RACHEL

It took Jeremy days to warm up to me again-days where he barely ate and said nothing to me. He left the house every morning before I woke up and returned very late at night.

At work, he ignored me and only spoke to me about business. At some point, I got exhausted and became eager to settle the rift between us.

But things were different this morning; he didn't leave the house before I woke up. Instead, he came to wake me and asked me to prepare breakfast for him. For the first time in days, it felt like I could breathe again.

I was excited. After days of silent treatment, I thought I would die. I thought I wouldn't survive it.

Instantly, I got up and went into the kitchen to make pancakes, scrambled eggs, and tea.

My hands trembled slightly as I set the table. While I was setting the table, he came over and took a seat. I joined him afterward, and we ate in silence. I sneaked peeks at him with each bite. It had been four years, yet my heart still wouldn't stop beating fast around him.

"Let's talk about us, Rachel." The silence at the table broke. I froze before slowly turning to face him. He took several sips of tea and put the mug down. "We can't keep fighting over the same topic every time. I'm exhausted already."

My chest tightened as his words sank in. An ominous feeling settled in my chest. He was either about to ask for a divorce or promise to change for good-but I knew the latter wasn't an option. Change wasn't a part of Jeremy.

I didn't say a word. I silently finished my meal, cleared the table, and returned to my seat.

"What is it you want to talk about, Jeremy?" I asked, intertwining my hands to stop them from shaking.

"Uhm... a lot has been going on in our marriage," he began.

I nodded in agreement, pursing my lips. "A lot... yeah," I muttered.

"You aren't allowing me to explore, Rachel. This marriage feels tight and uncomfortable," he said, looking serious and defensive. "I feel suffocated. Restricted. Locked," he added, emphasizing each word. "This isn't what marriage should feel like. I should be free, not bound. I should be comfortable, not choked."

My lashes fluttered, and I scoffed in disbelief. Lowering my head, I forced a smile to keep my emotions from overwhelming me. I didn't trust my voice enough to speak.

Raising my head, I replied, "So, are you saying I've been suffocating you?" I tried to keep my voice from shaking.

"No, Rachel. That's not the point. I'm just saying you are too strict with some rules, and it's really causing problems between us," he defended, and I let out a few short bursts of sad laughter.

I hated that he was beating around the bush when he could just be direct with me. The anxiety and nervousness building inside me could make me pass out if he didn't say what he wanted soon.

"I think I know where this is going, Jeremy," I said, nibbling on my lower lip and digging my nails into my lap to stop myself from breaking down. "You don't need to keep going back and forth. You're a man. Talk to me. What do you want? What's the solution to all the problems you think we have?" My breath caught in my throat.

"Let's have an open marriage, Rachel," he said plainly, his eyes devoid of emotion. He was just there-neutral and expressionless, as if he hadn't just dropped a bomb.

I didn't react for a few seconds because I was still trying to make sure I hadn't misheard him.

"Did I hear that correctly?" My face tightened.

"You heard correctly, Rachel," he confirmed. "Listen to me... this decision is for the best. You will stop worrying about my affairs, and I will stop worrying about hurting you. It works for both of us," he added.

I snorted. This had to be the funniest joke of the century. A multitude of emotions swirled in my stomach. I didn't know how to react. Should I shout? Cry? Or even slap him for the disrespect?

The most annoying part was Jeremy's nonchalance. He didn't seem to realize how ridiculous his suggestion was.

"Are you listening to me?" His voice drifted into my ears, breaking my train of thought.

When I looked at him, uncontrollable laughter rose from my chest, and I burst out laughing without restraint. He was damn serious. He had to be. Open marriage? What the hell was that?

"You're joking, right?" I muttered through my laughter, covering my mouth with my palm. "No, Jeremy. You have to be joking."

His expressionless face shifted into confusion, then a smile. "No, Rachel. I'm damn serious. An open marriage will work best for us."

I shook my head. "No. No. No," I said, my tone filled with disbelief. "You have to be joking. You can't be serious. I'm not believing this."

"You should stop this, Rachel. Your denial isn't-"

I cut him off.

"And what if I object?" My voice was firm and steady, just like my gaze.

"You have no right to. I've been thinking about this for days before bringing it up. Trust me, there's no way on earth I'm going to do anything that will hurt you," he explained.

A few short laughs escaped my lips. "You wouldn't do anything that would hurt me, huh? What do you think you're doing to me right now, Jeremy? Helping me?" I paused and swallowed the lump in my throat. "Answer me. Are you doing me a favor right now?" I snarled, hitting the table.

He tilted his head slightly. "Well, if you ask me... I'd say yes."

My brows furrowed. "What!" My hands went cold.

Just then, his phone lit up and began to ring.

His lips spread into an excited smile when he glanced at the caller ID.

At that moment, it felt like my heart was being crushed. It was easy to guess that one of the women was calling. Tears rushed to my eyes, burning as they gathered. My blood boiled. My body shook, but I held myself back.

"Excuse me, honey. I need to pick someone up outside." He stood and headed out without waiting for my response.

Gritting my teeth, I clenched my fists and placed them on the table. I was afraid my outburst might ruin everything this morning. No wonder he came to my bedroom and acted so perfectly earlier-he was preparing me for something worse.

A moment later, footsteps echoed through the house. The door opened, revealing a familiar yet unfamiliar face, followed by my husband, who dragged in two pieces of luggage.

I sprang up from my seat the moment I recognized her. "What is she doing here? Why is she in our home?" I rushed out, leaving the dining area and dashing into the living room.

"Calm down, Rachel," Jeremy muttered. Then, holding out his hand with a smile, he said, "Meet Clara."He paused. "My girlfriend. She'll be staying with us from now on."

"What!" I blurted out. My world tilted.

RACHEL

"Calm down, Rachel," Jeremy muttered. Then he held out his hand and, with a smile, introduced, "Meet Clara. My girlfriend. She'll be staying with us henceforth."

"What!" I blurted out, my eyes darting between them. "You're joking, right?" I sneered. "Is this some sort of prank?"

Jeremy was crazy. I always knew that. But not this kind of craziness. No way. No fucking way.

"No, Rachel. She's my girlfriend. You know her already. There's no need for a deep introduction," he explained, nonchalant and expressionless. There wasn't an ounce of guilt or fear in his eyes. Damn!

"You brought this bitch into our house? The same girl you're cheating with?" My voice trailed off at the end. I was still yet to shake off the shock. My chest felt tight, like I couldn't breathe properly. There was no way my life was falling apart right before my eyes. I didn't believe there would be a day when my man would freely bring another woman into our home and introduce her to me as his girlfriend.

"Point of correction, Rachel-I didn't cheat. This is an open marriage... remember?"

"I haven't even agreed to it."

"But your agreement or disagreement means nothing. I didn't inform you about the change because I needed your opinion," he said. "I just wanted you to be informed."

My vision blurred as tears gathered in my eyes. One blink, and they would roll down uncontrollably. My breath hitched, and my chest heaved as I struggled to steady my emotions. I could pass out. I didn't want that. I didn't want to humiliate myself in front of them.

My gaze shifted to the woman beside him, and she smiled-the kind of smile that told you she felt victorious. Then I remembered her threat at the reunion. She had said I would regret touching her... and I really did.

Without saying another word, I snatched my phone from the table and stormed out of the house. My hands were trembling as I grabbed it. I didn't take my car. I just ran. I kept running as if it would erase my problems, as if it would heal my bleeding heart and strengthen my weakened legs. My lungs burned, but I didn't stop. I let the tears stream down my face as I ran. It felt like thousands of needles were piercing my heart at once. I felt horrible, miserable, and helpless.

Maybe I should have given up on him when he cheated the first time. Maybe I shouldn't have given him another chance when he asked for it the second time. Would I have been able to preserve his respect for me? Now, it felt like I had lost everything.

I was still running when my phone rang. I didn't want to pick up at first, but when I glanced at the screen, I saw it was Lena. At that moment, I knew she was the one I needed. She was the only one who could stop me from going insane.

My hands shook as I answered the call. I picked up the call and burst into tears instantly. I couldn't even form words.

She panicked on the other end. Her voice gave it away. "What is wrong, Rachel? What is wrong? Why are you crying? Is it Jeremy? Did he hit you? Did something happen?" She fired questions at me.

My sobs intensified with every question. It was as though they fueled the fire burning inside me.

"Okay... calm down, Rachel. Take a deep breath," she said softly. "Take a deep breath and tell me where you are so I can come to you. Are you at home or at work?" she asked. "Oh! I can hear cars. You know what? Turn on your location. I'm coming right now."

The call disconnected, and I did as she instructed.

Twenty minutes later, Lena arrived.

The moment I saw her, I pulled her into an embrace and broke into another round of tears. She wasn't shocked. She didn't tense up or ask questions. Instead, she gently caressed my back in slow, steady circles, and whispered, "It's fine, girl. Nothing is wrong. Everything will be fine."

After another five minutes, my sobbing subsided and eventually stopped. Still, she didn't ask any questions. She helped me into the car and drove me to her house.

"Had breakfast?" she asked as we walked into her apartment.

I nodded. Lena was fuming. Her silence revealed it-it was louder than any outburst.

"Go into the bathroom and take a bath. Take a nap after that. We'll talk when you wake up," she said simply, patting my shoulder before leaving the bedroom.

⸻

The sky had turned gray by the time I opened my eyes. I was surprised. I didn't expect to sleep that long, but somehow it happened. I had slept for hours despite the thousands of thoughts running through my head. I felt strangely numb, like my body had given up before my mind did.

That was a miracle. A rare one at that.

The door opened, and Lena walked in.

"Our sleeping beauty is finally awake," she teased with a wide smile. She walked over to the bed and ran her fingers through my hair. "Did you sleep well, love?"

I nodded. "Surprisingly... as you can see..." I gestured toward the sky with my head.

"That's great. That means the sleeping incense worked," she said, causing my brows to rise.

"What? A sleeping incense?" I asked.

"Yes. That's the only way I can get you to relax enough to sleep. Otherwise, that bastard's thoughts will deprive you of sleep after already depriving you of happiness," she spat.

Seeing her anger, I didn't dare provoke her. So I simply agreed. "Yeah... no way."

Then she went to her wardrobe, rummaged through it for a few seconds, and returned with a red dress.

"Take it. Dress up. Pick any matching heels and bag from the collection over there," she instructed. Her eyes scanned my face for a few seconds before she continued, "Hmm... you don't need any makeup or styling since you already look good. That's great." She clapped her hands together. "Just dress up and meet me in the living room. You have an hour."

None of what she said made sense to me. Dress up? For what?

From my confused expression, I guessed she could tell what I was thinking. She snapped her fingers in front of my face, making me blink.

"We're going out tonight. And you're not saying no."

My brows knitted, "Clubbing? Or where-"

Before I could confirm, she was gone. I knew what that meant-no objections. I just had to follow her lead. Well, maybe it wouldn't be so bad. In fact, it might be exactly what I needed tonight.

Without overthinking it, I got dressed. Lena said I didn't need makeup, right? Well, I applied some anyway... just enough to make me look bold and dangerous. I wanted to look like I could survive tonight. And I swear, that moment was oddly distracting. I loved it.

"Lena! I'm ready. let's go!" I shouted as I stepped into the living room.

RACHEL

Colored lights flashed across the club, painting everything in shifting colors. People were everywhere. Loud music played, and the sounds of laughter and clinking glasses filled the air. The strong scent of alcohol hit my nose. My head already felt heavy from the noise and the heat.

We ordered some drinks and drank to our satisfaction. I was tipsy. My vision blurred slightly, but I could still think clearly... mostly.

Lena wasn't with me anymore. As a regular club-goer, she was already on the dance floor, moving effortlessly, laughing, and drawing attention from everyone around her. She tried to convince me to come along, but I remained adamant. It already felt like a miracle that I had come here at all... maybe next time, I would summon the courage to dance like her.

"Would you mind if I sit here, milady?" a voice said behind me.

When I turned, my gaze fell on a man. He had a cute face and the physique of someone who practically lived in the gym. I squinted to get a clearer view of him. His cologne was sharp but relaxing. Subconsciously, I inhaled more of it.

"I'm married," I raised my hand, showing him my ring, then looked away.

He chuckled. My words didn't stop him from sitting beside me. He settled in and clinked his glass with mine. I didn't respond, only watching him cautiously. I didn't invite him to stay, but he stayed anyway.

"Really...? You don't look married," he said.

I cackled dryly. "Oh! My bad. Next time, I'll wear a wedding dress when coming here," I replied without a smile. My head was beginning to ache from all the drinking and laughing.

He burst into laughter. "Oh, fucking what!" he muttered between laughs. "That's not what I mean... You got that all wrong."

Staring at him again, I widened my eyes. "Then tell me-what do you mean?"

"I mean... " You look young and beautiful..." he stuttered.

"Oh! So only old and ugly women get married?"

He laughed harder, clutching his stomach. "Gosh! You're so funny. Who are you?"

I sipped my drink, ignoring his question. My eyes scanned the dance floor, searching for Lena. The alcohol was starting to take effect, and that meant it was time to leave.

"I'm Sebastian," he introduced. "Sebastian Raymond." He paused. "May I know the name of the woman who made me laugh for the first time in a week?" He stretched out his hand, smiling brightly.

For a few seconds, I stared at his hand, blinking but not taking it. Hissing softly, I picked up my glass and took another sip.

He pursed his lips, withdrew his hand, and clapped his palms together. "I guess you want to remain anonymous for now," he mumbled.

Still, I remained silent. None of his attempts were getting to me. He was a man. The one who made me come to the club tonight was also a man. They brought nothing but pain and destruction. There was no way I would open up to one again.

"You look like you've got a lot on your mind," he asked, breaking the silence. "Wanna share?"

If there was one thing I would applaud Sebastian for, it would be his persistence and boldness. Despite my attitude, he didn't give up. And his questions were tempting. I wanted to let it all out-my vulnerability, my emotions-but I knew that wasn't me. I wouldn't reveal my pain to a stranger. It was the alcohol speaking, and my friend wasn't around to pull me back.

My throat tightened as I tried to hold it in. 

In a blink, my eyes stung, and tears streamed down my face. I gasped. "I'm such a fool..." I sobbed, covering my face.

He leaned forward, his surprised gaze scanning my face. "What...? Are you... Are you crying?" His tone was filled with shock.

"When he cheated with different women, I had no problem with it. I endured. I compromised because they said marriage is all about compromise and sacrifice," I began. "Do you know what he told me this morning?" I let out a bitter laugh. "He said he wanted an open marriage, and he brought another woman into our home."

"What!" Sebastian exclaimed. "Is he a psycho? Is he nuts?" He tapped his temple and scoffed. "How shameless can he be?" His expression darkened as he spoke.

With my eyes half-closed, I chuckled. "I'm the shameless one. The one holding on to a tiny hope that he would change. The coward who couldn't walk away the first time. The fool who kept thinking he would choose me again." My voice grew hoarse and emotional. "I'm such a fool, Sebastian. A fool... a big fool."

"No, you aren't." He shook his head. "You love him, and that isn't a crime. If anyone should feel bad, it's him."

"I... I don't know what to do. How do I make him look at me? Now Clara is in my house. She's going to live with us. What if he forgets about me completely?"

"I don't think a man like him deserves you. He doesn't," he said firmly. "You deserve better. A man who will worship you and love you like you're the next thing to God." He paused briefly.

"You should leave him," he added.

Everything went silent as he said that. The only thing I could hear was the echo of his words. What the hell did he mean by divorce? He was asking me to leave my husband? For what?

I snorted. "Why would I leave him?"

He was taken aback, but quickly composed himself. "He's making you cry."

"I know he's making me cry, but how is that enough reason to divorce him? That's like handing him over to those bitches," I muttered.

He opened his mouth to speak, but I cut him off. "Don't, please," I snapped. "Don't say another word." I stood up and grabbed my bag.

He froze for a moment, then his lips curved into a small smile as he nodded. "You haven't told me your name."

"I don't tell strangers my name-especially ones who don't mind their damn business," I retorted.

He snickered and stood up. "You can always talk to me again." He slipped his card into my hand.

I tried to refuse it, but he insisted, so I took it. I would throw it away once I got outside. Then I stormed off.

⸻

Sebastian's eyes followed her as she walked out of the club. His lips curved into a slow smile. With his hands tucked into his pockets, he ran his tongue over his lips and nodded.

"So that's her...," he muttered to himself. His gaze lingered on her as she walked out.