Chapter 3 Chapter 3

Darcy

The blaring sound of my alarm cut through my sleep.

I stretched my arm out, hitting the damn thing in annoyance. How come it was ringing anyway? Wasn’t it the morning of my wedding night? Events of the previous day slowly began filtering into my mind as I realized, with dismay, that it was. Only that I wasn’t waking up beside Paul at some luxury hotel to start off our honeymoon.

I was back in my apartment.

The image of Paul kissing his ex came to the forefront of my mind with such accuracy it immediately evaporated the grogginess from eyes. It was almost as though they were before me once again. Paul had halted the wedding. Paul had kissed his ex right in front of me. Right in front of everyone. 

He’d turned what was supposed to be the best day of my life into the worst.

And I was going to confront him about it.

I deserved answers after giving him five years of my life. What was all that talk about me cheating? Had he been in touch with his ex before then? And if he hadn’t, what then? Could we move past what had happened if it all turned out to be some kind of misunderstanding?

I didn’t think so.

And there was also the tiny fact about Emerson’s revenge plan.

I got down from my bed and trudged into the bathroom. I stared at my reflection in the mirror and the reminder of where I was and who I was supposed to be with, brought a new wave of tears to my eyes. I gripped the bathroom counter as body racking sobs speared through me.

How could Paul have done this to me?

I let the wave of grief ride out until I was sure I could keep myself in check for the next few hours. Mustering up strength from deep inside me, I had a hot shower and brushed my teeth. It didn’t take too long for me to get myself clean since I’d managed to take a shower the previous night, after getting myself insanely drunk. 

I stepped out of the bathroom and dried my hair, replying to the messages I had on my phone. I let my parents know I was completely fine and not to worry about me. 

I was more of a recluse and didn’t exactly have any friends so we’d hired bridesmaids for the wedding. There wasn’t a single text from them, but there was no surprise there. We’d had only the wedding in common and nothing else.

I wore a casual outfit, put my hair up in a messy bun and snatched my house keys from my dressing table as I walked out of the room. I couldn’t be bothered with anything else. I had to make it to Paul’s condo early enough before he left for work…

If one went to work the next day after completely humiliating their supposed fiancée at the altar just the day before.

The walk to Paul’s flat was shorter than it had ever been. I’d been too caught up in my head to actually notice the time. How would he react when he saw me? Did he still believe I’d cheated? Was he willing to talk things out? Did he regret yesterday?

The front door was slightly open when I climbed the front porch porch. I thought about knocking but it was probably better to walk right in and not give him the chance to ignore me. The house was eerily quiet as I stepped in. I was almost convinced no one was in it when I caught the faint noises coming from Paul’s bedroom door.

I checked the time on my phone.

If he planned on going to work then he was running a little late. Taking a deep breath, I walked the distance to his bedroom door. I shakily placed my hand on the doorknob, ready to push the slightly ajar door open when I heard it.

A moan.

I stilled. 

My head began shaking of its own accord. I couldn’t have heard that right. Couldn’t have heard that high pitched moan, obviously female, coming from Paul’s bedroom. Except I hadn’t been wrong because I heard it again. Chest thudding painfully, I silently twisted the doorknob and pushed the door open.

I slapped my hand to my mouth in agony.

My heart twisted as the image in front of me engraved itself into my memory. Paul was on his knees at the foot of his bed, his face buried between the legs of a woman. A woman who, by the look of the familiar blonde hair splayed all over the bed, he was supposed to have been completely done with.

That bitch Elana.

My vision blurred.

Hot tears warmed a trail down my cheeks as she released another moan, sinking her hand into Paul’s hair and lifting her hips to his mouth. A tortured sound escaped from my lips, gaining their attention. If I’d hoped that would change anything, I was completely mistaken.

He lifted his head, his gaze colliding with mine for a minute. Surprise flashed in his eyes, but he was quick to mask it with indifference. And then, right before my eyes, he went back burying his face between her legs. I stared at him, punishing myself with an image that would haunt me for a long time.

She’d sat up when he paused, leaning her weight on her elbows. Now she was back to laying flat against the bed. Her knees raised and widened as Paul moved his head hungrily between her legs. 

Finally, I couldn’t take it anymore.

I slammed the door closed, throwing his keys on the ground and storming out of the house. My arms came around midriff as I struggled to hold myself together until I was back home where I could fall apart with no one watching. 

Only that my feet didn’t lead me back home.

Emerson raised his head in surprise when I marched into his office.

Seeing the file on his table, I flipped it open and grabbed a pen from the pen case on his desk. Signed. Flip. Signed. Flip. Signed. I slapped the pen onto the table, my hands trembling as I stared at the documents that had now sealed my fate.

Emerson watched me closely. “Darcy…”

I didn’t wait to hear whatever he had to say.

I pulled the door open and did the only thing I could do at that moment.

I bolted.