"You... You're divorcing me," Amelia repeated nonplussed, as though the words would make more sense coming out of her mouth than his. Her mind was whirling faster than the cup rides in the amusement park.

"Oh, come on, don't look so surprised." Caleb crossed his arms and smirked. "Did you honestly believe that I would stay with you for the rest of our lives?"

"Yes!" The word burst out of Amelia's lips like sparks off a hot coal. "That's what marriage means!"

The table burst out laughing as though she had told a good joke.

"Maybe that would be true if I actually met a woman worth marrying," Caleb said, leaning back against his chair as he peered up at her with disdain in his eyes.

"You're not hard either," one of the women tittered playfully. "Guess she can't do it for you."

Again, the crowd of Caleb's friends burst into roaring laughter. Amelia could feel her face burn brightly hot red― she wanted nothing more than for the ground to swallow her whole. She would give anything to not be here right now, anything to wake up in her bed only to realize that this was all just a bad dream.

"Look at her," one of the men said. "She looks so shocked that she might just piss herself!"

"Ew, gross!"

More mocking laughter filled the room. Beside her, Nigel had turned into a stone statue. He was broiling in a mixture of shock, disbelief, and confusion. On one hand, he was panicked about having treated Caleb Walton's lawfully wedded wife like that. On another, he was sure that he wouldn't be in any trouble― whatever Nigel had ever said or done to Amelia was a mere grain of salt in comparison to what Caleb himself was doing!

And divorce!

Caleb Walton certainly didn't seem to care about this wife of his!

"Well, what are you waiting for?" one of the women prodded, sneering at Amelia and Nigel as though they were two fat bugs on the road. "Get to cleaning. It's dangerous to walk around, don't you know?"

"Y-Yes... Yes!" Nigel said, jolting back to attention. He spun to Amelia, gesturing to the glass shards of the broken wine bottle. Running out, he quickly returned with a broom and a dustpan. "Hurry up!"

Right as Amelia was about to take the broom, her hands still shivering, a sharp click of the tongue stopped them short.

"I think using your hands will be enough," the same woman said with a coy smile.

She leaned back into the seat, snuggling deep into Caleb's outstretched arm that was resting against the backrest. Caleb didn't flinch, silently allowing the woman's actions, and she grew bolder. She placed a hand on Caleb's chest, gently stroking the muscles that stretched the shirt taut.

Amelia's eyelids twitched as she watched, biting down on her bottom lip so hard that it began to draw blood.

"There's no need to use a broom," the woman said. "What if the glass shards get stuck there? Wouldn't that be dangerous?"

Snickers filled the room. Amelia turned her gaze to Caleb; she had a bit of hope left in her - however little - that he might just speak up for her. After all, it would be dangerous to touch it with bare hands, especially after Amelia had already accidentally cut herself on the shards when the bottle was smashed.

However, Amelia's face quickly fell when the seconds ticked on without a sign from Caleb. He didn't say a single word, simply turning his attention away to his friends. Their conversation resumed as though it hadn't been disturbed, with some of Caleb's friends either glancing at Amelia with mockery in their eyes or the rare bit of pity.

Her lips trembled but she wasn't allowed a second of reprieve. Before she could stomp out of the room, Nigel's hands found her shoulders, shoving her to her knees. She collapsed painfully against the floor, her knees scraping against some of the glass shards while her palms dragged across the floor.

Amelia's hands worked on autopilot, instinctively grabbing the scattered glass shards. Pinpricks of pain shot through her fingers and palms but it wasn't enough to wake her up from this nightmare. Her tears fell from her eyes as she worked, mixing with the red of her blood and the plum shade of the wine.

As she picked up some of the shards, she couldn't help but stare. They resembled her― broken and destroyed. Her entire world had collapsed in the span of fifteen minutes.

"Stop wasting time, you incompetent fool!" Nigel yelled.

He kicked her from the back, causing Amelia to stumble forward when she tried to get up to discard the waste. Whatever she had collected fell back onto the floor with a tinkling sound, attracting the eyes of Caleb's friends, who all could no longer pretend to ignore what was going on. However, none had the desire to help. Even if they did, none acted upon it.

"You're useless!" Nigel continued.

He realized that Caleb Walton didn't just dislike his wife― he most likely hated her! With how his friends took great joy in watching Amelia suffer, Nigel might get a hefty tip if he played along as the protagonist to their new favorite pastime. As such, he raised his voice and his strength.

This time, when Amelia turned around, Nigel's palm quickly came into contact with her cheek, causing her head to spin to one side. Her hand flew to hold the reddened spot immediately, a sharp gasp escaping her lips as she hadn't expected it coming. Nigel was a horrible manager, but he had never been physical.

Nigel, who had been so immersed in his act, failed to realize the amusement in Caleb's eyes died down as his expression darkened.

"How hard is it to sweep up some shards of glass?" Nigel screamed, spit spilling from his lips as he continued. "If you can't even handle some basic work, consider yourself―"

"Fired."

All heads spun around to look at the door, with profanities hanging off of Nigel's lips, ready to drop at any time. However, when he finally realized who it was who stood out there, all color fled from his face.

"M-Mr. Montgomery! What a delightful visit!" Nigel spluttered. He quickly gathered himself and bowed. "You're absolutely right, this woman should be fired immediately for her incompetence!" Amelia's heart sank as she waited for the inevitable; she was going to be missing a husband and a job...

"Amelia, pack your things. You're―"

"I was referring to you," the man, Mr. Montgomery, interrupted, his voice cutting and cold.

Amelia shivered instinctively; it was as though a blizzard's chill had swept through the room, leaving everyone frozen in his wake. Even Caleb's table, which had been nothing but noisy, was surprisingly silent.

Amelia couldn't help but be curious about the man who held such power. She had always been too low in the ranks to meet Nigel's boss, and she wondered what sort of man could have struck Caleb and his cronies dumb with his presence. However, his name, at least, was common knowledge among those who lived in Solara, and even those beyond the borders of the country.

Matteo Montgomery, one of the leading powers of the business empires in Solara. He was one of the youngest entrepreneurs in the country, on top of managing the Montgomery family business that had been thriving for generations. The club she was working at was but one of the many businesses he owned.

She slowly tilted her head, trying her best to take a peep at the man without him knowing.

Her heart raced as she caught sight of her savior through her messy hair. She had to tilt her head higher just so she could catch a glimpse of his face.

Matteo was devastatingly handsome. His strong jawline, high cheekbones, and broad shoulders gave off an intimidating, almost regal presence. With his jet-black hair and glacial blue eyes, Amelia could almost imagine him as a king, complete with a crown on top of his head.

Her heart, broken and shattered as it was, couldn't help but tremble.

Her eyes darted lower; she couldn't help but notice the veins in his forearms, thanks to the rolled-up sleeves of his shirt. He seemed like someone who didn't mind doing hard work.

As though he sensed her glance, Matteo turned those glacial blue eyes on her. Amelia quickly ducked away, not wanting to attract any more of his attention. She didn't know him well― he might simply decide to change his mind and let Nigel beat her.

Or worse, he might pity her.

She knew how she must have looked in his eyes. She was nothing but a poor employee who looked like a wreck, with wine splashes on her uniform and her hair a disheveled mess, her eyes swollen and teary, and scratched wounds all over her hands.

But because she looked away, she did not see how his gaze softened as he gazed at her.

"Since when did I give you leave to hit my employees?" Matteo demanded. His tone was icy, but his blood was boiling underneath the surface. He detested anyone who laid a hand on the weak and powerless.

Sweat began to bead on Nigel's temples, and he quickly glanced at Caleb Walton's table, hoping that one of them would chime in and save his skin. However, all of them dared not to speak in Matteo's presence, when his anger was a palpable shroud, threatening to strangle them all.

"I... I was just teaching her a lesson!" Nigel protested. "This worker is very clumsy― she shattered this bottle of priceless wine―"

"And will beating her up magically fix matters?" Matteo asked with a raised eyebrow. "I had no idea violence was magic."

Unbidden, a small smile crossed Amelia's face at his wit.

"Nigel, you're fired. Turn in your staff pass and your keys by tonight."

Nigel paled. "Mr. Montgomery! Please, this was a misunderstanding! I wouldn't have if not for―"

"Be thankful that I'm not suing you for workplace violence," Matteo growled out, anger rearing its ugly head at Nigel's insistence that he had not done wrong. "Now, get lost!"

Nigel wisely fled the room without a backwards glance. Once Nigel's back retreated from the room for good, Caleb finally spoke up, standing up to walk towards Matteo. Amelia flinched, half-expecting Caleb to shove her, but she was as good as air in his eyes.

Her husband only had eyes for Matteo.

"Hi Matteo, fancy seeing you here! It's been a long time, hasn't it?" Caleb asked, his tone friendly and welcoming.

Amelia's heart gave a tiny lurch in her ribcage― it was as though the nastiness of earlier was a figment of her imagination. This was her husband again, as she knew him.

"This is my club," Matteo replied flatly. "It would be much stranger if you didn't see me."

Caleb laughed awkwardly, but he continued to speak, not dissuaded by Matteo's coldness. "Well, I know you must be busy, but would you have the time to spare a drink with us?"

"Since you know I'm busy, why did you even bother asking?" Matteo retorted, staring at Caleb as though he was soft in the head.

Amelia blinked― she had never met a man so blunt and so impervious to Caleb's friendliness before.

It was almost like he had a personal hatred for Caleb's presence.

Caleb's face darkened, but he still kept on smiling.

"It was worth a shot! You are a hard man to catch, Matteo. I hope you―"

To Amelia's surprise, Matteo didn't even bother responding to Caleb's words. Instead, he turned to Amelia, wordlessly cutting Caleb off to address her.

"Follow me."

"What?" Amelia asked, wondering if she had misheard.

"You need to dress your wounds. Follow me," he repeated, holding out his hand for her.

"There's no need―" Amelia protested, holding her hands close to her chest, staring at his hand as though it were a live wire. Her wounds hurt, but it was nothing that good old iodine could not fix.

Her broken heart was another matter altogether. She chanced a quick look at Caleb, only to spot the derisive curl of his lips as he sneered at her.

"I agree, Matteo, there's no need to trouble yourself with someone like her," Caleb said with a cavalier laugh. "She has a pair of working legs; she can make her own way out."

Amelia bit her lip so hard it nearly bled. She did not recognize this callous man in front of her.

Matteo's eyebrows furrowed in distaste, but he did not bother to respond to Caleb's words. Instead, he gazed at Amelia, wordlessly cocking his head.

His hand was still outstretched, waiting for Amelia to respond.

His gaze simply remained on her, holding her gaze evenly as though he could see the thoughts that were racing across Amelia's mind. Slowly, she peeked at him through the curtain of her hair, a bold streak running through her head.

She stood up a little straighter, and without even looking in Caleb's direction, she took hold of Matteo's hands. His body warmth immediately seeped through into her skin, and she resisted a gasp when she raised her gaze, only to realize he was already intensely staring down at her.

All at once, Amelia suddenly felt increasingly insecure about herself― she was dressed in a dirty, ruined uniform, while his clothes were pristinely pressed and neat. Even from this short distance away, she could smell the faint scent of his cologne, not overpowering, but still alluring.

Matteo didn't allow her the luxury of time to get used to the strange sensation that overwhelmed her. Instead, a second after their hands connected, he tugged her out of the room where Caleb and his friends remained, all stunned silly as they watched the two leave.

"Did Matteo Montgomery just steal your wife?" Caleb's friend, Benji, asked, a hint of mockery tuned in his voice.

Caleb glared in the direction where Amelia and Matteo had disappeared. The glass in his hands cracked under pressure, and eventually, it shattered, causing the scent of blood to reemerge in the room.

"Like he'll want my leftovers," Caleb declared with gritted teeth. "That woman must have seduced him."

Outside, Matteo had tugged a rather befuddled Amelia down the hallways and into the backrooms. He entered a section where Amelia had been reminded numerous times to never go to― the owner's office. When he pushed open the door, the scent of sage quickly filled her nose, and she wrinkled it a little.

"Sit," he ordered, gesturing to the couch that was placed against the wall, and Amelia dutifully followed like an obedient pet.

Once she was settled down, he disappeared behind another set of doors, returning only a few short moments later with a small basin of water. Amelia immediately sat up straight in surprise, prepared to get up to her feet, only to be pressed back down into her seat.

"Stay put," Matteo sternly said, and Amelia bit down on her tongue. She didn't appreciate being ordered around like a dog, but that thought immediately brought back memories of what Caleb had said about her. Her expression instantly darkened.

The hiss of pain that slipped past her lips was what eventually brought her out of her reverie. Matteo had now kneeled down right beside Amelia, her injured hand in his.

As hardened as his expression was, his movements were strangely gentle. He scooped water from the small basin of water and washed the blood off of her fingertips. Then, once they were clean, he reached for a clean napkin to dry it off before reaching for some medication.

Amelia's brain felt as though it had been short-circuited as she stared at the man. Her boss― no, scratch that. Her boss's boss was now on his knees, tending to her injuries as though he was a knight in shining armor. Not just that, he had also yanked her free from a nightmare.

She seriously wondered if she was actually still dreaming.

"Done," he said, raising his gaze to meet her eyes. Amelia thought she caught a look of pity in his blue irises, but they returned to the original frosty state as quickly as it came. "Keep it clean and it should heal soon. It's not a deep cut."

"T-Thank you," Amelia said, her voice breathy as she held her freshly bandaged hand close to her chest. "I should be going now."

"Go where?" Matteo asked, standing to his full height, the basin of bloodied water in his hands. Amelia's eyes followed the droplets of water as they trailed down his toned arms before dripping onto the carpeted floor.

"Home, of course," she said. She immediately dipped her head. "Although, I completely understand that the work shift hasn't ended. With what happened for today, it would be more than reasonable that this shift isn't counted into my payroll―"

"You can't seriously be considering returning," Matteo said, and for a moment, Amelia wondered if he meant her job. He then continued, "That man will only hurt you."

'Pinch me,' she thought. 'I must be dreaming.'

After all, the events of tonight certainly felt like one. It was filled with the most unbelievable sequences that she never thought would've ever happened. If it weren't for the dull, throbbing pain of her injuries, she wouldn't even be surprised to wake up in her bed at any moment now.

"With all due respect, Mr. Montgomery, this is my personal matter," Amelia said, desperately trying to keep her tone even. "I appreciate your help and concern, but I can handle this."

Then, as though the universe was all too determined to prove her wrong, Amelia's phone vibrated with a new notification. She pulled it from her pockets, with Caleb's name filled with hearts flashing across her lock screen.

His message was simple. 'Where are you?'

A moment of silence filled the room. Amelia had no doubt Matteo managed to catch a sneak of her text message, with how he was looming over her, and she wanted nothing more than for the ground to open up and swallow her whole. Both of them knew very well that Caleb's message was not out of love.

"If you have no place to stay, you can come over to my place," Matteo said, and for a moment, Amelia thought that she had popped a blood vessel just now in her fit of anger, resulting in a hearing problem.

"Excuse me?" Amelia said, trying her best to keep her jaw from falling open.

Maybe the alcohol had seeped into her veins through her injuries - if that even was possible - or maybe she really had gone insane with grief. Either way, the dark lighting in the room made Amelia see a layer of red covering Matteo's cheeks. Once she blinked, though, it went away.

"It is only until you have your matters settled," Matteo said, his voice sounding a little strained.

"Thank you for your offer, Mr. Montgomery, but I can settle this," Amelia replied, trying her best to ignore the thundering of her heart.

"Then allow me to send you back, at least," Matteo said. He looked out the window, and Amelia's gaze followed. It was pouring outside, the rain as heavy as Amelia's heart.

Seeing no reason to turn down his generous offer, Amelia agreed.

Matteo dropped her off at her apartment building― she dashed out right after the car stopped, only tossing a hasty 'thank you' once more before running through the rain and into shelter. She didn't even notice the gaze that trailed after her up until the moment she disappeared into the lift.

The moment she stood in front of her apartment door, she was already drenched from head to toe.

Amelia took a deep breath before she twisted the handle of the door, just in time to see Caleb sitting on the couch, a small stack of papers placed on the coffee table in front of him. When he heard her enter, he turned, and their gazes met.