He left her, or so to speak, he ditched her.

On the most awaited day that Daphne Collins had been looking forward to, Maverick Powell, her groom, abandoned her in front of the aisle—in front of everyone. She never thought that Maverick would do this, especially on the day of her wedding. Like in movies, Daphne believed it was always the bride who ran away, not the groom. It was ironic to think she would be the ‘Bug Guy’ to Maverick’s Julia Roberts.

And yes, it fucking hurts. Not entirely because of utter humiliation, but rather the man who promised her a happy-ever-after life scammed her real bad. He should have told her sooner or at least before the day of their wedding. It felt like a part of her dignity and pride bogged down into a plunge as she looked at the disappointing faces of their guests. Daphne tried to wait the entire day, however, even the priest who would officiate their (or more likely her) wedding even resigned to the possibility of the groom coming back.

Eventually, as the hour passed by quickly, a more significant portion of her guest decided to leave the church with nothing but dismay on their faces. On the contrary, her to-be mother-in-law, Tatiana, didn’t care if their son philandered away on his wedding day. Frankly, she was absolutely delighted that Maverick was not there and was nonchalant about Daphne’s feelings. Even more, Tatiana was not concerned with the humiliation that Daphne had experienced. She never was akin to Daphne and was completely indifferent to the woman’s existence.

As much as Daphne wouldn’t want to include Tatiana in her seething anger with the groom, it was imminent for her to ignore the budding feeling of irritation toward Maverick’s mom. However, right now, Tatiana was not the issue, and it was her son, Maverick Powell, who had a lot of explaining to do.

When each of their relatives and friends had come to her to sympathize, one of Maverick’s friends, Alice, came by to show her commiseration with Daphne’s unfortunate situation.

“We’re so sorry, dear. We didn’t know Maverick would do this, Daphne!” Maverick’s friend hugged Daphne so tight, sympathizing with the bride’s frustrations.

She chewed her lip and bit the inside of her cheeks. “You don’t have to apologize, Alice. It’s not your fault.” She breathed in. “I should have known as well.”

Her eyebrows furrowed. “Just tell me if you need anything, alright? You’ve become my friend, Daphne, and that wouldn’t change even if you and he broke up.”

“Thanks, Alice. I will.” Forcing a smile, I nodded.

Meanwhile, her friend Clara came forward to her. “Hey, Daphne...” Hesitation was clear in her voice, as though it was airy and unsure.

Daphne’s eyebrows rose. “You should also go home, Clara. The wedding will not happen.”

“It’s not that, Daphne.” She gulped, giving her phone to Daphne. “There are some articles about Maverick. He was seen earlier, before the wedding had started, with another woman.”

The bride’s shoulder trembled with shock. Daphne felt her limbs jellied, buckling in lapses as she saw Maverick’s picture with another woman on some kind of beach.

“W-what is this?” Daphne struggled to form the words into her mouth as she felt like her tongue rolled in weakness.

Softly, Clara grabbed back her phone from Daphne. She patted her friend’s limping back and wrapped her arms around it. “It was posted five hours ago. Maybe that’s the reason he was not here since the morning. Maverick had already left yesterday without telling you.”

Daphne didn’t know what to say. Her mind was still trying to process everything that had happened today. It was as though fate had chucked her into a massive plight and circumstance like a thunderstorm that had struck her to be utterly flabbergasted. She wanted to cry, to scream, and to hit Maverick, Tatiana, and the woman who was with him; and yet, Daphne knew she couldn’t.

Her emotions even left her dumb to the point that her tears precipitated in the air like dry ice. Who would have thought that this would happen to her? Even she couldn’t accept the daunting reality that life is unfair as it was deemed to be.

She then clamped her fingers, and before Clara could say anything to her, Daphne dashed out of the chapel in her wedding dress, running towards the bridal car. As she pulled out the door on the driver’s seat, she shouted to the driver.

“Get out . . .”

“Ma’am Daphne—” The driver was stunned to see her in a disorientated state.

“I said, get out of the car!” she hissed.

Immediately, he got out of the car, perplexed. The driver tried to ask Daphne, but it seemed like she had none of it. She just got inside the vehicle and drove away from the church. Behind them was Clara, running to their location when Daphne had already drifted away without their knowledge of where she would head to.

Looking at the driver, Clara asked, “Did she tell you where she was going?”

The driver shook his head. “She didn’t. She pulled me out of the car and drove out, saying nothing.”

Clara palmed her head in concern. “Oh, God. I hope she won’t do anything drastically stupid to God-knows-where the hell is she.”

***

Daphne was uncontrollable. She had been sulking herself with alcohol and spirits that she was already drunk and inebriated. The bartender had tried to refrain her from imbibing again when she shot her back with a grimace and a shout. Because of this, the man deferred to stopping her from doing any crazy shit.

By the time when Daphne was completely unhinged and drowsy, she chugged the last glass of tequila and then dropped her feet to the ground, dragging herself to the private area of the club that was exclusive only to high-profile guests.

Quickly, the big stout bouncer stopped her from going inside. “Hey ma’am, you’re not allowed here. This is exclusive for Reserved-VIP.”

Her eyes nictitated. She looped her lips into a smirk and while fuddling at a giddy gait, Daphne slapped her hands to his cheeks. “This is a free country, mister! I have a right to go there!” She said, pointing at the doorway that the bouncer was blocking.

“Please ma’am. As much as we wanted to—”

He was cut off when Daphne abruptly rebutted, “Come on! Let me in!” She pushed him and added, “I don’t care about your shit policies!”

Then, when the bouncer was about to block her again, she circumvented out of his way, turning to the spot of his blindside, and slipped inside the VIP area. Laughing like a madwoman, she sprinted across the commodious area until she reached the VIP rooms. Without thinking, she burst into a private room on the left side of the hallway.

The moment she had pushed the door to open, a dark-haired man in the blue suit greeted her with bewilderment. Squinting her eyes and opening them back again, she noticed people who looked like they had no fun in their life. Wearing the same boring suit as the tall man, their eyes went to her as though they had seen a ghost.

Daphne scrunched her nose. “Hey, there! What’s up?!”

“Excuse me? Who the hell are you?!” the man in the blue suit sneered. “How dare you interrupt me!” He roughly snatched her arms, pulling her away from the people in gray and black suits.

Daphne wiggled her arms out of the man and tilted her head to take a good look at his face. With her blurry and hazy vision, she scrutinized him intently. His eyebrows were arched, but not naturally curved upward. His nose was straight, aquiline, and refined; while his eyes, somehow, looked familiar, as though she had seen them before.

She then leaned closer to the man, peering at him like he was a man’s version of Venice De Milo. Rubbing her eyes back and forth, her vision went vivid and as the sight in front of her became clearer, Daphne was taken aback by what overwhelmed her.

Maverick?! How could you, asshole! She gritted inwardly while her inner self moaned from devastation.

Spouting at him, she slapped him on the cheeks. “How dare me?! How dare you leave me on that altar, Maverick?!”

“What the hell do you mean? Are you crazy?” He lightly hissed as he took a glimpse of the people who were looking at them. “Get away from me, woman!” The man added, pushing her off him.

Meanwhile, a man in his fifties stood up from his seat and went toward him. With a dismal expression on his face, he asked the dark-haired man. “Is everything alright here, Mr. Kelly? If this is how unprofessional you are, then I guess I have to rethink our deal”

“Sir, I apologize for this.” Nathan wiped his mouth in frustration and splayed his hands on his hips. “I swear, I don’t know this woman. She— “He was then cut off when suddenly, Daphne, who was beside him, slapped his cheeks again.

“You don’t know me?! I’m your fucking fiancée! You’re my fiancée whom you’ve cheated on!” she cried, clinging to his shoulders as she buried her face in his chest.

Another investor came up to him. Looking perplexed by what was happening, he walked toward Nathan and said, “This is reprehensible, Mr. Kelly! We don’t care about your problems in your personal life, but this is preposterous! We change our mind and we can’t continue this deal with you!”

“Sir, let me explain. This is all a misunderstanding!” He tried to explain as he tossed Daphne from the side.

Everyone's heads rolled around the room. As they stood from their respective seats, each of them walked out into the room, having none of Nathan’s explanation.

“We expected great things from you, Mr. Kelly. Yet, I guess we’re wrong.” The old man in a gray suit patted his shoulders before he went out of the room.

When the two of them were the only two people who were left inside, Nathan Kelly just looked at Daphne with indignation. On the other hand, Daphne was just already out of her normal self and was on the couch, looking disheveled and sloshed.

Nathan quickly grabbed Daphne on the couch. Pulling her towards him, he spat, “What the hell and who the hell are you? You just ruined my best chance of getting that deal!”

Daphne looked up at him. Her tears began to run down from the corners of her eyes. “This is all your fault, you asshole! How could you do this to me? I hate you!” She punched his chest so hard that it made him stop doing whatever he was about to do.

He wanted to let the girl know how distraught he was, but as soon as he saw the glob of tears shining from her forest-green eyes, he couldn’t do it. Nathan felt sorry about it. Although he really didn’t care what happened or how did this woman end up in this situation, he felt pity.

Slowly, he moved his hands away from her and stepped back, giving her a little space. In just a minute or so, he saw the guards and the bouncer coming inside the room and dragging the girl away. By the time she was out of sight, the manager of the bar went to him and apologized.

“We apologize for this, sir. We assure you that this won’t happen again.”

Nathan nodded at him, releasing a deep sigh. “Fuck, it's fine. What done is done.” To be honest, he didn't want to complicate things more and just wanted to end this day. Besides, the lady looked like a mess and he surmised that once she’s back to her ‘normal’ sober self, she’ll be horrified at the chaos she had just done.

“We’ll fix this right away, Mr. Kelly—“ The manager was instantly cut off when Nathan spoke

“God, it’s fine. Just take her away. I don’t care . . ." He then grabbed his coat from the table and as he went outside, he saw Daphne in handcuffs with two police officers on her side.

Her head was down while her face was buried beneath her palms. Nathan had a quick glimpse of her and then he decided to dash out of the bar with nothing but a disappointment to bring with him on his way home.

Meanwhile, as Daphne was brought to jail for trespassing, she spent her time inside the cell, while still wearing her wedding dress while crying her heart out for the word, a drastic day that had happened to her today.

In the morning, Daphne found herself in the four-corner wall of the prison cell. She was sitting on the cold cemented floor while reeking of alcohol and god-knows-what kind of horrible smell she had gotten into last night. She barely remembered what happened last night, and all her mind could dig into was that she saw Maverick at the bar with other men who were in corporate suits.

After that, Daphne couldn’t distinctly remember the next events. As she struggled to stand up in her big puffy off-white dress, she grabbed the metal bars of the cell and asked one officer on the lookout.

“Hey, um, what time is it?” She asked while rubbing the back of her neck from stiffness.

“Ah, finally, the prison bride has finally come to her senses! It’s eight in the morning, dear.” The old man said as he pointed at the clock next to them.

Daphne nodded, looking at his pointed hands on the wall. “Er, thanks.” Biting her lips, she asked again, “Do you have some water? I’m kinda thirsty.”

He smiled at her as her question piqued his interest. “So you will not ask me why you’re here?”

She wetted her crack, dry lips and replied, “Nope. I just want a goddamn water.”

“Okay, sweetheart, we’ll get you your drink.” He chuckled, clutching his gun holster, and went to get her a bottle of water.

After a few minutes, he gave the bottle to her, which she hastily yanked.

“Thanks!” Opening the cap, she chugged the water down to her mouth and was relieved immediately when her thirst was quenched.

In just a minute, the bottle was already empty as she placed it in the corner of the prison cell. Getting back to the metal benches, she sat there and slumped her back on the wall as she breathed in and out, as her life had just become hopeless.

When she was about to close her eyes, she heard her friend’s voice near to her. Daphne jolted out from her seat, then ran back to the metal grills as she looked outside where she saw Clara coming towards her.

“Clara! Thank goodness!” Daphne squeaked in elation.

With strawberry blonde hair and a petite, compact figure, Desire ambled toward Daphne, as her concern was clearly etched on her face.

“Oh my God, Daphne! If the bartender from the pub hadn’t told me you’re here, no one will probably get you out!” she breathily replied.

The police officer, on the other hand, unlocked the cell. “Good thing we’ve contacted your friend here Miss Collins or you won’t be out until the next day.”

Daphne didn’t respond to the police officer. However, she greeted Clara with a warm hug after she got out of the prison.

“Thank you so much, Clara! God, My back already aches from the cold floor,” she exasperatingly said as she parted from her.

Clara, nonetheless, was not happy. “Well, yeah. If you’re just not my best friend, I wouldn’t go to this length, you idiot!” she jokingly replied and then added, “And what the hell, Daphne! Did you know that the bar owner wanted to press charges, but the man with whom you just went into a heap just let it go? Gosh, he even paid for your bailout. Good thing that you didn’t meet some crackhead shit there, Daphne. Because that will be worst!”

Daphne was dumbfounded by what she had said. Her eyes blinked twice as she tried to process the revelation she had just heard. “What do you mean? Did he pay for my bail-out? Maverick?”

Her friend’s face scrunched. “What? He’s not Maverick, Daphne? Wait—you thought he was Maverick?” Clara’s mouth went agape. “Oh God, that’s even more embarrassing."

Then it dawned on her. The humiliation she had just done last night and the complete mess she just did that ruined the man’s supposed career. He was with men who looked like some investors, and she just totally ruined the opportunity for him.

‘Shit, Daphne! God, how stupid can you be? Ugh!’ Daphne groaned inwardly.

“So you mean, the guy is here, Clara?” She asked and roamed her eyes in the distance.

Clara was a bit reluctant to answer her question, but then she couldn’t lie to her only best friend. “Yeah, he is. The guy is outside.”

As soon as she heard it, her eyes bulged out. “What? Outside? Right now?”

“You’ve heard me, Daphne.” Clara deliberately sighed. “He’s out there. Although, I’m not sure if he was still there.”

Daphne ran outside of the police station. Desire swiftly ran after her, shouting her name as though she was warning her. “Wait, Daphne! Hold on!”

***

By the time they’ve gotten to the parking lot, Daphne was welcomed by a tall, handsome, dark-haired guy wearing an Armani suit. His back was on the side of his car, while his arms were crossed across his chest.

Daphne swallowed as she felt the awkward presence that was building up between them. “Um, hey.” She stepped closer, a little hesitant. “Thanks for bailing me out . . . and I’m really sorry for what I did. It was not really my intention to ruin whatever you’re doing.”

The man looked at her, deadpan. He leaned away from the car and went toward her. “I don’t know what happened between you and your fiancé, Miss Collins. However, that bailout is not free, if that’s what you think.”

“What?” Her eyebrows raised. "Okay. Then, I'll pay you. Just give me some time."

He shoved his hands into the pockets of his trousers and said, “Not necessary. I’m offering you a job.”

“A job? What job?”

The man pursed his lips. “I want you to be my nephew’s tutor.”

“Your nephew’s tutor? Um, I don’t get it, mister, but why me? I just ruined your meeting last night, remember?” Her eyebrow furrowed. She didn’t know what the hell he wanted from him and she couldn’t help but feel a little sketchy about it.

Daphne barely knew the man and from the looks of him, he might be someone who deals with a lot of shit—like someone who didn’t mess around with anything.

He shrugged from her answer. “Yeah, that’s true, but you also owe me. You won’t be out of the charges if I let the bar owner press charges on you.”

“Which I am grateful about that, sir. However, I don’t see any reason why you’d pick me as your nephew’s tutor,” Daphne explained.

“I saw your credentials, Daphne Collins. You look credible as a tutor. Besides, it is also a way where you can pay me for the fine of bailing you out,” he tried to reason out. “So what do you say? You’re up to it?”

She pressed her lips into a thin line. “Hmm, can you let me think about it?”

He clasped his hands. “Okay. I’ll give you three days to make up your mind.” Then, he grabbed a card from his wallet and gave it to her. “Call this number when you made a decision, Miss Collins.”

Daphne grabbed the calling card and read it. “Nathan Kelly?” Raising her head, she stared at him.

“Yep. That’s me.”

“Mr. Kelly—"

“Just Nathan.”

“Okay, Nathan. I’ll call you by the time I had my decision.” She reassured him.

He grinned slightly, showing the straight line of his paper-skin teeth. “Great! It's nice meeting you, Miss Collins, by the way.”

And before Daphne could say something, he walked back to his car and drove away from them. Clara, who just trotted toward her, snatched the calling card from Daphne.

“You could have answered him right away, Daphne. Don’t tell me you’re planning to go back to your monster’s-in-law house, because that’s bullshit.”

“Give me that, Clara.” Daphne ignored her remarks and just read Nathan’s name on the calling card again.

‘Nathan Kelly? Sounds like another posh.’

***

After meeting Nathan, Daphne reached her fiance’s home. As she went inside the house, she couldn’t shrug off her mind about the man’s offer to be his nephew’s tutor. Despite the oddity of asking her such a question, she thought it was actually a great deal since she was also planning to leave Maverick’s house. More so, Daphne could kill two birds with one stone by landing a decent job and paying her debts to him as well.

Honestly, it was not quite that bad.

Later on, when she got into the living room, Daphne saw her mother, well, more like her monster-in-law, approaching her. The woman was already in her late sixties, and still wore fashionable clothes that were dreadfully inappropriate for her age of sixty-five. Just looking at her made Daphne cringe internally.

God, Tatiana looked like a MILF, who was always parched to get laid.

“You shouldn’t have come back here, Daphne. After that humiliation and stint, you did yesterday, you have no right to stay here.” Her thin-line brow arched so high like it was about to meet the peak of her forehead. “This is all your fault, you imbecile! If you haven’t just pushed my son to marry you, this wouldn’t happen!”

Tatiana had adamantly expressed her hatred toward Daphne. Back then. She had never liked her for her son, Maverick, and would do anything to break off their relationship. At first, Daphne wanted to appease Tatiana, and placate her pre-hatred feelings about her. But then, as soon as the time went by, she gave up on that thought.

Because Tatiana would never like her, even if she knelt down in front of her to please her. The bitch was crazy as hell and absolutely nuts.

Daphne smirked, not minding her predicated anger. “I’m not planning to, anyway. I’m just here to get my things, Tatiana.” She walked towards the stairs when she stopped in the middle to gaze back at her again. “And oh, by the way, it was your son who voluntarily asked me to marry him. Not me.”

Tatiana was surprised by her reaction. “How could you? How dare you insult me?!” she scoffed, batting her eyes in incredulity.

After saying that, Daphne felt instantly relieved. She had never talked back to Tatiana like that. However, since everything between her and Maverick was over, she could finally express her feelings toward that atrocious woman. Good thing that she had broken free from them—from his family. It will just be too bad for Maverick’s next girlfriend to try to handle Tatiana’s bat shit craziness.

‘Yeah, whatever. I’m out of here.’ 'Daphne said to herself, ignoring Tatiana.

“Hey, don’t you walk away from me, you bitch! I’m still talking to you!” Tatiana shouted across the entire room, while Daphne continued to walk upstairs, going to her room.

As soon as she got inside, she grabbed her luggage and opened her closet, grabbing all the stuff and clothes she had. It didn’t take her that long before she was already zipping in all her belongings and placing them near the doorway. Finally, she was leaving this god-forbidding place that she had endured living in for the past eight years of her life.

Daphne had enough of everything. Maverick, her mother, and just everyone in their family. She couldn't take it anymore for too long to waste her time with someone who was just using her to settle with when he was already bored with his whims and childish indulgences.

Because she had realized that Maverick only wanted her for his benefit. He had never loved her and even if she tried to fix their relationship (which she wouldn't do anyway because she was not that stupid), it wouldn't work. And all she wanted now was to give time for herself—to make up for the things she had lost for sacrificing her wants and needs to that piece-of-shit.

She wouldn't let him fool her again. Not this time and not ever in her lifetime.

Daphne had a shower first after she was done packing her belongings. After a few minutes, she grabbed a shirt and a jean from the bed and put them on. She didn’t have time to fix her hair and have some make-up as she wanted to get out of the house as quickly as possible. By the time she was done, she threw her torn wedding dress in a black garbage bag and went straight to the garbage bin by the side of her room.

As she walked back again into her room, she set her bag and luggage, carrying the arm-sized back in her hand while she made her way downstairs. The minute she was on the first floor, she saw Tatiana again with her hands on her waist, looking livid as ever.

Daphne had just laughed, her expression in her mind, completely ignoring her.

When Tatiana took notice of her carrying her luggage, she couldn’t bear but to make another remark. “You ungrateful bitch! After everything that we have done to you!” She followed Daphne behind her back. “I knew it! I knew from the start when Maverick introduced you to me! You’re a gold digger, just like your mother . . .”

For the longest time, Daphne had never once heard Tatiana complimenting her or be pleasant to her. Maverick’s mother bullied her incessantly, that it had become a usual thing for Daphne to hear her say every time she was near the bitch.

“Don’t talk to my mother like that as if you know her, Tatiana,” I warned her while pulling mg luggage.

Her eyebrow rose. “Because you know that I’m right, Daphne! You’re a slut, just like your mother!” she spat back with every intention of hurting Daphne.

However, Daphne had gotten hung with her insults as though it was just another appalling jingle, she had heard on a radio that was so bad you’ve just disregarded its existence. Moreover, Daphne knew that Tatiana was celebrating like it was New Year’s Eve when her son didn’t appear on their wedding day.

“At least I am not as horrible as you are,” Daphne murmured as she ambled throughout the room, gliding with her suitcase.

She was about to pull the gate open on the sidewalk when, all of a sudden, she noticed a blue car that was parked in the driveway. Daphne stopped in the middle of the path and saw Maverick coming out of it, looking fresh and blissful as if nothing had happened.

‘Well, fuck that asshole!’ Daphne hissed internally.

Maverick, however, had seen Daphne with a suitcase that made his brows furrowed, utterly distraught about it. “What are you doing, baby? Why do you have your bag with you? Are you leaving me?!”

He was about to touch her arms when she hit it quickly, shoving it away from her. How could he act as if nothing had ever happened? God, how did she love this narcissistic and vain man? She was such an idiot to be blinded by all the red flags of Maverick that were already waving in front of her for the past eight years!

“Don’t you dare touch me, Maverick!” Her emotions surged up like a firework that was about to burst out. She couldn’t bear to see his face or even just smell or hear his voice made her want to barf already.

Maverick yanked her wrist and said, “Come on, babe. Let's talk this through, don't just leave me hanging without talking this out to me." He paused for a while, raking his hair with his fingers, and continued, "I ran away because this whole thing scared the shit out of me!"

Daphne pulled a coy smirk. “Huh, yeah, you did, and you ran away with another girl even before our wedding, Maverick!” She pushed his arms away from her and distanced herself from the man she thought would never lie. “I’m not stupid and I’m definitely not an idiot, you jerk!”

“Daphne . . ." Maverick couldn’t think of another word that would somehow make her believe him again.

Then, he composed his bubbling anger as he tried to get hold of her by defending himself; however, she waved it away. “That's not it! Everything in the article was a lie!”

Daphne nodded and skewed the corner of her lips upward. “Yeah, it was all a lie. Just like our relationship and your feelings for me. It is all a lie.” And with no warning, she raised her arms, slapping him directly on his cheeks and making him as shocked as more than ever.

Maverick just looked at her with wide-open eyes, as he couldn’t believe that a woman like her who couldn’t break a glass could do that.

When his thoughts had already processed Daphne's gesture, he uttered, livid and furious, “Daphne, shit! Don't you leave me like this! We're not yet done!”

Tatiana came down to walk toward them. “Oh no! You don’t have a right to do that to my son! You bitch!” she shouted, lifting her arm aloft to hit her when Daphne stopped it by clenching it tightly with her grip.

“No, Tatiana. I won’t let you have it your way again, bitch.” She gritted back and before Daphne could hear the last insult word of her sentence, she walked away from them with full determination.

Maverick tried to run after Daphne, but immediately gave up when he realized talking it out with her would also be completely useless. On his side was his mother who reached out to him, cradling his man-little boy in her chest and soothing her like a five-year-old kid.

Meanwhile, Daphne stepped outside of the house and as she breathed in the fresh-sweet invite of the air, she cloyingly smiled in delight.

“At last self, you’re out. You did well.”

Heaving a sigh, she hailed a cab across the street and as a yellow cab stopped at her side, she quickly went inside, happy and excited about what her future would bring her.

“To sixty-eighth street, Eastwood Avenue sir,” Daphne said to the driver to which he just nodded.

***

When she got to Clara’s place, she was not in her apartment. Her friend was still at work and luckily, she was given a spare key to be able to get inside Clara’s apartment. As she placed her bags and luggage on the porch, she rubbed her palms on her jeans and roamed around her friend’s place.

Clara’s flat was quaint, small, and just perfect for a single woman. Everything inside was so Zen-like that the room looked so peaceful and refreshing. The entire place had every pot of plants hanging around on was on the top of a table. As she went to the lounge area, her lips went up when she saw a hammock by the window. Beside it was a side table and a cactus plant on top of it.

She slumped into the hammock and leaned her back on it as she tried to close her eyes. It was fortunate for her that Clara allowed her to stay temporarily in her place while she tried to find an apartment once she got back to teaching. However, the downside of this was that she might get accustomed to her friend’s flat, and she would have a hard time finding her own place that would be as comfortable as here.

When Daphne felt that her eyes were getting heavier, her phone started to ring. Grumbling, she ducked it out of her pockets and pressed the button.

“What is it, mom?” She asked begrudgingly because usually her mom only called if she was out of money or if she was in a tight position.

Yeah, her mom wasn’t really like other moms who were responsible and dependable. Truth be told, Linda was more dependable on her daughter than Daphne on her.

“Do you have an extra cash with you, honey?” Linda asked without any reluctance.

Daphne sighed in contempt. “You lost another game again?”

Linda explained, “Yeah…well, I was about to hit the pot Daphne, but damn, I was short of luck.”

Out of frustration, Daphne stood up from the hammock. “I told you to stop gambling, mom! We can’t afford to pay our debts right away. Eventually, I won’t be able to sustain you with your addiction!”

“Just this time, sweetheart.” Linda paused for a while and then fumbled as she spoke. “Fuck, I swear I’ll stop gambling. I can promise you that.”

Daphne rubbed her palms on her forehead. “You have said that a thousand times, mom. I don’t know if I still ever believe that—”

It was true, though. Daphne didn’t know if she would ever believe Linda again. Ever since she was a child, she had never felt her mother’s love. Linda would always be out in the morning and be back in the morning with a sour mood and a drunk condition. She would only take notice of Daphne or would heed her attention when she needed something.

That was also the reason she also couldn’t break her relationship with Maverick. Because at the moment Linda knew about Maverick, Daphne felt that her mother finally regarded her as her daughter and not just some responsibility she had to take care of. And, despite this, Daphne still hoped that her mom had loved even just a sliver part of her heart.

“Please, honey? Just this time, help your mama.” Linda pleaded on the phone.

Daphne tried to understand her mom’s situation. Sometimes, it was just too much for her to be patient with her.

Resigning with her shoulders in a slouch, she huffed. “Alright, I’ll think of something.”

“Great! You’re the best daughter!”

Linda dropped the phone after that, leaving Daphne to deal with her debt problem. She tilted her head high to breathe deeply, and as she release a heavy sigh, she uttered, “I’m your only daughter, mom.”

***

Nathan Kelly was buried under his work; even with that, he couldn’t stop thinking about that woman in an awful wedding dress. It was unexpected to meet someone so disturbing, yet so interesting, like her.

More so, the woman was not exactly that bad. Although she looked bad that night with her smear of blank goo on her face, and a botched look, she kind of looked decent if she cleaned up. Besides, he was not interested right now in doing dates or entering into a serious relationship, knowing it would only be a nuisance to his plans and his career.

The man had a lot of things that were more important than that.

When he was about to grab a file from the pile of documents, his phone rang suddenly. He yanked the phone by his side and answered the call.

“Hey, sup man? How is it going?” he said, leaning his back on the swivel chair.

He heard him chuckle. “Hey, man! I’m good!” The man on the phone stopped for a moment, then spoke again, “Anyway, you’re up for a drink later? Same time and same place, just like old times, Nathan.”

Nathan looked at his smartwatch. He didn’t have a meeting later and could probably fit his time into meeting his friend.

“Yeah, of course! Sure, Maverick!”

The call ended after that, and Nathan went back to his work.