Chapter 2

Chapter Two

Amber’s legs wobbled, her balance faltered, and her emotions felt like a chaotic storm, but she refused to turn back and leave without confronting the family that had betrayed her.

She knew it was time to stop avoiding the inevitable. Despite her determination to have nothing to do with this family ever again, she couldn’t escape confronting them forever.

Even though she understood deep down that it might not change anything, she needed closure, a resolution to the torment inside her mind.

Standing in front of her family home, a place she hadn’t visited in three months and had sworn never to return to, she took a deep breath before walking through the gate and towards the front door. Every step felt like a challenge, a battle against the anger and humiliation she carried within.

Inside, her father’s familiar voice greeted her, but the surprise in his expression suggested he wasn’t thrilled to see her so suddenly.

“Amber!” he gasped.

“Hello, Dad,” she replied, her voice devoid of any emotion. Despite the rush of emotions within her, she couldn’t bring herself to be happy seeing her father again. The disappointment she felt toward him was immense; he had failed her when she needed his support the most.

“What are you doing here?” he asked, clearly caught off guard.

“What, Dad? Don’t you want me here? Does my presence bother you?” she retorted, her words laced with bitterness. She had no intention of pretending she was okay. She was here to express everything that had been festering inside her.

“It’s not that. I just wasn’t expecting you so soon. But you know you’re always welcome here, as long as you don’t cause trouble,” he replied, his words carrying a tinge of annoyance.

“Oh, please, Dad. Don’t be pathetic. How dare you imply that I’m only welcome if I don’t cause trouble? Does that mean I can’t voice my grievances?” she shot back, her anger simmering beneath the surface. Her father’s lack of empathy fueled her frustration.

“I’m begging you, Amber, don’t do this. This isn’t the time or place to vent your anger. I can understand why you’re upset, but you have to move past it and move on with your life. There’s nothing you can do to change how things have turned out,” he implored, his words leaving her speechless.

“You know what, Dad? I didn’t come here to talk to you. The person I have a problem with is inside, and she’s the one who deserves my wrath, not you. Now, get out of my way,” she snapped, pushing past him and storming into the living room where the rest of her family sat.

“Amber?” her mother’s voice called out, trying to diffuse the tension that had entered the room.

Amber’s eyes scanned the room, taking in the sight of her family gathered there, seemingly having a grand time. It struck her then that none of them truly cared about her, not one bit. They were content in their happiness while she suffered in silence, left to cope with the devastation on her own.

“Mother, Kate, Bob,” she greeted, pointedly leaving out Marlene’s name. Marlene, Kate, and Bob were her stepmother’s biological children, while Amber was the sole child of her late mother. Her stepmother, Mary, had raised her, despite the numerous challenges their relationship had faced.

“Well, isn’t this a surprise, my dear? We weren’t expecting you to show up like this, but we’re very happy to see you. It’s perfect timing because we’re having a celebration right now, and since you’re part of the family, you should join us in celebrating,” her stepmother said, her tone cheerful. Amber nearly scoffed at her apparent obliviousness to the turmoil within her.

“What’s the occasion, mother?” she asked, her eyes falling on the invitation cards scattered on the table. She already knew the answer. The wedding between Kayden and Marlene was imminent.

“We’re celebrating Marlene’s upcoming wedding to Kayden,” her stepmother announced, her words dripping with feigned happiness.

Amber couldn’t hold back her disbelief. “I know you have no shame, but are you so shameless that you can’t see anything wrong in what you just said? Were you so desperate to marry that you had to rush into a wedding with your sister’s ex-husband? Are you that hungry to be someone’s wife?” she lashed out, her voice resonating with her indignation.

“It’s been three months, Amber. Three whole months, and you still haven’t moved on? Are you obsessed?” Marlene retorted, her words slicing through the room like a knife.

“You make it sound like three months is equivalent to three years. Were you expecting me to get over the fact that my sister and ex-husband were sleeping with each other in just three months? And now, all of a sudden, you two are getting married as if nothing ever happened? How thoughtless of you, little sister,” Amber countered, her words sharp with anger.

Marlene, undeterred, mocked her. “Oh, well, Amber dear, I won’t apologize to you for choosing my happiness over yours. Besides, you keep pretending like your marriage with Kayden was a love story, but it never was. You two were in an arranged marriage. He could never bring himself to love you; he fell for me instead. Be a big girl and get over it!” Marlene sneered, her satisfaction evident.

Amber’s mother jumped in, defending Marlene’s actions. “This wedding won’t be a happy occasion for you, but you must let go of your anger. Your sister made a choice, and it’s time for you to accept it and move forward. You can’t keep tormenting yourself over something you can’t change. Besides, you can’t stress your pregnant sister; it’s bad for the baby.”

The mention of Marlene’s pregnancy hit Amber like a blow to the stomach. “You’re expecting a child with Kayden?” she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

“Yes, Amber. Kayden and I are having a baby. It’s time you accept this and move on,” Marlene replied, her tone cold and final.

Amber felt her legs weaken for a moment, but she forced herself to stand tall. “Today may be a happy day for you, Marlene, but it’s a day of betrayal for me. If you can’t be happy for us, please leave and come back when you’ve accepted the new reality,” her father’s voice said, a note of finality in his tone.

She said nothing, her heart heavy with the weight of their betrayal. Turning away, she made her way to the door, determined to leave this house and the family that had turned their backs on her.

A hand grasped her shoulder, halting her in her tracks. When she turned, she found Marlene standing there, a sly smirk on her face. “This may seem extreme, but I still hope you’ll attend my wedding. It would be my pleasure to have you by my side on such a joyous occasion,” Marlene whispered, extending an invitation.

“I curse the days I considered you my sister, Marlene. You’ll pay dearly for this humiliation. I swear it to you,” Amber whispered back, her voice laced with determination.

“Good luck with that,” Marlene responded, her smirk widening, before patting Amber’s shoulder and stepping back.

With that, Amber left, determined to confront her family’s betrayal and make Marlene pay for the pain she had caused.