Divorce, Ending, And New Beginning

Callie coughed loudly and patted her chest. A smile formed on her lips, unable to hide it any longer.

Everyone turned to her.

Seth tilted his head and looked at Callie. “You think that’s funny?”

Callie’s smile faltered at his question. Then, she rolled her eyes at him.

“You think I’m laughing because of you? Aren’t you too full of yourself, Mr. Parker?” she mocked.

Lacey tugged Seth’s shirt. “Seth, I want that woman to apologize to me. Can you help me?” she gently asked.

Callie sneered at her. “In your dreams, darling.”

Seth cleared his throat and gave Callie a warning look. “Miss Cooper, you clearly hurt a person here. You don’t want to apologize, and you’re also acting rudely. Where are your manners?” he coldly said.

Anger rushed through Callie’s system immediately. She scoffed and looked at them from head to toe.

She opened her mouth to speak, but Gwen was fast enough to cut her off.

“She didn’t mean to hurt her,” she said while holding Callie’s arm.

“Even if you didn’t do it on purpose, don’t you still have to apologize for inflicting pain?” Seth replied impatiently. He shook his head as if he was disappointed in Gwen. “I thought you’re a teacher, Miss Lewis? Is that what you teach your students?”

Gwen didn’t reply. She scanned the whole store and saw people staring at them. The saleslady also looked at them with panic and worry.

She glanced at her friend before turning to Lacey. “May I apologize on her behalf, Miss Brooks?”

“Gwen!” Callie exclaimed with frustration.

Never in her life would Callie allow her best friend to submit to these arrogant people, especially Lacey.

So, she gently pushed her friend to the side. “I was the one who did it, Gwen. If you really want to apologize, I’ll do it.”

Callie turned to Lacey, resisting rolling her eyes at her. “I’m sorry,” she whispered.

Seth let out a dry laugh. “What happened to your voice, Miss Cooper? You spoke fine just now. We can’t hear you. Say it louder.”

Callie glared at Seth. “What the hell do you want, Seth?”

“Forget it!” Lacey butted in. She turned to Callie and said, “I know you don’t really like me, Miss Cooper. The feeling is mutual. Be careful next time, okay? Since I’m having a great day and don’t want it to be ruined, I’ll let this slide.”

Lacey didn’t wait for Callie’s reply and looked at Hayes. “Let’s go,” she said and smiled at him.

Gwen stared at the retreating couple in a daze.

“Seth, come on!”

The young girl’s voice snapped Gwen back to her senses. She glanced at Seth and found him looking at her with a smirk.

“See you around, Miss Lewis.”

Gwen only stared at him with a poker face.

When the four of them were finally out of their sight, Callie immediately started her rants. “They are so annoying! Seth and Hayes are freaks! What did they even see in Lacey that they submit to her whims that much? I don’t get it!”

Gwen rubbed her friend’s shoulder. “Calm down, Callie. I’m hungry. Why don’t we eat something?”

Callie frowned at her. “And you! You’re still in the mood to eat after all that happened? Didn’t you feel disgusted when you saw Hayes and Lacey together?”

Gwen’s lips twisted as she thought deeply.

‘Why didn’t I feel anything?’ she asked herself.

When the night came, Hayes dropped Lacey in front of her house.

However, Lacey was too drunk to walk by herself. She had too many drinks earlier, and now she was completely hammered.

“Come on, stand up, Lacey.” Hayes held her waist and swung the bag over his shoulder.

Lacey opened her eyes and smiled bitterly. She hugged Hayes’s neck, pressed her body closer to him, and licked his earlobe. “Tell me, Hayes. Why do you like Gwen so much? What did you see in her?”

Hayes remained silent.

“Is she prettier than me? Does she dress up better than me?” Lacey slurred.

Hayes stared at her flushed face for a while. Then, he raised his hand and tucked some of her hair behind her ear. The makeup on her face was already smudged, but her face still remained beautiful.

“You can’t compare yourself to her,” he softly said.

Lacey’s eyes turned into daggers. She punched his chest repeatedly and yelled, “Get away from me!”

Hayes grunted but didn’t follow her. Instead, he crouched and carried her inside her house.

As soon as Hayes locked the door, he faced Lacey and caged her against the wall. Without any word, he tore off all her clothes.