Chapter 5 The Discovery

The ride home felt never-ending. Stephanie kept replaying the images she had just seen of Leon and Adrianna together. She imagined how good the sex would have been. Every touch, every kiss, every shared moment Leon and Adrianna had hurt more with each thought. She was a fool and thought she was enough for him.

Stephanie arrived at Leon's mansion, her heart still heavy, tears still filling her eyes, and still confused about what she had just seen. She couldn't still wrap her head around what she had just witnessed.

" Leon was having sex with Adrainna in his office. They didn't even have the decency to do it in a room. They would have at least stopped when I walked in, but no, they didn't," she thought.

As she walked closer to the door of the mansion, her heart kept pounding, her hands shaking, she began sweating heavily. Every step she took was heavier than the last, her legs shaky; she wiped her tears as she approached the door.

As Stephanie entered the house, she heard the voices of Liam's mother Clara, and his sister Vanessa having a conversation. Stephanie wanted nothing more than to avoid them, but there was no way she could.

She sniffled, wiping the tears on her cheek so as not to attract much embarrassment or attraction from them.

"Well, if it isn't the orphan," Clara said as she laughed. Immediately she saw Stephanie.

Stephanie stopped moving, her fist clenched, she knew better than to talk back to her, but tonight, she had little patience.

"I'm sure you had a long day, Stephanie, or were you out squandering my brother's hard-earned money?" Vanessa continued, as she leaned back into the chair behind her.

Stephanie knew her patience would soon be exhausted, so she kept on walking, ignoring their hurtful words.

"You could at least respond when being spoken to, you pauper, " Clara shouted. Or are manners too much for someone like you?

Stephanie couldn't take it anymore, a lot of things had happened today, and being spoken to rudely by Mrs. Phoenix wasn't something she wanted to end the day with.

"I've had enough for one day, Mrs phoenix, please excuse me," Stephanie said, finally looking at Mrs. Phoenix.

"Oh my god....the pauper learned to talk back now, how beautiful " Vanessa laughed loudly as her mum joined in.

"Now look here," Clara said, holding Stephanie's chin. You'd never be one of us, don't forget why you're here... you're here because Leon felt sorry for you. Don't forget that.

Stephanie's eyes were filled with tears, but she wasn't going to let them see her cry, she wasn't going to let them have the satisfaction of seeing her break down. As soon as Clara released Stephanie's chin from her palm, Stephanie faced the stairs and walked steadily as tears almost blocked her vision.

She finally reached the master's bedroom after a drop of tears had fallen little by little on the stairs. She shut the door behind her and leaned against the desk that was closest to her, thinking about all she had seen today, all that had happened today; she could only feel sorry for herself. She finally let the tears flow down her cheeks, she cried, covering her mouth so as not to make a sound as she did.

Stephanie wiped her tears quickly as she heard footsteps approaching. The door opened, and just as she suspected, it was Leon. He looks cold and unapproachable. The look was familiar, the same look he gave her, after that night they had together.

"Stephanie " he took a pause. We need to talk, he continued.

Stephanie looked at him as she stood uprightly.

"Do we?" She asked, her voice filled with anger and disdain.

Leon moved closer...

"You shouldn't have come to the office unannounced, " he said.

"Oh wow.... that's what you're upset about? So you're not upset about the fact that I saw you with her," Stephanie laughed, trying to hide her anger.

"You were never meant to see that," Leon said, as he loosened his tie, moving restlessly around the room.

"Oh, I was never meant to do that? See what exactly Leon? See that I'm just a puppet to you? See that I'm nothing but a pawn to you? " Stephanie asked, her voice shaky but sharp.

"Watch your tone, woman; I'm warning you," Leon shouted, as he moved closer to her.

Stephanie laughed, moving closer.

"Or what Leon? Or what? Look, you don't get to silence me anymore; I gave you everything, I gave you my love, my time, my life, even my job, Leon, all for what? To humiliate me like this?" Stephanie shouted.

Leon's expression was now firm, unchanged, unmoved.

"I didn't ask you to love me, I never asked you to love me. You knew what this was. You know Stephanie, don't pretend like you don't" he shouted as he looked into Stephanie's big blue eyes.

Stephanie's heart shattered all over again as she heard Leon's words.

"I thought I knew," she said. "But I was wrong," She whispered. "Leon I thought you loved me, I thought you cared, even if it was just a little".

Leon laughed.

"So you think I'd love you? You think I'd love you?... well I don't, Stephanie; if you can't see it clearly, I don't. You were just convenient. You were easy, Stephanie." he laughed slightly.

Stephanie felt like her word had just been destroyed; she felt heartbroken, weak, and angry all over again.

"Ho...how could you be so cruel?" she stammered as she tried to control the tears in her throat.

"Cruel?... Stephanie, come on now; I wasn't cruel," he mocked. "You were just a means to an end".

Stephanie felt angry; she felt used and didn't know what to say or do.

"So that'd what I was to you? A pawn in your game? A tool in your mission? A tool in your mission to win back Adrianna," she said, tears flowing down her cheeks.

"Adrianna is my priority, she what I want Stephanie... and then there's you, you are... well you are a replacement.....no no that seems too important," he said." You're a placeholder... yes a placeholder " he laughed like he had just said something he wanted to say in a while.

"I'm leaving, Liam; you're done with me, right? You're done using me right?" Stephanie shouted. I'm leaving, and nothing is going to stop that" she said as she walked towards her wardrobe.

Liam laughed.... a laugh full of mockery.

"Leave?... Stephanie darling, you can't leave till I say so" Liam finally said.

"What do you mean?" Stephanie asked confused.

"So you don't remember the contact, Stephanie," Leon laughed again.

"What contract?" Stephanie asked again.

"The ones you signed before the wedding Stephanie. You didn't read them, did you? You just couldn't wait to get married to me" he laughed more intensely, giving Stephanie a document.

Stephanie flipped through the document as fast as she could, hoping what Leon was saying was false and just an after-effect of maybe too much wine.. she felt dizzy and could hardly piece words together, but the words she saw there could mean only one thing.... she had signed away her freedom.

"You can't leave me, Stephanie," Leon said like he had just won a battle. "Only I can dissolve this marriage, and I'm not ready to do that," he laughed looking straight into Stephanie's eyes.

Stephanie's fist clutched, and her heart tightened.

"You won't get away with this" she shouted, pointing fingers at Leon.

"Watch me" Liam answered as he left the room.

********

Stephanie couldn't sleep; she lay awake alone in the master's bedroom, thinking of how her life had turned to.

She couldn't continue staying with Leon and his rude family.

"I have to leave this house at all costs, and I have to do it fast."