Chapter 3
Maybe it was just dumb luck, but Arlene survived.
When she woke up, it was already the next morning.
“Bruising on the right arm, mild concussion, multiple soft tissue injuries…”
The doctor stood at her bedside, looking at her carefully. Anywhere else you’re feeling pain?”
Arlene shook her head and reached for her phone. Not a single call from Brendan.
But the man who never posted on Instagram had, for the first time ever, uploaded a photo. The beach behind them was breathtakingly blue,
Of course, the real highlight of the photo was Paige, draped in a flowing Bohemian–style dress, more stunning than the scenery itself.
Arlene curled into herself, pulled the blanket over her head, and cried.
She had spent four years with Brendan. What did she even mean to him?
Absolutely nothing.
After being discharged, Arlene went back to her apartment and popped an ibuprofen before falling into bed.
Her nerves must’ve been made of steel. She slept through the entire day before finally feeling like herself again.
She slapped on a few pain relief patches and dragged herself to work.
She needed that internship paycheck, after all.
“Did you guys see Mr. Dudley’s Instagram? Oh my god! He never posts anything, but he posted for Ms. Hilton!”
He’s the dream boyfriend. Stayed single and faithful for years, waiting just for her.”
Arlene had barely stepped into the office when she heard her coworkers whispering.
She let out a bitter chuckle and sat at her desk. Brendan really did love Paige.
Bur faithful? That was a joke.
Arlene couldn’t help but find it ironic. Men really could separate love and sex, couldn’t they?
He loved Paige with his heart, but had no problem sleeping with Arlene.
Miss, this is a restricted area. Mr. Dudley gave orders-‘
The sudden commotion near the elevator cut the assistant off.
Arlene turned to look and her blood froze.
Wilma had arrived.
“Out of my way!” Wilma barked, storming into the office in a designer suit and heels that clicked like gunshots on the floor,
Arlene instinctively lowered her head and hunched her shoulders. The trauma from her freshman year hadn’t faded a bit.
My brother’s coming home today. He and Paige are getting married, Wilma whispered in Arlene’s ear.
She let out a cruel laugh. “Didn’t I tell you four years ago? The day my brother dumps you will be the day you die.”
Arlene went rigid from head to toe.
Four years had passed, and Wilma still hadn’t let her go.
Smack! Wilma slapped Arlene across the face in front of the entire office.
Arlene didn’t fight back. She didn’t even make a sound.
She admitted that she was a coward. She couldn’t afford to stand up to Wilma.
She’d imagined killing her more times than she could count. But as long as she still wanted to live, she couldn’t act on it.
If the day ever came when she didn’t care anymore, she’d take Wilma down with her.
But for now, she was pathetic and still wanted to live.
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“Remember that slap?” Wilma laughed bitterly. “Back then, my brother hit me for the first time in his life because of you. Sent me overseas. Brendan never hit me until you!” She picked up a cup of coffee from the desk and poured it over Arlene’s head.
“You thought that sleeping with my brother meant you’d won? Who do you think you are? You’re just an orphan. And my brother? You think a man like him would marry you?”
She shoved Arlene’s head again, sneering. “Get out of the Dudley Group. Or I’ll expose all your dirty little secrets to the entire company.”
Arlene kept her head down and said nothing.
Dirty secrets? Was she talking about the photos Wilma had taken back in college when she stripped Arlene naked and bullied her? Or the fact that Arlene had slept with her brother?
No one in the office dared speak up for Arlene. After all, Wilma was the Dudley Group’s heiress.
“Arlie, what did you do to upset Wilma?” a coworker finally whispered once Wilma had stormed off.
Arlene smiled faintly and wiped her face with a tissue.“We were college classmates. Had a bit of a falling out…”
In the bathroom, Arlene hid in a quiet corner, fixing her clothes.
She didn’t cry.
Back in her freshman year, she’d still cried over the injustice of it all.
Was it her fault she was an orphan?
Did having no family or connections mean she deserved to be bullied?
Now, she knew better. Being an orphan was the original sin. Being powerless was the crime.
People who hurt you never feel the need to justify it.
Beep!
Her phone buzzed. Brendan had transferred her 10 thousand dollars.
The drama today had been public. Brendan definitely knew Wilma had hit her.
Ten thousand dollars for a slap.
Not a bad rate.
1 scolded Wilma for what she did. Go buy yourself something nice.”
He followed it up with a voice message.
The same words. “Buy yourself something nice.”
Thank you, Mr. Dudley.”
Arlene took the money. She’d earned it.
She stared at the chat window, not even sure what she was hoping for. Maybe Brendan would ask if she’d been hurt in the car crash. But he never did.
She turned off her phone and went to HR to resign. Since she was still an intern, the process was quick.
Tomorrow was the 13th. That night, she had an appointment at Riverside Manors to meet Albert Stevenson.
If she played her cards right, this could be her way out of Seattle.
Her way out of Brendan’s life.
