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.

Amelia sucked in a breath to steady herself. Caleb was still dressed to the nines, an outfit that looked incredibly out of place from their little shabby apartment. In another happier time, it would have signified that Caleb's business ventures were successful and their fortunes were turning for the better.

Now, it was a mockery of all the sacrifices she had made to keep his dream alive.

"Look what the cat dragged in," Caleb drawled out, his judgemental eyes roving all over her drenched shivering figure. "Guess you finally decided to come back after all."

"Where else am I supposed to go? In case you forgot, I am the one paying for this house," Amelia pointed out, narrowing her eyes at his impudent words.

"You have a lot to explain," Amelia continued, the hurt surging through her like a river current the longer she stared at Caleb's face.

Questions emerged from her mouth in a torrent.

"How could you do this to me, Caleb? Do all the years we spent together mean nothing to you? If you didn't love me, why did you stay married to me?!"

Caleb scoffed and put his feet up on their rickety coffee table. "You were awfully convenient. Which man would say no to a warm body who willingly enslaved themselves for you? Amelia, you only have yourself to blame for how things ended up between us. Why were you such a doormat?"

Amelia gasped at Caleb's sheer audacity. How could he insult all the sacrifices she made to keep their little family afloat? "A doormat? How... I did all these things because I loved you! You told me you had nothing to your name, so I was willing to help you succeed!"

Caleb shrugged at her declaration, as though it was nothing more than the wind between his ears.

"And I suppose sucking Matteo Montgomery's cock was part of your job description?"

"What?" Amelia exclaimed faintly, taking a step back at Caleb's insinuation. "You think I― you think I'm sleeping with Mr. Montgomery?"

"I know you are," Caleb said, rising up in one quick motion, twisted viciousness in every line of his face, a dark look in his eyes. "Why else would someone like him help a bug like you? I saw how he looked at you tonight. And how he treated me. You seduced him and spread rumors about me, didn't you?"

"I didn't do anything to him!" Amelia protested. Caleb's accusation was bordering on lunacy. "I've never seen him before!"

"A likely story," Caleb's nostrils flared in anger, "But I will not be fooled again. Sign the papers, Amelia."

"The... papers?" Amelia repeated dumbly, finally turning her eyes to the stack of documents on the table. Her heart stuttered in her chest as she read the first line.

'DIVORCE AGREEMENT'

"You're divorcing me?" Amelia demanded, storming forward to grab the documents so she could read them closely. There was nothing wrong with her eyes; the words were in black and white, Caleb was effectively accusing her of infidelity and using it to take whatever tiny joint assets they had.

His signature was already at the bottom, underneath his name. The ink had long dried, and Amelia couldn't help but wonder how long her loving husband had been planning this betrayal.

"Who is she?" The question escaped from Amelia's lips, unbidden. The papers shook in her hands.

"She?"

"The woman you're leaving me for, Caleb! I know you're having an affair!" Amelia yelled, her voice cracking in anger. Since Caleb was so quick to accuse her of infidelity, he must have been guilty of something similar. After all, it was always the ones who had something to hide that made the biggest fuss.

Suddenly, Amelia recalled that she had been smelling a new perfume scent wafting off her husband in the past few months, but Caleb kept claiming it belonged to one of his important clients, telling her there was nothing to worry about. He had also been staying out late more often, but Amelia was too tired to confront him about it.

Amelia could only shake her head at her own stupidity. How could she have believed his words? Seeing a client? More like he had a mistress!

"You definitely have a mistress," Amelia hissed. "That perfume... the late nights... Do you take me for a fool?"

Caleb let out a bark of laughter. "Please, like Kelsie would ever be a mistress to me."

Amelia's heart stuttered. Caleb could only be referring to Kelsie Friesent, the heiress of Friesent Corporations. Amelia had worked part-time for them before as a janitor, and she had always heard good things about Kelsie Friesent from her coworkers.

Caleb was the one who introduced this job to her. Back then, Amelia eagerly accepted, as the pay was better than expected.

Amelia's eyes welled up with tears. Was this all just a game to the both of them? She was effectively made a fool!

"You... you..." Amelia blinked back tears, trying her best not to sob.

"Let's make this clear, Amelia Kentwood. You are not worthy to even lick my shoes, let alone to share my life with," Caleb said, with a derisive curl of his lips.

"Kelsie is the woman that I love, the woman who truly deserves to be by my side," Caleb continued. He took out a pen and pressed it into Amelia's cold clammy hand. "Now, sign the papers and I can end this farce of a marriage."

Amelia stared up at her husband's face, and only found the eyes of a stranger staring back at her. She knew that if she were to fight him now, he would have no qualms about hitting her, or worse.

She bit her lip and sucked in a quick breath; there was only one course of action. Her shaking fingers wrapped around the pen, and she gathered the strength to pen her name down on the document, her signature a crooked thing next to Caleb's elegant flourish.

"Fine, it's done," Amelia declared, moving away from Caleb, her soon-to-be-ex-husband. "From now on, we will have nothing to do with each other. Don't you regret it!"

Caleb threw back his head and laughed uproariously as though she had told a good joke. "Oh, Amelia, who would ever regret throwing out the trash?"

The sentence left Amelia fuming with rage. Her fists clenched tightly by her side while tears spilled freely. She didn't care how she looked now― Caleb could see her as crazed, deranged, and even psychotic for all she cared.

"Get out of my house!" she yelled, pointing to the door, but Caleb merely barked in laughter.

"Did you forget? The title deed is under my name," he said with a cold sneer. "This is actually my house."

She stilled, her blood chilling in her veins. He was right. With her rose-tinted glasses, she had wrongly assumed it didn't matter whose name was written under the house deed. They were husband and wife, and love was supposed to prevail through wealth and poverty.

It was a mistake to have it written under Caleb's name when she was the one who paid for the cost of the house and even the monthly electricity and water bills. Even most of the furniture was bought with her hard-earned money!

Caleb merely laughed as he watched all colors of the rainbow run across Amelia's face as she experienced multiple horrible emotions at one time.

"Get your things and leave, Amelia," he coldly said, and in less than fifteen minutes, Amelia had gathered what little she owned and the door to their apartment slammed shut behind her with a bang.

Left alone in the corridor, Amelia sank to the ground and broke down in tears. She felt as though she had cried enough to last her three lifetimes, but the tears wouldn't end.

Everything had been for Caleb. For the last few years that they were married, she lived for him.

What was she going to do now that her sun had exploded and her universe had turned into ruin?

Amelia had no other choice but to return to her family home. There was at least one man who would always keep his doors open for her.

"Dad..." Amelia was a face full of tears when the door opened, revealing a man with graying hair and a tired face.

Exhaustion hung across Michael Kentwood's face, but the second he laid eyes on his beloved only daughter, a smile quickly lit across his old features. He stepped aside, pushing the door a little wider before ushering her in.

"Amelia!" he excitedly said. "What brings you here? Where's Caleb―?"

He stopped himself short when he noticed the puffy red eyes and the irritated nose, his lips pursing together tightly as his face darkened. Wisely, Michael chose not to say a word.

"Can I stay for the night, Dad?" Amelia croaked, and Michael rigidly nodded.

With her father's permission, Amelia trudged into the house like a zombie. She headed straight for her old room, and when the door was pushed open, the tears that had just been stopped on the cab ride over nearly restarted― everything was kept the same as it was before, but it was still spotless and well-maintained.

"Let me know if you still need anything, Millie," Michael said, standing right behind Amelia.

When she turned around, she was no longer able to maintain her composure. She dropped her tote bag to the ground and bawled, throwing herself into her father's arms. Michael barely caught her, but still maintained his ground, soothing her hair as her snot and tears quickly moistened his clothes.

"How could he?" she wailed. "After everything we've been through! He never truly loved me, Dad! And now he wants to take everything that we share― everything! Even the house... Dad, where else am I supposed to go after this?"

"You will always have your room here, Millie," Michael soothed. "We will find a good lawyer and sue that son of a bitch."

"I... I've already signed the divorce papers," Amelia despaired. "I was so out of it that I didn't even read through it properly―"

Just thinking about how she had basically signed away her life savings without a second thought brought upon another wave of grief. How could she be so foolish?

"I should've never married Caleb..." she sobbed, choking on her tears.

"You will meet someone better," he replied. "There will be better options waiting for you in the future, Millie."

"No, no I won't," Amelia said. She pulled away, raising her hands to hastily wipe at her tears. "I am done with love."

***

Love hadn't disappointed her enough just yet. In fact, what Caleb had done the night before was merely the tip of the iceberg.

"What do you mean I am fired?" Amelia asked, flabbergasted. Her palms were pressed against the cashier counter.

The line of customers behind her and all across the restaurant looked over in shock, eager to watch the show. However, the manager merely shook her head and maintained a cold expression.

"It is what it is, Amelia," her manager said. "We've reviewed your performance for the last month, and it is below average. Your balance paycheck will be settled and sent to your bank account in three days, but there's no further need for you to come to work."

Amelia's stomach coiled. She had a bad feeling about this. Sure enough, when she showed up for her afternoon shift at Friesent Corporations, her manager was standing outside as well, practically waiting for her.

"Kentwood," he barked.

She walked closer, and when he held out a white envelope, Amelia nearly cried on the spot. She chewed on her bottom lip, her hands shaky as she took hold of the envelope.

"Sorry, Kentwood," he said. "Upper management's orders. Your pay is here. Do check to let us know if it's correct."

The envelope crumpled in her hands as Amelia stared at it, red-eyed. With her trembling breath, she looked up at her manager and smiled.

"Thank you, Jason," she choked out. Without another word, she turned on her heel and left.

There was one more place she needed to head to for her evening shift, and when she returned to the club where her life turned upside down, Amelia sighed in relief when she realized there weren't any managers waiting around to fire her. Although, she was sure that if Nigel was still around, he would be more than elated to do so.

She slipped into the locker room and changed into her uniform before clocking in, proceeding with her tasks as per usual. Not even an hour had passed when someone suddenly stopped her in front of the bar as she was waiting for the drinks to be filled.

"Amelia Kentwood, is it?"