Isabelle gazed at Anthony with a look of pity.
"Don't look at me like that. I don't appreciate being pitied. Isn't our fate almost the same, except I've been single for a long time while you've just broken up with your boyfriend?" He said with a bitter smile.
"Stop it, it's not a breakup. My husband cheated on me with my friend. Their relationship had gone quite far." Isabelle smiled bitterly, revealing a wound that didn't bleed.
"Don't you want to get revenge on your husband?"
Isabelle turned towards Anthony and gave him a difficult-to-interpret look.
"How...?"
"What if we pretend to be a couple?"
Isabelle widened her eyes, as if she couldn't believe what this stranger had just suggested.
"Don't joke around like that."
"I'm serious about what I said. I can help you seek revenge on your husband for the pain he caused you."
"Thank you, but I don't really want that."
"Why?"
"What's the difference between me and him? Even if we pretend to be a couple, it's still called cheating. I hate that. And I'll remain faithful to him until the judge's gavel falls."
"Have you filed for divorce already?" Anthony asked curiously.
"Yes, I've filed for a divorce in court. Maybe there will be a hearing soon."
"So, you're going to be a future divorcee?"
Isabelle's heart grew even more resentful. She might be a future divorcee, but there was no need to emphasize the status. Perhaps it was just her bad luck.
"Sometimes, rarely encountering problems can bring us down when we first face them. It's different for people who deal with problems every day; they become resilient," Anthony remarked, looking straight ahead. He wore a bitter smile, as if he were talking about himself.
Isabelle squinted at Anthony. "Is there something something wrong with what I said?"
"No, but from your words, I can sense some pain."
"You're right. People who always smile are often hiding their wounds."
Isabelle was taken aback by Anthony's words. "May I ask if you've ever been hurt?"
"From a young age, I've felt the pain. I never receive love from my parents. They only saw me as a bad omen child. So, I left home when I was ten years old. I managed to go to school because of my intelligence and got a scholarship."
"Then, what did you do to survive from the age of ten?" Isabelle momentarily forgot her own sorrow as she listened to Anthony's story.
"I did whatever I could to make money, like pickpocketing or working as a laborer at the market," Anthony said with a bitter smile.
"It seems I've been luckier than you. Have you never gone back to your parents' house?" Isabelle asked cautiously.
"What's the point of going back? I've succeed on my own, and I can even support you if we get married, future divorcee," Anthony teased.
Isabelle snorted at Anthony's words, which seemed meaningless to her.
"Why? Isn't a divorcee means more experienced?" Anthony taunted Isabelle.
"Stop being absurd."
"Don't think that being a divorcee is the end of everything. In fact, many people are now pursuing divorcees." he smirked.
Isabelle felt a pang of sadnees hearing Anthony's words.
"Because a divorcee already knows their status, but a girl may not."
Anthony whispered close to Isabelle's ear, "Pretentious..."
"If you don't believe it, that's fine too," he said.
"Come on..." Anthony stood up and extended his hand towards Isabelle. She only stared at Anthony's hand size without any interest in accepting it.
"Don't think too much; I just want to escort you home. It's not safe for a woman to walk alone in the middle of the night."
"No need, thank you. I can go home by myself," she said, standing up without accepting his hand.
Anthony merely watched Isabelle as she walked further away from him.
"You should be mine because you made me fall in love at first sight, and I'll be waiting for your divorce," he said, continuing to gaze at Isabelle's receding figure.
**********
Isabelle walked briskly through the dimly lit streets, her heart racing, and her thoughts swirling like a tempest. Anthony's unexpected proposal to pretend to be a couple had caught her off guard. She had never imagined a stranger could offer her such a peculiar solution to her problems.
As she walked further away from Anthony, she couldn't help but replay their conversation in her mind. It was true that her marriage had crumbled, shattered by her husband's infidelity. The pain ran deep, like a festering wound, but could she really go along with Anthony's plan?
She reached her hotel and climed the stairs to her floor, still mulling over Anthony's words. Despite her initial resistance, she couldn't deny the intrigue that had taken root in her mind. Could pretending to be in a relationship with a complete stranger be a way to mend her broken heart? Or was it a reckless idea born from the despair she felt?
Entering the dimly lit room, Isabelle kicked off her shoes and slumped onto the bed. The room felt empty. She had hoped for a happy marriage, but it had crumbled, leaving her feeling lost and betrayed.
Her phone buzzed on the coffee table, breaking her reverie. It was a text from her lawyer, updating her about the divorce proceeding.
As she placed the phone back on the table, she couldn't help but think about Anthony's offer once again. Maybe it was time to consider unconventional solutions to her problems. The idea of seeking revenge on her unfaithful husband had its appeal, but it also a path filled with anger and resentment. Anthony's proposal, on the other hand, offered a chance to regain control over her life.
Isabelle knew she needed to make decision soon. Her heart was still raw from the pain, but she couldn't deny the allure of a fresh start. Perhaps, just perhaps, pretending to be in love with Anthony could help her heal, and maybe, in the process, she could help him heal his own wounds as well.
However, as she reflected further on her options, Isabelle decided that going along with Anthony's proposal was not the path she wanted to take. She had been deeply hurt by her husband's betrayal, and the idea of seeking revenge had its appeal, but she realized that sinking to his level would only prolong her suffering. She didn't want to be consumed by anger and bitterness.
Isabelle was determined to find closure in her own way, whether it was through the divorce proceedings or by focusing on her own personal growth. Revenge might provide temporary satisfaction, but she wanted more than that - she wanted to rebuild her life on her own terms.
As the night settled in, Isabelle decided to end her day with this decision.
**********
TO BE CONTINUED...