Chapter two

Stacey’s POV:

“Liam, tell me this is all just a sick prank.” I tried to fight back the tears welling up in my eyes. “Tell me I heard you wrong or something.” 

I ran up to him and held his hand in mine, begging against all odds that there was some sort of reasonable explanation for this nightmare.

We spent six years together as a happy family. Although the last two years have been kind of sloppy, it still was enough to get to this level or warrant a divorce.

“Do you want to just throw away all we’ve built together?” I squeezed his hands. “What about Tessa? What about—”

I heard Agatha chuckle. I whip my head to face her. She had one hand over her stomach and the other one slightly covering her face, but I could still peek at the smug smile on her face.

She’s enjoying seeing you so miserable.

“Stop embarrassing yourself.” Liam yanked his hand away from me. “Agatha is pregnant with a son for me, and you know how much I need a male successor to take over my business. Your damaged womb can’t even hold a child, much more a son. There’s no going back now.”

Liam’s words hit me like a ton of bricks. He was the reason I couldn’t keep a baby in my womb, and yet he was divorcing me for it. For a son from this snake under the green grass. 

How on earth did this even happen? Agatha had disappeared from our lives after giving birth to Tessa, so how did they both form a relationship long enough to lead to pregnancy?

Except…

Yes. That’s right.

“The text messages from two years ago,” my eyes widened in disbelief at the realization. “She was the woman, wasn’t she?” 

Liam’s blank expression was all the confirmation I needed. The last bit of strength holding me up left my body and I collapsed to the floor. Just like how my whole world has collapsed before me.

Liam has been cheating on me this whole time? For two freaking years!! How did I never see the signs?

You saw the signs, but you chose to ignore them.

The necklace I saw in his drawer last year that I thought he bought for me as a surprise gift for our anniversary but it turned out he actually forgot about our anniversary and the necklace wasn’t in his drawer when I checked the next day. The female lavender scent he always smelled of whenever he went on his ‘business trip.’ Even the lipstick stain I saw on his tie two months ago.

The signs were always there; I just chose to ignore them. I chose the illusion of bliss over reality, and now I had paid the price.

I felt a pang of pain hit my chest. It was as if a sharp knife had pierced my heart, and I was now bleeding all over the perfect marriage life I thought I had. Tears ran down my cheeks like a gushing tap.

“Don’t worry, I’d take care of Tessa like my own daughter.” Agatha crouched to my floor level and gave me a hug. “After all, I was the one who carried her for nine months.” She whispered in my ear.

My stomach churned, and a cold chill ran down my spine at the triumphant malice in her tone. It was like she had orchestrated this from the get-go and had finally reaped her reward.

Agatha stood up and went back to where Liam stood. “Darling, I think the baby is craving ice cream,” her tone twitched to fake sweetness.

“Oh! Alright, honey. Let’s go get ice cream.” Liam slowly led her out of the room. He walked past me crying on the floor without sparing me as much as a single glance. All his focus was on Agatha.

As he got to the door, he paused and turned to face me. “My lawyers would reach out to you to finalize the divorce.” Those were his last words before he disappeared through the door.

The chaos in my mind was a stark contrast to the silence in the air. I wanted to scream, I wanted to cry, I wanted to fight, and at the same time, I wanted to just do nothing.

How could something that was built for six solid years be easily destroyed in less than a day?

I felt a wallowing darkness ready to engulf me, and a part of me was willing to let myself go. But my other half knew that I needed to stay strong to fight for my daughter’s custody. Even if I lost everything else, I couldn’t lose her.

There was only one person in the world who could comfort me at a time like this; my best friend Chloe. I picked up my phone and ordered a cab.

*

*

I got to her apartment and knocked on the wooden door. “Who is it?” A voice shouted from inside. 

“It’s Stacey.”

The door opened to reveal a beautiful blonde woman with blue eyes. “Cece,” she wrapped me in a tight hug. 

The warmth of the hug illuminated the coldness I felt in my heart, and I didn’t know when the tears started to pour down my cheeks once again.

Chloe pulled away from me to see my face clearly. “What’s wrong? Why are you crying?” She asked, genuine worry etched on her face.

She led me into the luxurious two-bedroom apartment, and we sat on the brown leather couch. “Tell me everything.”

I spent the next thirty minutes giving Chloe the details of all that happened. How I found out that Liam has been cheating on me with Agatha for the past two years and down to her being pregnant for him and the divorce. Chloe listened intently to everything.

“I don’t even care about anything else; I just can’t live without my baby girl,” I cried into Chloe’s arms. “And to think she’s there all by herself with that surrogate snake.”

“Nothing would happen to Tessa, okay?” she assured me. “You know I’m a lawyer. I’d make sure you get custody of Tessa. Don’t you worry.”

“Really?” I sniffed, looking up at her.

“I promise you.” She swore to me, her eyes swirling with determination. 

I sighed in relief. Chloe was one of the most sought-after lawyers in New York. If she says she’s going to win a case, nothing can stop her.

“Alright, this depressing mood is no good.” She lifted my head and stood up. “Stand up, we’re going clubbing.”

I shook my head and grunted in reply. “I don’t think I can.”

Chloe dragged me up from the couch. “That’s exactly why you have to.” She pushed me towards her bedroom. “And, I have the perfect dress for you.”

Two hours later, we were sitting inside DEX-LOUNGE, one of the most popular clubs in New York. The space was covered in red and blue from the party light, and the DJ was playing electronic dance music on full blast.

“Here, take another shot.” Chloe handed me the sixth glass of vodka for the night. My head was already light, and I could barely see straight.

“Say ahh,” she acted out the sound by opening her mouth, and I followed suit. She downed the entire contents in my mouth, and I swallowed.

I didn’t think I would be able to stop thinking about the divorce, but honestly, the drinks were helping me forget about it. The more I drank, the more it all faded away.

“Damn!” Chloe exclaimed, holding up the empty bottle. “I’m going to go get more alcohol.” She stood up and disappeared through the crowds.

I picked up the empty vodka bottle and placed it over my mouth, trying to get out every last drop in it before Chloe would return with a refill.

“Mrs Smith?” A familiar voice cut through the loud music playing.

I brought down the bottle and adjusted my head to see who called my name. The party light highlighted the silhouette of the muscular man, but my eyes couldn’t see his face clearly.

I put the bottle over my eyes like binoculars. “Who…are…you?” I mumbled, pointing at the man.

I heard him chuckle and say something like, “How cute,” but I wasn’t sure. My brain could barely process anything right now.

He sat beside me, his strong, musky, intoxicating scent filling up my senses now that he was so close to me. “Are you by yourself?” 

I shook my head.

He suddenly took my hand in his and caressed it softly. His touch shot an electric thrill up my spine. “You’re not wearing your wedding ring.” He said, his voice barely above a whisper.

I nodded.

Before leaving home, Chloe had suggested I leave my ring behind. “This is the start of a new chapter. You have to leave every baggage from the past behind.” She had said.

His hand trailed up my open leg that was left exposed by the slit of the red dress Chloe had forced me to wear. My whole body tensed the further up his hands went, but I couldn’t stop him. 

No, I didn’t want to stop him. 

But then on his own, he stopped. Just before he got to the middle of my legs, which was already damp as a result of his touch. And maybe it was the alcohol talking, but I was disappointed he stopped.

He raised his head to face me. “Can I kiss you?” His voice was soft.

I blamed the drink for the second time in my head and nodded, “Yes.”

His hand cupped my cheeks and drew me closer before he landed a soft, tender kiss on my lips. I could taste beer on his tongue, and when he broke the kiss, I felt tortured for how short it lasted.

“I want more,” the words came out of my mouth before I could stop them. “I want you.”

Why couldn’t I control myself around this man? 

A wide grin appeared on his face, and he leaned into my ear. “My place is not too far from here; we could go there if you’d like.”

From the corner of my eye, I could see Chloe watching us. “Go home with him.” She mouthed with a mischievous smile.

How long has she been watching us for?

I turned my attention to the man, my heart pounding against my ribcage. And I don’t know if it was as a result of the alcohol or how strangely familiar this man felt, but I found myself saying,

“Yes, let’s go to your place.”