CHAPTER 3

I didn't realize how much time had passed as I stepped out of the house. The thick night clouds hovered over the sky, and the cold air brushed against my skin.

I was finally leaving this house for good.

This house, once the place where I dreamed of building my forever, was now a place where I had endured the worst betrayals.

Even though it held a lot of great memories, it also held the worst days of my life. I wanted to put everything behind me.

I didn't have any concrete plan of what I was going to do. Perhaps I could find a job. That is if Martin doesn't try to sabotage that.

I took a deep breath as I hopped into the car. Silent tears traced down my cheeks as the weight of Martin's betrayal and my decision pressed heavily on my chest. I had only been smart enough to save some money within the two years of my marriage to Martin. Only enough to last a few weeks and with that I could afford to stay in a hotel for a while before securing a job.

The hotel wasn't much. It was a modest place in the quieter part of the city. I wasn't thinking of luxury now—I only needed a roof over my head and a place to think.

But as I approached the entrance, my heart sank.

Martin and Sophia?

Sophia was dressed in a silky green dress that hugged her curves. She had everything I didn't—Confidence, class, wealth. And every other thing any man would want.

Martin's arm was wrapped around her waist as they walked out of the hotel, laughing at something only they could understand.

I should have just ignored them but I couldn't.

“Well, well, well. Isn't it Isabella Grey?” Martin sneered, his voice dripping with mockery

“And what exactly are you doing here?”

“I don't owe you an explanation, Martin.”

“You are still my wife, don’t forget that.”

I let out a bitter laugh “Your wife? Have you forgotten you asked me to sign the divorce papers and also to leave your house after?” My voice trembled slightly, but I forced myself to hold my ground

He took a slow step forward, his expression darkening “We both know you can't afford a place like this. Or you might as well be hoping to find a rich man here to have pity on you—or worse, plead with him to keep his bed warm tonight in exchange for a roof over your head?” he said with a smirk on his face.

“I could still take you back, you know,” he added, “If only you knew how to apologize. Maybe I could hire you as my maid.”

His words struck me like a punch to the gut. He was right I had nothing to my name as Martin never made me work a day after we got married.

He knew exactly what to say to get me.

“I will never apologize to you, Martin. I did nothing wrong.” I retorted, my voice laced with anger. “You cheated on me with this…”

The words barely left my lips before Martin's hand struck my cheek with enough force to make me stumble backward.

“You just won't change, huh? I only wanted to help, but I can see you prefer sleeping around. Useless thing.”

Sophia laughed, pressing herself firmly against Martin. “ Oh, sweetheart, don't be so harsh on her. She already doesn't look too good. Who knows, maybe she hasn't eaten anything at all. We can try and get her something to eat before she collapses”.

I clenched my fingers harder around the handle of my suitcase. Swallowing hard, trying not to make them realise the frustration boiling inside me.

“Aww, sweetheart, you're simply the sweetest. That's why I love you,” Martin said, placing a kiss on her forehead. “But this pathetic woman here doesn't deserve any sympathy from you, sweetie. She's just a worthless low life.”

“Of course Martin, for once in your miserable life you're right.” I replied "I don't need your sympathy nor do I need any other thing from you.”

And with that, I walked away.

Loving Martin was the worst mistake of my life.

****

“Room 241. Enjoy your stay, Miss.” The receptionist said with a gentle voice before handing over the room keys to me. She looked like a woman in her mid-thirties, with a warm smile.

“Thank you”. I responded, a gentle smile tugging at the side of my lips before heading to the elevator.

As soon as I stepped into the room,I collapsed onto the bed, leaving my bag on the side. The space was small but clean and at least I wouldn't have to share it with someone who pretended to care.

Hot tears began spilling down my cheeks as the memory of Martin and I flooded my mind. The weight of the betrayal and the heartbreak pressed down on me. I needed to let everything out of me.

I needed a distraction.

With swollen eyes, I headed straight to the bar in the hotel. With just one look at me, the bartender didn't need to ask what I wanted.

He simply went ahead to pour me a glass of whiskey.

Just one glass, I told myself.

But within a few seconds, I had already downed four.

“Hey, pretty!, Isn't that too much for a pretty girl like you?” A deep unrecognisable voice broke into the haze around me.

I downed one more glass before turning around. A tall man sat close to me, his piercing blue eyes gazing into my soul.

“And you are?” I slurred slightly

“Adrian.” he responded

“ I can see you're not doing so great but I don't think this is the best way to handle it”. He replied smoothly

I downed another glass before replying “And what makes you think you know me well enough to know what is good for me?”

“How well I know you doesn't matter. But one thing I can say with certainty, is the fact that people who down their pain with whiskey don't always get the last laugh.”

I tried to get up and leave, but the room began to spin, my body swayed as my vision became blurry.

“Whoa…whoa… that's enough whiskey for today. You need to get out of here.”

I tried to open my mouth to argue but I couldn't.

Before I could process it, he wrapped his arms around me, steadying me from falling before lifting me into his arms as if I weighed nothing and made his way out of the bar. The hallway was blurry but his voice kept reassuring me

“ You're okay. You'll be fine.”

As the elevator came to a halt he made a beeline to a room. Even though everything around me was blurred into a haze, I could tell the room looked much bigger than I expected. The last thing I felt was his strong arms lowering me onto the bed before everything went dark.