Chapter 4

She stood up slowly, glaring hard at Nathan.

She hated him with every fiber of her being.

Since Alicia had known him, her life had been a complete mess. She had become a lonely, depressed girl, wishing for Nathan’s love every single minute of her life.

Their girls’ night out had been ruined the moment she met him, and now that she was finally trying to pick up the pieces and move on, he was here again.

Her eyes never left him as he glared back.

"How dare you show up here? Get lost. I don’t want Alicia to realize it’s you," she spat.

"What gave you the mind to take her out to a club? She’s my wife!"

"Your wife? Can you say that again?"

"A girl you neglected for how many years of her life? Even when you almost lost those stupid legs of yours, she stood by you and never gave up on you. Did you appreciate any of it? Instead, you maltreated her and treated her like trash. Get the f*ck out of her life now and forever!" she yelled.

He didn’t listen. He stepped forward and lifted Alicia off the floor.

"Go meet your mistress and leave her alone. Your lover almost lost her life. What are you still doing here?"

With his teeth clenched, he flung open the car door and shoved her inside.

"Ow, Mily, was he the man you were talking about? Are you sure he’s good?" Alicia muttered before sleep overtook her.

When Emily realized she wasn’t going to win, she insisted on taking Alicia to her new home.

"Alicia has nothing to do at your house. She’ll have to go to hers," Nathan scowled.

"Alicia doesn’t have a home near you either. You called that pit of hell a home for her?" Emily fired back, refusing to let him take her.

"Then we’ll stay at your house."

"What?"

"Yes. I can’t trust you. You could sneak her back to a club again. Who knows, you could get her hooked up with a man, as she said."

"And how does that concern you? You’re getting divorced soon."

"We haven’t divorced yet."

"Do as you wish then. You can sleep on the floor if you want to act like you love her today."

They got into the car and drove to Emily’s house.

Before they arrived, Alicia’s stomach twisted. She squirmed until her head fell against Nathan’s legs.

Emily smirked, anticipating what would happen next.

"What are you doing?" Nathan’s panic was obvious.

"I have no other clothes here. Don’t—"

He didn’t finish. Her stomach betrayed her, and she vomited onto his legs.

The car filled with the stench. Emily pinched her nose.

"Aly, that’s gross," she muttered. Nathan forced himself not to throw up, veins standing out in his neck from holding his breath.

"Stop the car! Stop the car!" Nathan’s voice was strained, near breaking, but Emily shook her head.

"We’re almost there. What’s the need to stop the car?"

He was close to losing consciousness from disgust when the car finally stopped.

He bolted out.

"Yeah, we’re here," Emily muttered, dragging Alicia from the car while Nathan stood still, breathing hard, eyes fixed on his ruined tuxedo.

She had just destroyed one of his favorite outfits.

He followed them slowly inside.

"Take the car home," he muttered to his driver.

"You can have the couch," Emily said, dragging Alicia upstairs. When he reached out to help, Emily snapped at him, warning him not to touch her friend.

Once they were gone, he looked down at himself and sighed.

***

Alicia woke to a throbbing headache. Her eyes fluttered open, blurry and unsteady.

"Where am I?"

Her gaze landed on Emily, standing in front of a mirror.

This room felt completely unfamiliar.

"We didn’t go home yesterday?" she muttered, brows furrowed.

"We’re home, Aly. This was supposed to be a surprise for you, a pleasant one. But things… happened."

"What things happened?"

"You’ll find out this way."

"Find out what?"

"I got a new house!" Emily beamed.

Alicia’s eyes widened, darting around the space in excitement.

"Mily, you got a new house!"

"Yes!" Emily’s face glowed.

They hugged tightly, jumping and screaming with joy.

Meanwhile, Nathan, hearing the commotion, rushed upstairs, suspicion twisting his thoughts. He banged on the door.

"What!" Both women screamed in alarm until they saw his face.

Alicia froze, shock painting her features. How had he arrived so quickly?

"Aly, you know I wouldn’t tell on you. He found us and insisted on taking you home, but I didn’t allow it. He insisted on coming along."

"To do what?"

"According to him, he was scared you might sneak back to a club again."

"What the f*ck? As if you care! Please leave now," she spat, bolting from the room.

In her rush, she missed a step and began tumbling down the stairs. A strong arm shot up and caught her just before her head hit the floor.

She opened her eyes to see blue eyes staring down at her—the same eyes she had adored all her life, cold yet familiar.

But today, there was something different. Was it warmth? She doubted it and sprang free from his arms.

"You should’ve let me fall!" she yelled and scrambled toward the kitchen.

The doorbell rang just then.

She went to the door and opened it to see a woman she knew.

"What are you doing here?" she scoffed.

"Sorry for barging in, Miss Alicia. Is Nathan with you?"

Wow, this lady really had some nerve, Alicia thought, taking a deep breath to calm her anger.

She opened the door wider to let her in. The woman rushed inside and hugged Nathan tightly.

"Why did you leave me there?"

Nathan blinked in surprise.

"How did you find out I’m here?"

"I asked your driver," she muttered, pressing closer.

"How are you feeling? What about your medications?" he asked, his voice gentle.

Anger simmered, but Alicia pushed it down. She was done with Nathan and would soon finalize the divorce. There was nothing left to fight for.

But Nathan seemed unwilling to let the moment pass.

"Alicia," he called. She lifted her head toward him.

"Now that Andrea is here, I think you should apologize to her already."

Alicia bit her lower lip, furious.

"Don’t force her, Nathan. I already forgave her," Andrea said softly, clinging to Nathan’s chest.

"Miss Alicia, we just love each other. Please, let us be together and don’t hurt me anymore," she murmured, her tone tender.

Alicia scoffed.

"You see, she’s not as cruel as you," Nathan added, making her stomach twist.

"Of course, I’m letting you be together. Can you now leave? This isn’t your home," she snapped.

She pushed them out and locked the door, curling up as tears streamed down her face.

"Let it be, Aly. He’s just a confused lunatic," Emily said from the stairs.

She sniffed.

"I’m getting this divorce. Certainly."

"Yes, baby. He deserves it."

"I’ll no longer live like his scapegoat."

"That’s it. Now what are we going to eat?"

"No groceries? Let’s go get some!"

Emily ran to the kitchen for a bottle of water and staggered back when she opened the fridge. It was fully stocked.

"This crazy b*stard. What is he trying to prove?"

"Mily, are we not going anymore?" Alicia sprang into the kitchen, eyes wide.

"Thought you said no groceries?"

"Ah, yeah. I forgot I got them," Emily lied, hiding the truth that Nathan had bought them while they were asleep.

"Okay, let’s get cooking!"

A pot contained soup— hangover soup, precisely.

"Mily?" Alicia questioned, glancing back.

"Oh, I made that earlier," Emily muttered.

"Why do I feel you’re lying? Was it Nathan?"

"Nope, I prepared everything. Forget about that jerk! Look at what he did just now."

"Yeah, I know. I’m forgetting about him. Even if he bought it, I’ll assume you did," Alicia muttered, downing the soup as the hangover bit.

"I’ll leave at noon."

"I’m sure it’s not to Nathan’s, right?"

"Of course not, Mily. I’m f*cking done with him. Once we finalize the divorce, it’s over."

"Then where are you going? Why rent a hotel when you can stay here?"

"I’m not renting a hotel. I’m going home, Mily."

"What?" Emily’s brows shot up.

"Are you sure you can stay there? Your dad, who always had your back, is gone."

"That’s my home, and I must go back."

Alicia had lived with her dad and stepmother since childhood. Though she didn’t care much for her stepmother, her father had always supported and loved her. After Alicia married, her father died, leaving her with a stepmother and stepsister who hated her.

Now, with her marriage crumbled, she had nowhere else to go but home. She believed she had every right to be there.

They hugged, and she left.

When she arrived, her stepmother’s security bundled her out of the gate before she could reach the apartment.

Frustrated and dejected, Alicia waited outside on the street. Her heart heavy with worry. Tears welled up in her eyes.

She was waiting to board a cab.

 Half an hour later, a private car suddenly pulled up beside her.