Chapter 4 Four

"Hey, what the hell?!"

"Are you blind or something?!"

The cold voice of the female guest echoed through the hall filled with people.

"Ma'am, I'm so sorry.. I..."

TAA!

TAA!!

Two resounding slaps landed on Pearl's cheeks as she apologized sincerely.

"How dare you splash a drink on my dress, you good-for-nothing piece of trash!"

The yelling and the sound of the slaps could be heard from a distance, causing everyone in the hall to stare in their direction in surprise. Murmurs arose from the hall.

"A new maid?"

"Mrs Reed got herself another clumsy maid"

"Wait, isn't that Mrs Reed's useless daughter-in-law?" One of the guests asked, as she stared at Pearl closely. "She's the one, that's Mrs Reed clumsy daughter-in-law".

"And she's this clumsy?"

"She's just here to ruin this party"

"If I was her mother-in-law, I'd lock her up in the room until the party's over".

"Did you say lock? She'd be gone. I'd have sent her out the week whoever brought her to my house does".

"What's going on here?" Tricia interceded.

The guest who's dress, drink was splashed on heard the comments from other guests, it gave her the strength to slap Pearl the third time.

TAAA!

"What's all this commotion about?" Mrs Reed asked, looking directly at Pearl with a scornful gaze.

You could tell by the way she made her face that she wished she was the one who had slapped Pearl.

"Mrs Reed, look.. just look at what your clumsy daughter-in-law did to my dress". The lady replied, showing off her stained dress. "She just spilled a drink on my dress, this dress cost a fortune".

"Oh, I'm so sorry ma'am. I hope it didn't ruin your dress?" Mrs Reed asked gently,this time her face telling a different story as she clenched her fist in anger.

Provoked by Mrs Reed's question, the guest took a deep breath, "Look at it, Mrs Reed. My dress is ruined".she replied, angrily.

"I'm sorry ma'am" Pearl blurted out as turned and walked out on them. She was tired and had tripped while going to serve drinks. She had accidentally spilled a drink on the guest, she wasn't ready to stand with them and exchange words.

"Can you imagine?" One of the guests asked, as Pearl walked out.

"Very disrespectful, she just walked out on her mother-in-law".

"This is quite embarrassing, she should be sent out of the house immediately. She's so rude".

Mrs Reed heard the murmurs,"I'm sorry, dear" she apologized to the guest as she charged towards the kitchen.

Pearl got to the kitchen, and a few kitchen staff were around. She didn't mind their presence as she sat on the cold floor.Tears spilt over and flowed down her face like a river escaping a dam.

Throughout her moments of embarrassment, her husband wasn't even there to save her. Not like she expected him to do anything, maybe his presence would have reduced the slaps she got in front of everyone.

Suddenly the door opened, the other staffs left immediately they saw Mrs Reed walk in. Pearl sat on the floor unmoved by Mrs Reed's presence.

"You clumsy fool!"

"How dare you cause that commotion out there?" Mrs Reed screamed angrily as she walked towards Pearl.

"You've got guts, Pearl!" Tricia spoke out scornfully, she had just entered the kitchen. "I've handled everything, mother"

Mrs Reed was so enraged that she didn't answer Tricia. "Do you even realize what this party means to this family?" Mrs Reed asked, her gaze blazing with anger.

"How would she know, when she's just a pauper?" Tricia added.

"Did I do anything wrong when I decided to let you stay in this house?" Mrs Reed demanded.

You clumsy fool! How dare you ruin my mother's birthday? Did you plan this? Are you trying to get your revenge by humiliating her in front of her guests?" Susie asked scornfully.

"I'm sorry, mother. I was too tired...I won't". Pearl whispered an apology, her voice laced with sadness and a little remorse. She should have found a place to rest, it would have saved her from this situation.

The look on Mrs Reed's face showed she didn't hear Pearl.

Pearl stood up from the cold floor, wiped tears from her eyes. "I'm sorry mother, it wasn't intenti..."

Before Pearl could complete her apology, she was met with a resounding slap that echoed throughout the villa.

TAA! TAA!!

"Don't ever in your miserable life call me that again, I'm not your mother and I would never be". Mrs Reed spat with hatred.

"I'm sorry"

"You still have the guts to say a word?" Tricia barked, snapping her fingers angrily.

"I'm just trying to....."

TAA!

A dark stormy cloud instantly hovered beneath Mrs Reed's eyes. She shouted angrily, " you ungrateful thing! What good are you to this family? I'll kick you out of my house soon".

"Simple! She's of no use to this family." Tricia added.

"But mot..."

Mrs Reed held Pearl's throat forcing her to stop in her words. "The next time you call me mother, you'll regret ever knowing me". She said, pushing Pearl to the cold and wet floor.

Pearl whimpered in pain as she fell hard on the floor, hitting her head on the wall behind her. She forced a little smile on her face despite the pain, while waiting for Mrs Reed and Tricia to leave.

The moment she was alone, she dashed out of the kitchen to the stairs. Not minding the people in the party. She was sobbing as she ran, her vision blurry, but she still wasn't bothered about the slightest thing like missing a step and falling.

She came to a halt in the hallway as a strange sound reached her ears. At first, she thought she was mistaken, but before she could walk away another sound came.

It was a loud moan, and it was coming from her husband's bedroom door. Pearl sighed and rolled her eyes. She thought it was one of his friend's who was drunk and had brought a lady into his friend's bedroom.

She was about to walk away, when the next noise that came through her husband's door stopped her cold.

"Oh my God, Julian, you're the best!"

Julian? Her husband, Julian? Who was he with? Abusing and humiliating her with his family wasn't enough? He decided to cheat on her? Damn, that was too bad!

Her heart thundering in her chest, Pearl took a few steps to her husband's door.

"You like that, uh?"

"My Julian" a female voice moaned.

"Call me that again, please" Julian groaned.

Pearl's mouth fell open at the masculine voice, the first time she didn't hear the voice very well. The second time, it sounded familiar. She wasn't dreaming or hallucinating, it was really her husband. Who was the lady with him?

"Yes,oh my.......ohh" the female voice faded into a long moan.

She couldn't recognize the voice. She was gripped with such shock that she didn't know what to do. A part of her didn't know what to do. A part of her didn't want to believe this was really happening. Her husband and a strange woman?

She shook her head, No.

Did he refuse to touch her for three years because of this woman? Whatever, it still doesn't justify his act.

Why on his mother's birthday? Even if he didn't respect her as his wife, shouldn't he respect his mother?

"I can give you everything that she can't, Julian. Divorce her!"

Pearl jolted as she heard the female voice, it was more stable this time.

She froze. No, it can't be! I must be dreaming.

Julian's voice was lower, but she still caught a few words, "I told you, I'll take care of it, darling".

"You've been saying that since last year. I refuse to share a man with that low-life fool! If you don't divorce soon,I'll tell everyone, I mean everyone about us".

"Come on, baby. It hasn't gotten to that".

Pearl had heard enough. Gripping the door handle,she twisted it and opened the door. It flew open hitting the wall behind with a bang.

She blinked rapidly, trying to clear the fog of shock that clouded her eyes.

"Lizzy!"