RACHEL:

"This is beautiful," I muttered to myself as the fireworks lit up the sky, exploding into bursts of gold and crimson.

Cheers erupted around me and I could hear the sound of glasses clinking as the party carried on. This grand elegance was made by just one man — Daniel.

It was the perfect moment for me. The right atmosphere. I didn't know how much I needed to have myself lingering in this feeling until this happened.

It was for me and me alone. Daniel made sure that everything that happened in the past year didn't get to me. He only wanted to make me happy and he was doing a great job at that.

"Rachel..."

I heard my name and turned only to see Daniel down on one knee. Immediately, the world around me faded.

I knew what was about to happen. And right now, I wasn't sure how to feel. Overwhelmed? Excited? Hell, I don't know.

"Rachel," Daniel called my name again, his voice steady despite the anticipation in his eyes. "I don't just want to be the man who helps you forget your past. I want to be the man who builds your future."

This was never the plan. Never ever.

My heart clenched. I could feel my mind racing as different things went through it.

This was a proposal. And not just any proposal, it was a grand one.

When I said this wasn't the plan, it was bent on the fact that I had promised myself that I wouldn't let another man dictate my happiness. I promised myself that I wouldn't fall into someone else's plans before I had finished making my own.

Standing here and staring down at Daniel, doubt crept in. Daniel had always been there for me even though we started off as business partners. He stood by me during all of the drama with Austin. He has been like a rock for me.

The word left my lips before I could stop it: "Yes."

I couldn't believe I just said that. I really couldn't. But why did it feel so true? Why was I certain of that response?

A roar of applause suddenly erupted around us, consuming the rest of my thoughts in the process. Daniel slipped the ring onto my finger and then pulled me into his arms as he stood up.

The embrace was warm and I felt safe in it. Safer than I've always been. Maybe it was because I was sure that Daniel wasn't going to hurt me. I just knew he wouldn't.

For now I was going to linger in this moment of happiness. I knew my decision was the right one.

_________

I should have known the happiness wouldn't last for long. Austin would always find a way to ruin it no matter what.

I returned home the next morning to the apartment i got for myself. It was a decision I acted on as soon as I got back from Paris. I didn't want to be around Austin anymore and so I got myself something small for a start.

When I got down from the taxi that dropped me off, I looked up to see something strange. Austin was sitting on the walkway into the apartment, his gaze boring into me as soon as he saw me.

How did he find this place out? I kept it hidden from him as much as possible but it still managed to reach him.

My breath hitched as I took a few steps closer. "What the hell are you doing here?" I asked. I was far from being cool with him and I had to disclose my true feelings.

His eyes burned with something dark but I ignored whatever it was.

"You moved out," he stated. "So I thought to pay you a visit in your new place."

"How did you find this place out?"

He stood up from the walkway. "I guess all I had to do was just a little finding. It was easy." He paused and then asked, "Why did you leave?"

I folded my arms across my chest. "I had no reason to stay."

"You didn't tell me."

"Since when did I owe you explanations, Austin?"

The conversation we were having was mostly confusing than infuriating. What exactly was he doing here? What does this man want from me?

"I saw him propose to you," he said, breaking the silence. I knew what he was referring to

"So?"

Then he stepped closer to me. "Do you love him?"

This was the same question he asked me last night. The very question that threw me off. It was getting dangerous at this point.

"What's it with you?" I had to ask.

"You're still mine, Rachel. Mine!"

"No!" I snapped. "That ended the moment you chose your mistress over me. I'm not yours, Austin. Not now... Not ever!"

RACHEL:

Austin stared at me like I had just shattered something between us. And for the first time, he didn't look as smug as he always us. Instead, all I could see was something in between regret and desperation.

He was trying to be careful not to reveal too much but I was seeing beneath the mask. The storm was brewing in him already.

"You're really going to marry him? You're going to just end everything between us like that?" His voice was lower than usual.

"This isn't just ending now. You already put a pen to it yourself. The papers were signed weeks ago and the only thing left is to finalize it. Trust me when I say it's just a matter of time."

I refused to let my resolve waver. He was going to feel just how much I wanted out of this. And I don't care if he was having second thoughts about it. It was already too late and I wasn't going to comply to anything.

He ran a hand through his hair, frustration evident in his attitude. "I thought..." He began to say but cut himself short. "I thought you just needed time to think things through."

"Time?" I spat out in rage. "You had time, Austin. Time to prove that I meant something to you. But what did you do? You spent it with her. You forgot I was supposed to be your wife and instead decided to treat me like a stranger. This isn't a negotiation. We're done."

Silence suffocated us as soon as I let out my feelings. God knows how long I've been bottling that up. I had more than that to say but that was the only thing I decided to just let out for now.

"So there's really nothing we can do about this?" he asked, his voice calmer now.

"Nothing. I'm engaged already so there's really no point trying."

"Where will you stay? Surely you can't keep living here." There was concern laced in his voice as he looked around at the apartment. I could tell that he wasn't okay with the place but what was his business?

"Don't worry about it. Daniel has it all sorted out," I said.

The mention of Daniel must have affected him because his expression changed. "Of course, he does."

I refused to engage in another argument about Daniel. I wonder why Austin thought he had the right to care about my choices or what I did. He was not even supposed to find here in the first place.

"I hope you and Chloe find the happiness you couldn't find in me," I said, forcing neutrality into my tone. I wanted this to be over so I could head in and find the rest I needed.

He didn't look too pleased by the mention of that. But before be could respond, someone else did.

"Oh, we will be."

It was a familiar voice. And when I turned around, I saw Chloe just behind me. She had the usual smug smile plastered on her face and she looked like she had triumphed in a battle.

"Why is she here?" I directed the question to Austin who didn't even know how to answer. "Why are the both of you even here?"

Chloe went to Austin's side and placed a hand oj his arm. She was doing her routine of staking her claim but it wasn't even a battle for me.

"I'm glad you're finally accepting reality, Rachel. Austin and I are meant to be and that's how it's going to be."

I didn't flinch when I met her gaze. "If I didn't accept reality, I wouldn't have handed him those divorce papers."

"Good. Then you won't mind that I would be moving into the villa with Austin."

Austin immediately stiffened beside her as if she just revealed too much information. "Chloe—" he tried calling her name but she continued to speak.

"I already talked to the staff," she continued. "They are preparing everything and maybe by next week, I should be well settled in."

I really had no idea why she was sharing such details with me. Was I supposed to care? Was I supposed to worry? I really couldn't tell why she was doing that.

"You certainly wasted no time," I simply said.

Chloe shrugged. "Why should I? You wanted out and the only thing that has to happen next is that we move forward. It's just that simple."

"And I wish you two the best," I said. "Now if you would excuse me... I have to get inside. You are both in my way."

They paved the way for me to get in and I walked in between them to get to my front door. I unlocked the door and just before entering, I turned around to face them one last time.

"Do me a favor, you two. Don't ever come back here."

RACHEL:

'Meet me in New Orleans if you want it back.'

That was what the message I received from Chloe read. And in the message was a picture of a pocket watch in her palm attached to it.

It was a bright morning when I received the message. It was most certainly unexpected and I really wanted to ignore it just as I've been ignoring her posts for almost two weeks now.

I had no idea what game she was trying to play with me. And maybe I shouldn't have fallen into her game plan by opening that message. However, I couldn't ignore the content of the message because the pocket watch wasn't just any pocket watch.

It was the last thing my grandmother had given me before she passed. The only thing I cherished the most on this earth. I had searched the house when I wanted to leave but didn't find it. I guess she got to it first before I could.

'What is the meaning of this?' I typed back to her.

'You wouldn't want this to be in the river, would you? So do as I say. I'll text you the address.'

I should have just ignored her completely. But I knew what she was trying to do. She wanted to prove that she had control over mr and I wasn't going to let her pull that off.

___________

That very evening, I found myself standing on the bridge of the location she had texted me. Trust her to choose the bridge of a river where she could do what she wanted so easily.

The city light reflected on the water's surface as I looked into it from above. The air was crisp and the wind carried the faint sounds of traffic from the streets behind me.

I should have told Daniel before coming down here. I don't know why I failed to mention it to him.

Chloe arrived and stood a few feet away. She was holding the pocket watch between her fingers as her lips curled into a smile. I began to approach her

She stood a few feet away, holding the pocket watch between her fingers. Her red lips curled into a smile as I approached her.

"You actually came," she mused. "I didn't think you would be so sentimental."

"Give it back this instant!" I said, clenching my fists.

"Why should I?" she taunted by twirling the chain of the watch around her finger.

"Because it doesn't belong to you!" I barked.

"Neither did Austin. But that didn't stop you from clinging on to him for so long."

I sucked in a breath. I had to keep telling myself not to react. That was what she wanted.

"Austin was never mine to keep. Just like he would never be yours to keep. You want to know why he's with you? It's because I walked away. Now imagine I didn't."

The smile on her face immediately faltered. But it didn't for too long because she was back to her annoying self.

"Whatever helps you sleep at night," she said.

"Enough of this. Hand over the watch and let me go."

She held up the watch nonchalantly. "Fine. Here you go," she said.

Relief flooded me as I extended my hand. But just as my fingers were about to close around it, she let the watch go.

I gasped as the watch fell and landed straight into the river with a soft plop. My eyes widened in disbelief.

"Oops." Chloe let out a laugh.

Before I could think, my hand swung, connecting with her cheek and resulting into a sharp slap. That reaction from me caused her to stagger back, shock evident on her face.

The next thing I knew, she lunged at me and that was when I pushed her back with all my strength. I didn't realize that my act of defence would result into a big mistake as I grabbed her slip and then fall off the bridge and into the river.

Panic set in as I watched as the icy water swallowed her whole. This wasn't what I anticipated and neither did I know what to do.

All of a sudden, I saw a man jump into the river, swimming to save Chloe. I looked at the face properly to see that it was Austin. In no time, he had her wrapped and began to pull her to safety.

I quickly ran down to approach them. Chloe was sobbing while shivering and it made me guilty.

"You can't even let us be in peace. The next thing you want to do is kill her, isn't it?" Austin asked without even sparing me a glance.

"It was an accident," I said in my defence. "She tried to attack me and I—"

"You have no excuse, Rachel. None at all. You're just so evil."

Those words stung my heart. How could Austin talk down on me like that? I was still supposed to be his wife but he wasn't even acknowledging me.

Sadly, I turned around. And without another word, I walked away.

This time, forever.

I won't be back again.