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“Sir… Mrs.—uh—she’s at a nightclub. Downtown.”

Chapter 5 A Cursed Fate

Lorenzo went still.

A slow, burning pressure started behind his eyes. A sharp ache bloomed in his temples as he pressed his fingers against them, trying to calm the storm ripping through his chest.

“She’s modest. Simple. What the hell is she doing at a place like that—alone—at this hour?” His voice cracked with rage. “She probably doesn’t even know what a bar looks like. What the hell is she thinking?!”

***

The Blue Orchid Bar buzzed with neon lights and booming bass, its glow spilling onto the streets like spilled champagne. The music pulsed through the air, loud and untamed, shaking the glass walls that framed the upscale downtown lounge.

The VIP area overlooked the stage below—an elevated platform wrapped in white light where people swayed and danced, lost in the rhythm. Curved couches and glass tables dotted the private section, each booth spaced just enough for seclusion but still giving a clear view of the party below.

Krystal sat at one of those tables, her dress shimmering under the LED lights. Darren lounged beside her, and across thebooth were familiar faces—Jane, Stella, and Sienna. They were friends she used to meet often, before marriage pulled her away. Tonight, for the first time in what felt like forever, she was free. No duties. No expectations. Just herself.

“Damion and Kara said sorry,” Jane said, leaning in with a faint smile. “They couldn’t make it.”

“But don’t worry,” Sienna grinned, grabbing a shot glass and throwing it back with ease. “We’ll replace them just fine. You’re not missing anything tonight. Their loss.”

“It’s been forever,” Stella added, wrapping an arm around Krystal’s shoulder. “You disappeared on us. No calls, no texts. What happened? Are we doing that again?”

“I doubt it,” Darren snickered, clinking glasses with Jane. “No point hiding her dirty little secret anymore.”

Krystal shot him a glare sharp enough to slice the air. Darren’s smirk vanished as he clumsily set his drink down.

“It’s not a dirty secret,” she mumbled, sighing heavily. She reached for the shot in front of her, gulped it down, and winced as it burned its way down. “Okay. Fine. I need to be a little drunk for this.”

And just like that, the night shifted. Krystal slowly unraveled the truth she’d locked inside for two years. She spoke between drinks—about the promise to Lorenzo’s grandfather, the quiet sacrifices, the loneliness, and everything she had endured under the same roof as the man who probably didn’t even remember her anymore.

“I mean, not even the maids would serve him three hot meals a day in freezing snow, but I did,” she muttered, eyebrows furrowed, anger slipping into her voice. “Ungrateful pig!”

She downed another shot with trembling hands. “If it weren’t for treating his hands, I would’ve never been dumb enough to play nursemaid to a man like him.”

Sienna rubbed her back gently. “Doesn’t matter now. You’re out of it. A divorce party is long overdue—we’re throwing a huge one.”

“Hell yes,” Krystal mumbled with a half-laugh.

Jane slid another shot toward her. “Drink all you want. No one’s watching over you now.” She winked.

Krystal laughed, feeling her shoulders relax for the first time in years. “You know what?” she said loudly, standing on shaky feet, arms out. “This—this right here—is what I’ve been craving.Freedom!”

She stumbled, catching the edge of the table.

“Holy shit, I need to pee,” she whispered with a wobbly laugh.

“I’ll come with—” Stella started, but Krystal waved her off.

“Nah. It’s just a few steps away. I’ll be fine. Stay here. Get drunk. I want all of you hammered by the time I’m back.”

“Go, come back soon,” Jane called, already pouring another round.

Krystal giggled and made her way downstairs, feet unsteady. She remembered spotting a restroom sign near one of the side corridors. The hallway was dimmer and quieter—a stark contrast to the thumping music behind her.

“This place has changed so much,” she murmured, her eyes drifting over the sleek, unfamiliar walls as she stepped forward.

Then—bam.