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.

Right now, Daphne was in a hot potato.

After moving with her friend Clara for a few days, both her mother and her ex-boyfriend had been pestering her with calls. Linda kept on pestering her for money, while Maverick was constantly calling and texting her to come back to him. More so, on the same weekend she had just settled down in Clara’s apartment, her mother called her again, asking Daphne with her most pitiful voice about getting back with Maverick. Linda explicated Maverick was the only way they could, or more likely, Linda could pay for her debts.

She tried to reason it out on her mom that she didn’t want to go back with Maverick and that she was done with him. However, since Daphne was a woman who had a golden heart, she obliged her mother and finally texted Maverick back. Daphne asked him if he could meet her and Maverick pleasantly agreed that they could meet in a hotel.

With that, Daphne came to the hotel and found Maverick by the café, surrounded by a bunch of women. She approached him without hesitation, pushing off each woman who was blocking her way in Maverick’s direction. As soon as she met him eye to eye, Daphne crossed her arms against her chest and lifted her eyebrow.

“I’m breaking our engagement, Maverick,” Daphne greeted him with indignation.

Although Maverick was a bit surprised, he held it back and looked at her impassively. He just laughed at her like Daphne was a complete joke. “I don’t really care, Daphne. Besides, I have never loved you in the first place.”

Daphne’s lips pressed into a thin line. Her heart sank to his cold, mercurial tone. Even if Daphne already knew that Maverick fooled her, his words of affirmation hurt like her. Taking a deep breath, she clenched her fingers and balled them into a fist.

“Then you should pay for every single cent I’ve used just to purchase everything we needed for our wedding, which, by the way, should be your responsibility as the groom!” She pointed her index fingers at him and added, “And also for the emotional damages you have caused me throughout the years that you deceived, used, and humiliated me!” Daphne seethed with anger.

Maverick chuckled so loud enough to be noticed by everyone near them. “This is the reason you’ve always been fooled, Daphne. You’re so stupid!”

Daphne’s tears instantly shed not because she found Maverick’s statement insulting, but because she knew that what he had said was true. She was stupid enough to believe him and she was a fool to love him.

“Yeah, you’re right, Maverick. I was an idiot to believe all your lies, and I was stupid enough to love you, despite your shit narcissistic attitude. Yes, I’m that fucking stupid!” She slapped him on his cheeks as she tilted her chin to meet his gaze.

“This is for hurting me!” Daphne hit his other cheeks. “This is for humiliating me!” She slapped him back again on the right side of his face. “And this is for lying to me, you piece-of-shit!” One more time, she hit him with full force to let him know how angry she was.

“Ann—” Daphne heard his voice. However, before she could fully hear his reply, she dashed out of his way, while her tears incessantly fell down her cheeks.

By the time she reached the hotel’s entrance, her feet halted when she suddenly bumped into another person. Wiping the tears from her eyes, she looked up and was daunted by a familiar face.

It was Nathan Kelly, the man who offered her a job, wearing a black slim-fitted suit. His hair was tousled back in perfection, as though it took an hour to look as fine as hell. Daphne immediately stepped back, hunching her head down.

“Sorry,” the woman stingily replied.

Nathan’s eyebrow twitched a little. Before she could move away from him, he yanked her arms, placing his palms on her shoulder. “Miss Collins, are you okay? Did something happen?”

She shoved his hands away from her while trying her best to look away. “Yes, I’m fine.” Daphne cleared her throat and then was about to walk out when Nathan persisted in asking another question of her.

“Are you sure?” He blocked her way, staring directly into her eyes. She looked at him as though all the barriers on her eyes were almost naked. Her cheeks were scarlet red, her eyes were glinting with tears that he found so appealing and mesmerizing.

She softly nodded. “Yes. Thanks.”

Daphne was about to go to the entrance door when he turned around to ask her another question. “Uh, Miss Collins?”

She stopped walking and pivoted to her back. “Yes?”

Nathan gulped as he felt his heart skip a beat at the moment their gazes collided. Inserting his hands in his pants pockets, he asked again, “It’s the last day for you to decide, Miss Collins. Are you still up for it?”

“Yes, I accept the job offer,” Daphne quickly answered, with no hesitations.

He was dawned by her answer. Nathan didn’t expect that she would quickly accept it without asking for the specification of the job responsibilities. “Great! Finally, you’ve come to your decision.”

She bit her lips in contemplation, and after that, lifted her chin to answer him. “And thanks—really — for the offer.” His Job offer was a God-sent to Daphne, surmising that this might be her way to move on from Maverick and get her life back.

“No worries, Miss Collins. Glad I could be of help,” He replied.

Daphne pointed her finger at the back. “Well, I guess, I got to go, Nathan . . .” she said it with slight disinclination.

“My driver can take you home.” He fished out his phone and called his secretary. “Jonathan, please tell Isaac to drive Miss Jenning home.”

However, she waved her arms at Nathan, rejecting his gracious offer. “No! No—You don’t have to do that! I can just get a cab, sir!”

“I insist,” he retorted back while dropping his smartphone back into his pockets.

“Really, it’s alright, sir. My apartment is just two blocks away from here,” Daphne lied. It actually took her forty-five minutes to get to the hotel and a fifty bucks cab fee. Nonetheless, she didn’t want to owe the guy more until it would get to where she could hardly repay him.

“I told you, just call me Nathan.” He rubbed his palms against his scruff. “Besides, it might be actually weird for my nephew to hear you calling me, sir.”

“Then I suppose you also have to call me by my name, Nathan. Since you said your nephew will get awkward about it,” Daphne rebutted.

Nathan couldn’t help but smile at her remark. “Touché, Daphne.”

Daphne’s eyes glittered with delight. “And you really don’t have to let your driver drive me home.”

“It’s fine, Daphne. Besides, Isaac must know where you live, so he knows where he could drop you off after your tutoring sessions with Chuck,” Nathan explained.

Her eyes widened. “I assume that’s your nephew’s name. Isn’t it?”

Nathan looked back at her and answered, “Yes, it is. Chuck for Chester.”

“I’m excited to meet him,” Daphne commented.

He didn’t know what to reply to her, that it rendered him mute. It was fortunate for him that his car arrived soon before Daphne could ask him another question.

“He’s here,” he informed her, and they walked to the entrance door and were welcomed by Isaac, Nathan’s driver.

“Take her to her flat, Isaac,” Nathan replied thriftily.

Isaac nodded at her and asked Daphne for her address. She was reluctant at first, but she then gave it away to the driver. As soon as both of them got inside the car, Nathan watched them as his gaze trailed to where the car was.

When it disappeared from his view, he turned away, walking back inside of the hotel to meet with his dear-old friend Maverick while the smile on his face was still etched unwittingly.