Unveiled: The Survivor's Triumph

I just wanted to bail ASAP, like someone standing by the ocean with a tsunami coming in. One second too long and I'd be toast. Arthur's car was just a hop away. But as soon as I grabbed the door handle, a bandaged hand slammed it shut. My heart dropped.

Arthur was already in the driver's seat, not even budging.

Ethan was leaning against the car, one hand in his pocket.

I didn't dare look up; my eyes were glued to Ethan's injured hand.

"Emily, I'm not one to beat around the bush. You can hop in his car or mine. Make your call today, and whatever you pick, I'll roll with it." Ethan's voice was chill, like it was no biggie, but to me, it felt like the world was ending.

I almost caved and walked over to Ethan. But then I remembered his games, remembered Fiona he couldn't let go of, and Victor's words that made me feel like dirt. I couldn't bring myself to get close to him. Since we couldn't be a thing, I had to cut it off before it got messier.

I tried to open the car door again, but Ethan was still leaning on it, blocking me.

He didn't budge, just stood there, but I saw his bandaged hand clench into a fist, blood seeping through.

"Made up your mind?" His voice turned icy, losing its calm.

I took a deep breath, forced myself to look at him. "Yeah."

I thought he'd blow up, but he didn't. He just smirked. "Alright."

I almost lost my balance, but I kept it together, trying not to show any emotion.

Ethan slowly pulled out a cigarette, lighting it up. "Then let's set a date to finalize the divorce."

I swallowed hard, my throat tasting like metal. "Okay."

His hand holding the cigarette froze for a sec. Then he switched it to his bandaged hand, reached into his pocket, and pulled out a pearl necklace.

I knew it; it was the one we sent for repair last time.

"Guess this is trash now." The next second, the necklace flew from his hand, landing perfectly in a nearby trash can.

My heart ached. I knew what he was gonna do the moment he raised his hand. I even wanted to grab it from him, but I didn't.

After tossing the necklace, Ethan turned and walked away, leaving me with his cold, indifferent back.

But my eyes were stuck on the bandage on his hand, the red spreading fast. I wasn't squeamish about blood, but my heart hurt, and I felt dizzy.

"Emily, let's bounce," Arthur's voice snapped me back to reality as the car window rolled down.

I finally slid into Arthur's car. In the rearview mirror, I saw Ethan's car whip around and speed off.

On the drive, Arthur reached over and grabbed my hand. "Emily, thanks for giving me a shot. I promise I'll treat you right, just trust me."

I remembered the day we divorced, I told Arthur, "If the whole world turns its back on you, remember, I will too."

Arthur must've forgotten that. Only someone as shameless as him could think that after all the crap he put me through, he could just waltz back into my life.

Even though I despised him, I had to keep up the act. I let Arthur hold my hand, gave a light response, and pointed to a supermarket up ahead. "Drop me off here, I need to grab something." Arthur pulled over and said, "I'll wait for you."

I replied, "No need, you go ahead. I'll catch a cab back."

Arthur nodded, "Alright."

I walked into the supermarket, and as soon as Arthur's car was out of sight, I hailed a cab straight to Grace Hospital.

Once I got out, I headed straight to the trash can from earlier, not caring about the grime, and started digging through it.

The sanitation worker in the area knew I lost something and helped me dump out the trash. I squatted there like a beggar, sifting through the garbage.

It was rush hour, and a crowd started gathering. I ignored their whispers because I couldn't find it.

The pearl necklace wasn't small; I should've spotted it right away, but it was nowhere to be found.

I clearly saw Ethan toss it in, maybe someone already snatched it. Not finding the necklace felt like an unequivocal sign that Ethan and I were done for good. I squatted there, too weak to stand.

Soon, a pair of clean black shoes appeared beside me, and a clean hand pulled me up. I caught a glimpse of a dark gray suit and knew it was Jason.

Jason didn't mind my dirty hands or the stares from others. He held my hand and led me to the hospital restroom, turning on the faucet to wash my hands clean. "What were you looking for?" he asked while washing.

I calmly shook my head. "Some things, once lost, can never be found again."

After washing my hands, Jason drove me home.

Jason's driving was way smoother than Ethan's, just like the vibe he gave off.

On the way, Jason said, "Emily, if you can't let go, then don't. Follow your heart."

He didn't know what I was looking for, but he probably had a good guess why I was acting so weird.

I stared out the window. "Our marriage was a screw-up from the start. I can't keep living a lie."

Jason's slender fingers drummed lightly on the steering wheel, a bitter smile playing on his lips. "When it comes to feelings, is there really a right or wrong? Sometimes, even when you know it's a dead end, you still can't help how you feel, right?"

Jason was a puzzle. Sometimes he seemed so innocent and straightforward, but other times, he felt like someone who'd been through the wringer, hiding his weariness behind that sunny, warm exterior.

When we got to my stop, I hopped out, and he slowly pulled out a cigarette. "You go ahead, I'll finish this smoke before I head out."

As I walked deeper into Broadway Alley, I glanced back and saw Jason's car still parked at the entrance.

The next morning, as I stepped out of Broadway Alley, Arthur's car was right there. He looked at me through the half-open window. "I'm here to give you a lift to work."

Arthur was being unusually attentive. Without overthinking it, I got in the passenger seat, treating it like a free ride.

A lot of people saw Jason's actions at the hospital yesterday, and today, rumors were flying everywhere. To make my life a bit easier, I had to use Arthur as a cover to show that Jason and I weren't an item.

At noon, Arthur came by, wanting to grab lunch together, but I turned him down. I was just playing a part, but Arthur seemed dead serious. I couldn't figure out his true intentions.

Near the end of the workday, Jason called, wanting to invite me to dinner. With all the gossip, my gut reaction was to say no, but it was hard to turn him down. He was just that kind of guy.

"Sorry, I already have plans," I said, using it as an excuse to brush him off.

On the other end, he chuckled, a hint of disappointment in his voice. "Alright then, I guess I'll have to book in advance next time."

After hanging up, I called Arthur. "Wanna take me to dinner?"

After work, Arthur was waiting for me downstairs, and he took me to a mid-range restaurant. Given his current financial mess, it showed a lot of sincerity.

If we were still married, I would've insisted on saving money and taken him home to cook. But now, things were different. Not only did I accept it calmly, but when he pushed the menu towards me, I didn't hesitate to order a few pricey dishes. I skipped the drinks, just asked for a glass of water.

When the food arrived, just as I picked up my fork, the glass of water on the table was suddenly picked up and splashed right in my face.

After wiping my face, I saw Vivian standing there with a spiteful look. She spat out, "Arthur, you're back with this bitch?"

I glanced at Arthur, wondering if they were still not divorced.

Arthur ignored Vivian, quickly pulled out two napkins for me, and stood up to help wipe my face, clearly taking my side. I took the napkins and wiped myself.

"Emily, so, have you been dumped by your Sugar Daddy too?" Vivian sneered, "But you two losers are a perfect match."

I tossed the napkins aside, stood up, and without a word, grabbed Arthur's glass of water and splashed it right back at her.

Vivian wiped her face, glaring at me in disbelief, "Emily, how dare you splash me?"

I sneered, "So what if I did? You splashed me first. I used to tolerate you because you were pregnant. Don't mistake my patience for weakness."

Everyone in the restaurant was watching us.

Vivian hesitated for a few seconds before raising her hand to hit me. I grabbed her wrist and said calmly, "Go ahead. There are plenty of witnesses and surveillance cameras. I won't hold back if it's self-defense."

Vivian looked around, unwilling but eventually withdrew her hand, continuing to insult me verbally, "Arthur, who said Emily was a washed-up woman? Now you even want her again."

Arthur blushed, clearly embarrassed, yet I remained unfazed. I knew she was trying to save face.

Vivian finally stormed off, cursing under her breath.

I sat back down to eat as if nothing had happened.

"Emily, I think you've changed," Arthur said.

I calmly put food in my mouth, looked at him, and sneered, "A gentle woman is cherished by a man, whereas a strong woman is forced to be so by a man."

Arthur should understand what I meant. He looked a bit embarrassed and proceeded to serve some food onto my plate. "Emily, I will cherish you."

I gave him a faint smile, but inside, I took his words as empty promises.

After dinner, Arthur drove me home. When we arrived, he stopped the car but didn't open the door. He unbuckled his seatbelt and reached over to hug my shoulders. "Emily, you should see my sincerity. I really want to start over with you." He tried to kiss me, but I pushed him away. "Arthur, I couldn't see through you in two years of marriage, let alone in just a few days."

He still thought I was as naive and foolish as before.

Arthur let go, nodded, and unlocked the door. "I understand. I'll give you time and wait for you."

He was probably used to Vivian's bossiness, so now he had more patience. I got out of the car, and he quickly drove away.

Walking through the dark Broadway Alley, my phone suddenly buzzed with a text message. Seeing it was from Bella, I was quite surprised. Bella usually called directly and rarely sent texts. When I saw the message, I was shocked.