<h1 ss="text-2xl font-bold mb-4">-Chapter 2: A Divorce for freedom.</h1>


    <em><strong>Rabena’s POV:</strong></em>


    The next day, I decided to call my uncle Pete, after filling him in on everything that happened over the past several years, my uncle was furious.


    <em>“Ruby, I don’t understand. Why didn’t you tell me all of this was going one whenever we spoke? I would have-”</em>


    I quickly cut my uncle off, the truth was, there wasn’t anything he could do. Byw Davis and Amber were my parents and I wasn’t gonna let him spend the next several years worrying about me.


    <em>“It’s okay Uncle, I just wanna get out of here now. I’m heading to the courthouse soon to file for divorce, it’ll take me a few days to finalize that and close my ounts.”</em>


    I could hear my uncle sigh, clearly he was worried.


    <em>“I’m sending you awyer!”</em>


    <em>“Uncle that won’t be nec-” He cut me off mid-sentence, there was no way he was gonna let me handle all of this by myself.</em>


    <em>“I promised my brother and sister-inw I would take care of you. I’ve been failing them these past several years, not anymore. Let me help!”</em>


    I smiled lightly; it was the first time I had a genuine smile in so long. It felt good to be loved again. After getting everything squared away with my uncle, I got dressed and walked out my room, ready to file divorce. As I made my way down the stairs I could see my family, sitting in the grand room were my two brothers Darius and Daniel along with my parents, my sister and my husband. Though based on how they were all acting, you would have sworn Thomas was married to Danielle.


    <em>“They aren’t even trying to be subtle”</em> I thought with a disgusted looked as I made my way to the foyer. Just then, I could hear my sister’s angelic voice.


    <em>“Oh! Raby! Where have you been? You were in your room so long I was prepared to steal your husband.”</em>


    She stared at me with angel eyes of Lucifer, I had already grown ustomed to her devilish ploys. Smiling back, I calmly responded.


    <em>“I’m sure that’s what you thoughtst night too.”</em>


    Shocked, Danielle’s eyes bulged, exactly what had I met by that st night”ment. Warily smiling, Danielle walked up to me.


    <em>“I’m sorry sister? What exactly did you mean by that?”</em>


    <em>“I’m sorry, did you not understand me? I’ll repeat it, I’m sure that’s exactly what you didst night!”</em>


    This time my voice raised a level causing everyone to look in our direction. Immediately, as if on que, Danielle began to cry.


    <em>“Raby, I don’t know what you mean by this! Why are you being so mean! I only wanted to joke with my sister.”</em>


    Immediately everyone came running to the foyer, in unison, they all began to fuss.


    <em>“What the hell is wrong with you Rabena!” My brother Darius was the first to go off.</em>


    <em>“Yeah what the hell! Why are you always bullying Danielle! She has been nothing but nice to you!”</em>


    Suddenly, my mother walked up, withplete disdain in her eyes she began to speak.


    <em>“Honestly, did those wretched parents of yours raise you in the wilderness? Is that why you have such low values.”</em>


    I couldn’t believe it! <em>“I”</em> had low values! These people wouldn’t know anything about values if it was stamped on their foreheads! Hearing her speak so ill of my parents however, I wasn’t about to let her get away with that. I walked cooly up to the woman who birthed me, no longer feeling the need to address her as “mother”. She’d never been that to me anyway.


    <em>“Mrs. Crest, you can say whatever you want about me but mention my parents again and we will have a problem.”</em>


    Amber took two steps back. Her eyes were filled with shock. Never had I ever spoke to her like this. Usually, I was always humble and quiet, but I was done with all of that! Just then, my “loving” husband finally spoke.


    <em>“Rabena just what the hell do you think you’re doing! Why are you acting like this! We’re all still celebrating Danielle’s birthday! Apologize to her now!”</em>


    I couldn’t believe him! Apologize for what? But he couldn’t help himself, anything to put a smile on his sweet Danielle’s face. In the past, I would have apologized to just to please everyone, but not anymore. I looked straight into the eyes of my handsome and lying husband.


    <em>“It was my birthday too. I won’t apologize. Consider this my gift.”</em>


    Before he could say anything, I immediately turned around and stormed out the door. I was done with all of these dreadful people. The Rabena they knew was no more.


    <em><strong>-Thomas POV:</strong></em>


    I watched in shock as Rabena stormed out of the house. Never had she talked to me that way, for thest several years she had always been meek. My grandmother doted on her after she saved her life, constantly praising how lovely she was and how much she couldn’t stand Danielle.


    <em>“That girl is a fake as a thousand-dor bill.”</em>


    She just didn’t understand, Danielle needed me. She was delicate and sensitive always trying to please. When I began my role as head of our organization, she secretly went out of her way to start setting up business deals. Starting next week, I’ll be having business meetings with some of the most prominent corporations in the western continent. Lockwood Corp was on the verge of going global and it was all thanks to Danielle. I owed her everything including my heart and I wasn’t about to let some arranged marriage get in the way of it. Rabena would pay for upsetting Danielle.


    <em><strong>-Rabena’s POV:</strong></em>


    After I filed for divorce, I spoke with mywyer Pera on the phone. I’d known Pera since I was a child, we actually grew up together in Covington; she was devastated when she learned I was moving halfway across the world. We’d promise to stay in touch, but with the life I was living, I didn’t have to heart to honor it.<fnc7c5> ???? ????s? ???????s ?? Find[F]ovel</fnc7c5>


    <em>“Oh my god Ruby!!! When your uncle told me you wereing home I almost blew a gasket! I’ve missed you so much!”</em>


    It was great to hear she was the same bubbly and vivacious girl I had always known.


    <em>“Yeah I’m really excited too. I have really missed you all. I should have nevere here.”</em>


    Pera went silent for a moment, I’m sure my uncle filled her in on what had been going on.


    <em>“Ruby, you should have called me. I would have flown into the ocean just to help you! You’re my best friend.”</em>


    My eyes began to water, even after all of this time, the people that I loved the most still loved me too.


    <em>“Alright girl! First stop divorce, next stop freedom!”</em>


    I talked with Pera all the way home, as I approached the door, I had an eerie feeling. As I opened the door, I soon understood why.