I got outside and finally breathed out. I never knew I was holding my breath all this while.

“It’s finally over Gwen. You put them all in their places” I muttered to myself.

I was glad I never gave them the impression that I was in pains nor I’m weak. I sighed out and entered my car

A text buzzed on my phone as soon as got into the car.

It was from my friend, Lily.

“Gosh! That blockhead” I muttered before picking.

“Seriously, Gwen, you're skipping my party tonight? Marriage isn't a meditation retreat. You don't have to ditch your friends because of Arthur. Please! I will be so mad if you don’t show up" she yelled, without letting me speak.

I smile and replied, "Lily, you have a point."

“Wait, what?"

She screamed shocked.

"I'm no longer married. I'm rejoining the real world starting today."

I replied. There was a brief pause and I’m sure Lily was meditating on what I just said.

A loud scream was suddenly heard, followed by laughter.

I could practically feel her bubbling excitement.

"Ten minutes! Give me just ten minutes! I'll be at your doorstep to celebrate your glorious return!"

She said happily and I shook my head.

“You don’t even know the address of my new apartment” I muttered, driving out of Arthur’s Villa.

“Just send me the address Gwen, I will be right there!” She giggled and I couldn’t help but laugh out.

Lily had never supported my marriage with Arthur. I’m sure she was more than glad.

“Sure!” I replied and ended the call.

ARTHUR’S POV

Even after the door to the Villa slammed shut, i was still in disbelief.

Did Gwen just did all that?

Yet, at that moment, i felt as if the woman before me was a completely different person other than the one I’ve lived with all this while.

“Arthur!!” Natasha loud scream brought me back from my thoughts.

"Are you really going to let that woman walk away? Make her come back! I want to hit her in the face as well!"

She said and I raised my brows.

“Can you hear me Arthur?. Make Gwen come back here. I can’t let her hit me and get away with it!”she said.

"Stop it!" I snapped coldly and before I realized, it was too late.

My eyes widened. For the first time in years, I yelled at Natasha and it’s all Gwen’s fault. I was taken aback cause of her sudden behavior.

She has always been am obedient and submissive wife.

For a moment, I realized I never knew the woman I married all this years.

“You just yelled at me Arthur……and it’s all because of her. What has she done to you?. Don’t you love me anymore?”

She said, her eyes filled with tears. I sighed out.

“That’s not it Tasha” I muttered and pulled her to myself again.

She rested her head on my chest and I stroke her hair.

“I love you Tasha and I always will. Nothing will change that” I said and she breathed out.

At that moment, I knew she was relieved.

“I love you too “ she replied, hugging me so tight as if am gonna run away.

We stood like that for some minutes before we finally broke the hug.

"Can I tag alone with you to the Winthrop mansion tonight? It feels like ages since I saw Lady Wendy, and I miss her. Don’t said no please” she begged, giving me those cute puppy eyes of hers that made me fall in love with her in the first place.

“Sure. You know you don’t have to plead with me first!”

I mumbled.

“Go get all you need and let’s go”

I watch her giggled and despite my efforts to focus on her, the vision of Gwen’s slapping her in my presence kept haunting me.

I had this strange sense that I’d never really known my wife...

“All done!”

I sighed as Natasha got to me.

“We can leave now Arthur!” She said.

GWEN’S POV

I stared at my wrist watch for the upteempt time.

Lily, ever prompt and decisive, had promised to be her in ten minutes but its more than twenty minute.

I felt someone whistling at me. I raised my head to see Lily stepping out of her car.

“Hey Baddie”

Before i could even respond, she embraced me tightly.

I sighed, tossing my bag into the back seat.

Then a car key appeared before my eyes.

"Fancy driving this modified sports car? It's been three years since you were behind the wheel!"

I giggled and swatted her hand aside and slid into the passenger seat.

“Not feeling it."

I said and she laughed.

Stepping on the gas, her voice filled with mischief. "Alright, out with it. What brought you back from your lovesick daze?"

Resting my chin on one hand, i seemed lost in a distant reverie, bidding farewell to the past years.

"Natasha back."

Upon hearing my words, she smirked and retorted, "You and Arthur are a fascinating pair, equally stubborn. I sometimes think you two should take a paternity test to see if you're related. What's with the fixation on collecting junk?"

Even as Lily continued her tirade, my thoughts were elsewhere.

How I spent three years of my life trying to emulate Natasha.

I copied her hairstyle, her clothes, and her kind words, all in a bid to keep Arthur’s attention.

But fakes would always remain fakes.

Yawning slightly, i responded disinterestedly,

"Perhaps because nobody falls for a woman with a bad reputation like me."

I watched Lily rolled her eyes.

"Oh, not that nonsense again. If your unhinged step-mother hadn't spread lies about you that made your father chase you to the street, do you think Arthur would have dared act so boldly? Speaking of which, now that you're free and divorced, interested in the upcoming model competition next week?"

"Pass."

I reclined, hand supporting her neck.

"I don't feel like going out."

I said. I’m still mourning the loss of my baby and I can’t even get to the conclusion if I should tell Lily or not.

Eyeing me skeptically, She queried,

“You haven't been dwelling on your heartache, have you?"

I remained silent, but the sudden shift in my demeanor gave Lily all the confirmation she needed.

"Dylan Fallon will be there. Your favorite model. Don't you want to see the man behind the mask?"

“It has always be one of your dreams Gwen. You’re not gonna turn me down right?

My eyes spark and isuddenly perked up.

"Okay, we will check it out but first, let’s prepare for your birthday."

Bending forward, i began to adjust my casual outfit.

"I need to change my clothes."

I muttered.

I watched Lily smirked.

“Of course, you can’t show up on my birthday dressed like that, people will think you’re a housewife!"

“What?”

I quirked an eyebrow.

"Let’s go to my house. I have nice outfits that would suit you?"

She said. I know there was no point arguing with her so I remain mute.

About half an hour later, we were done. We left Lily’s house and drive to the Bar.

It was a twenty minutes drive so we got there in time.

I felt so uncomfortable as everyone's attention seemed to gravitate toward me instead of the celebrate.

“Happy birthday Lily”

While some of her friend said that, others has their eyes on me.

I was dressed in a vibrant red fringe dress, reminiscent of a stunning actress from a classic film according to Lily.

"It's been ages since you've worn something so eye-catching!" Lily couldn't help but exclaim.

"You have such a stunning figure, yet you'd always wear dull wear or simple dresses. It was as if you were perpetually clocked in at the Winthrop family mansion."

I just smiled softly without replying.

Actually in my early married days, i had made the effort to look glamorous, only to be reprimanded by Arthur’s mother for being too flashy, and Arthur had given his chilly approval as well.

But those days were behind me. Now, free from the Winthrop family's restraints, i could dress as i wished.

As we were talking, Lily’s phone buzzed. My expression shifted immediately.

She held up her phone towards me. "I need to take this. I'll step outside."

She muttered and I just nodded.

No sooner had Lily left, I felt the urge to drink.

I opened the vodka bottle in front of me. I grabbed it and gulped it at once.

I drank it all and I felt it wasn’t enough. I took the one that belong to Lily and gulped it all at once too.

Soon, I was feeling dizzy.

“Hey gorgeous ?” I heard someone said behind me. I slowly turned and my eyes spark staring at his face.

He is beyond attractive and incredibly sexy.

His green eyes made him look more cuter.

I could obviously see his thick golden hair.

The three buttons on his T shirt was left unbuttoned leaving his sexy and strong chest muscles to feed my eyes.

I gulped down repeatedly not making efforts to look away. During my three years marriage with Arthur, I’d never noticed any other guys.

“Hey!”

He muttered bringing me out of my thoughts.

Huh…..uhm” I gulped down again, my eyes focused on his face again.

“You look like an angel.” He said and I blushed.

My gaze fell on his lip. It was red and so tempting that I felt the urge to…..

Phew….

I couldn’t believe I just thought about that.

“For Pete sake, you just got divorce Gwen. You shouldn’t be think of this!” My inner mind spoke to me.

But still, I couldn’t remove my gaze from him.

The urge was irresistible.

“Can I?” I couldn’t complete my statement as I pulled him by his tie to myself.

His eyes widened as my lips landed on his. He stood still, not kissing me back.

The shock evident on his face.

I pull away from and stared at his face. He was still in shock.

“Don’t say anything. Just kiss me back”

Without waiting for him to give me a reply, I placed my lips back to his.

I could feel his mouth slowly curve into a smile as he returned my kiss, shock waves shot through my spine and I felt like I had butterflies in my stomach. He let me take the lead. My hands moved to the back of his head and I grabbed a hand full of his curls and gently tugged, slowly tracing my fingers all the way down to his neck. He groaned again… I pulled away from him and opened my eyes, his eyes were clcsed but he opened them to look me dead in the eyes.

He smiled again as he lick his lip.

He suddenly pulled me to himself and I gasped.

“Now it’s my turn little Miss” he said and grabbing my chin gently, he returned his red lip on mine.

Gosh!

I moaned into the kiss as he careless my bare shoulder.

“Get the fuck away from my wife!”

I heard someone’s growl but if I my brain could register it well, it sounded like Arthur’s voice.

Soon, I became oblivious of my environment. I couldn’t hear anymore words as I passed out.