For twenty years, I had existed like a shadow in my own home—the wife no one noticed, the mother no one seemed to see. So when I spotted a beautifully frosted cake on the kitchen counter this morning—my 45th birthday—my chest skipped a beat. Maybe, finally, someone had remembered me.
My hands shook as I reached for the knife. I sliced a piece carefully, lifting it toward my mouth, when a sharp, commanding voice shattered the morning quiet.
“Cassandra! What do you think you’re doing?” Adrian barked, striding into the room.
I froze, my heart hammering, as he closed the distance and yanked the plate from my hands as if I’d committed a grave offense. “Tell me, why are you touching that?”
“I… I thought it was for me,” I whispered, my throat tight.
His eyes narrowed, disbelief etched across his face. “That’s for Bianca. It’s her birthday today. Didn’t you think to ask first? It’s her favorite—limited edition from downtown.”
The knife hovered in my hand as I whispered, almost to myself, “It’s… my birthday too.”
Once, I had cherished sharing a birthday with Bianca, my best friend. We would laugh over cakes and candles, celebrating each year together. But now… I despised it. Everyone remembered Bianca. Everyone celebrated her. Even my own family forgot I existed.
Adrian scoffed. “And what do you expect me to do? You don’t even deserve a celebration.”
His words cut sharper than any knife. I swallowed the sting, and then a memory surfaced—a promise he made years ago. Maybe, just maybe, it wasn’t too late. This mattered far more than a cake.
“I’m 45 now,” I said softly, meeting his eyes. “Maybe… maybe you could finally keep your promise. The one from when we married. The trip to Finland… to see the aurora borealis.”
He laughed. A harsh, almost mocking laugh. “Finland? And where do you expect the money to come from? Can you even survive the cold with your constant illnesses?”
I clenched my fists. I had been sick—persistent migraines, fatigue, stomach problems. The doctors said it was stress-related. Stress from running a house that seemed to function just fine without me.
“I’m sick because I’m always chasing after everyone in this family,” I said quietly. “And nobody ever helps.”
His arms crossed. “So now it’s my fault? Your body failing you? Cassandra, you chose this life. You could have done better—like Bianca. She’s out there seeing the world while you’re stuck here.”
“But you promised,” I whispered, voice trembling.
“I don’t care what I promised! That was ages ago! Forget it,” he snapped. “And just stop talking already.”
He glared at me, then at the cake as though I were some filthy insect. “You’ve eaten the first slice? Replace it.” He shoved the remaining cake into my chest; frosting and crumbs tumbled down my blouse and onto the floor.
“Don’t even think about coming back unless it’s the same cake,” he ordered, storming out.
I stood frozen, frosting smeared across me, the house eerily silent.
Then the soft patter of small feet broke through the quiet. Julian, my five-year-old grandson, raced across the living room, scattering toys and knocking over a glass of water that spilled across the floor.
“Julian! Stop it! Why do you always ruin everything?” My voice cracked, sharp and brittle.
He froze, tears springing immediately.
Sofia, my daughter, appeared moments later. “What’s going on now?”
“He spilled the water! Again! I told him to stop—” I gestured helplessly at the mess.
“So?” she snapped. “He’s a kid. You clean it. Stop yelling at him like that.”
“I’m exhausted, Sofia,” I said, my throat raw. “I clean this house every single day. I’m not your maid. I’m your mother.”
She rolled her eyes. “Sure, and you’re also jobless, living here rent-free. So maybe you should be the maid. Better you than hiring one.”
Julian clung to her leg, still wailing, then shot me a venomous glare. “You’re ugly! You’re weak! I hate you! You’re not like Aunt Bianca! I want Aunt Bianca! You’re horrible!”
My chest tightened. Even my grandson preferred Bianca. Was I even wanted here?
Sofia smirked, satisfied. “See? Even he hates you. Maybe try being more like Aunt Bianca.”
She scooped Julian up and left, leaving me alone amidst the wreckage of cake, tears, and water.
That night, I perched on the edge of my bed, the ache in my body deeper than any illness could explain. My hands cracked from constant scrubbing; my back ached from carrying a family that hadn’t noticed me in years.
They didn’t remember my birthday. They didn’t care about my dreams. They only saw me when I failed to serve.
I was invisible.
And I had reached my limit.
I picked up my phone, scrolling to the bookmarked travel agency number I had saved all those years ago.
A cheerful voice answered. “Good evening! How may I help you?”
I inhaled deeply, my voice steady, resolute, and for the first time in years, full of purpose.
“I want to book a trip to Finland,” I said. “Just me.”
I barely got a wink of sleep that night. Every joint in my body ached, my eyes burned from exhaustion, and a dull pain throbbed along my spine after spending endless hours in the kitchen trying to recreate the cake Adrian demanded. I had scoured every bakery and shop downtown, desperate to find that limited-edition cake he wanted for Bianca. But every place told me the same thing—it was sold out. No luck anywhere.
So, for the first time in years, I did it myself. I baked it.
Once upon a time, I was a pastry artist—one people actually admired. I’d trained under the best, perfected my craft, and made desserts people lined up for. I used to have ambitions, goals, a future that was mine. But I walked away from all of it. Adrian told me it would be better this way—that we’d save money, that he’d handle everything, that I didn’t need to work. And I believed every word.
Now, here I was—utterly spent—standing in my dim, cold kitchen as dawn crept in through the window. The cake sat on the counter, cooling, the last fragment of my effort and pride still unbroken. My stomach twisted painfully, reminding me I hadn’t eaten since the morning before.
I slumped onto the old sofa, ready to rest for even a moment, when a sudden wave of burning pain seared across my arm. I screamed, instinctively clutching at my skin.
Scalding milk.
I looked over and saw Julian, my five-year-old grandson, clutching an overturned bottle, milk dripping from its edge. His lips curved into a defiant pout. “Make me food!” he demanded. “You’re supposed to, you’re the maid!”
Still gasping from the burn, I forced my voice to stay even. “Julian, where’s your mother?”
“She’s busy,” he grumbled, stomping one tiny foot. “I said I want you!”
I swallowed my frustration. I was hungry, sore, and weak, but I rose anyway and trudged to the kitchen. Anything to avoid another shouting match.
And that’s when I saw them.
Adrian. Sofia. Bianca. Even Sofia’s husband. All sitting at the breakfast table, laughing, plates clinking, sunlight spilling on their cheerful faces like some perfect picture of family bliss. Bianca looked radiant, her curls bouncing as she smiled, her face painted in soft glamour. She wore a pastel blue designer dress I recognized from an upscale boutique downtown.
“Cassandra, dear,” Bianca said sweetly, pretending concern. “You look awful. Maybe you should rest.”
Before I could respond, Adrian chuckled without looking up. “Oh, she’s always like that. Always looks half-dead.”
Bianca giggled behind her hand, and no one spoke for me.
Then Adrian said, “By the way, where’s the cake I bought? The one for Bianca?”
Bianca blinked in surprise. “Wait—you bought me a cake?”
Adrian straightened proudly. “Of course. A special limited edition one from downtown. Took me hours to get it.”
They all looked at me expectantly. My hands trembled as I stepped forward with the cake I had baked overnight. My heart pounded hard enough to hurt.
“I made it,” I said quietly. “I couldn’t find the one you wanted, so I baked it myself.”
I started walking toward them, each step heavy, doing my best not to cry. But when I reached the center of the room, Bianca shifted slightly, that same sugary smile frozen on her lips, and extended her foot ever so slightly.
My heel caught on it.
I stumbled forward, my hands flying, the cake slipping from my grasp. Time slowed—the cake spun midair before crashing directly onto Bianca’s pristine designer dress.
The sound of her shriek sliced through the air. “My dress!”
Adrian bolted up, fury twisting his face. “What the hell did you do now?!”
“I—I didn’t mean—”
But before I could finish, his hand grabbed a fistful of my hair and yanked hard, sending pain shooting through my scalp.
“This dress costs more than everything you own combined!” he shouted. “You can’t even walk straight anymore? You’re useless!”
“I swear it was an accident—”
“SHUT UP!” he bellowed. “Do you even realize how much this costs? Can you afford it? You can’t even take care of yourself! You ruin everything you touch!”
Bianca lifted a hand, pretending to intervene. “It’s fine, Adrian. She probably just slipped.”
“I don’t care!” he snapped. “She’s careless because she doesn’t know what hard work means.” Then he jabbed a finger toward the floor. “Eat it.”
My mind blanked. “What…?”
He sneered. “Eat the damn cake off the floor, Cassandra. Or would you rather waste more money that you didn’t earn? Don’t forget—you don’t pay for anything here.”
Sofia crossed her arms, her voice dripping with disdain. “This is exactly why we can’t have anything nice. You’re embarrassing, Mom. Honestly, I wish Bianca was my mother instead.”
Bianca pressed her hand to her chest in fake pity. “Oh, Sofia, don’t say that. She’s trying her best.” But as she leaned closer to me, she whispered, “No one wants you here anymore. Maybe take the hint.”
I felt my hands curl into fists. “I’m not eating that,” I said softly, my voice trembling but firm.
Adrian exhaled sharply. “Then clean it up. And stay out of my sight for the rest of the day.”
“Let’s just go celebrate somewhere else,” Sofia said, grabbing her purse with a smirk. “Without her.”
“Good idea,” Adrian muttered. “She’s not part of this family anyway.”
Their laughter echoed through the hallway as they left.
I sank to the floor, scooping up pieces of cake with my bare hands, tears spilling freely. The frosting smeared across the tiles, and my sobs filled the empty room.
All these years. All that effort. For what?
Once, I had been someone. Before Adrian, I was Cassandra DeVere—the daughter of Ricardo DeVere, a hotel magnate. The sole heir to a fortune. I had choices. Power. A bright future.
But I gave it all up for love.
I told my father I didn’t need his money—I wanted a simple life. A home. A family built from affection, not wealth. I defied him. Walked away. Burned the bridges behind me.
And now, all I had become was a live-in servant. A burden. A ghost that wandered the corners of her own home.
With trembling fingers still sticky from frosting, I reached for my phone and scrolled through my contacts until I found the number I hadn’t dialed in two decades.
My chest tightened as I pressed Call.
One ring.
Two.
Then a voice—deep, steady, achingly familiar. “Hello?”
For a moment, my throat locked. Then, finally, I managed to whisper, “Dad… it’s me. Cassandra. I’m sorry—for everything. For leaving. For shutting you out. But… can I come home?”
Silence.
“I don’t have anything left here,” I murmured. “Please… just let me come home.”
The notification arrived just as the first light of morning crept through my window.
“Dear Ms. Trinidad Dela Torre, this is to confirm your one-way flight to Finland on June 20. We are thrilled to have you aboard. Your father has arranged all the details and eagerly awaits your reunion.”
For a moment, I couldn’t draw a single breath. My eyes clung to the screen, rereading the words over and over, as though doing so might somehow rewrite reality. But the message didn’t change. My father had truly arranged everything. At last… he had accepted me back.
I wrapped my arms around myself, forcing back the surge of emotion threatening to spill over. Finland. In just five days. It felt as if the universe had cracked open a small, gleaming door—one last chance to reclaim the version of myself I had long buried. The illness that plagued me for years—both in body and soul—no longer mattered.
Five days. I could endure five days.
“I can survive this,” I whispered to the empty room. “Just five days.”
I told myself I would behave. I’d prepare their meals with care, clean, make sure everything was perfect. I would leave the house in immaculate order, like a polite ghost—silent, unnoticed, forgotten.
The thought almost made me laugh.
I was still leaning by the window when a sharp knock rattled the door. Impatient.
I opened the gate to see a delivery man with an oversized cap shading his eyes, holding a medium-sized box.
“Package for Dela Torre?” he asked, tilting his head.
I nodded.
“No sender listed. Just… enjoy your trip?” He shrugged, handing me the parcel.
The box felt firm in my hands, surprisingly light yet solid, perfectly sealed. Something about it thrummed beneath my fingers.
Inside, I discovered five glossy travel pouches—first-class plane tickets, hotel confirmations, thick winter coats still scented of newness, and detailed itinerary booklets. Each piece was labeled clearly: Helsinki. Aurora Borealis. December Sky Tour. For five guests.
My knees weakened. Five tickets. The dream I’d clung to in secret, the fantasy of snow and foreign skies, shimmering auroras, and quiet forests—it was suddenly real, tangible in my hands.
I lifted one of the coats, feeling its soft lining. My size.
Had Adrian… done this?
He had humiliated me countless times before, lashing out and then softening with gifts, indulgent apologies wrapped in gold paper. Perhaps this was another attempt at amends. He knew how desperately I had longed to see the Northern Lights.
A fragile, dangerous spark ignited in my chest: hope.
And then the door opened.
Adrian. His stride faltered when he noticed me holding the box.
“What the hell is that?” he barked, eyes narrowing.
I turned slowly, clutching one of the tickets. “I… I saw the delivery. I didn’t know you were planning something. But… thank you, Adrian. Truly. I’m not angry anymore. You got me the Finland trip I’ve always wanted.”
He blinked, then let out a scoff, striding forward to snatch the ticket from my hands.
“Who said these are for you?”
My stomach dropped. “But… there are five tickets—”
“They’re for Bianca and me. Sofia and her family. Business. Enjoy your stay at home.”
I forced a weak smile, trying to reason with him. “But… I could come too. Maybe just help out—”
He laughed, sharp and cruel, cutting through me like glass. “Why would you even go? What could you possibly do there, Cassandra? Negotiate with CEOs? You can’t even manage online banking.”
I opened my mouth, but only hollow air came out.
Adrian sneered. “We need someone to manage the house anyway. You’re good for nothing else.”
And there it was—the final thread of patience inside me snapped.
The stairs creaked.
“What’s going on?” Sofia asked, barely lifting her gaze from her phone.
“She saw the tickets,” Adrian muttered.
“Oh, those? That’s my gift for Aunt Bianca. I arranged it weeks ago.”
Gift. My ears burned.
What about me? After decades of giving, all I received was silence, scorn, and a title no one respected.
“And you,” Sofia added, “can you handle this checklist? We’re taking all of this to Finland. Don’t screw it up.”
She left as abruptly as she arrived. I remained, swallowing bitterness and forcing back tears.
Adrian’s phone buzzed. I started to retreat, but his words stopped me.
“Hey, baby,” he said casually. “Yeah, she saw it. Don’t worry. Everything’s fine. I’ll keep her occupied… I can’t wait to see the aurora with you.”
That was all.
I walked away before he could see the way I crumpled inward, jaw clenched, hands trembling. I had never felt so replaced in my life—not loved, not acknowledged, barely existing.
That night, I didn’t cry.
I packed their clothes meticulously. Ironed Bianca’s coats. Checked off every item on their precious list. Not for them, but to ensure they couldn’t accuse me of leaving chaos behind.
The next morning, I dressed deliberately. A beige blouse, slacks untouched for years, my old brown handbag. A subtle swipe of lipstick. The routine restored a shard of control.
I walked to the lawyer’s office alone.
The waiting room was silent. The receptionist offered tea. I declined. When my turn came, I sat across from a young man in a dark suit.
“I want a divorce,” I said firmly. “And to sever every tie with the Dela Torre family.”
The grocery bags dug into my wrists, the thin plastic biting against my skin as I tried not to drop anything. The dry-cleaning bag kept slipping off my fingers, and I had to juggle between the frozen meat and the imported facial masks Bianca demanded. Behind me, the freshly pressed coats swung like silent ghosts on hangers. The taxi sped off before I could even reach for my wallet.
By the time I pushed open the front gate, the sun was already sinking low, washing the garden in orange light. I slipped inside quietly, the way I always did. It didn’t really matter—no one ever noticed when I came home—but silence made me feel less intrusive.
Bianca’s voice was the first thing I heard. She sat sprawled on the couch like a queen, legs propped up on a velvet ottoman, dark shades shielding her eyes as a nail technician shaped her toes to perfection.
“Oh, at last!” she announced theatrically. “The maid has returned from her noble errands.”
I didn’t answer. I just went straight to the kitchen, unloaded the bags, and began sorting through them. Frozen meat. Vegetables. Skin masks. I arranged everything mechanically, focusing on the small order it brought.
Her voice trailed in again, sickly sweet and sharp at once.
“So, what’s on tonight’s menu, dear servant—sorry, I mean best friend?”
I didn’t look up. Didn’t even blink.
“Are we doing the silent treatment now?” she pressed. “That’s brave of you. Considering how easily Adrian gets upset when I so much as mention your name.”
I tightened my grip on the knife. The onion’s sting was nothing compared to hers.
Finally, I muttered, “What do you want from me, Bianca? Haven’t you taken enough?”
All that was mine—every bit of love, comfort, and recognition—had been replaced by her laughter echoing through my walls.
She smiled faintly, almost tenderly. “Not enough,” she said. “Because I want you gone.”
For a moment, it was as if the air itself stopped.
I stared at her—not the childhood friend I once trusted, not the girl who shared secrets and silly dreams with me—but a stranger wearing her face, her voice, her perfume. Someone who had slipped into my life like a thief and now wanted to erase the last trace of me.
“You were my friend,” I said quietly, voice trembling at the edges. “And you betrayed me.”
I didn’t wait for her answer. I turned and walked away, one slow step at a time. No slamming doors, no tears. Just a long climb up the stairs that felt heavier with each breath. When I reached my room, I locked the door, laid down on the bed without even changing, and stared at the ceiling until the daylight faded.
Then came Adrian.
He didn’t knock—he never did. The door flew open, the sound hitting harder than any word.
“What did you say to Bianca?” he demanded.
My head turned sluggishly. “What are you talking about?”
“She’s refusing to go to Finland now. Says you made her feel guilty, that she doesn’t deserve the trip. Did you say something to her?”
“Of course not,” I replied, pushing myself upright. “She provoked me, as usual. I didn’t even respond.”
He laughed bitterly. “You always twist things, don’t you? You’re jealous.”
“Jealous?” I repeated, a strange calm settling over me. “Adrian, I’m your wife. And yet you’ve been choosing her—again and again—like I’m nothing but air. You expect me to smile while you take her on the trip I dreamed of my whole life?”
His expression darkened. The blow came fast.
It wasn’t the first time—but it was the last one that truly registered. His palm connected with my face so hard I tasted blood. My head snapped sideways, but I stayed standing.
“Don’t you dare talk back to me!” he thundered. “You’re pathetic.”
I kept my eyes shut.
“If I could redo my life,” he hissed, “I’d never have married you. Ever.”
The words didn’t hurt as much as they should have. Maybe because they were the truth I’d been pretending not to know.
He wasn’t finished. “Bianca didn’t want to settle then, so I chose you. My biggest mistake. You’ve always been second best—no charm, no passion, no ambition. You’ll always be her shadow.”
This time, I didn’t defend myself. I just listened.
It hit me—he had never loved me. I was simply convenient. Temporary. A substitute for someone he couldn’t have. And he had punished me for it every day since.
He leaned in close, his voice cold. “If you ever hurt Bianca again, you’re out of this house. Understand?”
He slammed the door behind him, leaving silence in his wake.
I raised a trembling hand to my cheek. My skin burned, but my heart didn’t. Not anymore.
I met my reflection in the mirror—swollen face, tired eyes—but for the first time, I didn’t see a victim. I saw someone finally ready to vanish on her own terms.
“I’ll leave before you can throw me away,” I whispered.
That night, I stayed upstairs. No dinner. No chores. No apologies. Just me, a flickering candle, and the sound of wind slipping through the curtains.
When the flame finally died, my phone vibrated. A single message appeared on the screen:
“Ms. Trinidad Dela Torre, your divorce has been finalized and recorded. You are now legally free.”
I read it twice, then smiled faintly. My voice came out steadier than I expected.
“You’ll all regret this,” I murmured. “Every last one of you.”
And for the first time in years, I actually meant it.
The following morning, I tore through every corner of the house like I was exorcising ghosts. I opened drawers that hadn’t been touched in years, dug into boxes coated in dust, and emptied the shelves one by one. Inside were relics of a life I no longer wanted—tarnished jewelry, faded receipts from hollow anniversaries, letters yellowed with pretense, bottles of perfume long gone stale. All the gifts he’d ever given me sat in a pile: shoes that never fit, necklaces with lazy engravings, cheap scents pretending to be luxury.
One after another, I threw them away.
Last came the wedding album—Bianca’s masterpiece, complete with gold-trimmed pages and captions written in that perfect cursive she bragged about. I held it for a moment, thumb tracing the glossy photo of our smiles. Then Adrian’s words echoed in my head—you’re nothing—and I remembered Bianca’s triumphant grin as she slipped her hand around his arm.
I walked out to the backyard, tossed the album into a metal drum, and struck a match.
The flames swallowed our memories like they’d been waiting to be set free.
Adrian didn’t notice. He was outside with Bianca, laughing too loudly, their glasses of wine glinting in the sunlight as though we weren’t buried in debt. Their voices drifted through the window—talking about Finland, fur coats, and Bianca’s dream of staying at an ice hotel she saw online. The house buzzed with excitement that didn’t belong to me.
Even Julian, the boy I’d once fed when everyone else forgot him, muttered as I handed him a drink, “You shouldn’t be here.”
I didn’t bother responding. I simply stirred the pot, arranged the table, folded the napkins, and made sure everything was perfect. Bianca’s steak, pink in the center. Her espresso reheated to her exact liking. One last meal—my quiet farewell.
Not a single “thank you.”
After the dishes were cleared, Adrian entered the kitchen alone. It startled me. He never came without her. In his hand was an ice pack.
“Here,” he said gently, his tone dripping with false remorse. “For your back. I didn’t mean to hurt you. I just didn’t want you acting out of jealousy.”
I stared at him. That word—jealousy—was almost laughable.
He gave me a small, self-satisfied smile. “Don’t worry, I’ll bring you a souvenir from Finland. Maybe a keychain.”
A keychain. That was all I was worth to him now.
He looked around absently. “Just double-check our stuff before we leave—chargers, winter coats, Bianca’s pills, and her backup heels.”
My voice came out steady. “Everything’s already taken care of.”
“Good,” he said, giving my arm a light pat. “We’ll see you when we’re back.”
He turned to leave.
“Bianca!” he called. “We’re going to be late!”
She emerged in a swirl of perfume and arrogance, slipping on her coat like royalty about to board her private jet.
“Oh, Cassandra,” she said sweetly, that fake pity curling her lips. “Don’t worry, I’ll bring you something nice. Maybe those fancy chocolates you love.”
Sofia’s laughter cut through the room. “Don’t, Aunt Bianca. She can’t even afford them herself.”
I forced a smile that didn’t reach my eyes. I said nothing. Just watched as they gathered their things, shouting over one another, Julian darting past without so much as a goodbye. Bianca threw her suitcase into the car, Adrian barked orders like a general, and then—finally—they were gone.
The moment the SUV disappeared past the gate, the world shifted. The silence was thick, freeing.
I exhaled for the first time in years.
Without wasting a minute, I dragged out the small boxes hidden beneath my bed. My escape had been planned in pieces, waiting for this exact moment. I packed what mattered—legal documents, old photographs of my parents, a few worn notebooks, clothes, and my passport. Fragments of me that were still mine.
I changed the locks. Reset the passcodes. Closed every shutter.
Then I laid the divorce papers on the dining table where he couldn’t miss them. They bore the city’s official seal—final and undeniable. I slipped off my wedding ring and placed it right on top.
Beside it, I set the chocolate cake I’d baked that morning.
The frosting read, in bright red icing: “Happy Divorce, My Husband.”
I wheeled my suitcase out the front door without glancing back.
The limousine arrived exactly on schedule. The driver greeted me politely, took my luggage, and opened the door with a nod. I slid inside, the leather seat cool beneath me.
As the car rolled away, I stared out the window at the house that had once felt like my world. Now it was nothing but a monument to every betrayal I’d survived.
Halfway to the airport, my phone buzzed.
A message from Adrian.
Adrian: Don’t leave the house. If you go without telling me, I swear you’ll regret it. Don’t make me punish you. Be a good dog.
My stomach tightened. Before I could even process, another text followed.
Adrian: Where’s Bianca’s scarf? You forgot to pack it. She’s furious. Bring it to the airport. Now.
I looked at the words like they were shackles—commands I’d once obeyed without thinking.
This time, I typed back.
“I’m not bringing you anything. I’m not your servant. If you regret marrying me, then I regret wasting my life on you. Goodbye.”
I hit send. Then I blocked the number, pulled the SIM card from my phone, and tossed it out the window.
By the time the car neared the airport, the horizon had turned soft and pink, the sky unfolding like a promise.
And for the first time in years, I smiled—
because this time, it wasn’t the end.
It was the beginning.
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