NEW START?

ALINA

I had already called Tatiana about the drama I'd been living in, urging her to stay still while I handled it all the times that she threatened to come help straighten things out with Mandy and Zach. Tonight, I called her once again. Before I signed the papers that completely altered the course of my life and before I packed my things.

As soon as my car rolled into her driveway, the front door was pulling open, and she was racing out to meet me. My tears continued their free fall as she helped me out of the car and wrapped me up in her arms.

"I'm so sorry, Lina. That jerk and his snake bride!" Her words are filled with venom. She pulled away from the hug, and her eyes scanned my face, anger forming in their brown depths. "Did that bastard hit you? I'm so calling the cops on him."

I sniffled and laughed a little. Despite my broken heart, I was amused by how quickly she switched from wanting me to work things out to hating the man.

"You're still laughing? Should I dial the asylum?" She teased me, even though sadness still danced in her gaze.

"Didn't you want me to find out what he was upset about and work things out?"

"That was before I found out just how much of a pig he is. He's fucking replacing you with Mandy. You introduced them a month ago!" Her words increased in pitch the more she spoke.

I shook my head from one side to the other, tears still making their rapid descent down my face.

"It hurts, doesn't it?"

"Very. All it took for my 10 years of happiness to topple to the ground was a month. One tiny dress, red lipstick, and one month. That's how little he valued me."

"He's a fool. You're the most priceless jewel any man would want to have in their life, and he's an idiot for letting you go." Tatiana linked our arms together and led us into the house.

"Do you want something to drink? Some food? Snacks? Alcohol? Anything?" She offered as I sank into her comfortable couch, still not saying anything.

My head shook negatively. "No. I just want to curl up and die."

"That's not on the menu," Tatiana scolded. She sat beside me and turned to face me. "He's not worth dying over, Lina. You're so much better than that."

A sob racked my throat as she spoke. "Better? How? I don't even have a job, Tati. I have nowhere to live, no money to fall back on because he's repossessed the joint account we once shared, and no family."

Tatiana hissed. "Nonsense. You've got me, Lina. This home is as much yours as it is mine, I don't mind having you here until you can get a place for yourself."

A watery laugh left my lips. "And how do I do that? I was the stupid girl who shared an account with a man who didn't let her do anything to earn for herself, remember?"

"That was the past. You're so going to get back at that douchebag." She announced. "Give me a second, I'd be right back."

I nodded and watched as she grabbed her phone off the coffee table and climbed the stairs that led up to the bedrooms. With a sigh, I leaned against the backrest and closed my eyes, letting the stream of tears wash over my skin once more. It was all I could do since I found out I'd been replaced.

"I'm back!" She called as she walked into the living room, a smile in her voice.

As I opened my eyes and looked at her, I noticed that she was wearing a huge smile and wiggling her phone in the air.

"Why are you smiling like that?" I furrowed my brows as I asked.

Her eyes lit up even further. "Well..." she delayed.

"Spill it, Tati! I could use some good news right now."

She came to sit beside me and clutched my hands in hers. "Remember that nursing degree we both got 5 years ago? The one Zach didn't let you put to good use?"

I nodded, silently urging her to continue with the information.

"I made a few calls, and you're going to start working at New York Medical Center on Monday."

A scream that was filled with excitement poured out of my lips at her words, my eyes bulging and tears - this time happy - spilled from my eyes.

"Oh my God, Tati! Are you serious?"

She nodded, smile still wide.

"How?"

"Magic." She winked.

I couldn't stop myself from throwing my body into her arms and giving her a grateful hug. "I'm so happy right now. Thank you, Tati. This means the world to me."

"Do you know what this means?" She wiggled her brows as we pulled away from the hug.

"No. What?"

"We need to celebrate."

I started to get off the sofa but she held me back. "Where are you going?"

"To grab a wine from the cabinet."

She shook her head. "Not that kind of celebration, silly. We're going out. When's the last time you walked into a club?"

"Never? Zach never let me."

"Exactly. So we're going tonight."

I dragged my arm out of her grasp immediately. "No. That's not my scene."

"Alina..."

Whatever she was going to say was cut off by the sound of a knock on the door.

"Are you expecting someone?" I asked her.

"No." Her brows were drawn together in confusion.

"Who's there?" She questioned as we walked up to the door.

The voice from the other end was masculine. "I was sent by Mr. Stewart."

I pulled the door open instantly. What if he had come to his senses and wanted me to come back home. Or...

"Mrs. Stewart?" The man enquired as he saw me.

I nodded and swallowed hard. I didn't know what to expect, and the hope that was swirling inside of me died down the moment he delivered his message.

"Mr. Stewart asked that I retrieve the vehicle you came here in. It belongs to him and his family and will no longer be available for your use since you no longer belong to that family."

"What?" Tatiana exclaimed. "That conniving, disgusting bastard! How dare he?"

I couldn't think. All I could feel was the sledgehammer that pummeled at my heart and sent the pieces flowing to the floor in bloody bits.

I stormed in, almost on autopilot, retrieved the keys, and dropped in on the floor outside for him. "Tell him he and his despicable family can have their vehicle. I don't need it."

Pulling Tatiana away from the door, I slammed it closed and slid down its surface, a new batch of tears spilling.

"Oh honey," Tatiana cooed as she squatted next to me. "It's gonna be fine."

I sniffled and dried my face with angry swipes of my palm. "Let's go for that celebration you talked about."