5: The Stranger

Eva’s thoughts were spiralling.

For a split second, she imagined smashing the champagne bottle over Daniel's smug, lying face. The glass shattered. There was Blood. Screams. Maybe even silence. Maybe he wouldn't get up.

She pictured herself standing over him, breathless and victorious... until the sirens came. Until the cuffs snapped around her wrists.

She could read the news headlines now;

~Eva Thomas, charged with murdering her cheating, dirty bastard of a husband.~

She blinked hard, her eyes were getting dry and they burned. She quickly took those wicked thoughts out her head. This wasn’t her.

No.

It wasn't worth it. Not for him.

Not for someone who'd already taken away so much from her. She wasn't going to allow him to take her freedom as well.

"Stop your damn crying and just go home," Daniel growled, loud enough for nearby guests to hear. "And when you get there, start packing your shit. Only your clothes. You can keep the car, but the jewellery? Those are mine."

Eva's stomach twisted as she refocused on the scene before her.

Her ears rang. What?

This man had the audacity to ask her to leave her house?

She stared at him in disbelief. Her money had funded his career. Her accounting knowledge was why he was being promoted tonight. He was worth two million dollars because of her.

And now he was tossing her aside like garbage.

"You'll suffer for this, Daniel," she hissed, rage spilling out of her as she slammed both hands into his chest.

He seized her wrist mid-swing, fingers digging into her skin. "I should have you arrested for attempted assault," he yelled through clenched teeth.

"Let go of me," Eva snapped, jerking her hand away. Her voice was shaking, but strong. "You think this ends here? Mark my words, karma is real, and it's coming for you. For both of you." Her eyes landed on Vivian, who was standing there with her arms at her chest smirking.

Daniel laughed and Vivian began to throw insults at her.

But Eva didn't stick around to hear anything else she had to say.

With her chin held high and tears in her eyes, she turned on her heel and stormed off the stage.

Whispers followed her like shadows.

But she didn't look back.

Not once.

Eva jumped into her car and sped off, not caring where she was headed. Her hands were shaking and her chest was tight with anger. Everything she thought she knew, her marriage, her life, was all one big fat lie.

The sky opened up as the rain started coming down hard, making it almost impossible to see. Her wipers barely kept up, and she had to slow down just to stay on the road. Somehow she managed to make a right turn after she spotted a neon sign flashing in the distance. She realized It was a bar.

She didn't think twice. She followed her instincts and pulled into the parking lot, bringing her car to a stop.

Without wasting a second, she jumped out into the rain and dashed inside the bar. The moment she stepped through the door, everything seemed to freeze. All eyes turned to her. She felt like a deer caught in headlights, standing in the threshold, soaked and breathless.

She fought the urge to shout, "What are you all gawking at?" but held her tongue and walked confidently to the counter. Her chestnut hair clung to her face, her form-fitting dress damp and hugging her curves even tighter.

"Can I have a beer, please?" she asked, her tone steady.

The bartender stared at her for a moment, then gave a nod. "Yeah, coming right up."

Eva offered a small smile and turned to glance around. Most of the patrons had lost interest in her now, returning to their drinks and dancing to the music pulsing through the speakers.

"Here's your drink," the bartender said, sliding the bottle in front of her.

She grabbed it and took a long swig, then another. Within a minute, the bottle was empty.

She ordered another, and while waiting, turned back to the crowd. That's when she spotted two men by the entrance. They weren't dancing or drinking. They just stood there, scanning the room with an unsettling intensity.

Her gut twisted. Had Daniel sent them? Were they here to follow her, or worse, did he send them to hurt her?

Eva calmly turned her back to them and took the second beer. She drank half of it in one go, then glanced back over her shoulder.

The men were gone.

She waited another ten minutes, keeping an eye on the room. When nothing else seemed out of place, she paid for her drinks and walked out into the night.

She was heading to her car when a voice stopped her.

"Please... help me."

The voice came out of nowhere. It was weak and strained.

She turned sharply. A man was stumbling toward her, dressed in a black tuxedo that was now dishevelled, with his bowtie hanging loose around his neck. His movements were unsteady.

"Help me," he said again, his words slurred and breathy. "They took my wallet... I don't... I don't feel right."

Eva didn't move. Her instincts flared, and she swallowed hard as warning bells went off in her mind. He collapsed beside her car, bracing himself on the pavement with trembling hands.

"What?" she asked cautiously, her voice thin. "Are you hurt?"

"No. I think I was Just... drugged. Everything's spinning. Please...help me."

She crouched slightly, keeping a safe distance, scanning the shadows. "Do you know who did this to you? I should call the police."

"No! No police," he muttered quickly, barely able to keep his head up.

"Look, I don't know what's going on, but you need help." She reached into her purse, fingers brushing her phone.

Then she saw them.

Two men. Standing just beyond the reach of the overhead light. They were watching Eva and the stranger. The same ones she'd noticed earlier that evening. Too many coincidences were piling up.

Now there were no doubts in her mind. Daniel must have sent them.