CHAPTER 3: GOING HOME

‎"How was the meeting?" Louis asked her on the call.

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‎She sighed after arriving at the condo.

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‎She lazily lay down on the bed looking very tired.

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‎ "The presentation went well. there are people who want to fix and just some minor changes in the plan. Once it's finalized and I see the area, we can start the construction."

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‎In fact, she wanted to go home now. But she stopped herself and calmly talked to Louis.

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‎"Very good, Roxanne, I made the right decision to send you there," Louis said happily.

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‎"Alright. I'm going to rest," she said before cutting the call. After hanging up, she sighed again and closed her eyes tightly.

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‎She had no strength to talk to Louis and saying she's happy although she's not.

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‎She usually doesn't cut the conversation with Louis. In fact, she's happy when she's talking to him. But what happened to her today is unexpected. She seemed to have lost the will to talk as various memories came to her.

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‎She did not expect to see her ex-husband there and she didn't expect their paths to cross by working here. She didn't know that the rich client Louis was telling her about. If only she knew that, she wouldn't hesitate to reject Louis. She could tell her that she hasn't moved on from what happened to her and Arch or maybe she's too unprofessional to not accept it just because of that but she doesn't care anymore. Because she would not want to see her ex-husband any more for any reason given to her now.

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‎There's no way that she would want to cross her path with him again. Why? Isn't it enough that they crossed paths for a few years that ended up in divorce and pain? because if not, what else does she have to experience to stop her fate?

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‎Well, what happen happened already. The meeting was successful. She should be happy because she has closed another project but her brain prevents her from being happy because she knows that is not right.

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‎Who would be happy if you see your ex-husband right?

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‎Fate is playing with her again and it looks like it is being enticed to play with her again because of what is happening now.

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‎She can't help but to be nervous even though she shouldn't be. She knows that everything is over with her and Archive and she has nothing to be sad about because she knows that they have their own lives and she is sure that he is happy now. It must be a relief to him that she's now gone on his life. He no longer has to worry or hide the secret that he and Ella have a relationship.

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‎Ella is her best friend. They were like sisters until she found out that Ella has a relationship with Arch. Her two eyes could clearly see how they hugged and kissed that night behind their house. It was her birthday when it happened. She was looking for his friend to invite her to drink until she was shocked by the scene that broke her, her own houseand and friend is kissing in the dark part behind the house.

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‎It broke her heart but she has to be strong. He confronted Arch but he denied it so it was even more painful for her. Because it only made her look like he was protecting Ella because there was

‎they are indeed related. But what crushed her more was his permanent separation from her.

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‎She thought she could still fix her marriage. She tried to change herself for him.She beautified herself, tidied herself up and did everything to be a better wife to him. But then, he still left her.

‎He still continued to break up with her.She thought that if she gave everything, he wouldn't leave her because they were happy, but no. And that's why she was exhausted. She doesn't know what's wrong with her but she needs to be strong and have a new life because she can't just be like this.

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‎She shook her head and took a deep breath to stop her mind from remembering the past. She thought she already deleted those dark memories of her with him because she doesn't want to remember it anymore.She used to smile when she remembered him but Arch is not part of her life now. They are walking in different worlds and she has no intention of re-entering the world he lives in again.

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‎Ses fine where she is right now.

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‎Lovelife is such a headache.

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‎Roxanne decided to go to a club that night to drink. She didn't bother to call her friends because she knew they were busy with their own life. And then they will also meet on friday so she can wait a few more days.

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‎She just needs alcohol in her body now to forget what happened today.

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‎So when six o'clock in the afternoon came, she didn't hesitate to shower and get dressed. She's wearing a black sleeveless dress that hugs her curves. She matched her outfit with a ponytail style and a high-wedge sandals that makes her more beautiful and sexier.

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‎Even if she says she has forgotten Arch, she still used to be part of her life. Half of her life he had known Arch.

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‎Everything she done since college until she got married and where he is now has been a part of Arch.

‎She reached her dream to become a well-known architect because of her failed marriage with him.

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‎If it wasn't for him, she wouldn't have realized her talent and wouldn't have reached the place where he is now.

‎She admits that when Arch broke up and she went abroad she didn't know how to start.

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‎It seems, her life literally had no direction at that time. It took a few

‎months before she could hold herself. During her first months there, she cried every night. Asking herself where she fell short, why she wasn't good enough, what she did why they ended up separating, why her husband's fell to someone else.

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‎She was also unable to eat properly and she was grateful to the people who were patient with her and gave her direction to start again. Not only her friends persevered but also the people she met there.

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‎She has been through a lot. There are times that she wants to give up but fortunately Louis is there to comfort her. That she could do it. No one could do it but her. That's why she slowly reached his dream with Louis and the people who supported her. From there, she regains her strength again. Strength that she never thought would be returned to her after the hardships and painful memories she suffered.

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‎Roxanne looked around at the bar while sipping a wine. She was quiet and alone in the corner. Men tried to approach her but she didn't respond.

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‎ She doesn't have time to flirt with boys right now. All he wanted was to get Archive out of her mind.

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‎She couldn't quite figure out why she was still thinking about her ex-husband. They have their own lives to run, but here she is still thinking of that man as if nothing hurtful had been done to her.

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‎Maybe their marriage was the reason why she still thinks about the man even though they shouldn't care anymore. Even though the world turned upside down, they still became friends and at one point they loved each other.

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‎When they met earlier and he asked her how she was doing, she admitted that she was surprised. In the few years that he stayed there in another country, there was no greeting between them. He didn't even ask their circle of friends about her. She didn't even know if she was going to answer, but to finish it off, she answered him with professionalism.

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‎"Are you alone?" asked a man.

‎As usual, she ignored it. She thought it would eventually stop but the man was too persistent for her to notice. It makes her uncomfortable.

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‎So after she drank the wine, she walked quickly and went to the middle of the dance floor so that the man wouldn't follow her. It seems that she was not followed because of the number of people dancing. She danced and had fun until she was tired and when she was tired she returned to her old place and took another sip of wine.

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‎Fortunately, the man who was following her was no longer there. After drinking several bottles, Roxanne felt very dizzy so she left the bar to go home. She needs to go home with her mind still intact and not let the power of alcohol take over because no one will pick her up.

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‎She stopped a taxi but it just passed her. She didn't stop at the taxi stand when she heard the man yell from behind her that someone else was with her. Even though she was dizzy she remembered who it was.

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‎Rick was the man who was trying to follow her in the bar so he walked away and went to the dance floor earlier.

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‎It would be a big trouble for her if a man sees her. She stopped the approaching taxi in his direction. everything would have been fine if she hadn't been seen by the man and her companion. She immediately pulled away from the taxi who was about to stop because of two men surrounding her.

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‎In his fear she retreated. Her heart was beating fast and he was almost deaf. "I've been talking to you for a while but you're not paying attention to me," he heard the man say.

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‎"You're a snob. You want that to go away? You're with us."

‎She seemed to lose her drunkenness because of the two of them. She threw her bag at the man and hit him to escape. She ran fast because she knew they would chase her right away, so she tripped and was chased by the men.

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‎She was immediately pulled by their arms and slapped in the face. She was almost stopped by what they did because no one had ever slapped her. Not even her ex-husband.

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‎She has done felt nothing but helpless.

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‎She's totally helpless.

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‎ She wanted to scream but surely no one would hear her. And if she screams, she might just get worse. She couldn't do anything to stop them from dragging her even though he wanted to run away.

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‎"Save! Someone help me please!"

‎She shouted although she's being torn if someone will came or not.

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‎They seemed to be heard because suddenly a black car stopped in front of them. The man went down but he didn't expect it to be him. What seemed like a wish turned out to be a bad dream for her. She thought that the knight in shining armor would save her, but it seems that it's even worse.

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‎"What do you think you are doing with her?" He said coldly.

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‎He saw her looking at him so she quickly looked away.

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‎He is the reason why I am here but he is also the one who will save me.

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‎I'm here. What is this?

‎"Who are you? Du— "The man who had been pulling him didn't finish what he had to say because he received a blow from him. She can't help but be in awe of what he did.

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‎He tried to punch him one time but received a strong kick from him. They are both on the floor.

‎When did he learn basic martial arts?

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‎He took the cellphone and called someone. He heard something 'we're behind the bar' and then hung up. Roxanne caught him looking at her so she looked away again.

‎Roxanne was surprised when Arch came and took her behind him.

‎Later some men came and took the men who almost harmed her.

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‎"We will take them sir to the police

‎station."

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‎"Okay."

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‎Arch faced Roxanne which surprised the girl. She backed away because she felt like she was going to lose her ability to breathe. Calm yourself Roxanne!.

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‎"Are you okay?" he asked her.

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‎Roxanne started stared at him again but she immediately broke her gaze and then answered him coldly.

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‎"I'm fine."

‎"I'm taking you home."

‎"I can go home alone," she said coldly.

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‎She hailed a taxi again. A taxi was about to stop when Arch grabbed her and put her inside the car.

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‎"What are you doing? I said I can go home alone! What do you think of me a kid?" She said. "Let me go!Or I'm going to call the police!" She threatened him but to no avail he didn't seem to hear her words, and instead he locked the car door.

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‎"I'm taking you home, Roxanne. No buts."

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