Leaving the hospital, Selina stumbled into a quiet bar like a lost puppy, swallowing another shot in one sharp gulp. The alcohol burned fiercely on her tongue, causing her face to twist in discomfort.
With her other hand, she rubbed an egg-shaped ice pack against her swollen cheek, her eyes fixed blankly on the glowing phone screen resting on the counter.
Selina went numb the instant she read through the heartless messages from her bosses, who had just fired her.
[How could you be so heartless? If you have a clear conscience, don't come near the restaurant again.]
[The customers don't want you around anymore.]
[You're fired!]
Reading those unjust messages tightened Selina's chest. She had lost her source of income, which had helped her pay her bills and support herself while struggling to stay financially stable for the past nine years.
Her current situation, compounded by the scandal, frightened her. She couldn't imagine how many people viewed her as a vicious person. The thought of being haunted and spit on made her whole body weak.
"Why am I suffering this way again? I've been struggling for years, working hard to earn enough money to live a carefree life. But now my world is turned upside down because of that snobby, cold fox," she murmured, her voice strained with frustration.
Selina lowered her head, and tears finally slipped from her eyes. Even though no one was in the bar except for the owner, she felt too embarrassed to let the woman see her vulnerability.
She tightened her grip around the glass as if she wanted to crush it into pieces, disregarding how much the shards could hurt her. Her shoulders sagged under the weight of rejection and isolation that engulfed her.
All of this was because the man she once thought she had lost returned two years ago, only to turn her life upside down again.
"It's fine, Selina. You can overcome this situation just as you once did and start living normally. The news will linger, but not forever, because you're innocent," she told herself, forcing a hopeful smile onto her lips.
She dropped the egg-shaped ice pack on the counter the moment she felt relieved from the stinging pain, yet another familiar ache pierced her.
"Argh… my head hurts terribly," Selina winced, pressing a hand to her throbbing head. "I might pass out with everything happening at once."
"Did you get dumped? You look so heartbroken," the bar owner asked, eyeing the bitter, turbulent expression on Selina's face.
Selina jerked upright, flustered, glancing sideways to see if the woman was talking to her. Her hands flew to her chest. "Do I look like someone who's been dumped?"
The owner shrugged. "Of course you do. Most young people who come here are nursing broken hearts—cheated on or abandoned."
Selina let out a short, ridiculous chuckle. "No… I'm not sad because I was dumped or cheated on. It's just… I thought that if he ever showed up someday, I might finally get a chance to tell him how I feel. And now… who knows? We've been enemies before I even knew. He hates me and wants my ruin. It hurts more because I've been crushed before I even had a chance. I've been kept in the dark all this time."
In everything, Selina felt betrayed and humiliated because she once believed that Zane was simply being cold and indifferent, as was his personality. Ironically, she had learned that every deliberate distance and cold word was a mask for his revenge.
He had kept her in the dark, drowning silently and unknowingly! Her chest tightened, a strange mix of bitterness, exasperation, and rage breaking every piece of her.
The owner smiled, feeling sympathetic for Selina even if she didn't fully understand her. "Surely, young people always feel sensitive. Why bother about men who cause you pain? Just let them be and work hard to achieve a better life. Someone better will come along."
Selina nodded firmly, staring back at the woman, who made her storm ease a little.
"This time, I won't work to prove my worth to anyone. I'm going to become better for myself and let them see that I'm truly not a good-for-nothing daughter or an invisible wife. I will live for myself, knowing I can do better without their validation. One day, they'll regret treating me poorly," Selina declared with unwavering determination, gulping down another shot, her face twisting in anguish.
She hiccuped.
"How will you make them regret it?" she heard a deep, cold voice beside her.
She turned her drunken gaze toward the figure whose vision blurred for a moment before coming into focus. It was that conniving, sly fox—Zane.
Selina frowned deeply.
"Why are you here to taunt me? Are you happy now that I'm going through this hell because of you?!" she snapped, shooting him an angry glare. "Go away. I don't ever want to see you!"
Placing her head on the counter with her hair covering her face, she hugged the alcohol bottle like it was her only true companion—one that wouldn't hurt her.
Zane stared at the drunken woman, wondering if she might spill everything about the previous incident that could land him in trouble. He reached out to take the bottle from her, but she slapped his hand away.
"I'm sober. Just a little more to get drunk," she muttered, lifting her head toward the owner and adding, "Can I get two more drinks?"
Zane narrowed his brows, glancing at the barely consumed bottle that was still left—she was already drunk. The owner almost turned to fulfill Selina's request, but upon meeting Zane's menacing gaze, she froze, opting to clean the countertop instead.
Selina threw her head in disgust, noting the woman's refusal to take her order. 'Does she think I'm broke and can't pay?'
"I have enough money. Bring me more—"
"Enough," Zane cut in calmly, swiftly dragging the alcohol from her grip. "Don't try so hard to look pathetic."
She let out a ridiculous scoff. Pathetic? Did he just call her that?
Selina slammed the glass on the counter with a thud. Without warning, she grabbed Zane's collar and yanked him close, their lips nearly brushing—breaths mingling in the narrow space between them.
Zane raised an eyebrow at her boldness. No one had ever dared to touch his collar like that.
Glaring into his unreadable eyes, Selina whispered, "How dare you call me pathetic… when you're the reason behind it? Do you have any idea what—"
She paused, her throat prickling suddenly.
"What—"
Before he could finish, Selina lunged forward and threw up all over his chest.
Zane's eyes widened, frozen in disbelief.
"Damn it!" he growled, his voice tight with suppressed frustration as he recoiled from the mess. "This is my favorite shirt."
"Feels good now," Selina mumbled drunkenly, pulling away with a dazed sway.
Under normal circumstances, he would have tossed anyone who did this directly out to sober them up. He snapped his head up, ready to unleash every ounce of bottled-up fury, but the words caught in his throat when he saw her slumped over the counter, already passed out.
Her face twisted in pain, even in sleep.
He had never seen her drink before, although he barely dropped by their mansion. Did she always resort to this when she was hurt or sad?
"What are you thinking, Zane? Why are you getting bothered about such trivial things? Don't get too curious," he whispered inwardly, reminding himself not to become too interested in her.
From the corner, the bar owner cleared his throat awkwardly, glancing between the two. "I can't let her stay here. We're about to close."
****
Zane's watchful gaze followed Selina as she staggered sideways, head bowed. She refused his help, so all he could do was watch as she stumbled her way toward the mansion, silently hoping she'd make it inside without falling.
His vest, still reeking, hung over his arm, while his other hand slipped casually into his pants pocket.
"Ms. Selina!" The housekeeper's voice rang out from the other end.
Hearing that, Selina stopped in her tracks and jerked her head toward the housekeeper rushing toward her. Eloise, a woman in her mid-forties, halted in front of Selina, holding a porcelain bowl with steaming contents.
Eloise waved a hand across her face, chasing away the reeking scents. "Oh dear…. How did you end up in this pitiful state? Do you drink, ma'am? What happened?" She whispered while Selina flashed her a drunken smile.
"I'm not drunk… just tired," she murmured, a small pout forming as her eyes wandered around the room in search of somewhere comfortable.
Zane drew closer.
"Have you gotten the hangover soup ready?" He asked, his tone cold.
"Yes, sir. It's ready like you requested." Eloise replied.
"Then serve it to her," Zane said calmly.
Eloise stretched out the bowl towards Selina, trying to help her drink. "Have this to stay sober."
"I can do it myself." Selina collected the bowl from Eloise instead and brought it to her mouth, drinking it in one go.
Eloise almost panicked, fearing Selina might choke. Selina placed the bowl in Eloise's palm, allowing her shoulder to sag.
She took a step further and almost lost her balance as Eloise rushed to her side, grasping her into her arms.
"Easy, ma'am!" Eloise yelped as she caught Selina mid-stumble — only to let out a pained groan when her back protested. "Ahh—! You're crazy heavy! Like a cow!"
"A cow?" Zane's voice cut through the air, low and flat.
Eloise froze instantly, snapping her head toward him. He was standing much too close now.
Her expression twisted in panic. "N-no, sir! It's just a comparison! Not an insult, I swear!" she babbled, still struggling to keep Selina upright.
Selina, half-drowsy, let out a giggle. "That's good then. If I'm heavy, it means I'm healthy."
Eloise's eyes widened. Healthy? More like back-breaking, she thought, silently praying for mercy.
"I—I can't carry her upstairs, sir," she finally admitted, looking helplessly at Zane.
Without a word, Zane handed her the stained vest.
The moment Eloise caught a whiff of it, her face scrunched up. "Oh my! Is this poop or what!" She gagged, jerking her head back while clamping a hand over her nose.