Chapter 5

Serena's POV

“You have one new message,”

“You have one new message,”

“You have one-

“Urgh… good lord. Enough already!” I groaned out, groggily moving my hands to search for the source of that horrible voice.

The same voice that had managed to resound so much that I could hear it in my sleep!

Like a chant. Just going over and over... “You have one new message,” it sounded again, as though mocking my lazy attempt to search for it.

"How and why do I even have such a setting?" I paused to wonder, frustrated

Like why?

Why Serena, why?

“You have one new message”

“You have one-

"Arghhh, that's it!" I sounded out, angrily rising from my position to see that monstrous creature for myself. My hair, all over the place as I scanned around me. My eyes glaring, until finally -

"You have one new message" the sleek object glowed from underneath a pillow not too far. And so-

"Gotcha!" I gritted, diving down on it before it sounded yet another notification. And... "There! Turned off!" I breathed, "Silence... At last,"

But just as I did that, my eyes opened to be awfully aware of my surroundings. Where I was, and what was in front of my face as well.

With a crunched-up nose, "Domaine de la Romanée-Conti," I read out slowly, my eyes squinting to process the words. "What is - DRC?"

"DRC. What is DR-" just then it clicked!

My eyes going wide as my jaw dropped open. "DRC?!!!" I shrilled crazily, quickly forgetting my phone as I reached for the smooth object.

"Empty bottle?!" The words fell out with more shrills, "Why is- why is the bottle empty? Why is the bottle empty and right here with me?!"

Oh God.

This was one of Eliot's most prized possessions, found only in his private bar in his study!

"How did this get here? How did it-

I was about to go off shooting more questions in the air when it all started coming back.

The memories, my screaming, and dancing... and me... me "me going down to his study..." I trailed off, realizing what I had done last night.

Woah.

Woah Serena. Woah oh oh!

How crazy are you to go into the forbidden land?! What were you thinking!

Eliot is-

"He is so going to find out! You're dead meat!" I chided myself, groaning out in despair as I melted fully to the floors. The properly decorated floors filled with all sorts of snacks wraps and wine glasses.

"Oh God.." Just how much did I drink last night? And for how long?!

When did I even sleep off? Or rather, black out?

Considering the fact that I was currently on the floor of my bedroom, I think it was safe to say that I totally abandoned my hide out in the closet.

And in my craziness, I went all the way to Eliot's study, to his private bar, and then grabbed one of his precious babies and brought it back to my room with me!

Alongside several snacks and gummies that I would never take at night since I was trying to watch my weight and not get too fat for Eliot. Which sounded totally ridiculous right now, but that's by the way.

"Okay hold on, breathe Serena. Breathe..." I said to myself, taking deep breaths with the empty bottle of wine in hand.

Quite comical, right?

My very tattered looking self. Hair in disarray, clothes all jumbled with several wine stains, eyes all swollen and probably reddish right now. Then to crown it all, a very expensive and very much empty bottle of wine laid conveniently in my grip.

The very evidence of my theft if anyone were to barge in here right now.

'Just concentrate!' I mentally scolded myself, taking even more in and out breaths. Until finally,

"That's better, " I confirmed, opening my eyes now to properly take in my surroundings, as well arrange my own thoughts.

First thing first, what happened yesterday?

And just like that, several images of yesterday hit me. Each scene making more sense, as well as provoking me all the same.

Until I finally had enough and grumbling let go of the empty wine bottle. My eyes glaring at it as I remembered just where it came from-Eliot the idiotic selfish jerk!

But at least my thoughts were more arranged, "Okay, so I stole. Had my first theft yesterday, my first alcohol blackout, yelled at Eliot yesterday, refused to sign his stupid divorce papers like he wanted! And just... literally had my very first blast in my bedroom. Not so bad, is It?"

'Well, Eliot wanting to divorce your ass for his mistress and bastard child, doesn't sound so good. Does it?' my subconscious taunted me,

I just breathed to calm myself, to hold it all down and just... "Anything else?" I voiced out, not expecting an answer of course. But then, somehow, I received one.

And it came with a sharp ding from my laptop not too far from me. My eyebrows furrowed as I reached for it. Surprised it was both turned on and in my bedroom too.

Just out in the open and not safely kept in my hidden space in the closet like I usually did.

But as soon I tapped it on, I instantly received the answers to both questions.

‘1 person reacted to your post.’

‘2 persons reacted to your post, Pages I'll Delete Later.’

Huh?

What post? I-i didn't make any posts.

Or did I? Did I make one last night when I was- "when I was drunk?!" I gasped loudly, appalled at the thought of such a thing.

I would be totally done for!

“But hold on, was that why my phone was receiving so much messages?” The thought paused me in my tracks, my face literally paling at the thought of my mom or any other person in my family contacting me due to a disgraceful post online about myself. By own self even!

"Ohhh," I whimpered, my head sinking low to rest on my laptop as I dreaded all the horrors I was to face if that were indeed the case.

But luckily, a notification sounded from my laptop again. Causing me to lift my head from It, a sorrowful expression on my face. But nothing, absolutely nothing prepared me for what I saw!

Cause as I lifted my head, clicking away on the notification, next thing I saw was; "You have one new comment, Pages I'll Delete Later!"

Pages I'll Delete La-

"Ahh!" I gasped harshly, almost throwing away my laptop as a sudden memory hit me like a ton of bricks.

"And... posted! Eat my dust, Eliot!" The memory echoed in my head, and with it came the quick realization of what I had done.

"OH. MY. GOD" the words left my lips. Shock, horror, sudden realization and every atom of speechlessness quickly braced me as I sat down there. A total mess but my mind clear as day.

All the memories from yesterday, fully complete in my mind. And now, all I had left were the consequences. Consequences of each and every one of my actions that I had taken while not thinking things through.

Just great!

First time I decided to do something for myself, not considering anyone and just doing me, this was what I got! Just great, Serena. Just great.

But no matter how surprised or worried I was now, I couldn't help but smile as I looked back at my laptop screen. The notification still there, waiting for me to check it out.

And with that little curiosity, I drew closer to see. My eyes widening, my jaw nearly reaching the floor as a bashful smile fought its way to my face. "Wow,"

"14 people reacted to your post, Pages I'll Delete Later."

"16 people reacted to your post!" Another notification read, and I continued scrolling. More smiles making its way to my lips,

"You have two new comments!"

"Woah!" I gushed, starstruck as I rushed to the very end of all the notifications. Not believing my eyes,

"53 reactions?!" I sounded loudly, almost screaming out in excitement as several happy chuckles left my lips. “Haha!”

My entire body tingled with excitement as I found myself rolling around on the floor, the snack wraps protesting as I rolled on them. Not caring or minding just how ridiculous I would look right now if Rosa walked in on me.

"Yay!" I gushed like a child, rolling around after every look at my laptop screen. "Yay!"

"Oh my goodness, I cannot believe this!" I finally calmed down a bit, wiping happy tears from the edge of my eyes as I faced my laptop squarely.

Smiles still on my face as I clicked on each and every notification, one after the other. Noting each person that reacted and even those that commented!

Although I had only two comments, but it was most definitely much more than I ever imagined!

In fact, I had no imagination. I had nothing in mind when I decided to post this last night!

I was just... mad and angry. With myself, my life, Eliot... everything!

I just wanted to vent and do something I would never do on a normal day while being 'Proper Mrs. Beckett ', and look! I had two comments to show for it!

I had 53 reactions, people! 53!

I didn't even get up to that amount on my normal personal social media page!

"Oh my God, this feels so good" I sighed softly, smiling with deep content as I stared at the page that currently had just one post.

My page.

My page that had just one post.

And that was when I realized, this was the first time I was feeling so content.

The very first time, ever since my wedding day with Eliot. This was my second time of having that content feeling.

Four years had passed and this was the only time I felt content, making it twice. It was even more shameful when I thought of my age as a whole. In my entire 25 years on planet earth, I had only ever felt content...twice. Just twice.

And it wasn't like I had a difficult life and starved daily.

"Ugh... You really need a life, Serena" I grumbled to myself, sighing as my actual reality came crashing.

But just then, a loud bang sounded from outside my room. Startling me a bit as my eyes quickly shot in its direction. "What's that noise?"

I didn't even wait to hear it again. Quickly logging out of my new found happiness with a subtle smile on my face, before shutting down my system. Taking it to my safe spot and coming back to clear off my mess from last night.

Especially taking care to hide the empty bottle of wine in some place I could retrieve it from later in the day. To personally dispose of It before Eliot would show up later at night like the King of darkness that he was.

And right after that, I headed to my door. Another loud bang sounding yet again, and by the time I pushed open my doors I realized exactly why.

"Oh, hi!" Her voice sounded chirpy, "Wow, you do not look good!”

Huh?

“Eli didn’t exactly say, but I figured this is where he used to stay. I wanted to see it before anyone else claimed it! I thought I was being quiet,”

Are you kidding me?

What in heaven’s name is Eliot's mistress doing in front of my door?!