"That's exactly what this Loser has reduced you to Sara," her mother added, standing up. "Mr. Loser. I should've never let my daughter marry you."
Nathan stood frozen. Their words cut deeper than any punch he had taken in the ring.
Every insult, every cruel comment—it all stabbed at his heart.
"I gave everything to this family," he said softly. "I sold my mother's house, her cars. I paid off your debts. I gave you three more years when the bank was about to take everything. Doesn't that mean anything?""Past glories don't pay today's bills," her mother said sharply. "Richard is what we need now. Not… you."Sara didn't say a word. She didn't defend him. She just looked away.
Nathan turned slowly, heartbroken, and walked out of the room—his dignity in shambles, his marriage crumbling, and his world shattered.
That evening, Nathan stayed quiet. He didn't say a word as he walked into the bedroom he still shared with his wife, Sara.
The silence between them had grown so wide, it felt like a wall neither of them could break down.
Sara didn't look at him. She didn't ask how his day had been. She didn't even glance his way. Instead, all she does is was scrolling on her phone, her face blank and cold.
They hadn't gone out together in weeks. She barely spoke to him anymore. It felt like they were two strangers living under the same roof.
The whispers from her family didn't help. Every chance they got, they reminded Sara of her so-called "mistake" in marrying Nathan.
Few days after the fight between he and Richard, he could hear Amy telling his wife"Why are you still wasting time with Mr. Loser?" Amy had said just the day before.
Her mother had nodded in agreement. "You're still young, Sara. Richard is back now. He's successful, rich, and clearly still loves you. What are you waiting for? Don't tell me you want to spend your life with a miserable Loser like Nathan?
Nathan had overheard it all. He didn't say anything. He just walked away with his fists clenched, his jaw tight.
He was used to being humiliated, but hearing it again and again from the people he had once called family—it hurt in ways he couldn't explain.
Still, he tried. He did everything he could think of to win Sara's heart again. He bought her favorite pastries from the little shop across town.
The previous day before his twenty second defeat and divorce ,he had clean the whole mansion as usual, prepare her favorite and texted Sara that they need to talk: "Dinner at 8, just us. Let's talk. I miss you."She didn't arrive early, she arrived late than usual.
She didn't even acknowledge the note.When she finally walked in later that night, she glanced at the cold dinner on the table and then walked right past him without a word.Nathan sat at the table alone that night, poking at his untouched food as tears welled up in his eyes."I just want us to be happy again," he whispered to no one.
But today was the worse day of his life his twenty second defeat, his manager asking him never to come back and his wife divorcing him and forcing him to become a taxi driver to pay a debt he never owed.
Nathan agreed to be a Taxi driver, he didn't argue but choose to prove to his ex wife and daughter that he will still become a champion.Eve move into the workers quarter's with the determination to win his wife back. He woke up so early the next morning and begin the taxi job but that night he never hit the target of $500 but was close to bringing home the daily amount he was asked to pay.
Nathan haf thought he could combine print to his manager that he will one day win with his taxi driver job but he realized it was exhausting so he didn't bother meeting Alan rather he went back home.But little did he know Richard was preparing on taking his ex wife that he still considered his wife out on a dinner date."Nathan," he sighed, rubbing the back of his neck, "you've got heart, kid. But this isn't working. I can't keep putting you in the ring like this. You're done."
Nathan walked home with $350 in his hand to pay his mother in law. He was tired and exhausted already, all he needed was a sleep.
When he stepped through the front door, hoping to see his daughter's bright smile, his heart dropped.There, sitting comfortably on the couch in the living room, was Richard Whitefield.
Richard leaned back casually, his arm draped across the couch like he belonged there.Sara walked up to him, smiling in a way Nathan hadn't seen in months."You look beautiful, Sara," Richard said, his voice smooth and kiss the back of her hand."Thank you," she said softly, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear.
Nathan stood frozen, watching them.They didn't look his way. Not even once.
Even Sara didn't care about her ex husband, she has moved on in just a day after their divorce.
Richard stood and gently placed his hand on the small of Sara's back. Together, they walked past Nathan like he didn't exist. Like he was just a shadow in the hallway.
He turned slowly to watch them leave.As the car pulled out of the driveway, he stood trying not to cry, his heart breaking into pieces.
Behind him, his mother-in-law burst into laughter."Well, look at that," she said, chuckling loudly. "Your replacement drives a better car and looks like a man, not a punching bag!"Amy added, "Poor Nathan. Even the car wants to leave the house more than he does."Nathan couldn't take it anymore. He dropped the $350 and took to his heels.
He turned sharply, stormed out of the living room, and ran straight to the garage. There, sitting in the corner like a symbol of his downfall, was the yellow taxi he had been forced to use to "earn his worth."
With trembling hands, he yanked open the door, jumped in, and started the engine.The car roared to life, and without thinking, he hit the gas.
He sped down the driveway, his knuckles white on the steering wheel, his mind racing with a thousand thoughts."I gave everything to them… everything. And now I'm nothing to them…"Tears blurred his vision.The engine roared louder as he pushed the gas harder.But then—he lost control.The car veered off the road.CRASH!
The front end slammed into a tree. The impact jolted him forward. His chest hit the steering wheel hard.
Everything went still.Smoke rose from the hood as the car hissed and groaned.
Nathan sat there, shaking, hands still gripping the wheel. Then he broke.He buried his face into his arms and sobbed, hard and loud. The pain finally poured out in thick, choking waves."I gave them everything…" he whispered through his sobs. "And now I'm nothing…"The door creaked open.
He stumbled out of the wreckage, his knees hitting the ground.He looked up at the night sky, tears streaming down his face.And then, with everything inside him breaking into pieces, Nathan screamed—a raw, helpless, heart-wrenching cry into the darkness.Tears ran down Nathan's cheeks as he leaned on the steering wheel, still shaking from the crash. The old taxi sat slanted against a thick, ancient Baobab tree at the edge of the woods, its engine hissing and steaming.He sniffled and wiped his face, but then—something strange caught his eye.The Baobab tree, the very one he had crashed into, moved.His tears paused, caught off guard. "What the…?"A soft creaking sound filled the air, and slowly… the trunk of the tree opened, like a door. A faint golden light glowed from inside the opening.
Nathan sat up straight, staring at it."Am I dreaming?" he whispered.He stepped out of the damaged cab, his shoes crunching on broken glass. The cool night air wrapped around him, but he barely noticed it. His eyes stayed locked on that strange doorway in the tree.He place his right foot into it then his left foot."Hello?" he called into the darkness. "Is anyone there?"No answer.He looked around the woods. The tall grass swayed gently. Crickets chirped. But no one was there.Still shaking from the crash—and everything else—Nathan felt a pull in his chest, like something was calling him forward.Slowly, step by cautious step, he moved closer.The golden light inside flickered like candle flames.When he reached the opening, he hesitated just a second.
Then he whispered, "Well… I've got nothing left to lose."He stepped in.Right foot.Left foot.
As soon as his entire body crossed the threshold, the air shifted. Warmth swept over him, and the golden light grew brighter.He turned around to look back—But the door was gone.The trunk of the Baobab had sealed shut behind him."No—wait!" Nathan rushed toward it and pounded on the bark. "Let me out! Please! I didn't mean to come in here!"But the tree didn't budge.He stepped back, panic rising in his chest. "Where… am I?"
He turned around slowly—his eyes widening.In front of him was an entire city. Not just a few buildings—but a shimmering, magical place hidden deep inside this world. Strange shapes moved in the distance. Laughter echoed from crooked alleyways. Lamps made of glowing mushrooms lit the twisted cobblestone paths. It was beautiful… but also strange. And nothing about it felt safe.Nathan took one step forward.
Then he froze.Two short figures strolled across the road ahead of him. Their ears were long and pointy, their noses sharp, and their eyes gleamed with mischief.Goblins.