Chapter 2 Feuding

Carissa was stunned at the scene that unfolded in front of her. Her husband was kissing another woman in front of her, and it was his ex-lover. Instantly, her eyes felt hot, her neck felt suffocated with a chest that began to feel tight from the pain that suddenly hit her. This was too painful and confusing at the same time.

"Alex, you're not joking, right?"

Alex pulled his face away from Jillian and looked at Carissa lazily. "Instead of asking something where the answer is obvious, you'd better sign it right away so that the process can be expedited."

"The sooner the better. Because then, Jillian and I won't have to hold back in expressing our love anymore," Alex smiled mockingly.

Carissa's tears were getting unstoppable, but she held them back with all her might. She didn't want to look weak and pathetic in front of the two people throwing mocking glances at her.

Even though her heart was so excited that her breathing started to get labored due to emotion and heartache, she still tried to control herself to stay calm. She couldn't get out of control and make a spectacle of herself. At least, those two bastards who were looking at each other meaningfully would never know how broken her heart was right now.

"If that's what you want, I'll sign this letter," Carissa said.

Jillian, leaning on Alex's broad chest, looked at her condescendingly and chuckled softly. "You shouldn't be stupid for love. Open your eyes wide and look at Alex! He didn't love you at all from the beginning, Carissa. You've been deceived by your feelings, even though you were stabbed many times, you still didn't realize it."

"Look at it now. Why are you still sitting there, silly? This romantic scene is not for you. Go away, your presence only spoils its beauty," Jillian continued.

"Isn't that right, darling?" Then Jillian looked at Alex with an indulgent whine.

Alex nodded steadily, laughing with her at Carissa's suffering and humiliation.

"Okay." Carissa smiled, hiding her wound.

Then she got up. Feelings of anger and betrayal came over her inexorably. How could Alex do this to her after all they had been through together? Her heart broke into pieces as she realized that their marriage was truly over.

Carissa took a deep breath to regain her composure, straightened her back, and looked at Alex with determination. The look of love in her eyes was now gone, replaced with a palpable determination.

Alex's grin spread for a moment, and before Carissa could speak, he spoke indifferently. "Good, you'd better pack your things and return to your broken family home. It won't be long before I marry Jillian and move in. You can't possibly stay there and become a pathetic statue, right?"

"Of course, I'll go... goodbye," Carissa said tremblingly.

"Oh yeah, my lawyer will see you tomorrow to talk about the compensation details," Alex said casually, as if what was discussed could not hurt.

Carissa nodded. Her hands trembled slightly as she tried to control her emotions. She couldn't bear to stay in the same room any longer, to witness more of their sickening display of affection, and to be further stricken with pain. It was disgusting. Turning around, she walked towards the door, determined to put this painful thing in her life behind her.

As she stepped outside, the cold night air hitting her skin, Carissa felt a range of emotions raging inside her. Anger, sadness, and a glimmer of hope to start a new life without Alex by her side. She knew the road ahead would be difficult, but she was ready to face it. With newfound determination, Carissa set out into the darkness, leaving behind the remnants of her broken marriage and the man who had broken her heart.

**

The next day, in a very spacious room with an elegant style dominated by white, Carissa packed her belongings into a large suitcase. Everything was hers, nothing was left behind. However, in between her activities, she accidentally looked at the large figurine hanging beautifully on the wall, making her stop her movements and stand still, staring at it.

It was her wedding photo with Alex.

There, they were smiling widely, looking so happy with love surrounding them. No one would have thought the beautiful marriage would end up dark and broken into pieces.

Carissa herself still didn't expect that her dream wedding with the man she had loved since she was in high school would give her such a deep wound.

Alex had changed... no, maybe it was more like he was very good at playing roles. Carissa smiled sadly with tears in her eyes.

"I thought that fool had left after the divorce. Turns out she's still here." A voice full of sarcasm suddenly sounded, making Carissa immediately turn her face away and wipe her tears.

Emily Ricardo, Alex's younger sister, walked into the room with her arms crossed. Her gaze wandered, and upon seeing Carissa's suitcase, a small chuckle escaped her. "Ah, it's getting ready. But why didn't you finish it immediately and stare at that ugly picture instead?"

Carissa turned around and resumed her packing without bothering Emily's question.

"I know this is hard for you. It must be very hard for you to leave this luxurious house. But what can I do? My brother doesn't love you, and he's not happy in this marriage. You can't be selfish and force him to keep this useless you, right?" But Emily seemed to have a personal grudge and continued to speak dispassionately.

Carissa's movement that was about to close her suitcase stopped momentarily. Her teeth gritted, but a moment later, she took a slow breath and returned to her normal demeanor.

"There is nothing wrong with love, but you are too ignorant," Emily said again while looking at Carissa with a condescending gaze. This time, Carissa's movements completely stopped. "You are beautiful, Carissa, but that alone is not enough. There are so many flaws in you, oh no... maybe even your family too."

Carissa turned around with a raised hand, about to slap Emily's annoying face. But it only froze mid-air as she suddenly remembered how much Alex loved his sister.

"Why stop? Just keep going! You can slap me all you want, but I can't guarantee what my brother will do to you. Your broken and scattered family may disappear from this world." Emily was getting more defiant with her annoying smile. "Ah, it's unlucky to be your family. But they deserve it for being such annoying trash."

Plak!

In an instant, Emily's arrogant face was turned to the side with widened eyes and mouth open in disbelief.

"You can insult me all you want, but not my family!" Carissa's voice became cold and sharp, carrying a kind of pressure that had never been there.

Emily held her cheeks and stared at Carissa angrily. "You slapped me? How dare you!"

"Why? You insulted my family, of course, I have to teach you a lesson so that your foul mouth doesn't get used to throwing words around carelessly," Carissa retorted with an icy face.

"What? You!" Emily burned with anger until her face turned bright red. And afterward, she also slapped Carissa with great force. "You're just a dumped snotty woman, you have no right to call me that!"

The throbbing in Carissa's heart hurt far more than her face as she heard the word 'dumped' spoken with emphasis.

"Carissa, you are no longer a part of this family. Don't think there will be anyone to defend you. Everyone in this house doesn't like you. You might not believe it because they were so nice to you before. Do you know why? Because you have no value anymore. Your family is ruined and can't provide any benefits anymore. Then you... you're nothing more than a sickening whore!"

Like being struck by lightning, Carissa's body froze. Her heart seemed to stop beating, and her face turned pale. She slowly turned her head, looking at Emily, smiling wryly with satisfaction. "You... what did you say?"