Emma walked into the room, her brows furrowed at the stark darkness she found herself in. "Sel?" She called out, struggling to pull out her phone from her bag as she kicked off her shoes.
"Selene?" She called out again, managing to turn on her flashlight and finally turned on the light in the house. A sharp gasp escaped her lips the second she saw the figure cowered at the far corner of the room with swollen red eyes.
Emma's bags fell to the ground as she ran towards Selene. "Sel, what's going on? Are you- What happened?" She rushed out. She had spoken to her over the phone already. She was heartbroken, yes, but this one was different.
"Selene.." Emma whispered.
That was all it took.
Selene let out a shuddering sob, her entire body shaking as the dam of emotions burst open.
Emma's heart lurched painfully. Seeing her best friend like this—so shattered, so lost—made her chest tighten.
She wrapped her arms around Selene, holding her tight. "Selene, please talk to me," she urged softly.
But Selene only shook her head, her fingers gripping Emma's shirt like a lifeline. Minutes passed before Selene's sobs dissolved into quiet sniffles.
"I have nothing left, Emma," she finally whispered.
Emma pulled back slightly, her hands framing Selene's tear-streaked face.
"You have me," she said firmly.
Selene's lips trembled. Her voice cracked as she whispered, "He took it all."
Emma frowned. "What do you mean?"
Selene reached for her phone with shaky hands and turned the screen toward Emma. A series of bank notifications flashed across the screen—withdrawals, transfers, loan approvals. Every single account drained to zero.
Emma's breath hitched. "That bastard."
Selene let out a bitter laugh, not just that. He—he took loans in my name, Emma. Hundreds of thousands. I have nothing. I owe everything.
Emma's eyes widened in horror.
"No. No, no, no. We—we can fix this, Selene. We'll go to the police. A lawyer—"
"And say what?" Selene cut in, "That my legally wedded husband scammed me? My mate? That the man I loved wiped out everything my parents left me? There's nothing I can do, Emma. Nothing."
Emma clenched her jaw, "You can't just give up."
"What choice do I have?" Selene whispered, shaking her head. There was nothing she could do.
Selene stood outside Calloway Enterprises, the sun beating down on her mercilessly.
Her eyes stung from lack of sleep, but she didn't care. She just wanted answers. Needed it.
Dressed in the same wrinkled clothes from the day before, she walked into the building, heading straight for the receptionist.
"I need to see."
The receptionist glanced at her, recognition flashing in her eyes. "Ma'am, I- You can't." She stated flatly.
"What do you mean I can't see him? I'm his wife!" Selene snapped.
"I've been given strict instructions not to let you in under any circumstance. I'm sorry, but you can't see him."
"Please," Selene's voice cracked. "I just need to talk to him."
The woman sighed and shook her head. "I can't let you in, ma'am."
Selene felt the sting of fresh tears, but she refused to cry—not here. "Fine," she muttered, turning on her heel and walking toward the exit.
But she didn't leave. Instead, she waited.
For five hours, she stood outside the glass building, the heat merciless as it burned her skin. Her body ached, her throat dry, but she didn't care.
As the sun began its descent, she saw him.
A sleek, black car rolled out of the underground parking lot.
Selene's heart pounded as she recognized it instantly. "Ethan!" she screamed, breaking into a run.
The driver didn't slow down.
Selene reached the curb, desperation clawing at her as she threw herself forward, hands slamming against the tinted window.
"Ethan, please! Stop the car!"
But the vehicle didn't even stop. The engine growled as the car sped away, leaving her standing there—alone.
Selene stood frozen, wind whipping through her hair. He really just left her alone.
It was late night already, Selene couldn't find it in her to go back to Emma's home, and so she found herself at the beach.
She sat on the sand, the ocean stretched endlessly before her. Beside her, three empty beer bottles lay discarded, the alcohol buzzing in her veins.
She took a gulp of the beer bottle in her hand. The bitterness burned down her throat, but she barely felt it. The waves crashed violently against the shore, the scent of salt filling the air.
She let out a hollow laugh, tilting her head back.
"I hate you, Ethan," she whispered, voice trembling.
But the words weren't enough. They didn't touch the depth of her pain.
So she stood up and staggered towards the ocean. She stood at the edge of the ocean and screamed.
"I HATE YOU ETHAN CALLOWAY! I HATE YOU AND THAT SNAKE I CALLED MY FRIEND, VIVIAN! THE TWO OF YOU USED ME AND BETRAYED ME. I CURSE YOU TWO A THOUSAND TIMES."
Selene screamed with all her might, taking a swig of beer again and staggered even more. She shut her eyes close and began to laugh. The more she laughed, the more she staggered.
Another step. Then suddenly, nothing.
Selene's foot slipped, and with a gasp, she fell into the water.