" Get your hands off my wife." Came the deep venomous voice behind Damien, hinting at the barely controlled anger. Damien froze. Shit! Shit!! Shit!!! He cussed. Slowly, he turned around to see a huge figure looming over him. The streets were still crowded, but in that moment, Damien felt like it was just he and Gerald. He resisted the urge to pull his hands away from the barely conscious Serena. " Your Grace!" He called out enthusiastically, effectively covering up the shock he felt. " It's a surprise seeing you here!" " Get. Your. Hands. Off my wife." Gerald grated out again, more dreadfully. Fear sizzled down his spine. " I would love to do that. But you see, she's barely conscious. I'm afraid she had a little too much to drink." He replied as normally as ever. Why did Gerald have to show up now that he drugged Serena? In a few steps, Gerald was directly in front of Damien. He snatched her from his hands, pulling her to his side so sh
Serena woke up the next morning, her mind blank and with a pounding headache. Glancing an unfocused gaze around, she tried to figure out where she was. She soon noticed she was in her room. She raised her brow, confused. How did she get there? Groaning, she sat up on the bed, rubbing her eyes. Her head was still pounding. A few memories started filtering in. She'd been out yesterday, with Mr Murphy. He had taken her to the pub where she had a glass of apple cider... She couldn't remember anything afterwards. Did he bring her home? A knock on the door interrupted her in her train of thoughts. She glanced at door, pursing her lips. " Come in." She muttered. Unsure if the person would hear her, she said it louder. Lana walked in, bowing in greeting. Serena murmured a reply, managing a small smile. Lana immediately set to work, opening the curtains and filling the wash basin with water. " I'm thirsty. Get me a glass of water." She said, her voice raspy. Lana im
" I don't think we can go on deceiving those couple anymore." Damien announced, staring at the wafting through the air. " If anything, they're the ones deceiving us." " What do you mean?" Scarlett asked. He glanced at her, his eyes dark and raging.. He took a long drag from the cigarette he held. Holding it for a few seconds, he let it out, watching the huge clouds of smoke. " Gerald may act unconcerned but I know he cares for her." He said. Scarlett snorted in disbelief. " How can you say that? Is it because of last night?" She asked. He'd recounted the awful tale to her and she couldn't help chuckling. " Especially because of last night." He deadpanned, his voice serious. He sighed, leaning back. " The look on his face when I held Serena wasn't the one of disinterest. He looked like he could strangle me to death for being close to her." And he almost did. The bruised skin on his neck and pain in his groin bore testament to it. The sour mood that
Gerald was on his way to Scarlett's residence. The investigation had produced more than he and expected, especially the fact that Scarlett and Murphy were once lovers. Something Scarlett had never told him. He wanted to confirm if it was true. His thoughts drifted to Serena and he stiffened. He hadn't meant what he said, especially not the way she took it. He'd tried to talk to her but she only screamed at him to go away. The guilt he felt worsened further when he heard the tears in her voice. He had left with a promise to come back and try to talk to her. He arrived at Scarlett's place just in time to see Damien leave. They were talking seriously about something and Scarlett paid no attention to her surroundings. He saw them share a kiss. The anger he'd tried so hard to control, came rearing it's ugly head. He managed to stay put until he had left. Once he disappeared in his carriage, Damien walked into the house. " I thought you left already, why are you back
( Three days later) Yesterday was a terrible day for Damien. He had been found out by the people he owed money and they had requested for him to pay in full. Of course he had no money with him to complete such payment. Angry at him for running away and even more furious for not having their money, they had been hurt severally, his body bearing bruises. He didn't understand why they would lay their hands on him despite his title and he spent some time digging. He was able to find out something. Someone more powerful had tipped them about his whereabouts and told them to treat him like that in case he didn't have the money to pay up. Gerald, his mind whispered to him. He grinded his teeth in fury. He was the only one capable of doing something like this, he thought to himself as he lay on the ground, writhing in pain. It could only mean one thing, they had been found out. Normally, he should have felt fear for the impending danger it meant but none of i
( Two months later) Slowly, yet quickly, two months passed by. During that period, Gerald and Serena had enough time to drift apart. They never made up from their fights and as the days passed, Serena talked less. It was safe to say they were strangers in their own house. During that period, Gerald had worked with his lawyer, getting the final stages of the divorce ready. By the end of the month, Serena would be taking her things and leaving. It was he was he wanted, he thought to himself, trying not to feel guilt for self-sabotaging he inflicted into his own marriage. He had told Frederick about it and the latter had been shocked. " What do you mean, you're finally splitting up?" He had asked, staring at him with haughty. " It's just as I've told you Frederick," he muttered without a change in his demeanor. " We would be finally going our separate ways." " Even after everything? I thought you liked her Gerald!?" He'd asked. " Well
Later that day, Gerald came to see Serena. Hearing the knock on her door, she had opened the door to find him at the doorway, holding a bunch of papers in his hand. Her heart skipped a beat but she pushed the door wider to let him in. He walked inside the room and she closed the door behind her. She already knew why he was here so she didn't bother asking. Earlier this week, she had found out that he was making preparations for their divorce. He must be through with it already. All that would be left was for her to sign and pack her things and leave. The thought left a bitter feeling in her mind. She pushed it away. She gestured for him to seat, walking forward. " Would you like anything?" She asked but he shook his head. He dropped the pile of papers on the table, giving her a knowing look. Serena swallowed, sitting down. Gently, she picked up the papers, looking through it. They were indeed divorce papers. She let out a breath, reading through it. It's fi
( A month later) After weeks of waiting, the dreaded finally arrived. Serena sat in front of the mirror, staring at her reflection, her gaze unseeing. Although she had come to terms with her departure, it still felt unreal. She drew in a breath, standing up. Her things had already been packed, waiting for her downstairs. All that was left was her. Looking at the room, memories flooded her. The good, bad and completely ugly. She let out a sigh, her lips twitching. Placing the ring on the table, she took her gloves, wearing them before stepping out of the room, closing the door quietly behind her. Descending down the stairs, she saw the maids at the floor, all lined up and waiting for her. Once she got to them, they bowed, wishing her safe journeys. She thanked them for their good wishes. She stopped at Lana who had tears in her eyes. She was sniffing. " Don't cry..." She cooed softly, cleaning off the tears. " I don't deserve it." She whispered, smilin