Legacy First

Mattie's choice( POV)

Mattie never wanted this lifestyle, but Elbert wanted her. He courted her, even though she didn't like him romantically, because she feared him. So, no, it wasn't an option. Everybody feared Elbert Clark in Detroit.

Mattie knew once Elbert proposed to her that her life wasn't going to be as peaceful or tranquil as she once desired, with a guy named Caleb; however, Clark killed him out of jealousy. Mattie knew he had all control over everyone.

Mattie, being nosy, overheard what Elbert said to their daughters. She didn't understand because Elbert said that if she obeyed him, he wouldn't hurt their children. From his tone alone, Mattie knew he was serious about hurting their daughter.

She had to make a decision and fast because through this marriage, Mattie lost so much—her dignity, pride, respect, and the love of her children.

While they were at home looking at TV, Mattie asked Elbert, "Would you really kill our grandchildren because our daughters don't want to be miserable with the men that you sold them to?"

He rolled his eyes. "Yes, Mattie, I will kill anyone or destroy anything that harms my legacy, even if it's a person within my legacy. They can't keep killing the men that I set them up with; that doesn't look good for me." Elbert said with a smug smile.

"So all you care about is your legacy, not your family, only what makes you look good in the public eye. You've always been like that, ready to steal, kill, and destroy for your Greediness and pride. I've got to go to the restroom. Mattie went up and headed to the bathroom.

Elbert shrugged his shoulders and kept watching TV. He knew Mattie was hurt, but he didn't care. This was his legacy. He was gonna do what he wanted, no matter who he had to step on to get it.

Mattie, silently with a hammer in her hands, snuck up behind Elbert while he was oblivious, still watching the boxing match on TV.

Before Elbert could even turn around, Mattie cracked him in the back of the head with the hammer four times, letting out all the rage, hurt, and anger that came along with being Elbert's wife and children's mother.

This was for threatening her grandchildren, turning her into this horrible mother, and basically stealing the life that she wanted for herself.

She wasn't the best mother, but she made a vow that she would be a better grandmother, and no one will take that away from her, not even one of the most terrifying men in Detroit, her husband.

An unconscious Elbert woke up in a chair, tied up. He couldn't move his head, which was pounding, and had blood pouring from it. He was confused because the last thing he remembered was watching a boxing match as he saw his wife with a gun in her hand come downstairs.

"Hello, Elbert, it feels so good not fear you anymore. You're going to die today because I want a better life. One where I'm not a horrible mother, and my children love me, and my husband doesn't beat me, and then threatens to kill his children and me.

I can't have that life if you're still alive. I'm going to remove the tape over your mouth, and I wanna hear your last words." As Mattie pulled the tape from his mouth.

Elbert smiled, "You finally grew some balls, you don't think people are gonna come looking for you after they find my body. To think I always wanted you, but just like our children, you were so weak.

You think killing me will help our children look at you as a human? You are a monster just like I am. They're going to kill you, our children hate you too, and if I get out of these chains, I'm gonna kill you." Mattie smacked him and put the tape back over his mouth.

Mattie said," And that was your last words insulting me, and you wanted me. I've never wanted you. I could never leave you, and you knew that. But I'm gonna tell you this one thing before you go to hell.

Nobody likes you, so your death will be celebrated around Detroit. As soon as Elbert's smile turned into a frown, Mattie shot him seven times—two to the brain, three to the heart, and finally two to the chest.

Looking at the dead body of Elbert Clark sent Mattie into tears. Her whole life was hell just for him.

Mattie gathered only the essential things, placed them in an unmarked car, got the Jane Doe body from the back of the car, and placed it in the house.

After Maddie made it appear that she had taken her own life, she had taken her husband's life. Then she set the mansion to a fiery ablaze.

While staring at the blaze, from a safe distance, she realized she was free after years of torture. She was now gonna spend at least two months in a different country, gaining therapy, different life skills, and a new identity.

After therapy, Mattie decided she would return to her children's lives and be the mother and grandmother she really wanted to be. With a different identity, of course.

She couldn't tell her children that she faked her death. She couldn't tell anyone she had to leave immediately. After hearing the sirens of the fire department and the police, she got into the unmarked car and headed to another country.

Hoping her children would understand that she made this choice not only for herself but also for them, she finally realized that she wasn't as bad as she thought.

She made an unselfish decision and put her children first. She hasn't done that in a while. That fact brought tears to her eyes.

She'll see her children in a few months or a year, and hopefully she'll have healthy grandchildren as well. She needed to focus on her mental health for now that their father was dead.

Because of her hands, her children had a chance at life as they deserved in the first place. She was finally proud of herself for doing something for her daughters. She was confident that she could rebuild their relationship after she got the therapy she needed.