Lilian's POV
The phone rang just as melancholy was settling over me like a heavy blanket. Alesha Monroe's voice exploded through the speaker the moment I answered, vibrant with excitement.
"Lilian, guess what? I'm back."
"Are you serious?" The sadness that had been weighing me down vanished instantly. Alesha had been my anchor, my shopping companion, my closest confidante. When she moved abroad years ago, she'd left a void that nothing could fill.
Her laughter sparkled through the phone. "Just touched down recently. I need to drop my bags at home first, but we absolutely have to catch up tonight. You free?"
"Of course," I replied, genuine joy flooding my voice for the first time in days.
But as soon as I hung up, cold reality slammed into me. Freedom wasn't mine anymore. Every move I made now required Augusto's approval. Considering how controlling he'd become, getting permission to go out seemed almost impossible.
A knot of frustration twisted in my stomach. I pushed the worry aside. I'd deal with that problem when it came.
Hours slipped away while I dozed. When I finally woke, evening shadows were already stretching across the room. Alicia informed me that Augusto still hadn't returned. My phone buzzed with a text from Alesha containing a bar address and a message saying she was already there waiting.
I was halfway to the door when Augusto's warning from this morning echoed in my mind. He was my benefactor now. Antagonizing him would be catastrophic. I needed to at least find out when he planned to return.
I dug out my phone and scrolled through my contacts until I found his name, buried near the bottom of my chat list.
Looking at our conversation history, I realized I'd never initiated contact with him before. Our entire chat consisted of nothing but the initial friend request notification. I wasn't even certain this account was still active.
After a moment's hesitation, I sent a cheerful emoji.
His response came back so quickly it startled me. A single question mark.
The immediate reply made me wonder if I'd reached the right person.
I typed back cautiously: Augusto?
His response was curt: Yes.
The speed of his replies surprised me. For someone who supposedly ran a demanding business empire, he seemed remarkably available.
I started typing: Can I go out with Alesha tonight? But deleted it before sending.
Absolutely not. Augusto had always despised my nights out at bars and clubs. In the past, when he couldn't convince me to stay home, he'd follow me and stand guard outside like some devoted sentinel.
But circumstances were different now. If I told him my plans, he'd probably explode.
Instead, I crafted a different message: When will you be home? I added another cute emoji for good measure.
His reply made my cheeks burn: What's wrong? Last night wasn't enough for you? Missing me already?
I nearly dropped my phone. The gentle, reserved Augusto I knew would never send something so brazenly suggestive. What had gotten into him?
Memories of his wild behavior the night before flooded back, making my face flame red. I'd had no idea he possessed such intensity.
Before I could formulate a response, my phone rang. It was him.
My pulse quickened as I answered immediately.
The irony wasn't lost on me. All those years of marriage, and we'd never once called each other. Our relationship had never felt genuine.
"Why are you suddenly asking about my schedule? Is there a problem?" Augusto's voice was cold and professional, completely contradicting the flirtatious tone of his text.
I forced brightness into my voice, adopting my most pleasant tone. "Nothing's wrong. I was just wondering if you'd be home for dinner. Thought I might cook something special." Silently, I prayed he'd say no.
"Augusto?" A woman's voice drifted through the phone before he could answer.
My blood turned to ice. Was that his first love? Was he with her right now?
"Don't bother cooking. I've already eaten. Don't wait up for me. Just go to sleep," he said with brutal indifference.
"Okay," I managed to whisper, but he'd already disconnected.
Of course he was with his precious first love. Of course he wasn't coming home. I should have felt relieved, but instead, an inexplicable emptiness settled in my chest.
I shook off the feeling, slipped into a form-fitting dress, and prepared to leave.
This was reality. Augusto had reclaimed his beloved first love. I was nothing more than a temporary diversion, disposable entertainment until he grew bored or tired of his little game.
I absolutely could not allow myself to develop feelings. Not ever.
Once I reinforced that harsh truth, I felt considerably steadier.
The bar was relatively quiet when I arrived in the early evening, too early for the usual nighttime rush. I spotted Alesha immediately, waving enthusiastically from across the room. All this time hadn't changed her at all. She still wore her hair short, still had those sharp, intelligent eyes, and that infectious laugh that suggested she found the world endlessly amusing.
Alesha always claimed she had a tomboyish energy that intimidated men. She called me the "classic beauty" with the kind of feminine curves that stopped traffic.
She used to insist I'd end up with someone perfect.
When I married Augusto, she'd been furious. She said it was like draping silk on a scarecrow.
Now look at us. Augusto was an untouchable business mogul, and I was essentially worthless. Life had a twisted sense of humor.
"Lilian, I heard about your family situation the moment I landed," Alesha said, pulling me close as soon as I reached her table. "Are you handling everything okay? Whatever you need, just ask."
I managed a smile. "Everything's been resolved. Really."
But she pressed a card into my palm anyway. "There's a million dollars on this. Use it if necessary."
I tried to return it. Alesha's family might be wealthy, but her stepmother made her fight for every dollar. I couldn't accept her money.
She didn't insist but huffed indignantly. "So I heard Augusto divorced you?"
I paused. Apparently Augusto had already made the news public. With a casual shrug, I nodded. "Yes."
"That bastard," she exploded. "He abandons you the second he achieves success?"
"What did you expect?" I touched her shoulder gently, almost amused by her outrage. "After how I treated him back then, I'm fortunate all he did was divorce me." I omitted the part about being his mistress. No need to fuel her anger further.
Alesha sighed heavily. "You know what? Forget him. I never approved of him anyway. You deserve better."
Then her expression brightened, and a mischievous grin spread across her face. "So tell me, do you still have feelings for Armand?"
Before I could respond, she continued excitedly, "I ran into him at the airport today. He was returning from a trip too. I invited him tonight. He should arrive any moment."
My stomach plummeted. She'd invited Armand.
"Lilian!" A familiar voice called from behind me, one I hadn't heard in years.