On the day of my wedding to Max Hunter, he ran away with his first love.
He would send me a picture of himself with her from every new place they went, as if to make fun of me.
I was getting my nails done and having tea with French pastries when I got their 99th photo.
But after being gone for three years, Max came back all of a sudden.
He yelled, “How dare you fool around with another man while I was gone!” and pointed to a picture of me and someone else at my wedding.
I couldn’t help but laugh. “What other man? My husband and I have been married for three years.”
“Max, you didn’t really think I was waiting for you this whole time, did you?”
Max yelled at me and glared at me, “You think I’ll believe your excuses?”
“Tell me which guy you’ve been sleeping with! I’ll make you both feel bad about it!”
When he pulled on my arm, it made a cracking sound that hurt me.
Vivian, my mother-in-law, heard the noise and came outside. When she saw a strange man grabbing my arm, she ran to help me.
“Who are you?” Let her go right now!”
Max thought the older woman who looked like a normal person was our housekeeper, so he pushed her to the ground. “Old lady, this is between me and her.” Don’t get involved!”
I yelled, “Mom!” when I saw Vivian lose her balance and fall. Are you all right?”
Max stopped moving when he heard me call her “Mom.” Then, as he held my arm even tighter, the anger in his eyes seemed to be about to explode.
“Mom? Is that your mother-in-law? I thought you were doing better for yourself!
“Your new man doesn’t seem like he’s worth much, judging by how bad her dresses are.”
He squeezed my arm hard enough to leave a purple bruise, and I cried.
“Have you lost your mind? You left me alone for three years without saying anything, and now you come back!”
“Remember, we weren’t even married when you left because we didn’t have the ceremony!””Hey!”
Max stopped at my words and then started to pull me towards the door.
“Everyone knows that our families set up our marriage. You can’t just say we weren’t married!
“This villa is my family’s. You moved in with your boy toy and now you’re talking back to me? You have some nerve!”
Max pulled me from the villa complex to the intersection, stopping only at the busiest spot where everyone could see.
“Elena, you found another man while I was away. How could you do that?
“This villa belongs to me. Get out right away and pay me five million dollars in back rent!
“Otherwise, I’ll ruin your family’s and your own reputation!”
I saw a familiar face in the crowd: Max’s first love, the woman he had run away with. She smiled at me with a smug look on her face and hate in her eyes.
I was able to smile a little.
Max had already made me look bad when he left, and now he was back to make me look bad again.
I married Max to save my family’s business, thinking that our marriage would save the company.
However, my family’s business never got the money it needed to stay open until he left, and it eventually had to file for bankruptcy.
The rich people who lived next door to Max in the villa complex had heard his accusations and already believed most of what he said. “Of course this woman doesn’t come out much; she’s been hiding a lover in that villa!”
“I thought she was rich, but she’s just using some guy’s money. What a little tramp!”
At that moment, my mother-in-law came out limping, holding her back and glaring angrily at Max.
“Let go of her hand right now! You’ll be sorry when my son gets back!”
“Don’t be scared, Elena. Mom will keep you safe.
When Max heard this, he wasn’t scared at all. Instead, he dragged me along the ground, making me slide slowly.
“You old hag, do you dare to threaten me? It doesn’t matter who you think you are; you’re still living in MY villa. Get out and pack your things!”
The little rocks on the ground cut into my legs and left two trails of blood behind me.
“Max, this is my villa!” Ask your parents what really happened back then when you get home!
“Let me go, or I’ll kill you!”