Chapter 2: Photos of Memories

…To her that was enough. It was enough that he cared for her, and he wouldn’t hurt her.  Every small details like that was precious to her. Precious memories she kept locked inside of her heart.

Joshua shook his leg free of her. Emily let go of his pants. He straightened himself as his pants was wrinkled from her gripped. He looked as if he was disgusted with her touch. 

Emily sat there on the ground with tears glistering on her face. She thought that even if he didn’t sleep with her, as long as she was able to stay next to him, it was fine. Even if-Even if she’s the only one who loves him than that’s all that counted. As long as she can still tend to his everyday needs, she is happy. She’s content with their life. 

For a woman’s first love it is their hardest one to let go. To fall in love at first sight is even harder to forget. For that person is forever imprinted in their heart. Even their faces will be the hardest for you to forget. 

Emily wept into her unbroken hand. “How is she ever going to forget his handsome face? How is she ever going to let him go? How could she move on?” she thought. “Why is it so hard to let go of someone whom you fell in love with at first sight,” she continued to think.

“Tsk,” Joshua harshly scoffed at her. He looked away from Emily. He hated hearing her crying.

“Humph! You heard my son,” said Vicky. She was descending from the stairs. She’s Evan’s mom. She’s in her mid-fifties. She’s a cruel and mean woman. She didn’t like Emily, thus making Joshua loathe her. She hated that Emily was a poor woman with a poor background. She was nothing but a country woman who got lucky with a scholarship that got into a good high school with Joshua. She wasn’t the cutest or the most beautiful woman either. She didn’t feel like Emily matched her handsome son.

Vicky Newsom MacClare was proud of her son. Joshua MacClare.

Joshua was a smart, talented, and handsome man. He was three years older than Emily. He had brown hair with light brown eyes. He was well built and very tall and lean.

“Now, get the documents signed and get out of here,” said Vicky.

Emily shook her head. “No. I won’t do it.”

Emily refused to sign the divorce paperwork. She didn’t want to give up. She have come so far. She even wedded him. Taking in his last name. 

“Get up and signed that paper!” shouted Vicky.

Emily wiped her tears. “How could this happen?” she thought.

Joshua grabbed her by her arm and pulled her to the seat.

“Ouch. Joshua, you’re hurting me,” said Emily.

Joshua frowned at her. “What?” he asked in an irritated voice.

“My wrist, I think it’s broken.”

“Ha. Good job on faking another injury,” said Vicky.

Joshua’s eyebrows twitched and without showing any kindness he tossed her on the chair.

“Ow,” yelped Emily. She landed in the chair with a loud bang. She was crying and gasping for air. She couldn’t believe that he was treating her like this. After their three years of marriage, he was treating her like she was garbage to him.

Joshua’s eyes didn’t change. He was still looking at her with anger.

Emily grabbed onto her left hand. She held it was it was aching painfully.

“Stop pretending. We all know how well you lie about your “so call” pitiful injuries,” said Vicky, sneering evilly over her son’s shoulder.

Emily looked at Joshua and said, “I’m not lying.”

Joshua didn’t budge.

“You’re a liar and that’s what you always will be. If you didn’t lie about drugging Joshua than we wouldn’t be in this situation!”

“I did not lie!” retorted Emily.

“Don’t you dare shout at my mother!” exclaimed Joshua.

Emily backed down immediately.

Joshua grabbed her arms and pulled her to him, “I have seen the tape. I have seen how you came into my room. I saw how you were after me.”

Emily shook her head in denial.

“Don’t you dare lie to me!” shouted Joshua.

“I didn’t. I’m not lying either.”

Joshua squeezed her arms tightly. “How much longer are you going to keep denying it.”

Emily squeezed her eyes tightly shut.

Joshua shook her in his arms and said, “It’s all your doing. All your planning. The birthday party, the drinking, the drugs!”

Emily opened up her eyes and said, “Yes. It was my birthday, it was the alcohol that I provided, but I didn’t provide the drugs.”

“Lies! All lies!” panted Joshua, breathing hard against her cheek.

“For the last time I’m not-”

Joshua grabbed her injured wrist and gripped it hard.

Emily let out a small cry.

“You got me so f*cked up that night that I went into your room. You took advantage of the situation.” Joshua tightened his hold on her hand. “You were the one who came onto me. You lied that I took you.” Joshua moved in closer to her face. “Thus, causing my grandfather to hate me, and forcing me to marry you!”

Emily stuttered and said, “Joshua, I really don’t know what happened that night. You know that as well as I do.”

“But you didn’t say that. You said that I took advantage of you.”

“But-But you did.”

“Ha,” laughed Joshua.

Their faces were so close to each other now that they were almost touching each other.

“As I so clearly remember it, you enjoyed it,” said Joshua, with his devious smile.

Emily frowned at him and said, “So did you.”

Joshua’s eyebrows narrowed at her words. He loosened his hold on her and let her go.

Butler Shawn brought out his pens.

“Now, hurry up and stop delaying.” He turned his head towards her and continued saying, “Don’t make me force you.”

Emily’s breathing quickened. “How could-How could you do this to me? When all I did was love you. All I ever wanted to do was be with you. Show you my undying love. Care for you. Tend to your every needs,” whispered Emily.

“All you want is my family’s fortune. That is something you will never have.”

“What?” gasped Emily.

“Don’t think I don’t know what you’re doing. You’re a poor and broken woman. From the countryside with nothing in your name. You only seek me out for so many years because you want my fame and fortune.”

Emily chuckled at his words.

“Fame and fortune?” she thought.

“Stop trying to act innocent when we already found out your true intentions.”

“True intentions?” questioned Emily. “What intentions.”

“Ha. Still pretending,” said Vicky.

“I’m not-”

“We have proof,” said Joshua.

“What proof?” asked Emily.

“Show her,” said Joshua, ushering to his butler Shawn.

Butler Shawn nodded. He took out a stack of photos and papers.

Emily stared at them.

“Take a look,” said Joshua.

Emily frowned at him.

“I got all the evidence that you set me up that night. Along with your attempt to steal my family’s fortune. Also…” Joshua paused.

Emily tilted her head as she listened to him finishing his words. “You’re infidelity.”

“What!” exclaimed Emily.

Joshua looked at her with annoyance. “Stop pretending! Stop lying! Stop with your everything! I hate it!”

Emily shook her head. Joshua clenched his fist as he was tired of her lies. He grabbed her and walked her over to the table. He grabbed some of the photos and shoved it into her face.

“See what I found out about you! You and all of you!”

Emily shook her head free from the photos that he was pushing into her face.”

Joshua gripped her face and tilted her towards him. “Your little act of innocence isn’t going to work this time.”

Emily held still in his hand.

“Your lies are over!”

Tears were forming again in the back of her head. Emily was lost with words.

“Now, I want you to see everything that I had to look at for the past three years! Three years of my miserable life, I have to watch you cheat, lie, and steal from me!” shouted Joshua.

Emily’s eyes widened. “Cheat? Lie? Steal? What is he talking about,” she thought.

Joshua edged to where his forehead was touching her. “Now, listen carefully, as I won’t say it again.”

Emily could feel his anger bubbling through his gritted teeth. If she doesn’t listen to him, he might hurt her, or worst hit her. She nodded her head in fear.

“Now looked through each and every one of them.”

“O-Okay,” stuttered Emily.

Joshua pushed her into the chair and shoved the evidence to her.

Emily looked at the photos and papers.

Emily frowned as she saw the pictures of her in the hallway. She grabbed hold of the photos. She was going into her room. She was following Joshua. But she didn’t remember anything much about that night. All she remembered was that she was looking for her room. When she found her room Joshua was already in there. They were both drugged. They were both hot, and in need of one another. By the time they realized they were kissing and taking off each other’s clothes. They were like animals that night. They took each other to their heart’s content.