Chapter 2

• I left the hotel in a hurry. Once I arrived at home, the headlines of the newspaper greeted me.
• PHOENIX CORPORATION's HEIR'S WIFE SPOTTED WITH MYSTERY LOVER
• "No!"
• I grasped the newspaper, my hands shaking uncontrollably.
• There, taking up nearly the entire front page, was a photo of me leaning intimately with a man. The image would be burned into the minds of everyone who saw it.
• I had never thought — not even in my worst nightmare — I would see myself in such a negative light, let alone on the front page of a newspaper.
• As I peered out of the window, I could see a swarm of paparazzi eagerly waiting outside the door, like a pack of hungry wolves ready to pounce at me.
• The mere thought of facing them sent shivers down my spine, as I knew they were just waiting to snap a picture and tear me apart in the headlines.
• I'm not sure if Crimson had read the newspaper but if the whole Flintstone City had read it, it is likely that he has and I couldn't couldn't imagine how he must be feeling right now.
• I reached for my phone to dial Celestine’s number. I have to ask for her help to clean my name. She has a relative who owns a newspaper company. They might help publish the side of my story.
• My other hand impatiently drummed on the night table while waiting for her to answer. However, the line kept ringing but no one's answering. After three tries and still no response, I gave up.
• Frustrated, I threw the phone onto the bed.
• Crash!
• The shards of glass scattered like fallen stars around the floor.
• I lowered myself onto the chair, shaken by the close call. My arm was bleeding from a cut but I could barely feel the pain as my eyes caught sight of a massive stone twice the size of my fist lying at my feet. Dread crept over me, thinking that it could have struck me.
• I'm now officially the most hated woman in Flintstone City.
• —
• Three weeks later.
• My fingers punched in the familiar digits on my phone, and waited for Celestine to answer the call. But despite my best efforts, I got no better luck than the days prior.
• I couldn't help but wonder if her busy schedule had finally caught up with her. Maybe she was in the middle of a commercial shoot, or perhaps she was already booked for the whole day. But then, for whatever the reason, I couldn't shake off the feeling that she was avoiding me.
• With the Paparazzi waiting outside, I couldn't get out. I thought my situation couldn't get any worse but it did. As I rummaged through the pantry, I found only a few stale crackers and a can of soup that expired a few days ago. I had no choice but to sneak out tonight or else I'll have to eat toilet paper for dinner.
• I patiently waited until the sun set and the sky grew dark before making my move. With caution, I made my way out of the backyard, using the cover of the plants to conceal my movements.
• Once I had put a safe distance between myself and any prying eyes, I pulled up my hood and hailed a cab.
• As I climbed into the backseat of the car, I leaned forward and instructed the cab driver to take me to my destination. I brought Celestine's favorite cheesecake on the way.
• The trip had seemed to drag on forever, but at last, I arrived at Havenwood Street.
• The peaceful ambiance of the street was heightened by the soft glow of the night sky. It was widely known as the safest place in the entire Flintstone city, and it was the exclusive home to the wealthiest and most influential people.
• I alighted from the cab. I made my way over to my friend's house, my eyes immediately drawn to the impressive three-story structure with a sprawling open balcony at its center.
• The sleek Corvette parked in the driveway caught my attention.
• What was Crimson doing in Celestine's house at this hour? Just as I was about to ring the doorbell, both of them emerged from the balcony on the third floor.
• I watched as Celestine wrapped an arm around Crimson's neck, a gesture I thought was friendly and comforting until she leaned in and pressed her lips on his mouth. And when Crimson responded fiercely to the kiss, I dropped the cake to the ground.
• I pressed a palm in my chest and wondered how I could feel this much pain and still be alive? How could I keep standing there when my heart has been ripped out of my chest and someone's pouring salt on my wound?
• I looked up again and wished I hadn't. They looked so happy… so happy that I died a thousandth time watching them.
• I had trusted Celestine with everything. We laughed and cried together, even shared secrets that nobody else knew. But now, it seemed like all of that was for nothing. I couldn't believe that she — my best friend — had an affair with my husband.
• How could she be so heartless?
• I have no idea how I'm supposed to escape this nightmare when my feet are rooted to the cement, but I don't have a choice. It's either I leave, or they find me gawking at them.
• I wondered where I got the strength to move, but I did it anyway. Hands shaking, I ran as fast as I could, with nothing on my mind except to escape the source of my pain.
• My tight chest felt like bursting by the time I made it inside another cab.
• I couldn't feel a thing as if my heart and my brain stopped functioning at the same time. Perhaps I died and my body was left lying on the pavement, and I'm nothing more than a r
• estless soul, wandering aimlessly in a world that no longer made sense.