CHAPTER TWO
Nova's POV
A fog of misery clouds the air, pulling me in with such great force I can't comprehend, despite my futile resistances.
"I want a divorce."
Those words continue to repeat itself in my head.
My face twists in disgust as I gulp down another shot of vodka, my throat burning for the umpteenth time. I could see my reflection from the clear glass of the bar stand, it is messy and distraught, just like my life.
I hoist up the now empty glass bottle, staring at it with an unwavering gaze as the image of Tristan pushing himself into a woman appears.
"Yes, fuck me hard"
My grip tightens on the cap of the bottle.
"mmmm" he groaned, his hand cupping her breast.
The bar stand creaks as I bang the bottle on it, dragging it across the table.
Her red nails dug into his back and tracing lines on his back.
I lift up the bottle.
She kisses him on the lips, muffling his groans.
Sound of shattering glass echoes pierces my ears as I send the bottle flying across the room, wine residue staining the white walls of the house that used to be my sanctuary.
A mocking sneer rolls off my tongue as I stare at the mess I had just created. A mess that mirrors the condition of my broken heart.
I laugh uncontrollably, wheezing as my stomach clenches and I fall to my knees. A tear rolls down my cheek and I clean it up. And then another one drops.
And then another.
And another.
It keeps coming as I clean them up until I begin to sob, clutching my chest in pain.
I'm going insane and I didn't want to be sane again.
"You're so foolish, Nova." I jab myself in the chest with a finger.
"How did you not know?" I ask myself as I try to wipe a stupid grin off my face.
All along, Tristan had treated me like a queen, leaving me defenseless just to attack me. He studied me hard enough to break me where it is irreparable.
A hiccup clogs my throat and I stand up, staggering to the bathroom as I feel bile threatening to come up my mouth.
My vision blurs as I take another step, covering my mouth with one palm as bile threatens to spill.
Trying to find my way to the nearest bathroom, my eyes clenches shut as a piercing pain stabs in the the foot. I roll my head backwards, lifting my palm off my lips as I hiss in pain.
I open my eyes to see a trail of red liquid flowing from under my foot. I lift it up from the floor, bending over to remove the shard of broken glass stuck to it when my throat made gurgling sounds and I throw up.
The tangy smell of alcohol and two hours old eaten lasagna fills the air as I empty my guts on the hard tiled floor.
"Ugh" a belch escapes my lips.
Blood seeps from my injured foot and with little strength, I move three feets back, crouching down as my vision blurs and I collapse, sleep overtaking me.
A painful kick jolts me out of slumber, disorienting me for a moment. I blink away the heaviness from my tired eyes, staring back at Tristan's annoyed face.
"Clean up this mess and sign the papers on the table." His tone is laced with fury as he commands.
Haggardly jumping up to my feet, I drag the hen of his pants to hoist myself up.
"Tristan. Can we talk please?" I plead.
He cocks his head to the side and let his eye roam the room before pushing me aside and heading back into the bedroom.
Running my fingers through my hair, I breathe out air and realise how much I reek.
"Ugh." I gag, limping on one foot to the kitchen to wash up my mouth and clean the pile of mess that sat in the middle of the living room.
As I rush back to start cleaning, Tristan comes back to the living room dressed in a new outfit. Shame overtakes me as I realise he had changed because I had touched him.
"Tristan, please." I call out, my voice barely a whisper.
He dashes out the door before I can complete my sentence, disdain written all over his face as he points to the papers lying on the center table.
run after him but decide against it, nothing I would say or do was going to change his mind.
Few hours later, I lay on the couch fully dressed and facing the ceiling with a splitting headache. Only after I had finished cleaning up did I notice that I had a terrible hangover.
After searching tirelessly for some Advil, I had settled for a cold shower, making a decision to pick up some from the store and have lunch with Cassie, my best friend.
Cassie Devon has been my friend since college days and has been supportive through my toughest times. We had clicked right from the first day at college and haven't been separated ever since
My stomach grumbles with hunger as I dial Cassie's phone number for the fifth time and it disconnects. I sigh, sending her a text and flinging the phone to the couch.
My gaze falls on the divorce papers and I pick it up, reading through it with a lump in my throat.
"I want a divorce." The voice rings in my head again, reminding me of my fate.
My phone buzzes with a notification from Cassie.
"Look out the window." It read.
A grin creeps up my face as I stroll to the window, her small frame barely climbing out the car as she waves at me.
"I'll be out in a few minutes" I yell to her.
I check my outfit one more time in the mirror before picking up my phone and heading out.
A silly grin is plastered on Cassie's face as she drives out of the street.
My brows furrow in question.
"What?" I ask, breaking the silence.
"What?" She repeats, cackling.
"Cassie." I warn, nearly breaking into a smile.
"Fine. I just missed you and you look really good." She says.
I ignore the last part because as much as I remember, I know I am far from looking good.
"Unfortunately Cass, I don't share your sentiments but I missed you too." I say with all seriousness.
She frowns, giving me a knowing look before packing besides a strangely familiar looking red car at the parking lot of the restaurant.
"No. We're not doing that today. Tell me."
"Tell you what?" I reply, pretending to be oblivious.
"Did I do something wrong?" She asks, worry etched on her brows.
I shake my head sideways.
"So what's wrong?" She probes.
I sigh. "It's nothing. I'm starving, let's go."
"Nova, are you okay? You've not been eating." Cassie asks with concern.
It's been a few minutes since our meals were served yet, I can't seem to take a bite.
"I'm okay. I just don't have an appetite." I sign, my cutleries clanking against each other as I drop them on the plate.
She leans back in her chair, her arms folded on her chest as she waits for me to speak up.
"Tristan wants a divorce."
Her reaction is almost hilarious as she chokes on her own spit, her eyes widening in shock as she stares at me.
"What? Why? How?"
She asks and I shrug, desperately wanting to know too.
My brain wheels in circles as I contemplate telling her that he had cheated on me but decide to leave the details out
"But, Tristan would never do anything like that. He loves you." She affirms.
I thought so too until last night, after he'd repeatedly admitted to cheating on me even though I tried to deny it because I believed he could never hurt a single hair on my head.
"Are you okay?" Cassie questions.
I blink back the tears pooling in my eyes and nod but knowing her, I know she doesn't believe it.
"Nova." She reaches for my hands from across the table and squeezes it.
"No. I'm fine, really. It's just- he isn't saying anything to me and I don't understand what I've done."
"Did you hurt him?"
"No, I don't know. He just asked for it and I've been trying to talk to him since last night but he just wouldn't listen. I mean, he should be begging me for sleeping with another w-"
"What did you just say?" Cassie interrupts me with a finger to the air.
'Shit'
I bite my lips and look down, inwardly cussing for letting that slip out.
"Tristan cheated on you?" She queries again, her voice sharp with surprise.
" You weren't meant to hear to hear that." and I meant it. She shouldn't have known that.
She scoffs, leaning back into her chair as she searches my eyes.
Opening my mouth to talk, a familiar scent hit my nostrils and I search for him with my eyes, my breathe hitches as they find him as his eyes meets mine in a brief moment before looking away.
Tristan is here.
With a woman.