Chapter 2 Are You Married?
902 Words
"Liam?"
Violet's voice carried a pleading undertone as she called out to him, unwilling to let him back down.
"Violet, this villa isn't worth it. I'll buy you a better one. If she wants it so badly, let her have it. Maybe then she'll finally agree to the divorce!"
"Alright, Liam, anything you say."
Violet wasn't after the villa itself; she only wanted to make things worse between them.
Liam gave Chloe one last glance before pulling Violet away.
Chloe stood in the spacious villa, the place she had called home for four years. Yet, no matter how hard she tried, she couldn't recall a single happy memory with Liam.
It was pathetic.
'If that's how it is, why not let go?'
The thought brought Chloe an unexpected sense of relief.
Just as the weight started to lift, her phone buzzed.
It was Emily Carter, Chloe's closest friend. She answered the call.
"Hey, perfect housewife! Are you ever coming out to play again?" Emily's teasing voice was laced with mock annoyance. If you keep this up, I'm going to disown you as a friend!"
Emily had a point. In the four years since Chloe's marriage, her time for friends had dwindled, all sacrificed at the altar of being the "ideal wife".
Chloe tossed her glasses aside. "Today."
"What?" Emily paused for a beat, then gasped. "Oh my God. Are you saying you're making a comeback?"
"Bingo."
A mischievous smile played on Chloe's lips, her glossy red lipstick catching the light.
"That's amazing!" Emily cheered. A notification popped up on Chloe's phone.
Emily had sent her a location. "I'm at Mango Lounge. Tons of hotties here. Hurry up!"
"On my way."
Chloe headed to the garage, pulling out a car she hadn't driven in years, and drove to the bar.
As soon as Chloe walked in, Emily enveloped her in a hug. "Forget the housewife act. Welcome back to the land of the living! Look around. See that guy over there? Fancy a taste?"
"Hold up!" Chloe raised a hand, smirking. "First, help me sell a villa. We'll donate all the proceeds."
As Chloe recounted the events of her day, Emily slammed a hand on the table, furious.
"What a jerk! Let me at him. I'll kill that scumbag!"
Chloe sipped her whiskey, shaking her head as she pulled Emily back down.
"I finally see it clearly. The blind one wasn't Liam. It was me."
She laughed, a bit bitter but mostly relieved.
"But now, I've opened my eyes. From now on, he's nothing to me. Why waste time on nothing?"
Emily raised a skeptical brow as she plopped back into her seat. "You're not defending him, are you? Because if your love-drunk brain is still hanging on—"
With a sharp thud, Chloe set her glass down, cutting Emily off.
"Don't believe me? Watch this." Chloe pointed toward the crowd. "Pick one. Which guy looks the most tempting?"
Emily's gaze swept the room, then landed on a man sitting in the corner, his face half-hidden by a black mask.
"Him."
Chloe downed the rest of her whiskey, slammed the glass on the table, and strode toward the masked man.
"Care to dance?"
The man paused, his cigarette midway to the ashtray. He extinguished it slowly, his deep voice calm as he replied with a question of his own.
"Are you sure?"
What kind of answer was that?
"Why wouldn't I be? Unless... you're married?"
His brown eyes bore into hers, calm yet unreadable.
"No."
There was something about his voice. It sounded familiar, tugging at a distant memory she couldn't quite place.
Whatever. If he was single, there was no reason to hesitate.
Chloe grabbed his wrist and led him to the dance floor.
As the music started, his hands settled on her waist, and the two of them moved in perfect rhythm, their steps graceful and fluid.
Suddenly, the music shifted, taking on a passionate, fiery tone.
Chloe shot Emily a glare, and Emily playfully stuck out her tongue.
The heat in the music seeped into their movements. Each glance, each turn, each touch brimming with an unspoken connection.
Caught in the moment, Chloe let herself go, shedding the weight of four long years.
The applause erupted around them, snapping Chloe back to reality.
"Is that... Chloe?"
Violet's shocked whisper was barely audible over the noise. She tugged at Liam's sleeve. "Liam, look! It's her!"
Liam turned his head just as the dance ended.
Chloe stood in the man's arms, gazing into his eyes, the air between them charged with a sensual energy.
Liam's hand clenched tightly around his drink, the glass threatening to shatter.
"That shameless woman!"
The outburst came from Lisa Parker, Liam's sister, her voice filled with contempt.
"She has no shame!"
Violet's tone was soft, soothing. "Don't be so harsh. Maybe she's just lonely. This could be her way of letting off steam."
"Letting off steam? By throwing herself at some random guy?" Lisa's face twisted in disgust as she stormed toward the dance floor.
Chloe, still caught in the moment, reached up to remove the man's mask.
But before she could, she was yanked backward, hard.
"You disgusting tramp!"
Smack!
Lisa's slap landed across Chloe's face.
"You're nothing but trash! Get out of here before you embarrass yourself anymore!"
Her voice dripped with venom.
"You're a disgrace, abandoned by my brother. You don't belong here!"
- Writer
