Chapter 3 Divorce and heartbreak

(Bella)

The doorbell rings and jars me awake. I fling my eyes open, pulling myself up from the couch.

My back hurts..

Just then I realize it's the next day and I had slept off on the couch waiting for Dean.

This only means one thing, Dean didn't come home last night.

The very first day he's sleeping out.

My eyes hurts as fresh tears stride down my cheeks but the doorbell rings again, this time continuously.

I spring up. It could be Dean.

Quickly I move over to the door, and swing it open.

My breath catches in my throat. It's not Dean.

Judy, Elena and an older man. And then when she shifts, I spot Ashley standing right behind with a visible smirk.

I don't remember inviting either of them, and-- why's Ashley with them?

Before I could process what's going on, Judy pushes me aside, striding in like the queen of England. Elena, Dean's aunt, gives me a horrific look as she walks in.

And then the man and Ashley came in.

Ashley casts me a weird look as she brushes past me.

I step in. "What are you doing here, the both of you?" I'm forced to ask, as much as I'm exhausted, I can't let them intimidate me.

"We should be asking you that." Elena spats back.

Judy settles into the couch, her posture annoyingly serene."This is Dean's house, of course I have every right to stop by and see if you need any help getting your sorry backside as far away as possible,"

"That's right. If there's anyone who shouldn't be here, that's you my darling," Elena seethes at me.

I don't reply her though. That's Elena for you, always poking her nose into other people's business. Oh, she'd give anything to see that I'm out of Dean's life.

I shift my gaze to Ashley, who's supposed to be my best friend and by my side. "Ashley, why are you here with them?"

Ashley steps forward and then a hysteric laughter tore through her throat, my brows rose in confusion. "You're so naive," she spat, her eyes blazing with something I've never seen before. "I'm here- we're here to kick your pathetic ass out of Dean's life." She scoffs.

I went pale, my breath catches in my throat, my head begins to spin. Ashley didn't just say that to me, did she?

"What– what are you talking about?" I choked out, my heart racing wildly.

"Oh, darling," she smacks her teeth and then her eyes darkens. "A bitch like yourself doesn't deserve Dean, he wouldn't see it, you charmed your way into his life, made him fall head over heels for you, but that ends now."

What's going on, why's Ashley saying all of this, she's supposed to be my best friend for fucksake!

My heart broke, and my tears rolled out before I could stop them.

"You're my best friend Ashley, stop with the bullshit!" I choked out through my tears.

Ashley laughs maniacally. "You wish, honey. I did this, we did all of this, the photos, the pills, all of it. Now, Dean's going to throw you out, like the trash that you are, fucking bitch!"

Just then, everything clicks. Ashley has betrayed me, she baited me out, the girl's night out, it has to be it.

How could Ashley do this to me? I have been nothing but a good friend to her, why?

My lips parted but no words came out, my head's a mess.

There's a lot going on in my mind, the why's, the how's but I can't seem to put them into words.

I could barely catch my breath, each inhale shaper than the last.

Judy speaks this time. "Now that you've gotten a hang of everything, let's get this over and done with, I do not have the time to watch you shed those silly tears," she spats, taking a file from the man and throwing it my way.

My eyes flickers to the file. "What's this?" I finally find my voice, reaching to pick it up.

"I bet you can read. Why not open and see for yourself," Judy says with a poker face.

My heart raced as I pull the papers out. My eyes widens as I read the letters boldly written. "Divorce papers,"

I furrow my eyebrows. "This is between Dean and I. Where's he?" I say firmly.

"Of course it's my--, our business, pretty head. You cheated on my son and I'm here to serve you divorce papers. A marriage that wasn't meant to be but you used your sluty body to keep him and then he has seen you for who you truly are," She snaps.

"That's all a lie, he needs to know." I yelled.

They all share a look. "He doesn't know that, silly. Stop bullshitting and sign those," Judy deadpanned, her eyes fierce with irritation.

I put the papers back, tossing it away. "I'm not signing this. I want to see Dean," I retort, my tone firm.

Ashley gives a small laugh and I turn my gaze to her. "He doesn't want you anymore, you disgust him, as a matter of fact he issued this divorce, and we're here to serve you,"

"That's not true, Dean will never --," I pause, his words echoing in my head. 'My attorney will send the divorce papers across and you're going to sign them'

Judy clears her throat. "He won't?" She smiles wickedly. "Keep telling yourself that,"

I ignore her, a little tired but I have to fight for us, somehow. "Where's Dean? I need to speak with him," I cry out. "Please let me speak to Dean, I beg you," I pleaded helplessly. Not sure what else to do.

"Oh, stop wailing like a child, bitch." Elena fumes.

Judy snickers."You don't get it, do you?" She spat. "He's done with this charade of a marriage. It was pure lust, you trapped him with your body. Now, he can see what you're really like, a filthy slut, a gold digger. You don't belong in our world Bella. Took Dean long enough to realize that,"

My stomach twists, a sharp pain coursing through me. I haven't had anything to eat and it feels like I'm tired out from crying, feels like I'm going to collapse.

I maintain my stance though. "I'm not signing that till I speak with Dean!"

"Then you'd have to wait till forever. Dean isn't coming back and I'm selling the house," she announces.

My mouth drops. Selling our house?

I feel the color drain from my face as realization hits me.

"You have no choice here, Bella. You're either signing this easily or in a harsh way," she winks, her threat is very real.

I'm at a point where I don't know what else to do. I don't want a divorce, but Judy, Elena? they're crazy.

And now that Dean, who always protected me from them, is no longer here.

I can't fight and win against Judy. And I know to take her at her word. She doesn't bluff.

It's either I sign this divorce papers and walk away or wedge war against Judy, which I'd obviously lose even before I attempt.

She has judges, police, politicians in her pocket.

I'm not even sure of my safety with me alone with them, I will find Dean myself and Iet him know the real truth.

Ashley's watching on with a poker face while the man I assume to be an attorney is transfixed on me.

"Mrs Brennan. It's in your best interest to sign," his tone looks like he's sending a warning.

"It's Bella. Just Bella in a few minutes," Judy corrected him.

I glance at him, to Judy, to Elena and then lastly Ashley. She fixes me with a hard look.

I shift my gaze to the divorce papers I had dropped on the table.

Judy pulls a pen out of her purse as I pick it up, she really came prepared.

I take the pen from her, my heart aches badly as I look around my home, tears striding down, pouring on the divorce papers.

Slowly I signed.

This is it.

The end to my once perfect marriage.