Old friend.

Nathan wasn't going to change, I sadly concluded.

Maybe it was time I started to consider a divorce.

One moment he acts like I'm a ghost — non-existent. The second, he tries to kill me and the next he is apologizing while asking for a favour and the cycle continues like that.

Since there were no children, maybe it was best I leave.

Ever since Nathan left for work, I had been soliloquizing as I went through my laptop, scanning for vacancies and putting in applications where necessary, only stopping to sort out his inventory documents. No matter how I tried, I couldn't get over all he said.

I was about to close my system when I remembered the Xzan link I had forwarded from Nathan early that morning.

Not wasting time, I clicked the link and started the application process.

It was a long process. I had to start by confirming that I was not a robot to putting my personal documents for review.

When I passed that stage, I submitted my CV and attached past work experience as requested.

And then I went through a 5-minute accuracy test.

*Ariella Xanders, your application has been successfully submitted. We'll get back to you shortly. Thank you.*

When it showed the end of the application. I sighed in relief.

I shut my system, had a long healing bath and padded to the kitchen to begin lunch preparations.

I was shredding vegetables when my phone rang.

I cursed at the sound, thankful that the knife didn't hurt my fingers.

I softened at the caller ID displayed on my screen.

"Finally created time from your busy schedule to say hi to your favorite girl?" I teased Melinda, my former colleague and friend.

"Why the hell aren't you online?" I took my phone several inches away from my ears at her shrill voice.

"I've been busy..."

"Too busy to reply to messages?" she cut in. "I sent you tons."

"What's so important that's got you so tied up? Knowing you, it could be another gossip," I teased.

"No jokes, girl. Come online now!"

I rolled my eyes. "Alright, my lord," I raised a finger in reflex, "Give me a sec."

I turned on my data and frowned at the series of messages waiting.

Some from my former colleagues, others from a number I couldn't recognize and tons from Linda.

"Quite a couple of messages," I muttered.

"You checked?" Melinda asked.

"Calm down babes, I'm just checking..."

My stomach dropped.

"Ariella?"

"Ariella? Tell me you're fine. Please say something, I'm almost panicking over here. Ariella?"

"Lin," I whispered, my voice breaking.

"It's okay, I promise you. It is. It's just a random picture, you know how the media work, it's probably just one of their tricks," she said, but I could hear the uncertainty in her voice. And Linda could be everything but uncertain. She was a big badass lawyer with an aura that oozed confidence. "It's okay, Ariella," she crooned.

But it wasn't. Nothing was. Because right on my screen was the image of Nathan and his old-time friend hugging at the airport.

I swiped to the next image and there was Nathan, my ever busy husband handing a bouquet of flowers to her.

Nathan, who didn't gift me even a stick of rose on my birthday, handed another woman a bunch of flowers.

Nathan who couldn't spare time to celebrate our anniversary out there with her.

Nathan, who knew how much I resented her, cozy with her at the airport.

I blinked back tears. There was no other way to do this.

"Ariella?"

My breath hitched, I had forgotten for a moment that Linda was still on the line.

"I'm getting a divorce, Lin," I declared.

"What?!" Linda panicked. "No! Wait, think of this. It could be nothing. I mean, they are only childhood friends, right? Come on, calm down, don't be rash."

"I'm not being rash. You..you don't understand, it's not only about her. But with Jennifer in the picture now, I.." my voice cracked. "...I don't..I can't do this."

"Shh, calm down girl."

"Go back to work, Lin. I'm calm. I'll come visit you real soon."

I hung up the call and logged in to yougram.

As expected, the pictures were all over Jennifer's page.

She had captioned it: Excited to see my best friend.

I scoffed, sliding to the hard floor. "Best friend, my ass."

I scrolled through the comments and my face clouded.

Comment 1: You look so good, my queen.

Comment 2: you're glowing and beautiful. Say hi to the CEO of the Evans group of companies.

Comment 3: Good fit.

Comment 4: Best friend? Hmm.

Comment 5: I've always rooted for this duo to be together, I'm still sad they didn't work out.

My jaw clenched so hard it ached. I was about to leave the comment section when my eye caught another comment that gathered a lot of reactions.

Comment: What about Mrs Evans? She hasn't been in the spotlight of late.

I clicked on the comment to read other comments under it.

Comment 1: Do you get? She has been MIA.

Comment 2: I noticed too, it seems to me like there's trouble in paradise.

Comment 3: Who noticed Evans didn't post her on her birthday?

"Ahh!" I screamed, flinging my phone asides.

To hell with Nathan. To hell with him!

Something crossed my mind and I froze, every muscle locking in place.

What if the visitor coming over for dinner was Jennifer?

I laughed. It was broken and humourless.

How foolish I was to not have earlier figured it out. Of course, it had to be her.

I dusted myself from the floor and continued with cooking.

When the doorbell rang minutes later, I opened the door, took Nathan's briefcase upstairs and returned to cooking.

I didn't know if I should be relieved that he came back alone, without her.

"Done with lunch?" Nathan asked, coming up behind me in the kitchen.

"Almost done," I replied without turning.

Silence.

" Is Jennifer coming over?" I asked, breaking the quiet.

"Yes."

I inhaled sharply at his confession. "You didn't think to inform me she'd be coming?"

"I told you we'd be having a visitor," Nathan answered almost immediately.

"You couldn't take your visitor to somewhere more private? Why bring her home?" My voice was sharper than I intended.

"Be nice, Ariella. Jennifer is not fighting you."

"Of course not," I checked the meal, and put off the gas, contented with the outcome.

Left was the chicken. I marinated and arranged it carefully in the griller, then I set a timer.

I furrowed my brow when I noticed Nathan wasn't making any attempt to leave.

"If you come to warn me not to cause trouble because of her, then don't worry.."

"I'm not worried," Nathan cut in. "I know you'll be on your best behavior," he muttered.

I arched a brow.

"Mother just informed me that she'd be coming with Zoe."

I whipped around. "W-what?

"They'll probably make it to lunch," he continued. "Better make enough to feed five."

The timer shrilled. I quickly checked on the chicken. "Your sister and mother ar

e coming over, yet you think it's fine to just spring that on me when I'm done with cooking lunch?"

Silence.

I turned around, but the kitchen was empty.