Chapter 6

The DJ’s music pounded so hard it made the floor vibrate. Neon lights flickered wildly across the ceiling while Anna sat slumped at the bar, staring blankly at the glass in her hand.

“Anna, are you drunk?” Elena asked, her voice tight with worry—the same friend Anna had called earlier while half-sobbing.

“I only had a little,” Anna replied, though her unfocused eyes said otherwise.

Elena frowned. “What’s going on? You never come to places like this, let alone drink yourself into this state. What happened?”

“I’m just… celebrating freedom,” Anna said with a crooked smile—her control clearly slipping.

“Freedom?” Elena’s confusion deepened.

“I divorced Rendy,” Anna blurted. The words made Elena freeze.

“You’re definitely drunk. There’s no way—you, the queen of being hopelessly in love, suddenly got divorced?” Elena snapped. Without waiting for an answer, she grabbed Anna’s wrist. “Come on. We’re going home.”

“No!” Anna jerked away violently. “I’m not going home!”

She stood, trying to walk, but her body swayed.

Thud!

Anna stumbled backward, colliding with someone.

“Watch it, jerk!” she barked, pointing accusingly at the man’s face.

In a messy, uncoordinated move, Anna grabbed the man’s collar. “You… you bastard who only used me,” she slurred, her words tumbling over themselves.

“Anna! Stop, let go!” Elena panicked, tugging on her friend. “We’re leaving right now!”

“Shut up, Elena!” Anna snapped loudly, drawing several curious stares. She glared at the man and let out a humorless laugh. “He’s the jerk who used me. But at least I divorced him.”

The man exhaled slowly, his voice low and steady. “Miss, you’ve got the wrong person.”

He effortlessly pried her hand off his collar.

“I don’t have the wrong person…” Anna muttered—then suddenly froze. A split second later—

She vomited all over him.

The man’s jaw clenched sharply, his eyes narrowing with an icy edge that looked capable of murder.

Realizing danger when she saw it, Elena yanked Anna away with all her strength. “Sorry!” she shouted over her shoulder before dragging her stumbling friend out of the bar.

Anna only giggled weakly, oblivious to the chaos she’d just caused.

---

“Ugh… my head hurts,” Anna groaned the moment she opened her eyes. She rubbed her temples, the world still spinning around her.

“Finally awake,” Elena said from a chair beside the bed, making Anna turn sluggishly toward her. “Start talking.”

“Talking… about what?” Anna asked with innocent confusion.

“Rendy,” Elena replied flatly.

“I’m divorced,” Anna murmured, her voice shrinking the moment her ex-husband’s name filled the air.

“How did that even happen?” Elena moved closer, demanding answers with her stare.

“He… he just used me. The one he loves is Lusi,” Anna whispered. Slowly, she explained everything—the lies, the hurt, the reason the marriage collapsed.

Elena let out a long, furious sigh. “They’re both insane.”

“My head still hurts…” Anna muttered again.

“Now you complain. Last night you didn’t think for a second about what you were doing!” Elena scolded. She pointed at a bowl on the table. “Drink the hangover soup. Now.”

Anna hesitated, anxious. “I… didn’t do anything embarrassing, right?”

Elena paused. “No,” she said simply.

Anna almost relaxed—until Elena continued.

“You just almost got us killed.”

“What?” Anna stared, baffled.

“You seriously don’t remember?” Elena groaned at Anna’s utterly clueless expression. “You cursed out Liam Alonzo, Anna.”

“What?!” Anna’s eyes flew wide.

“And not just that. You threw up on him,” Elena practically exploded.

Anna went rigid. “L-Liam Alonzo? The ruthless one?”

Elena nodded quickly. “Yes. Liam Alonzo. The ruthless, terrifying, dangerously untouchable Liam Alonzo. You nearly dug our graves last night.”

Anna paled instantly. “He… he won’t come after me, right?”

Elena shrugged. “No idea. That’s your problem. What I do know is I’m leaving the country today, so I’m safe.”

“You’re leaving me?” Anna whimpered.

“Hey, dying at the hands of a handsome man might not be the worst way to go,” Elena joked while zipping her suitcase.

“Elenaaa!” Anna yelped in panic.

“I’m kidding,” Elena said with a small laugh.

“But you’re really leaving today?” Anna walked closer, watching her friend fold the last of her clothes.

“Yes. I told you before, remember?”

Anna was quiet for a moment, then whispered, “Then… I’m leaving this city too.”

Elena glanced back. “Where to?”

“I don’t know. I just… want to get away from everything that hurts here.”

Elena’s expression softened. “Whatever you decide, I’ll support you.”

Anna managed a small, grateful smile—for the first time since last night.