not be tolerated. Am I clear?," the judge spoke as we all nodded in agreement.
Once the judge read his verdict and reasoning while granting our divorce and the acceptance of the reasoning behind it. The edict he spoke about is that since all properties and assest were before marriage that won't be divided and as the case has been in agreement he approved of our divorce. I sat there stunned and feeling elated that I turned to my parents with a big smile and they returned it back with winks and my mother's giggles.
The stunned look on Adrian's face was priceless when my brother issued another legal letter removing all business between my parents company and Adrian's company for abuse of conduct. Oscar's face stared wide eyed at my parents as my brother didn't stop there. He also rescind all his manufacturing companies as he will be shutting them all down and relocating back to our country as I saw Adrian's face frown..
"Your breaking our business agreement because of my divorce?," Adrian spoke as he turned to look at my father who just sat there with a raised eyebrow "No, I am breaking our business partnership because your company had been subbing our product off as yours and underselling a cheaper brand in replacement. All the projects we are involved in having been accumulating debt and it's not off the ground? The money pouring in it is not adding up to the financial report we received and this is the third year that those projects have not been completed. You breached all three contracts, you ignored all types of communication regarding where the money had been spent I am cutting my losses now," my father spoke as I stared back at Oscar with a smirk when his eye narrowed.
"What did you do?," he spat when I stared at him blankly "More like what did you and your wife do to your son's business?," I asked when Adrian's eyes snapped to his father who avoided eye contact. "What do you mean, what unfinished contracts?," Adrian asked when his lawyer leant towards him to obviously fill him about his companies crisis.
I would be the one to keep his books in line but he gave his father full rein and forgot my input in his business and now two years later he was almost broke, in debt and now with no overseas partners. The outcome was beyond me as I didn't dig enough I was already fighting to keep my home and husband that they stripped our lively hoods thank goodness I went home. Looking up at Adrian for the first time since I entered I felt absolutely dead when faced with him. The anger I felt was beyond me but knowing I had my family I was so fired up as I took in his appearance. He looked tired and had lost all his color his eyes were pleading with me to forgive and his mouth was set determinedly that I addressed him.
"I am only gonna say this, I am not barren, I can have children it was your own insecurities that let your parents infiltrate our marriage." I spoke as his face looked hurt when he spoke "You can't understand the pressure of being the only achieving member of my family. The only one who provides for their entire family," he spoke before I interrupted him "Yes I do, I got you all the contracts or those connections so that you could focus on us and instead you did the opposite. You became so big headed you forgot yourself." I snapped my hatred plain and simple to see by all around us "Good luck with your leech infested family," I spat as I stood leaving with my family in town.
The absolute hatred I was feeling fueled my drive to leave before I lash out at them. Snarling and bitching all the way to the car that I paced up and down by the car untill my senses returned. Climbing in the front seat, my tears slid down my face as I burst into tears as my pain attacked me like it was still fresh. My family sat in the car with me silently before my father switched seats with my brother driving us back to the villa. My brother scooped me out of the car carrying me inside with my parents flanking us when Liam and Alyssa came rushing out to see me unconscious.
My family vowed then that I would never experience such pain again under their watch. As my family took me inside to rest while they contemplated their next move.