Chapter 7

　　Nyelle

　　"Everyone, let's go get drinks to celebrate the return of the Beast Biker!"

　　The second Nico shouted those words across the racing station, loud cheers immediately erupted around us while several people started clapping excitedly.

　　At the corner of the garage, I caught Soreya rolling her eyes dramatically before muttering something under her breath that made the guy beside her laugh.

　　A small smile tugged at my lips. The Beast Biker.

　　That used to be my nickname years ago. Back when people looked at me with admiration instead of pity.

　　Back when I wasn't just Vincent's silent shadow standing quietly behind him at company events while people ignored my existence completely.

　　"Bills are on me tonight!" Nico added loudly.

　　That only made everyone cheer harder.

　　Music blasted louder through the station while people immediately started heading toward the connected bar area nearby.

　　For a brief moment, I simply stood there quietly taking everything in.

　　Five years was apparently long enough to forget what happiness sounded like.

　　Nico suddenly leaned closer toward me with a grin. "You okay?"

　　I slowly nodded before signing back. "More than okay."

　　A little while later, I found myself sitting directly in front of the bartender while colorful lights flashed across the crowded room. The music vibrated through the walls loudly while bikers laughed, shouted, and danced around us.

　　Vincent would absolutely hate this place. That thought alone somehow made me smile wider.

　　The bartender walked toward me politely. "What can I get you?"

　　I looked directly at him before typing quickly on my phone and showing him the screen.

　　"Give me the strongest drink you have. Mix everything if you want. I don't care."

　　The bartender blinked once in surprise.

　　Beside me, Nico nearly choked.

　　"Whoa," he laughed nervously. "Are you trying to destroy your liver tonight?"

　　I simply shrugged. Honestly, my body was already trying to destroy itself anyway.

　　A few minutes later, the bartender pushed the drink toward me carefully. The liquid looked terrifying.

　　Even Nico looked concerned staring at it.

　　"Nyelle… maybe don't drink that too fast—"

　　Too late, cause I grabbed the glass immediately and took a huge gulp. The alcohol burned violently down my throat, making my eyes water instantly.

　　How did people willingly enjoy this?

　　But instead of stopping, I drank again and again and again. Each sip burned less after a while.

　　Or maybe my heart was already hurting too much for alcohol to compete properly.

　　Nico stared at me in complete disbelief.

　　"I've officially lost control of this situation," he muttered dramatically while rubbing his forehead.

　　I laughed silently while shoving his shoulder playfully.

　　For the first time in years…I felt light. Like the pain inside me wasn't crushing me completely for once.

　　The music suddenly changed into something louder and faster. Without thinking too much, I grabbed Nico's wrist immediately before dragging him toward the dance floor.

　　"Wait— Nyelle!"

　　Too late. I was already dancing and surprisingly…I loved it.

　　The flashing lights, loud music, and chaotic atmosphere somehow drowned out every painful thought inside my head. Nico eventually gave up complaining and started laughing while dancing with me.

　　People around us started cheering loudly.

　　"The Beast Biker can dance too?"

　　"No freaking way!"

　　"Someone record this!"

　　Some people reached out for their phone and started recording. At some point, Nico stepped away briefly to answer a call, leaving me laughing alone in the middle of the crowd.

　　Then suddenly another guy stepped toward me confidently. "You wanna dance?"

　　I stared at him for a second before shrugging carelessly. Why not?

　　So I danced with him too, then another person joined.

　　At this point, alcohol had fully destroyed whatever tiny amount of self-control I still possessed.

　　Honestly, if Vincent saw me right now, the man would probably collapse from stress.

　　And somehow…That thought made me dance harder.

　　A while later, Nico finally returned looking completely horrified.

　　"Oh hell no," he groaned while pulling me away from some random guy trying to spin me dramatically. "That's enough. We're leaving before you accidentally marry somebody in this club tonight."

　　I burst into silent laughter while struggling against him playfully.

　　"Nooooo," I signed drunkenly while nearly tripping over my own legs.

　　"You're drunk," he deadpanned.

　　"I'm free," I corrected proudly through sign language.

　　That made him pause briefly. Something emotional crossed his face for a second before he sighed softly.

　　"Come on," he said gently. "Let's get you home."

　　A few minutes later, he practically dragged me into his car because apparently my legs had stopped cooperating with me properly.

　　~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

　　Vincent (POV)

　　"Did she seriously leave?" I scoffed irritably before throwing Nyelle's resignation letter onto the desk aggressively.

　　The papers scattered slightly across the table.

　　Something about the entire situation had been annoying me all day. Which somehow irritated me even more.

　　Cassia immediately walked toward me slowly before wrapping her arms around my neck from behind while pressing soft kisses against my jaw.

　　"You should be happy," she murmured sweetly while caressing my chest lightly. "She's finally starting to understand her place. This just makes things easier for us after the divorce."

　　I exhaled slowly while rubbing my forehead. "You don't understand."

　　Cassia frowned slightly.

　　"I do understand," she insisted softly. "And that's exactly why I already asked headquarters to assign someone else as your assistant."

　　Right on cue, a knock sounded against the office door. "Come in."

　　The door opened immediately, revealing a young woman dressed in a white blouse and black skirt.

　　She looked nervous already. "Good afternoon, sir," she said politely. "I'm Lina. Headquarters assigned me to work with you starting today."

　　I barely looked at her properly.

　　"Fine," I muttered coldly. "Get me coffee for a test."

　　"Yes, sir."

　　A few minutes later, she returned carefully with the cup.

　　I took one sip—And immediately spat it back into the cup with disgust.

　　"What the hell is this?" I snapped furiously. "You call this coffee?"

　　The poor woman looked horrified instantly.

　　"S-sir, I—"

　　"You're fired."

　　Her face turned pale.

　　"Sir please, I just—"

　　"Get out."

　　The girl rushed out almost immediately while shaking nervously.

　　Cassia stared at me with slight surprise afterward.

　　"What was that about?"

　　I didn't answer. Because honestly?

　　The coffee tasted wrong and too sweet.

　　Nyelle always knew exactly how I liked it without asking.

　　The realization only irritated me further. The rest of the day somehow became worse afterward.

　　Every single thing felt out of place, meetings delayed, files misplaced and calls interrupted.

　　By the time I finally got home that night, exhaustion was practically dripping from my body.

　　I loosened my tie aggressively before dropping onto the couch heavily.

　　Cassia immediately climbed onto my lap while kissing me softly.

　　"How was work?" she asked sweetly. "Stressful?"

　　"It was," I muttered before kissing her back automatically.

　　But midway through it…Something suddenly felt strange.

　　My brows furrowed slightly. Usually around this time, Nyelle would already be home silently arranging dinner or working on something with her iPad nearby.

　　The house somehow felt emptier without realizing it.

　　My expression darkened slightly. "What about Nyelle?" I asked suddenly.

　　Cassia immediately stiffened.

　　"Why are you asking about her when I'm literally right here?"

　　Before I could respond, one of the maids hurried toward us nervously.

　　"Sir…" she said carefully. "Madam Nyelle still isn't home yet. And it's already 12:00am"

　　My expression hardened instantly.

　　"What?"

　　Why wasn't she home yet? And why exactly was that bothering me this much?

　　"She knows I hate people coming home late," I snapped irritably while standing up immediately.

　　Almost at the exact same moment, my phone beeped loudly in my hand.

　　Annoyed already, I glanced down at the screen, only to see a message from one of my friends.

　　[Bro… isn't this your mute secretary? Since when does she party like this?]

　　My brows furrowed immediately.

　　Attached beneath the message was a video.

　　The second I pressed play, my entire expression darkened.

　　Nyelle.

　　My wife was on the screen dancing under flashing lights while loud music blasted around her. Her hair moved wildly as she laughed silently with a drink in her hand, surrounded by random men staring at her like she was some kind of fantasy.

　　Another clip followed immediately after.

　　This time she was drinking. Downing alcohol like she had been doing it her entire life.

　　"What the hell…" I muttered under my breath, shock flashing across my face before anger quickly replaced it.

　　Nyelle hated crowded places. Nyelle never drank, she barely even looked at other men.

　　So what exactly was this?

　　And why the hell was she dancing with strangers?

　　The more I watched the video, the tighter my jaw became.

　　Then suddenly another man appeared beside her in the clip, grabbing her waist while dancing close to her.

　　Why was she smiling like that with someone else when she barely smiled at home?

　　Before I could even process the feeling properly—Ding dong.

　　The doorbell rang sharply through the house.

　　I immediately lifted my head.

　　Cassia noticed my expression instantly.

　　"What happened?" she asked suspiciously while standing from the couch.

　　But I ignored her completely.

　　I was already walking toward the entrance with irritation burning through my body.

　　The second I grabbed the door handle and pulled it open, my entire body went rigid.

　　Nyelle was practically hanging against another man's chest while laughing silently, her cheeks flushed red from alcohol.

　　Alcohol.

　　The scent hit me immediately. My eyes darkened instantly. For a second, I just stared at her.

　　This woman had spent five years acting like the perfect obedient wife who followed every single rule I set for her.

　　Now suddenly she was out drinking, dancing, and coming home drunk in another man's arms?

　　My grip tightened around the door.