They didn't spare her another glance. Damson and Bella walked past her, Damson carrying Bella's suitcase.
Maya's fingers tightened around the house keys. She didn't want to jump to conclusions just yet.
She sighed and forced herself to look at them. Maybe it's his colleague… maybe they're just friends, thoughts rushed through her mind, desperate to make sense of what she was seeing.
Her eyes lingered on both of them, her heart pacing painfully as she silently waited for an explanation.
Bella scoffed, her eyes sweeping across the apartment. "Was this your idea, Damson?"
Damson nodded, a cold smile tugging at his lips. "Yes. If she sees you here as my wife, she'll leave on her own… without anyone having to force her."
Bella smirked and leaned in. They kissed right there, in front of Maya.
Maya lost it.
Her heart pounded so violently she felt it in her throat. The scene was unbearable. Watching her husband kiss another woman in the house she had worked so hard to pay for… it was too much.
Tears stung her eyes, but she swallowed them down.
Desperate, she rushed toward Damson, her hands flailing as she tried to communicate. She signed frantically, her movements sharp, and even tried making sounds, hoping he would understand.
Bella glanced at Damson and laughed, a cold, cruel sound. "Wow… this is entertaining. Is this what they call deaf threats?"
They both laughed. "You're so funny, honey!" Damson sneered.
Maya's chest tightened. Maybe they didn't understand her… but seeing them laugh at her, seeing the cruel enjoyment on their faces, made her feel a mix of heartbreak and anger she couldn't hold back.
She grabbed her phone and typed furiously, showing Damson the screen.
"Who is she, and why are you kissing her?"
Damson scoffed, not even looking guilty. He pulled out his own phone and typed back.
"Because she's the one I love. Why wouldn't I kiss her?"
Maya froze as her eyes read the words. Her hands shook.
Bella scoffed, rolling her eyes.
Maya's fingers trembled as she typed again:
"Damson, why are you doing this to me?"
Her head sweated, her face pale, her breaths quick.
"After everything I have done for you! I pay for this house… and you bring another woman here? Is that how you repay me?"
She held out her phone, letting him read the words with trembling hands.
Damson's face darkened, anger flashing in his eyes.
Bella smirked, tilting her head. "How much is that, anyway?" she said casually. "I'll refund it."
Damson smirked at her words.
Maya felt a flicker of confusion, but then she read what he typed for her. Her chest tightened.
If you don't want to leave, then file for a divorce and go. The money you paid will be returned to you.
Maya froze. The words struck her like a physical blow. She stumbled, reaching for a nearby chair to steady herself, trying to process everything at once.
Then he typed another line:
And please… don't try to come to my room. It's mine and Bella's. Sleep in the guest room.
Her eyes widened. Her heart felt like it was cracking. The pain she had been carrying the trust, the hope was shredded before her eyes.
Damson slipped his phone back into his trousers, satisfaction clear on his face. He was sure Maya would file for divorce, finally leaving him after everything he and Bella had done.
He lifted Bella's suitcase with ease, and the two of them disappeared upstairs, laughing hand in hand.
Maya sank to the floor, the chair rattling behind her. She felt weak, every muscle heavy with despair. Slowly, tears began to roll down her cheeks.
Is this… what I've worked for, Damson? she thought silently. I've worked day and night to support us… even when your job paid less. I've covered almost all the bills. Is this what I get?
Her sobs caught in her throat, silent but no less real.
Even if she wanted to leave, she had nowhere to go. The savings she had were tied up in the house she had paid for. Filing for divorce wasn't just impossible emotionally it was a process that needed money she didn't have.
Maya curled herself into the chair, her body trembling. She had been betrayed, humiliated, and left alone in a home that should have been hers too.
And she didn't want her child to grow up alone, without a father.
Moments later, Maya finally stopped crying. She let out a long, shuddering sigh and made up her mind. If she wanted a better solution, she had to rest first she wasn't even feeling well.
She found her clothes tossed outside their room. The door was now closed. She bent over in pain, picking them up one by one, each movement heavy with exhaustion and heartbreak.
Finally, she made her way to the guest room. By now, her tears had dried, leaving only a faint trace of sorrow on her pale cheeks.
She slowly laid down on the unfamiliar bed. The sheets smelled faintly of strangers, but her body was too tired to care. Sleep claimed her almost immediately. She decided to rest first, to gather strength before planning her next move.
Moments later, she woke to a splash of cold water across her face.
She sat up quickly, startled, and tried to see what was happening.
Her eyes widened in disbelief. Bella stood there, grinning, with a cup of water .