Hailey's game of revenge: Making my ex-husband regret.

The rays of the sun were already piercing the bedroom curtain when I woke up. Should I be happy or sad? I thought as I stretched and sat up on my bed. Today is my birthday, but my husband hasn't been home in the last two weeks.

He got mad at me after we argued about the lipstick stain I found on his shirt. Since then, I haven't set my eyes on him.

Whenever I call his line, his manager will be the one to pick, saying he is busy at work with the new project. But he will be coming home today, right, I thought. Because it is not only my birthday, it is our wedding anniversary too.

At least, when he comes, we will be able to clear things up, and everything will be okay, right? The lipstick stain was probably a mistake, and he is really busy at work with the new project, right? I thought positively, not wanting to jump to conclusions about him.

Holding on to the little thread of hope that my husband would come home today because it is my birthday and our wedding anniversary, I stood up to wash up for the day.

Just as I walked past the door, a knock on it vibrated through the room. I stopped in my steps, my heart raced. He is back! I yelled in my mind. My body trembled a bit because of the excitement. I knew he would give in no matter how strong headed he acts.

I quickly brushed my hair with my hands and adjusted my cloth so that his top that I was wearing would reveal my curves very well.

After faking a small frown on my face so that he would know I was really mad at him, I proceeded to open the door.

My frown became more visible the moment I opened the door. It wasn't my husband. It was a maid instead. She quickly greeted me immediately our eyes met and bowed a little too.

Afterwards, she stretched her hands, which contained a small package, and said to me. "Someone came to drop this and said it is for you, ma." She spoke respectfully.

A package? I thought as I collected it from her. Is this his way of surprising me before he comes home? What is he planning?

"Ok, thanks." I said to the maid and closed the door.

With my curiosity at its peak, I quickly opened the package. What could be inside, I thought as I opened it. Could it be the latest Chloe designer ring? Bracelet? Whatever, I couldn't wait to see it.

Finally, I opened it, and it was none of what I had guessed in my mind. Rather, it was a document inside. I picked it up and unfolded it slowly.

Confusion and horror sparked within me the moment my eyes came in contact with the contents of the paper.

Divorce papers! I stumbled to the back without any force pushing me. My jaw dropped. My head felt dry as if a heavy load was just taken off it. My hands trembled as I held the papers and read the contents. What could be happening?

I haven't done anything bad nor upset him in any way. Rather, he is the one who has done something to annoy me. So what the hell is this! Something must be wrong somewhere, I thought as I hurried back to the bed to pick up my phone to call him. One dial, two dial, he didn't pick.

I looked up and screamed out in frustration. With anger, I threw my phone at the wall.

I need an explanation. Quickly, I picked my towel and slipped my feet inside my bathroom slippers, I picked up my car keys and hurried out of the room.

Like a mad and drunk woman, I entered my car and zoomed off to his office.

On getting there, I got down from the car, and the people there almost didn't recognize me because I was looking so messed up. My hair was uncombed, I was wearing an oversized top, my towel around my waist, and a pair of bathroom slippers.

However, I ignored them and hurried to the elevator. I pressed it button, but it seemed like it was already full. So I hurried to use the stairs. The higher I went up the stairs, the higher my mental health was at stake. I panted with confusion and anger as I used the stairs.

I finally got upstairs. As I approached his office, the group of security men guarding his office were quick to sight me and recognize me. They approached me too, to stop me from entering.

"Touch me, and you are fired!" I threatened, and they all moved back, paving way for me.

With the little strength left in me, I turned the knob of his office door and entered.

My breath seized at first. It was as if my eyes weren't working properly. What am I seeing? I asked myself as soft and loud moans filled the office I just entered.

This can't be, I thought as I tried hard to maintain composure. I opened my eyes clearly again to see what was happening clearly.

I am seeing a man, standing behind a woman, his right hand holding her waist firmly as he slams into her vigourously from behind. The woman too moaned with pleasure, calling his name, urging him to go harder.

No! No! No! I trembled.

When my brain finally processed what I was seeing, it was my husband and my step sister, making love! Both were so engrossed with their lovemaking that they didn't notice my presence.

My heartbeat accelerated, I pulled my hair as if I was running mad and screamed.

"Ryan Blackwood!!!" I yelled my husband's name like a mad woman and pulled my hair harder. Hot tears rolled down my face, i clutched my clothes at the front. My body trembled, I couldn't believe what I was seeing.

Fuck! Ryan growled and turned around, his chiselled abs and pecs glistened, hard and wet with sweat. He quickly buckled up his belt, and my sister rolled down her dress. Both were trying to hide their nakedness.

Ryan walked towards his seat and sat on it casually amidst the tensed air. He poured himself wine and gulped it down at once. My step sister, Cassie, went towards the mirror and tried to arrange her scattered hair. For the first few seconds. Both of them acted like I wasn't there.

"Why are you here?" Ryan finally spoke, without looking at me. My breath was laboured, I was speechless, I didn't know what to say, I was speechless, just standing there, panting.

"You have signed the divorce papers, right?" He said coldly, pointing at the papers I was holding. My heart writhed in pain as I watched him talk to me nonchalantly.

"Ry..an. what have I done to...deserve this... from you?" I tried to say something, but it was interrupted by my tears.

I asked him a question, but he didn't say anything. Instead, he moved his hands up and began to dishevelle his soft hair aggressively.

"Even if you wanted to do something like this, it didn't have to be my sister."

"Hehehe." Cassie's laughter echoed in the office.

"Hailey, who is your sister? And why are you trying to act pathetic now? It was obvious you were the one chasing after him then. He never liked you!"

Fury consumed me. What the hell is this prostitute saying? I was going to say aloud, but I bit down my lower lips, so tight that I was tasting my blood.

"Ryan, why aren't you saying anything. You and I know she is lying. You chased me for a good five years before i finally said yes to you, right?"

*Scoffs* Ryan scoffed before he finally looked up and spoke.

"Hailey, it seems you are finally going to hear the story I never told anyone before.

In case you don't know, I married you out of pity. You were too pathetic then, and i had no option but to marry you. But now I have gotten tired of you and I don't need you anymore. So please sign the divorce papers and get out of my life! Stop being a liability to me."

Ryan's words were like swords, coated with poisoning, piercing every part of my heart. I felt shattered and really pathetic. I would rather have the world burn down if I knew I would ever witness something like this.

I have no one but Ryan. No man has ever loved me the way he does. The only ones I see in my happy memories are my late mother and Ryan. When I was at my lowest, he was the only one there for me. His love for me has been a shelter from life storm. No man can ever be like Ryan in my life. If he leaves me, I am doomed for life.

Before I knew it, I went down on my knees, pleading.

"Ryan, please, I know I have been rude to you in the last few weeks, but I am sorry. Please forgive me. We can just talk this out. I can... always let things go." My voice broke off again, interrupted by my tears and choking.

Cassie let out a mocking laughter and rolled her eyes at me.

"Hailey, you should know I will never settle for less, I mean, why should I go back to what i have rejected? I don't need you anymore, so sign the damn papers and get out of my life!!!" He yelled. My ears couldn't believe it. My body trembled for the nth time.

Ryan never yelled at me. He would rather walk away than yell at me. More tears rolled down my face, and now that it has come to this, I really have to leave his life. There is no other option. He said he doesn't love me anymore!

I stood up from where I was kneeling, feeling numb and drained. I could see Cassie from the corner of my eyes looking at me with utter disgust. I cleaned my tears and mustered up courage.

"Fine, I will leave." I declared with determination.

"But do not forget that this company, of which you are the CEO, belongs to me, not you. So you have to vacate your position and leave with all your personal belongings!"

"Have you forgotten that you willed everything to me after we got married!" He countered calmly.

"I want my company back!" I yelled, but he didn't even flinch.

Instead, he let out a laugh and said, "In your dreams."

"Really? Then I won't sign the divorce papers until you return my company to me. And, do not think you dumped me, I did because there are better men who deserve my love and this beautiful body of mine!"

"Hailey!" Ryan roared and threw the glass of wine he was holding at me. I tried to dodge it, but it still cut a part of my neck.

"H-how dare you?" He stammered.

I moved my hands slowly and touched my neck, I was bleeding, Ryan wounded me! I screamed in my heart painfully as tears rolled down my face again.

I then looked up, and our eyes met. Strangely, the emotions in his eyes and his actions were a sharp contrast to each other. We locked eyes for a while, silently exchanging unknown words before I stood up and left his office.

In my subconscious state, my legs took me to the rooftop of the building of the company. the weight of my shattered heart threatened to consume me. Slowly, I walked and stood at the edge of the rooftop. The cool breeze whispered words into my ear, but it was too late, my painful memories flooded in.

I was just thirteen when I overheard that my father had another child and wife outside the house. Then, my mental health was at stake, and my emotional health was at stake, too. I only got comforted by my mother's love. I thought things would eventually get okay until my mother died when I was fifteen. Her death was like a void that could never be filled.

Not long after, Cassie's mother moved in. They turned me into a maid and mistreated me so badly. My father was going to send me out of the house, but my mother had transferred all her properties to me before she died, so he was definitely looking for an opportunity to take it from me.

Every day was filled with sadness until I met Ryan when I was eighteen. He was so nice to me, starting from the first day we met. We became close, and he always made me happy. He was with me at my lowest. It was as if he was an angel sent to me by my mother from heaven.

Whenever we are unhappy, we often go together to watch ballet dancers. The movement of the ballerinas whenever they danced was like a soothing melody to our souls. This is one of the happiest moments in my life.

We loved each other so much, and nothing could separate us. Everything went on smoothly as long as we're together. He fulfilled all his promises and got married to me on my birthday. That was the happiest day of my life.

Now, he doesn't want me anymore. I am now like a car without its engine. I need to end this life of mine that is filled with sorrows, when next I am coming to life, I wish for a better destiny.

I moved one of my legs, with one more move, I would be gone. I sobbed quietly with pain because I knew I was dying.

Just as I was about to take the last step, a thought struck my mind. Will I just die like this because a man I had trusted with all my heart betrayed me? I mean, he has hurt me badly. He should pay for it, right? Moreover, I only transferred twenty per cent of my mother's property to him. I still have something to fall back on.

This shouldn't be! I thought and got back to my senses. It was then I realized I was already at the edge of the rooftop, fear gripped me, and I quickly turned around.

Just as I was about to get down from the edge, a strong hand pushed me back and yelled.

"Don't you dare change your mind, bitch!"

And I fell, like a tree being cut from the bottom. I saw her hands, her face and I heard her voice. It was Cassie, my step sister. I cried as I fell. I guess I was destined to die like this, I whispered as I watched Cassie's evil face from the rooftop.

*Thud* The sound of my fall resonated in my ear as i slipped into unconsciousness. I fell on a car. it's glasses pierced my body, encircled my body, shooking every part of me deeply with the pointed part of it broken piece.

Slowly, I heaved my last breath.

SIX MONTHS LATER.

I opened my eyes slowly, the harsh fluorescent lights above pierced through my skull like a thousand needles. I winced, raising a trembling hand to shield my face. The room was quiet, except for the steady beeping of monitors and the soft hum of machines.

As I looked around, my gaze fell upon an empty chair beside me, an almost empty table with a solitary water glass, and a large TV mounted on the wall, its screen scrolling through news headlines. i was confused.

"Hello?" I called out, my voice barely above a whisper.

No response. Panic crept in as my eyes scanned the empty room. Where is everyone? I thought as i tried to sit up, but a sharp pain shot through my head, forcing me back onto the pillow.

"What happened?" I muttered to herself.

Fragments of memories swirled in my mind: A rooftop, a wicked face laughing maniacally.....but the details remained elusive.

I glanced around the room again, searching for clues: a hospital gown draped over my body. IV lines were snaked into my arm. A name tag was on my wrist, i turned it around to check it; Hailey.

Hailey? The name sounded familiar, yet distant. With a shaking hand, i reached for the bedside table, pulling myself up to examine the room more closely.

No flowers. No cards. No signs of visitors. A chill ran down my spine. Was i alone? Abandoned? Fear gripped my heart as i whispered, "Who am I?"

The machines surrounding me seemed to mock me, their steady beeps echoing my own heartbeat.

Suddenly, a nurse entered the room, breaking the silence.

"Welcome back, Hailey. How are you feeling?" She spoke to me politely.

My eyes locked onto the nurse, desperate for answers.

"I...I don't remember," i stammered.

The nurse's expression softened. "Don't worry, dear. You've been through a traumatic experience. Memory loss is common."

My gaze drifted back to the empty room.

Was anyone looking for me?

Did anyone care?

"Why am I here?" i asked the nurse.

"Well, I don't really know much. One of Mr. Dante's men brought you here. They met you covered in blood on top of their car. I think you fell from the rooftop."

Mr. Dante? Is that a family of mine? I tried to recall but was distracted by the TV's news.

"......babel has now entered the list of the top five biggest companies in the country." The newscaster said, and the video of a man together with a group of people was shown appreciating the citizens for patronizing them.

The face of the man speaking looked so familiar, the woman beside him too, they both looked familiar. I tried to remember, and all of a sudden, a web of memories rushed in.

"Ryan Blackwood!!!" Beside him was Cassie and our family members.

I began to pant, the image of Ryan and Cassie making love, Cassie pushing me from the rooftop, i began remembering every bit of my memory.

Tears rolled down my face. I couldn't take it anymore. I fell back on the bed and went back into unconsciousness.

It took me another one week to be able to regain consciousness. I have regained my memories now, and it feels like I should go back into the comma and be trapped there for life. Ryan doesn't even remember me nor feel remorseful for all the bad things he did to me.

My family members look like they are doing well without me, i guess i was not really important to them. A nurse and a doctor came in. That has been the only two faces I have been seeing ever since I woke up. They both greeted me warmly.

".....with the condition of your face, you will be needing a surgery which will be carried out soon." The doctor said and I was a bit confused.

"A surgery?" I asked.

"Yes," the doctor answered and handed me a mirror.

"We have been taking care of it for the past six months, but now, it has turned to a big and ugly scar. Luckily for you, this is the only part that needs surgery as the glass didn't pierce your vital organs."

I collected the mirror from him and looked at myself. A tear rolled down my face the moment I saw how I was looking. A curve slashed traversed my right cheek, pulling my mouth into a perpetual, wistful smile. I looked so ugly.

'Stop crying, a surgery can be done and make you look better again. In fact, you can change your face with it. Do not worry too much."

The doctor comforted me, and that soothed me a little.

"The remaining scars on your body are not too deep, so they will soon fade away. It is just the one on your face that needs surgery. All you need now is rest and also brace yourself for the surgery."

The man continued, and I felt a bit relieved. Afterwards, the man turned to leave. Suddenly, a question came to my mind, and I stopped the doctor by holding the tip of his cloth.

"You need anything, ma?" The man asked me with curiosity, and I nodded before answering.

"Who is Mr. Dante?" I asked because I have regained all my memories now, but I do not remember any Mr. Dante.

"Ohh, he owns the car that you fell on the day you fell from the rooftop. It was one of his men who brought you to the hospital."

So there was a Dante in the company the day I fell from the rooftop. Who can Dante be? And what was he looking for in Babel that day. I tried my best to remember if there is any Dante that I know in Babel, but there isn't.

"Ok then," I said and rested my back on the pillow.

Weeks passed, and I finally underwent the surgery, I was now looking different, hot, and more beautiful this time, all thanks to the doctor. With time, I was able to get along with my new face.

The news of Babel becoming more successful filled the country. They are now in the top three. I smiled devilishly as I saw the articles published about Ryan Blackwood and his supportive wife, Cassie.

They must think I am dead by now, I scoffed. I guess my destiny is not as bad as I thought.

After spending eight months in the hospital, it was time for me to be discharged. I inquired about my bill, but I was told that everything had been cleared by Mr. Dante.

I was stunned at first.

A stranger paid an eight months bill! Someone I haven't seen or met before. I really owe this Dante my entire life. If one of his men hadn't brought me here, maybe I would be in heaven by now, watching Ryan and Cassie enjoying their life after ruining me.

I requested for his details, and only his full name and phone number of the man that brought me here was given to me.

Dante Russo, I pronounced the name in my mind. It sounds familiar, though. I must find a way to thank him, at least.