TARA'S POV
The house was empty and quiet, making me more tense as I saw Melissa clinging on to a knife too tight.
"So what? You're going to kill me with that?" I asked her, making my voice sound audible. If only I could run outside and shout for help before Melissa attacked.
"You think you're everything just because you're his wife, don't you? Well today I will show you just how worthless you are to this household." Melissa's face had a wicked grin on it.
"Drop the knife, Melissa. Don't be stupid." I warned.
"No. You will give up on Derek, okay? He is mine! I am not going to use this knife on you. Instead," immediately, Melissa brought the knife to her arm, gripping the head tight, and then drew blood from her skin
I was forced to scream. "Are you mad! You just stabbed yourself!"
"Did I? Or did you just hurt me? Why did you do this, Tara?" Melissa said in a mocking tone.
"Guess who they would believe, huh?" quickly, Melissa threw the knife to my feet and cried out. "Help me!" she rushed to the door and pushed it open.
The blood was gushing now, dropping everywhere.
It was at that moment that Derek appeared. "Oh my goodness, Melissa, what happened to you!" he was looking around, scared as blood was everywhere. Then he saw me with the knife on the floor.
I was too stunned to speak. It happened so fast. Obviously, Melissa must have heard footsteps of Derek as he walked in while I didn't. She had planned all of this in that bitchy head of hers! While I looked like a fool.
"Did you do this!" Derek demanded. "Call 919 right now!"
I did as he'd said, while he was rushing her outside. I followed behind, trying to clear my name but he wouldn't even listen.
"Tara, why did you hurt her? She's fucking carrying my baby. How could you be so heartless!" Derek yelled out. "I leave her for just a couple of hours and you try to kill her?"
I wanted to scream out, I was carrying your baby too!. But it probably wouldn't change much. He brought his mistress into our matrimonial home, and commanded me to take care of her while he rushed out for a meeting. I had every right to be upset! But now wasn't the time.
"I didn't do this to her, Derek." I tried to say to him but he yelled back.
"Shut up. Look at blood everywhere? And it is just the two of you here. Why would you do this!" he cried out, looking at me like I was a monster.
Melissa made an attempt to talk but she began to convulse as her eyes shut close. She was losing too much blood! Why would she do this to herself??
"Somebody help!" Derek cried out, holding her in a place. "Call for help! Hurry up!"
**
Holding on to the papers, I stare blankly at him. "W-what is this?" The words would not even come out of my mouth.
His cold gaze made my insides chill. "What do you think they are? Divorce papers, of course." Derek said, not an ounce of regret in his voice. It had been two hours since Melissa's drama.
Help had come for her while she rested in one of the rooms in the mansion. Luckily, she would be better after a little rest.
"You're lucky we're not even suing you for this. You and your unhealthy anger. How can you do something so inhuman!" Alice, Derek's mother scrunched her nose in detest.
"That's right. I always knew we should beware of this lady from day one. We all remember how she had always hated Melissa the first time they met. She must have been excited to kill her, you sick woman." Desdra, Derek's sister said.
I felt dumb, useless. No one here was going to have my back! No matter what I said, they would always twist things and make me the villain.
"Mother, auntie," I began to say calmly but Alice cut me right off.
"Do you not realize the depths of what you have done? You hurt my grandchild. You hurt her! How can you be so heartless!"
I looked at Derek and tears began to fall from my eyes. I became terrified. With the way things were going, I might never be able to prove my innocence. "Derek, listen to me. I would never hurt Melissa. You know that. She did that to herself. You can check the security footage, she's crazy!"
"How dare you." Derek said in a harsh whisper. "How dare you try to frame her for your mistake?"
I stared at them, watching cold faces looking at me with pure hatred. I was hurt that Derek wouldn't even spare me the time to hear my truth. He had chosen Melissa over me without hesitating at all.
Then it hit me. Melissa had proven me right. No one was going to believe me, instead, they would always choose Melissa over me.
"You will leave my house at once. I'm being nice enough, so why won't you just leave? I've done everything for you, haven't I? But you won't even leave me in peace right now. Melissa, she's pregnant for me. Something you haven't been able to achieve for the past three years now."
"I'll settle the compensation fee so you won't have to leave empty handed." Derek pressed on.
My wedding day was the happiest day of my life and I tried to console my bad days with that. With the way Derek had shown me love and affection. But ever since his first love, Melissa showed up into his life a year ago, Derek had changed towards me.
"What's that?" I heard Derek say and I realized I'd been smiling. "Anything funny here?"
My bitter emotions had suddenly drowned and now, anger filled me up. "Isn't all of this funny?" I muttered, "fine. A divorce? That's what you want?" My voice felt strangled and my whole body was weakened but I took a pen from the table, and signed the goddamn divorce papers.
"There you go," I shoved it into his hands, "eat it for dinner tonight, okay? You ingrates! But here's one thing I need you to know, Derek. You will regret this!" I yelled out, and for a while, all they could do was stare back in total shock. They must not have been expecting that. It brought a satisfying smirk on my face as I walked out, feeling their eyes still on me.
I stood still like a log of wood for a moment, thinking about what my life had turned into now. Divorcing Derek meant I would become a single parent, raising this child alone. But it would be worth it. I will make it worthwhile.
I took out my phone to dial the number of my best friend. "Ella, I'm coming home."