Later that evening, when she arrived home, she immediately dialed her husband.
"Where were you, Cassian? Why did you not answer my calls or texts earlier?"
"I am so sorry, Seraphina," he replied. "There was an important conference earlier. I am still busy. I will not be home yet."
She fell silent. That same excuse again. It was becoming too familiar. And she knew exactly who he was with.
"Okay… I love you," she whispered softly, almost begging. "How much longer, Cassian? Will I ever get you back from her?" He did not respond. Her chest ached again.
At seven o'clock, she called Venessa to come pick her up. She needed noise, lights, and a little bit of chaos to drown out her thoughts. A bar sounded perfect. She missed nights like this. Nights where the music was loud enough to block out her pain.
"There are so many hot guys here, bestie!" Venessa squealed as they sat at a table, sipping tequila.
"Your eyes are always searching for good-looking men," Arielle laughed.
"Haha, guilty! Let us go dance!" Venessa said while eyeing a guy who had been staring at them for a while.
"You go first. I will have another drink," Arielle replied.
"Fine, suit yourself! I am going to talk to Mr. Cutie!"
"Hey, you…" Arielle tried to stop her, but Venessa was already dancing on the floor with the guy.
Arielle poured herself another shot. Then another. The buzz felt good. She wanted to drink until the pain dulled. Until she stopped thinking about Cassian and his mistress.
She was not heartless. Anyone would feel crushed if the person they trusted most betrayed them. A few minutes passed before Venessa returned to their table, excitement in her eyes.
"Wait a second… Is that not Mr. Rafael 'Well-endowed' over there?" she pointed discreetly.
Arielle turned her head and spotted him.
Rafael was with a tall, fair-skinned woman clinging to his arm.
"That jerk," Arielle muttered, her jaw tightening as she remembered his surprise kiss back on campus. She was drunk, she knew it. Her head felt light, and her judgment was clouded, but that only encouraged her next move. A mischievous idea popped into her head.
"Hey! Where are you going?" Venessa called out when she saw Arielle standing and walking, straight toward Rafael and the woman clinging to him at their table.
Rafael looked surprised to see her there, and the woman beside him gave her a confused look.
"Oh, miss," Arielle began sweetly, loud enough for nearby tables to hear. "Please do not fall for this guy. You do not know? He has a reputation. Plenty of women. I heard he already has ten kids, all firstborns. Want to be wife number eleven?" she said with a teasing grin, eyes fixed on the woman.
"What the hell, Arielle?!" Rafael snapped, clearly embarrassed.
"You see? He knows me!" Arielle smirked, pointing at him.
The woman's face turned red. Without another word, she stood and walked out of the bar in a hurry. Rafael followed, shooting Arielle a heated glare before storming off.
"I will deal with you later, woman!"
Arielle laughed and hurried back to Venessa, tugging her friend's arm.
"Bestie, code red! We need to switch bars. Now!"
"You little traitor! I have not even started flirting yet!" Venessa groaned. "Seriously, messing with Mr. Well-endowed now? You are unbelievable!"
Fuming, Venessa began dragging her out in search of another spot.
"Bestie, can you stop being so bitter for one night? Just enjoy yourself, please. How am I supposed to find love if you keep scaring away every man in the room?" she said, only half-joking.
"Fine, fine. Order something strong," Arielle replied, waving her off.
She had not even placed her order yet when her eyes landed on a couple in the corner, locked in an embrace, lost in their own world.
Her heart dropped. There was Tessa, sitting on her husband's lap, arms around him like a leech. Laughing. Smiling. Kissing him. So this was what Cassian meant when he said he was busy.
"Bestie..." Venessa's voice was soft as she placed a hand on Arielle's shoulder. Arielle stood, walked to the next table, and grabbed a glass of water filled with ice.
"Hey, sweetheart," she said sarcastically, tapping Tessa on the shoulder.
The moment Tessa turned around, Arielle pulled the neckline of her dress and poured the ice-cold water down inside.
"Aaaaaaah! That's freezing!" Tessa screamed as the water soaked her.
Arielle laughed at the sight.
"Arielle, what the hell is wrong with you?!" Cassian barked, standing up with a furious look.
She faced him, smiling sweetly. "Oh? I am sorry, dear cousin. I thought your lady needed help. I assumed she was feeling hot, so I helped cool her down. You are welcome."
"You are such a witch, Arielle!" Tessa hissed, tightening her grip on Cassian's arm as if marking her territory.
"Witch? Are you sure that is me? Because last I checked, only one man has touched me, and I do not sleep with married men. You? Let us not pretend you are innocent."
"Go home, Arielle," Cassian said, his voice low and full of anger.
She met his eyes, holding back tears that now stung behind her lids.
"I will," she said. "But just so you know, Cassian… you did not lose me today. I lost you. And honestly? You were not worth keeping."
"Oh, hubby… you are so cruel," Arielle said with a wicked smile. "I am not going home unless you come with me. So, what will it be? Leave with your wife, or should I shout here and let the whole bar know that she's your mistress?"
"Could you just please shut up?" Cassian hissed, his eyes wide with rage.
"Need backup, bestie?" Venessa asked from behind her, clearly ready for chaos.
"I got this," Arielle replied confidently, lifting one eyebrow and staring Tessa down. "Hey, Tessa. I may be a professor, but I am no saint. Cassian, are you taking me home or not?"
"Screw you, Arielle! Just leave!" Cassian snapped, grabbing her wrist.
"Oh, alright!" Arielle flipped her hair and turned to Venessa. "Bestie, let's go to the parking lot. I feel like smashing a car."
"The Everest one?" Venessa asked, already grinning.
"Yes," Arielle said without hesitation.
"Let's go! That sounds like fun," Venessa replied gleefully.
Cassian groaned loudly. "Arielle! You are unbelievable. Come on, Tessa. Let's go!"
"Oops, who told you she is coming with you?" Arielle said, blocking their way and pulling out a twenty-dollar bill from her purse. She handed it to Tessa like a tip. "Here, this should get you a tricycle ride home. Go on."
"You have gone too far, Arielle!" Tessa barked, fuming.
Arielle ignored her and looped her arm around Cassian's, dragging him out of the bar. "Wow, so obedient. You are a good husband after all," she said sweetly while Cassian looked like he wanted the ground to swallow him whole.
"Oh, look at you now," Venessa added as she walked beside them. "Next time, pick someone single, girl. Why mess with my bestie's man? And clearly, you don't know your cousin that well. She's the twin sister of Maleficent!"
Arielle laughed as she slid into the passenger seat of Cassian's car. Her smile widened with satisfaction.
"Well, well… Looks like I still hold the winning card, Tessa."