Chapter 1

REBIRTH OF THE MIDDLE-AGED WOMAN

CHAPTER 1

BY INOE-LISA

Slap!!!

"Who do you think you are? Just because you married into the Andirons doesn't mean you have a say in this household! Let my son try and birth me a grandson from else where since you are just an off-layer!"

Hushed by the rebuttal tone of her mother-in-law, Andrena felt her whole world crumble. Here she was, a middle-aged woman living a life no worse than a slave.

She thought she would get solace in her mother-in-law, but nope. That was a bad idea. Her husband, Luke Andiron, was the most lose man you would ever find roaming the streets of City M. Yes, they had been married for over 20 years but he didn't take the union seriously. Andrena felt that perhaps his mother would offer her solace. She was mistaken. She was left with no other choice than to bear with her husband's infidelity.

Andrena Prima-Rose had been married off at a young age as a business marriage to help her family that was failing. She thought that marrying her childhood crush would make it all worth her while but she felt cheated when she realized it was otherwise.

When they had just started off, he made her stay at home and take care of his mother. As a business woman, Andrena felt that she was being stripped of her one true joy. But she was too blinded by love to even care. Over the years, she would help Luke from the shadows, making the Andiron name rise in the social ranks while they left the Prim-Rose family alone.

Andrena was honestly so foolish to have accepted all that treatment in the name of being a good wife and daughter-in-law. She knew her mother-in-law didn't like her so she learnt every possible skill needed for a virtuous wife and good mother. The tea ceremony, sewing and embroidery, she learnt it all and look where it brought her. Andrena felt her life was a joke. She shed tears as she traced her way home.

She, who was supposed to be the matriarch of the Andiron family couldn't even get a car to drive her around. She had to bear and swallow as her husband constantly brought women home and did whatever he wanted. People even barely recognized her as the wife to Luke Andiron.

She, who used to be star in the sky was now no different from the ground people walked on. She trudged on with a heavy heart. Some distance away was a Rolls Royce, parked inconspicuously, as if waiting for someone. Inside was a heart stopper. He looked every bit a god on earth with a chiseled chin and sharp nose. His broad shoulders were supported by a narrow waist and long legs.

Wearing the latest suit piece from Saint Laurent, he looked every bit gentlemanly. The only problem was his face. It was scarred at the right side from a fire, a fire where he was supposed to die, but was saved by a certain someone. This man was Lewis Dredi, master of the Dredi family and business legend.

Whoever heard his name would subconsciously shrink their neck and act like the whole world was on fire. He was feared and respected by a lot of people. The only person who didn't fear him was Andrena. She was the one who saved him, after all. When Lewis found out of Andrena's marriage, his heart broke.

He was still poor then since he was just an illegitimate child. He couldn't offer her anything so he let her go. When he over heard people speak of her predicament in her first year of marriage, he vowed to get stronger and to save her.

But Andrena is a stubborn woman, she refused to leave her abusive husband.

"After all, he is he father of my daughters. Don't worry yourself, Lewis. Maybe I can't love you in this life but there's always the next." Was what she had said to him with a broken smile and trails of tear drops staining her face. He had hugged her and promised that he would listen to her words and arrangement. It broke his heart to see her like this but there was nothing he could.

"Sir, the old madam is calling you home. She says you have to get married as soon as possible." Said his driver. Instantly, his soft and gentle gaze turned sharp and cold.

"Married? As soon as possible? Heh, tell her that if it's not Andrena Prim-Rose then no one is allowed as her granddaughter in law at my house!" he barked out.

He was sick and tired of the Dredi family. They had bullied him and his mother a lot when he was younger, driving her to the grave. He had promised her that he wouldn't be vengeful but that family was hitting his bottom line! As the car drove off, Lewis was thinking of how to get rid of them whilst not knowing that his death is around the corner.

Andrena walked home to find that her things had been throw out. She didn't even bother with wailing or cussing. She just packed and carried what she could before getting into a cab and driving off. Luckily, her father had given her an apartment before she had gotten married. She decided not to sale it off, just in case. And now here it was being helpful to her. She got in and found that the furniture had been covered with polythene to keep away the dust. She looked around, seeing traces of her old life.

Pictures with her old friends, brother, parents and Lewis. She broke into tears. She was most sorry to him. He loved her unconditionally yet she couldn't return the love back to him. She really had wronged a lot of people. Her brother was jailed, mother dead and father very sick. Just as she was reminiscing of the past, Andrena got a call from an unknown number. Not bothered by the occurrence, she picked it and the contents of the conversation were rather interesting.

She had gotten news from someone about some dirt on the Andiron family. She didn't know what to do so she brushed it off. Keeping her phone away, Andrena decided to clean up the place.

As she busied herself, Andrena got another call and this time the caller shocked her.

"Meet me at Platinum cafe in fifteen minutes." Said the other person leaving Andrena dumbfounded at the haughty attitude.

Not really bothered as she was a fallen phoenix, Andrena changed and made her way to the cafe.

The ambiance of cafe as she pushed the door to enter screamed of elites and blue bloods. The decor was breathtaking and Andrena couldn't help but admire her surroundings.

"Stop acting like a country bumpkin and go and take your place." Shouted an attendant.

Andrena returned her attention to the person and felt like smacking her mouth shut. She reigned her anger in and didn't react as she was aware that everyone in the upper echelons of society knew of her predicament.

"Even staff look down on me. Heh, how low I have fallen!!" She thought self deprecating. I made my way to a seat and looked at the lady opposite me. The lady exuded excellence and royality from just her posture that I too felt ashamed to be in her presence.

"Place your order." She said airly like I was just a peasant.

I didn't mind though, I had gotten used to this treatment. I ordered an espresso, my favourite beverage and watched as she sipped on lemon tea.

"As an actress I have to watch my weight, unlike you." She said, voice laced with mockery. I didn't react though. I learnt it was easier this way. Saves me alot of trouble.

"You should leave. You really should. After all, Adrian doesn't love you anymore. He never has. He was just being filial and never really liked you." She taunted with an evil cackle.

Heh, here I am, a disappointment and a failure. At forty and nothing to show for, I was a complete wreck and all for what, a man.

That lady was Alina Spark, an A list actress and top model. She was the bomb and she beat me, Kali Herana. I used to be everything anyone wanted. Beautiful, smart and intelligent I was the complete package.

I had a promising future, a good job and other better prominent men around to pick a husband but no, I had to pick him, Adrian Artemin.

He was my sun for I revolved around him.

He was my night for I only shone when I was with him.

Maybe I was gullible enough to believe his lies, that I fell for his trap called love. I fell so hard that my face hurt when I landed. He used me and dumped me, he would use me again and again, so much so that I got used to it.

He was supposed to help my family as we faced bankruptcy but instead of giving, he took more and more and over the years, my family was reduced to nothing.

Leaving the tea house where I had gone to see Alina, I trudged on home and felt hopeless. The eldest young madam of the Artemin family has to walk home. Hilarious! My whole life is hilarious!!

The cool evening wind blew orange leaves past me and sent my hair flailing softly in the wind. I lifted my hand to push it away and realised something.

My family being of Asian descent had a good amount of hair a top our heads. I used to have the most luscious locks around. Long, black and healthy, every socialite envied it. But because Adrian didn't like it, I had cut it short to a bob cut losing an age old heritage because of a man.

My father went wild that day, my mother was disappointed. It was too late though, I had already cut it and I couldn't turn back time. I had stuffed alot down my throat and now I was tired. I guess, time for a divorce.

My two daughters won't miss me, my mother in law might actually be the happiest when she gets the news. I chuckled in a self deprecating way. Of course, my life was such a big scam.

A bird chirping in the distance awoke me from my thoughts and I finally got to look around and admire where I was. A park!

The lush flowers at the side looked fresh though some seemed to be drying up, the willow in the distance swayed and danced on the wind. A butterfly fluttered past my face and I turned to stare at it.

Butterflies, perfect examples of life taking on a turn for the better. I had thoughts of ending everything but that butterfly made me realize something and I changed my mind. Deciding to change everything wrong I crossed happily while wiping my eyes.

A trail of blood left my mouth and I cried furiously.

"What a good woman! I had never offended her but she dared to poison me? Good, very good. Let me turn into a ghost so that I can settle this debt." I thought.

I'm surrounded by wolves!

I laughed in anger and closed my eyes before tryjng to lay on the floor. A bird chirping and a car honking distracted my mind as I swerved around to look for the car. It was too late.

The pain wrecked at my body and I seemed to slip into a darkness.

My last thoughts were not my kids or my parents, but

"If I ever get a chance to re-do everything, I would be stuck with you Lewis Dredi." And I breathed my last.

Right before it, a pair of flaming red heels stopped in front of me before I gave in to the darkness.

...

.....

....

"Rena! Rena! Andrena Prim-Rose!You had better wake up right now or so help me I'll plunge you into a pool of dirty water!"

"What an annoying buzzing and an even more annoying voice!" I complained in my thoughts.

"Is this how the angels in the heavens sound? If so then it's very unpleasant. I had rather head over to Hades's doorstep." I continued with my monologue as I squinted my eyes while throwing an arm up to protect them form the UV Ray's flooding the space I was in.

"Is this really heaven?" I asked out loud, not really believing in the existence of an after life of honey and milk.

"Did you hit your head so hard yesterday? What heaven? What milk and honey? Are you now delusional?" Asked a voice from behind me.

I slowly turned around with my eyes closed, too afraid at the bitter sweet truth if I was just seeing things.