1. Heartbreak

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~ ~ ~ O L I V I A ~ ~ ~

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"I am so drained." I confided in my best friend, Sarah Hopkins. "I just can't handle all this nonsense anymore, Sarah."

"What's up, Liv?" She replied, "Your stupid Dad dumped more work on you again? Or did your Mom want you to meet her socialite friends to show off her perfect daughter?"

I fidgeted with my phone, balancing it between my ear and shoulder as I worked on the day's never-ending report. "Neither, though I think those might have been better. It's my and Jack's six-month anniversary today and they are throwing a huge useless party!"

"Oh yeah, I got the invite a month ago." She sighed. I could hear her typing away on her computer as well. "But I thought you said you wanted to keep it low-key?"

"I would have loved that." I slumped in my chair, taking a break from all the typing. "Jack has been doing all these really sweet tiny gestures the past five months. But the past month, he has been insanely busy and closed off so I figured it was my chance to do something nice for him for once. I had this midnight picnic at the private beach property planned out but my parents pushed for this ostensible party instead."

"And Jack agreed to it?" Sarah already knew the answer to that question. Jack gave great emphasis on harmony in the family so he was always making sure that my parents and his mother were content, happy and taken care of.

My husband was such a considerate loving man, even though he seemed off and distant the past month - well, he did have a merger and was ridiculously busy so I could not blame him.

But he always made me feel seen and heard and was my anchor in this hellish corporate world that my parents had raised me in.

I hummed as I opened a message from my mother on my laptop.

CASSANDRA SMITH: Pumpkin, why didn't you go for the fitting yesterday?

I let out a sigh. I was not saying that the life of a housewife slash socialite was easy. But I wanted to point out that it was easier than that of the senior sales manager of Beauty Smith, an extensive brand of beauty products spanning across North America and Europe.

I quickly typed down a reply.

OLIVIA SMITH: Don't they already have my measurements? I am sure Ursula won't get it wrong.

"My mother thinks I have all the time in the world. I will see you at the party?" I asked as I went back to the spreadsheet I was analyzing.

"I will try to make it." Sarah sounded like she would rather be anywhere else but there, which was not surprising because my parents' circle consisted of some of the shallowest bunch of people on this planet. "But no promises."

"Okay. See ya." I smiled as I cut the call knowing very well that Sarah was going to be there. She was always there for me without exceptions and I was there for her.

I sighed as I checked my message bar for any replies from my husband. Jack had not been picking up calls or responding to texts since he left the apartment in the morning.

My eyes darted to my mother's name where I could see her typing for the past five minutes. I rolled my eyes. I could tell she was really mad at me even though she was trying to rein in her temper since today was a good day.

I sighed again.

I wouldn't have cared about anything else if only Jack had replied to my messages.

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"You look fabulous!" My Mom gushed as she twirled her finger, gesturing me to twirl for her.

I rolled my eyes as I spun a three-sixty on my heels. "Happy?"

"Very." She clapped. "Wait till Jack sees you in this, I am sure to have a grandchild in nine months!"

"Mom!" My cheeks were immediately on fire at her insinuation. "Jack and I have not discussed kids yet. But I imagine he too would want to push it for a few years until we settle into our careers."

"You both and your careers!" Mom rolled her eyes as if we weren't two of the more successful people out there.

There was suddenly an explosion of chatter.

The two of us looked around to see that everyone was looking between their phones and us. Me.

"What's going on?" I asked my mother even though I knew she had no idea.

Someone grabbed me by my arm and I turned around, my eyes wide with shock.

It was Sarah.

Her face was grim.

My heart dropped to my stomach. "What's wrong?"

Dread filled me up to my throat, bile rising with it. "Jack? It's Jack, isn't it? Is he okay? Tell me he is okay!"

"Oh, he won't be once I get my hands on him." Sarah's voice morphed into one that of utmost fury.

Her reaction did nothing to curb my uneasiness.

"What are you talking about?" I asked.

Sarah took my hand as my Mom moved away to her assistant's side. My best friend dragged me away from the eyes of the huge mass, half of whom I was barely acquainted with, and into one of the ground floor guest rooms of my parents' mansion.

"I need you to stay strong, okay?" She said in a rush as she pulled out her phone from her dress pocket.

"Huh?"

She had opened something on her phone but she sighed, her shoulders slumped as she looked up at me, her eyes moist.

"What's wrong? What's wrong with Jack?"

Sarah threw her arms around me and hugged me tighter than she ever had.

"What's wrong?" My voice was not above a whisper.

"I am so sorry, baby!"

She rarely called me baby. She only did when she or I felt extremes of emotions.

Was my Jack dead?

No, he was not.

She wouldn't have been furious at him if that was the case.

Did he...

"He cheated on you, baby."

I felt my knees give away and the only thing that was keeping me on my feet was the protective hold of my best friend on me.

"You sure?"

I knew she was sure. This was Sarah Hopkins. She would not say something so cruel to me without making sure it was indeed my reality.

I felt her nod against my shoulder as I felt tears trickle down my face. "With some bitch named Elena. It's all over the internet."

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