Jasmine’s Pov
Chapter 1 I Want Out
“Please… please… just help me leave. I can’t take this anymore…” My voice broke as I clutched the phone like it was my last lifeline.
“Jasmine? What’s going on? Where are you?” a worried voice came through the line.
I wiped my tears roughly with my sleeve, my voice trembling as I whispered, “I’m done. I can’t stay here anymore. I’m leaving Henry… and the kids.”
My hand fell limply, and the phone clattered onto the bed.
I looked at the mirror. The face that stared back was someone I didn’t recognize.
Bruised. Bloody. Hollow–eyed. I looked like someone who had crawled from a war zone.
And in a way… I had.
Two hours ago…
I twirled in front of the mirror, forcing a smile. The royal blue dress hugged my curves, the color complimenting my dark hair. Evelyn’s favorite color.
Thud!
Pain exploded in my head. I stumbled backward, hitting the dresser with a crash.
My trembling fingers touched my forehead. Blood.
“What the hell-”
“Nice shot, Caleb!” Cole cheered.
I blinked, dazed, as all six of them stood in a mocking line.
Clara. Caleb. Cole. Chloe. Camden, Charlotte.
My babies.
Or so I had always told myself.
But the way they glared at me now… it was like I was nothing. Less than dirt under their designer shoes.
“What did you throw at me?” I croaked, dizzy.
“A rock,” Camden smirked. “Next time, maybe we’ll aim lower.”
“You don’t belong here,” Caleb sneered, stepping forward.
Clara folded her arms. “Wearing Mom’s color won’t make you her.”
“You’re a fake,” Chloe said softly. But somehow, her soft voice hurt more than the others.
I bit my lip hard enough to taste blood. “But I raised you-”
“Shut up!” Cole barked.
They moved together. Like a well–rehearsed pack of wolves.
Before I could react, they dumped bowls of crawling ants on me.
I screamed, slapping at my arms as the ants bit into my skin, swarming into my hair, crawling down my dress.
1/40.8%
5:13 pm 535
They laughed.
A
“You witch!” Charlotte yelled. “You killed our mother!”
“You’ll pay for it,” Camden said coldly, eyes gleaming.
I fell to my knees, sobbing, the bites sharp but nothing compared to their words.
They didn’t know. They never knew.
Their mother had been my best friend. I carried them inside me. I gave them everything. And now… they looked at me like I was a monster.
“I didn’t kill her,” I choked.
“Don’t speak her name!” Caleb shouted, his face twisted with rage.
“You wanted her gone so you could take our dad,” Cole spat.
Their hatred sliced deeper than any knife.
As I cried on the floor trying to get rid of the ants that had infested my body, Chloe walked up to me with a sad face.
“This is unfair, guys, we can’t just leave her like this,” Chloe said.
“Let’s help her,” she added.
I heaved a sigh of relief, thankful that one of them was sensible enough.
I lifted a hand and extended toward her to help me stand.
“Psych!” Chloe laughed as she thrust something in my hand.
Only when I felt a painful sting did I realize she had just shoved a small beehive in
my
hand.
I let out a blood–curdling scream as the pain exploded in my brain making my vision become hazy while I struggled to get rid of the hive.
“Pathetic, she thought we wanted to help her,” the kids laughed mockingly.
“You deserve to suffer and we will make that happen as long as you’re here,” they said
venomously.
My screams attracted a maid who ran in and her eyes widened as she helped me get rid of the hive.
“What manner of wickedness is this?” she scolded the kids.
“Shut up, maid!” they hissed at her.
Charlotte stared pointedly at me, “Know your place, Jasmine, and that’s not here.”
They turned and walked out, leaving me shaking, crawling, sobbing on the floor.
“I’m sorry, Miss, do you need
“Just go,” I croaked out.
I crawled to the mirror, clutching the edge like it could hold me up while the maid left.
This wasn’t me. This couldn’t be my life. That’s when I made the call.
I didn’t pack. Didn’t take anything. Just my phone and wallet.
On the wall, Evelyn smiled back at me from a photo. Beautiful. Perfect. Untouchable.
They didn’t know she stole Henry from me.
5:13 pm 5
They didn’t know she begged me to keep the truth from them about being their mother.
They didn’t know I gave up everything for them.
I touched the frame gently. My heart breaking all over again.
“I’m sorry, Evelyn… but I can’t do this anymore.”
Footsteps echoed in the hallway.
“Jasmine?” Henry’s voice. “Where are you? The party’s starting. You need to play the piano for Grandfather.”
I said nothing.
When he pushed open the door, his eyes widened, “Jesus, Jasmine, what happened?”
Blood streaked my face, tears running freely now.
“Ask your precious kids!” I snapped.
“What… what do you mean?” he asked, surprised.
“I want a divorce, Henry,” I whispered.
5:13 pm 5
