Nine months too late: After divorce

She reached Cindy just as she concluded her call and lowered her phone from her ear. She was surprised to turn around and find Sylvic.

"Hi?" Her brows furrowed.

Sylvie's countenance was impassive, rage running through her veins.

The memories flooded her at once-going shopping with Cindy staying up late into the night making video calls with her and telling her about her day, going to her for advice... Then, Kage's hurtful words: 'I regret the day I met you!

That had all been Cindy.

She allowed her see the storm brewing in her eyes as she came to a stop before her, just inches away.

"Do you need something, Sylvie?" Cindy asked, clearly uncomfortable with the way Sylvie stared at her. Silence passed, then Sylvie asked. "Was there ever a time you were my friend?"

Confusion flickered across Cindy's face. "What're you-"

"You've always wanted him, haven't you? You've always wanted to take him from me. To see me ruined."

"Seriously? Are we still on this?" She rolled her eyes. "Look, I came here for a reason, okay? and not to listen to you sulk. So, if you wouldn't mind, I'll be heading back to the party."

Sylvie's hands clenched into fists, watching Cindy as she walked past her.

"Why did you send him the recording?" The words scraped against her throat, quickening her pulse. But it brought Cindy to an abrupt halt, and after some seconds, she turned on her heel, facing Sylvie.

"I know it was you," Sylvie continued, a slight quake in her voice. "You had access to my email and received it when Lancelot sent it to me. Then, you sent it to Kage."

Cindy appeared too stunned to speak. Sylvie stepped closer, her hands still clenched beside her.

A million ways to hurt Cindy haunted her thoughts, and it was a fierce battle ignoring those voices.

"Why did you do it?" She grounded. "You were my bestfriend! If we hadn't been so close, you wouldn't have had access to my email in the first place. You saw something like that and didn't think of approaching me to discuss it? Instead, you went right to Kage to ruin me? Was that the only reason you were in my life?"

Cindy's eyes watered, guilt reflecting in them. But her face was still hardened, her lips pressing firmly.

"How could you!?" Sylvie's voice rose a notch.

"Well, what do you want to hear?" Cindy shouted back. "Yes, I may have been á little jealous of you! You were always the pretty one, always the lucky one, the one every man wanted. Heck, Westley was fighting to get married to you despite being pregnant with another man's child. You were always favored, Sylvie, whereas, I had to beg for attention."

A tear slipped her eye. "Do you know how excruciating it was having to watch you talk about Kage all the time? To watch how

he loved you and treated you like you were the only girl in the world. I loved you, but I envied you. Then, I discovered your

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dirty secret. How could you let him love you when you had such dirt in your closet? You definitely didn't deserve it."

Another tear. "So, I showed it to him. I wanted him to see a reason to hate you, and I did. Maybe, I'm sorry, but it felt good

5.03 Mon,

knowing I wasn't the only one who could be unwanted."

Sylvie listened in awe, finding her words utterly disgusting. She betrayed her because of her low self-esteem? Because she envied her?

"Do you know what I had to go through?" Sylvic took a step forward. "What your lack of self-esteem put me through? I lost my kids, Cindy! I watched helplessly as they took them from me

Thick guilt flashed through Cindy. She looked away, not wanting to meet Sylvie's eyes any longer.

"You ruined my life! All for what? For Kage!?"

Cindy stayed silent, still not looking at her.

Unable to keep it in any longer, Sylvie's hand extended, striking her hard in the face.

Cindy gasped, her hand flying to her face as her eyes widened in shock.

"Have you lost your mind!?" She shrieked.

Sylvie slapped her fo the second time, her chest swelling with her uncontrolled emotions.

This time, Cindy lost it as well and fought back, grabbing Sylvie by her hair. The two ladies got involved in a brawl, fisting each other's hair and yelling, and soon, Sylvie found herself being pushed into the pool.

A scream left her throat, but it was soon swallowed by the water filling her mouth and lungs.

The scene had dra

the attention of some of the people around.

Sylvie struggled to keep her head above the water while swinging her arms around. She didn't know how to swim, but thankfully, the water wasn't deep enough to drown her, but it was enough to make her pretty anxious. "Someone, help her!" She heard voices scream.

She kept drawing deep breaths, struggling to keep her head above. She didn't even realize that the whole struggle had torn the upper part of her dress, although her breasts weren't completely exposed. All that mattered to Sylvie in that moment was not drowning.

Someone jumped into the water, and it didn't take long before a pair of hands grabbed Sylvie's waist.

She was still panting and struggling to breath and was grateful for the person trying to get her out of the water. She didn't even know who it was, neither was she aware of her surroundings. Finally, she was pulled out of the pool and sat on the floor where she coughed and caught her breath.

Her dress and hair was soaked, her makeup was ruined with eyeshadows and liners smeared across her eyes. Sylvie looked a mess, yet it was nothing compared to the pain she felt in her heart.

She felt a hand put a suit jacket around her. And it wasn't until some seconds later when she'd finally caught her breath- that she took note of her surroundings: A lot of people had gathered. Like, a lot.

In addition, it was Machai that had pulled her out of the water. He knelt beside her, his arms around her as he covered her shoulders with his jacket.

The weight of her predicament didn

let her acknowledge the absurdity of the situation.

Looking around, her eyes fell on Cindy. Her face was red from where Sylvie had slapped her. Hair was a mess too and she looked so furious like she intended to murder someone.

Kage was beside her all well, the sight even more painful for Sylvie. Her face became more rigid. She suddenly wished she'd caused Cindy more harm.

"What's happening here?" The host asked in a worried tone, scurrying to the scene.

His lips fell apart when he took note of the drenched Sylvie, then shifted his gaze to Cindy.

"My goodness! What happened here?"

"She attacked me!" Cindy pointed angrily. "I only pushed her into the pool in self defense."

The host looked like he'd have said more words to Cindy, but since it was Kage's woman...

He turned to Sylvie. "Will you be fine? Do you need some sort of assistance?"

Sylvie shook her head, unable to utter any words. She was certain she'd hate how croaky her voice would sound.

"Come on," Machai whispered, then helped her to her feet.

Sylvie was so furious, her body trembled as she stood, her hands holding onto the jacket around her. But the jacket wasn't big enough to cover her exposed chest. Her eyes glistened with unshed tears as she glared at Cindy, then at him. Him.

He was as guilty as Cindy was. He was aware he'd gotten the recording form Cindy, he knew she'd ruined them. Yet, he went ahead to date her. How dare he!?Exclusive © content by N(ô)ve/l/Drama.Org.

Yes, the recording was true and Sylvie might have truly hurt him, but how could he date the very lady that had ruined them, knowing fully well that this lady used to be her bestfriend, and that she had betrayed them. How could he do such a thing!? Her hands clenched into fists, including the one holding the jacket.

He was staring back at her, holding her angry gaze. Sylvie let him see the hurt him in them and the fact that he had betrayed her just as much as Cindy did. They were both betrayers!

When Machai began pulling her away, she didn't struggle against him. She turned around, took three steps, then paused all of a sudden when she realized something frightening.

With a gasp, she whirled around, her eyes finding Kage again. Slowly, she looked down at her dress, the part that was torn, and her heart sank into the pit of her stomach when she found the necklace visibly resting on her neck.

Her throat constricted, air turning to ice in her lungs.

Oh, God.

The part of her dress that had been torn and exposed her chest revealed the necklace she thought would be safe beneath her dress.

And it was in that moment that she realized-it was the necklace Kage had been staring at the entire time, not her face.

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