2 - Don't turn your back on me, Mother!

Inside the Lontoc family house.

“Why do you want to go?” Ethan sounded distraught. “I already chased her away. I will meet with Mother Evelyn and discuss the events tomorrow. She will understand.”

April shook her head. “Sister is out there in the streets. I need to go and beg her. I need to make sure she understands that I didn’t mean to hurt her!” She said but he wouldn’t let her go.

He turned to his mother who immediately added her one cent into the matter. “Oh dear April. You have always had a kind heart.” She cooed, “Please stay the night here, and tomorrow, we will accompany you to the Rivera household. You should understand that you are pregnant and need to be under care. You can’t just go out in the cold.”

“Please honey, just stay the night,” Ethan begged and though she pretended that she was upset, she nodded in agreement like a docile child.

Immediately, a large smile pitched its tent on Ethan’s face and he carried her bridal style into his room, muttering sweet nothings into her ears while she smiled coquettishly, happy to finally have him all to herself.

Meanwhile, June was in the streets. She cried her eyes out as she took stock of what had befallen her while she trekked to her family house. The same place she vowed not to return the day she got married to Ethan.

How the tides have changed.

June arrived at her family’s mansion late into the night. She knocked on the gates for a long time before the doors were opened for her. The security official at the gate took in her haggard looks with confusion before he finally recognised her as the elder miss and let her in.

However, unknown to June, her mother, Mrs. Evelyn Rivera, had been briefed by her daughter on the state of events and waited impatiently for her return home.

When Mrs Rivera heard the noise from the gates, she stormed out of the house with her husband in tow. Her face took an ugly turn as she took in her eldest daughter with contempt.

“What are you doing here, June?” Her tone was calm, but her eyes were stormy.

At the sight of her mother, June felt her world collapse and tears freefall down her cheeks. “Mother...” She sobbed, “My husband...”

“Speak clearly!” The older woman snapped. “Why did you leave your matrimonial home to cause such a ruckus at this time of the night?” She looked around, “Where is your husband?”

“April..” She managed to squeak. “April is pregnant for Ethan. They cheated on me. He divorced me..”

By now, June was weak, her eyes were reddened and her throat was tight. She didn’t know what she expected coming back to her family house, but nothing prepared her for the reply her mother gave her.

“April is pregnant!” Mrs. Rivera's eyes widened. “That’s such good news!”

June shook her head, blinking in unbelief. Did her mother not hear a word of what she said?

“April slept with Ethan.” She said again, “She is pregnant with my husband’s child! She slept with my husband!”

June was hysterical. Only now did the fullness of what happened become clearer and real to her. April had stolen her husband and given him a child she couldn’t produce. She had bested her, stolen her life, her mother’s love, and now, her husband.

“Oh stop shouting, June!” Her mother reprimanded her and it felt like a slap to the face. “You were unable to give your husband a child.” A brief pause, “Didn’t you say he divorced you? So technically, he isn’t your husband anymore.”

The older woman could barely hide her glee at the situation before her. She had always hated this child of hers and it was hard not to be happy to see her in such a devastated and broken form.

April had once again done the perfect job.

June was losing her mind. “April slept with my husband.” She repeated like a mantra. “She got pregnant for Ethan and that is all you can say?”

“Stop acting like a spoilt brat!” Evelyn’s face lost its colour. She hated the tone in which the little girl was speaking to her. “Do you know the amount of shame you have brought to the Rivera family? People are saying that the women in the Rivera family are barren because of you! Do you know how many suitors you drove from your sister because of your inability to conceive?”

June’s lips trembled as her mother destroyed her with her words.

“Ethan was going to cheat on you anyway! Do you think you have what it takes to keep a man?” She scoffed, “You should be happy he chose your sister instead of the countless women out there. Stop being selfish and congratulate your sister for taking the high road and bringing this family out of the shame you incurred.”

Filled with rage, June spilled her thoughts. “You want me to congratulate the woman who destroyed my home? Did you send your daughter to ruin my marriage because you can’t stand the thought of seeing me live a happy life? Why do you hate me so much, mother?!”

“It is clear you are not in your right senses.” Her mother fired back. “You have always been unreasonable from a young child. Getting lost and killing your father. You have been a bad luck to the Rivera Household. I refuse to let back a curse into this house.”

Her tone was cold and with no room for refusal. “When you are done throwing a tantrum, get out of the house. You don’t belong here. You never did. Did you ask me why I hate you so much? It’s because you should have died. You should have died like your father and never returned.”

“Don’t turn your back on me, mother!”

The woman turned around with a cold smile. “I already did.” She said and before June could speak she ordered for the security to throw her out of the house.

For the second time, June was dragged out of the house by the guards who protected her as a child and flung to the streets at the odd hours of the day.

Shaking with anger and a thirst for revenge, June walked down the lonely streets, wiping the tears that freely flowed her eyes with the back of her hands.

“Hey, beautiful.” A voice said from the lurking areas of the road and she froze.

Three men suddenly burst out of the sidewalks, each wearing a matching smirk on their face. Fear gripped her heart at the sight of them.

“There she is. June Rivera, Isn’t it?” One of them said, advancing towards her while she took a few steps back.

“The Madam was spot on. She said we would find you here.” A smile. “She didn’t say how beautiful you were though.” Another said.

“Maybe we could have a bit of fun before we dispose of her.”

June felt her breath seize as she heard the word ‘dispose’. Were they trying to kill her? Who was the Madam they spoke of?