After the divorce, I became untouchable.

           ***Emma's POV****

No longer his wife

I woke up feeling extremely nauseous, I scrambled off the bed and rushed into the bathroom. My head was throbbing and I'm feeling slightly dizzy. Just when I was about to climb back into the bed, a knock sounded on the door.

"Your breakfast is ready, ma'am," Mrs. Wilson called cheerfully.

"Please bring it upstairs. I’m not feeling strong enough to go down."

"But the young master specifically asked for you to come down."

"He did?" I asked, completely shocked. Daniel rarely cared whether I ate with him or not.

After freshening up, I headed to the dining room. Daniel and Rachael were already eating. Rachael’s face lit up with fake sweetness the moment she saw me.

"Good morning sis."

Daniel didn’t even glance up. That's exactly the treatment I was used to. I walked over and stopped beside Rachael.

"You're in my seat."

Her eyes widened in exaggerated surprise. "Oh sorry, I didn't know."

When she still made no move to stand, irritation flickered in me

"Well stand up then." 

She looked down at her plates, then at Daniel. Tears were clouding her eyes. She's still a great actor even after all those years.

"Emma, Rachael is already sitting there. Take another chair," Daniel said flatly, eyes fixed on his plate.

I let out a bitter scoff and sat elsewhere. It's not like I was expecting Daniel to side with me.

Mrs. Wilson placed a bowl of oatmeal, scrambled eggs, and warm ginger tea in front of me.

"Why is her breakfast different from ours?"  Daniel asked, his gaze suddenly locking onto me.

Mrs. Wilson nervously explained that I wasn’t feeling well and needed a light diet. The door bell rang before Daniel could ask another question. Mrs. Wilson immediately rushed out to get it.

A man probably in his early forties entered carrying a briefcase. Daniel immediately stood and led him into his study.

"I think that's a lawyer." Rachael said smugly, once they had disappeared. I ignored her and continued eating.

"I bet he's here with your divorce papers." She taunted. Good, she finally dropped the sweet act.

"You thought you won five years ago, didn’t you? Now watch me take everything back."

I didn't, you disappeared on your own. I wanted to say instead I kept shut.

Daniel returned few minutes later with documents in hand. Without a word, he dropped them in front of me.

"Sign them."

My stomach dropped, I was looking at our divorce papers. My eyes darted to Daniel. He's staring right back at me, his expression ice cold.

"Divorce papers?"

"Don't act like I didn't inform you already."

"You informed me less than 24 hours ago." Just how long has he been planning this.

I read through the terms quickly. Five hundred thousand dollars and two houses. As much as I don't want to take anything from him, I still needed the money for my baby.  With steady hands, I signed every page and slid the documents back to him.

For a split second, something chaotic flashed across Daniel’s face as he inspected the papers.

"Emma, I know you must be heartbroken," Rachael said in a pitiful voice, "but once you take care of yourself, maybe another man might actually want to marry you."

I ignored her and turned to Mrs. Wilson. "Please take my food upstairs."

I stood up, ready to go to my room.

"Wait, Emma…" Daniel’s voice stopped me. "You… you don’t have anything to say?"

I turned back to him. "Is there anything to say?"

He opened his mouth to say something but ended up closing it. Anger suddenly clouded his features as he stood up so abruptly that his chair toppled over. He stormed upstairs without another word.

I stood there rooted on the ground. Didn't I do what he wanted?

"Didn't I tell you? I'll take everything back one by one." Rachael said smugly.

"Make sure you pack out from the master bedroom as soon as possible. I can't wait to fully move in."

I gave her a cold smile. "Of course. You’ve always had a thing for used goods."

Her face turned crimson. "You... how dare you!"

Ignored her and dragged my tired body upstairs, ate what I could, and took my medicine. Even though I've been taking the medications prescribed by the doctor, the persistent bloating and constant pain on my lower back hasn't gone away. I really need to rest.

I had almost drifted off when I heard the door click open. The bed dipped beside me, and a strong arm suddenly wrapped around my waist. I sprang up immediately only to see Daniel lying there with an annoyed look on his face.

"What the hell are you doing in my room?"

He stared at me like I was being ridiculous. "This is my house and the rooms in it belong to me."

"But this is my room, the divorce papers clearly state I can stay here until the divorce is finalized."

"Exactly. Our divorce is still invalid. Meaning we’re still married and I have every right to sleep in our room."

Seeing that I couldn't reason with him, I grabbed a pillow and moved to the sofa.

"Aren't you supposed to be at work?" I asked.

He stared at me like I've lost my brain cells. "Today is Sunday."

"Yeah but you work every day. You’re never home."

His expression darkened. "Just because I wasn't home doesn't mean I was working."

I let out a dry laugh. "So that’s how much you hated being around me? You couldn’t even stay home on your days off for five whole years?"

How had I spent the last five years my life forcing myself on someone who doesn't want anything to do with me.

"Stop laughing like that," he growled.

Suddenly, another wave of nausea hit me. I pressed my hand to my chest, fighting it desperately.

"Are you alright? You've suddenly gone pale."

I wasn't used to Daniel feeling concerned for me. He usually doesn't care at all. I'm not really used to this side of him.

"Nothing. It's just that your presence is irritating me."

His eyes flashed with fury. "Say that again."

I smiled bitterly. "How do you think Rachael will feel when she finds out you’re spending time with your ex wife instead of her?"

"We aren't officially divorced yet."

"We have signed the divorce papers."

He opened his mouth to retort but seem to think against it.

After a heavy silence, he stood up. "I’m going to send you a dress. We’re having dinner at the family house tonight."

The moment he left, I rushed to the bathroom and threw up again.

Daniel's last words finally sank in. We're going to the family house. I always have mixed emotions whenever we're going there. One is dreading to see Susan and face her constant judging and nagging. But on the other hand, I get to see Mr Brookes, Daniel's dad. He had always treated me like a real daughter.

He'll definitely be heartbroken once he finds out about the divorce. Hiding my pregnancy from him felt wrong… but I have to.

If I want to  break free from these shackles of a marriage, I must keep this pregnancy a secret.