Chapter 2
Natalie picked up her phone, an old model she had bought before marrying Ryan. She had never replaced it, while after their wedding Ryan had bought himself a new phone at a ridiculous price.
She called someone. Today, Natalie was going to take a step for her own life.
"Hello, Van. Can we meet now? I need your help," Natalie said hoarsely over the line.
"Nat, just come to my house. I'm home right now," answered Vanessa, the person she had called.
"All right, Van. I'll come over now."
Click.
Natalie ended the call with Vanessa, her best friend from college. Vanessa was a well-known lawyer, and Natalie needed her help to face all of this.
Natalie opened her wardrobe and looked at the clothes she had bought before marrying Ryan. They were all nice, but once she became Ryan's wife, she never wore them again.
"I can't stay trapped in this relationship any longer. I've sacrificed enough for this family." Natalie spoke to her reflection in the mirror.
She put a light layer of makeup on her face and studied herself. This was no longer the dull, shabby face she had worn for the past three years. This was the beautiful woman who had once made Ryan fall in love.
"Ryan, go ahead and take your family on vacation. I'll make sure this is the last vacation your family ever takes together," Natalie murmured.
She hurried out and started her car. Natalie had not touched it in three years, even though she had bought it before marrying Ryan. After she became Ryan's wife, he used the car every day, and she never got to ride in it even once.
"This car is back in my hands, and I won't let any of you use it again," Natalie said to herself.
She drove toward an upscale neighborhood to meet Vanessa. She used to come here often, but after she married Ryan, he had never allowed her to go out anymore. Natalie was only permitted to leave for the market, to buy vegetables and other household needs.
Her car pulled into the yard of a luxurious two-story house. This was where her best friend lived. Vanessa came out to greet her right away. It had been far too long since they had seen each other.
"Natalie, I missed you so much, Nat!" Vanessa said.
"I missed you too, Van." Natalie returned her hug.
"Come in, Nat." Vanessa led her inside.
Vanessa had an eighteen-month-old child, and her husband was named Preston.
"Van, I need to see Preston. I need his help," Natalie said, getting straight to the reason she had come.
"Preston is at the office. I'll call him and ask him to come home." Vanessa smiled.
"You don't have to, Van. I can go to his office later."
"Nat, are you okay?" Vanessa asked with concern.
Vanessa knew at least some of what had happened to Natalie after she married Ryan, but all this time Natalie had called it devotion to her husband.
"I can't take it anymore, Van," Natalie whispered.
Vanessa immediately pulled Natalie into her arms. Natalie's sobs broke loose in an instant. She could no longer hold in the pain and sadness. Vanessa let her cry, knowing Natalie would feel lighter afterward.
"Let it all out, Nat, if you can't hold it anymore," Vanessa whispered to her best friend.
"Thank you, Van." Natalie was moved, and once the tears had run their course, she truly did feel a little lighter.
"Tell me, Nat. What do you want to do next?" Vanessa asked.
"I want to separate from Ryan, and I'm going to take back everything that belongs to me."
"Wait here. I'll call Preston and ask him to come home," Vanessa said.
Vanessa called her husband and asked him to come back immediately. She wanted Natalie to be able to discuss her wishes directly with Preston, the man who would become her attorney.
"Preston is on his way. He'll help you," Vanessa said with a smile.
"Thank you so much, Van. Thank you for helping me." Natalie was touched by her friend's loyalty.
They kept talking about many things, and before long Preston arrived.
"Preston, thank God you came home so quickly," Vanessa said, relieved to see her husband.
"Natalie, I've heard about your situation from Vanessa. I will help you," Preston said as he sat on the sofa across from her.
"Preston, I don't think Ryan will agree to divorce me. He'll make everything difficult. And I want to take back everything that belongs to me," Natalie told him.
"Stay calm, Natalie. I'll help you. Starting now, you and Ryan cannot keep living together, and you need to start gathering evidence to make the process easier," Preston said.
"The car and the house are mine, but Ryan's family has taken control of them. The house was a gift from my parents before I married Ryan. The car too. I bought it before I married him," Natalie explained.
"Do you have the documents?" Preston asked.
"Yes. Everything is here." Natalie took out a large brown envelope.
Preston removed the contents. Inside was the deed to the house in Natalie's name. There were also the vehicle title and registration for the car, also in Natalie's name.
"Keep all of this somewhere safe. Don't let them know," Preston said.
"For now, I'll leave everything with you. After this, I'll take it all back," Natalie told Vanessa.
"All right. We'll keep everything safe for you," Vanessa agreed.
"I plan to sell the house before Ryan and his family come back. I know they won't leave that house willingly," Natalie said.
"That's a good plan. Hopefully it sells quickly. That way they won't be able to get inside when they return," Preston said with a nod.
Natalie had no choice but to sell the house. She was certain that if she did not, she would never be able to drive all of them out.
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