2|Your Game

The atmosphere on the other side was suddenly quiet, but I knew he was still there and listening to me. We were still together. How dare he flaunt their relationship in front of so many people. I saw them, so I was sure others might have witnessed the incident, too.

"Good, you know everything. Things will be easier now. Yes. Bella and I are getting married soon," he declared arrogantly. "We've been waiting for this opportunity for a long time. So stop ruining my plans. Sign the divorce papers and come to the court tomorrow."

"Ruining your plans? Have you gone mad? You've ruined our marriage by cheating on my best friend!" I protested.

He laughed. "Camari, Bella and I knew each other before we met. She was my first love, the woman I wanted to marry. Listen. I never loved you."

His words pierced my heart like a sharp sword. The pain made me unable to speak for a while. I even had to lean against the wall, realizing my legs failed to support my body.

"Y-your first love?" I stammered. "Th-then what am I?"

"Do you think you're my first love?" He scoffed. "I'm just following this game you invented. Do you think I don't know what you're doing behind my back? You act innocent and kind, but you're a cunning person."

"What?" I asked, not understanding.

"No need to play dumb. I know you planned this wedding. You've managed to separate me from Bella eight years ago, but we will be together forever now. You can't separate us again."

His accusation pierced my heart. I could hear the hateful tone in his voice. I couldn't even reply because I was shaken by his change in attitude. Since I was no longer talking, he ended the call.

What did he mean I planned our wedding? I only knew him eight years ago. How could I separate him from Bella and plan all this? I didn't even know they were in a relationship. What kind of things had I done behind his back?

The more I thought about it, the less I understood. Eight years ago, Farrell came to me. Our introduction process was brief until he confessed his love. I, who liked him, agreed to be his girlfriend.

Three years into the relationship, he proposed. When we married, I was even surprised to learn he wasn't an ordinary employee at Haworth Incorporation. His name was not Farrell August, as he introduced me, but Farrell August Haworth, the heir to the highly respected Angus Haworth.

"Camari?" Someone rubbed my shoulder. I turned my head and saw Jasmine looking at me with concern. "Are you alright?"

I looked around and realized I was still standing in the same place. "I-yeah. I'm fine." I straightened my body.

"We waited, but you didn't come to the cafeteria. So, Jasmine and I came to pick you up," Emily explained. "Are you sure everything is okay?"

I nodded slowly. "Yes. Let's go to the cafeteria now," I suggested.

Jasmine and Emily were my coworkers when I was working in the finance division. They, Bella, and I had been together since we started at the company. We remained friends, including having lunch together, even though I had moved to another division.

Compared to the two of them, Bella and I got along better. We were compatible in many ways and comfortable around each other. She knew everything about me and vice versa. She had been my friend since I was single until I married Farrell.

"Where's Bella?" I asked as I looked around the office cafeteria. We were queuing up to get our food.

"Huh?" Jasmine handed me a tray. "You guys are so close. I thought you knew the news."

"What news?" I wrinkled my forehead.

"Bella suddenly resigned yesterday," Emily replied.

No wonder the drinks she promised didn't make it to my room. She was only toying with me. That was why she was laughing so amusingly with Farrell. My eyes heat up at the memory of their intimacy at the café. What did I do to them to cheat on me behind my back?

Oh, my goodness. What was going on? He and Bella never seemed to get along. They had been behaving like two people who knew each other casually. Bella didn't even like him and fought every time they met. Was it all an act?

As if knowing I was thinking about her, I found Bella standing by the side of my car when I walked to the parking lot. She took off her sunglasses and told me to follow her car. I was surprised to see her enter a luxury car.

Farrell was pretending to be an ordinary employee. Could it be that Bella was not an ordinary woman but the daughter of a billionaire? What did these two people from a wealthy family want from me? Who could I trust when even my husband and best friend lied to me?

Her car entered the parking lot of a café, so I followed her. The waiter greeted her kindly and escorted us to the eatery. It turned out that she had reserved a room for us to talk.

"I won't waste my time." She stared at me arrogantly. Completely different from the way the old Bella looked at me. "I heard you didn't come to court this morning. Stop dreaming, Camari. It's time you woke up. Farrell never loved you."

I held my suddenly trembling hands over my lap. "I don't know why you've been my friend for the past eight years, but I don't allow anyone to interfere in my private life," I retorted.

"I'm just having fun with you. You wouldn't know how I refrain from laughing when you say Farrell loves you so much." She covered her smile with her right curled finger.

"Farrell hates you. You have no idea how hard he tries not to reject you when you hold his hand, hug his body, or kiss his lips." She smirked. "That's why he stopped touching you after you became his wife."

"You're lying." I felt my whole body tremble with anger.

"He only loved me since we were in college. We were already planning a future together, and then you ruined everything," she accused fiercely.

I frowned at that sentence again. "What do you mean? I didn't know you or Farrel before. I didn't even know you had been together since college. Why are you accusing me of ruining everything?"

"Is there a criminal who confesses his actions?" she asked rhetorically.

"Are you going to keep talking nonsense about that? Why not tell me frankly where I've ruined everything?" I shook my head uncomprehendingly.

"This is the last chance. You have to come tomorrow morning to court. You'll regret it if you're absent again." She still didn't answer my question, so I stopped asking.

"I'm not afraid of your threats, Bella." I looked into her eyes without flinching. "I'm his legal wife. You need more than big talk to separate me from my husband."

"Is that a challenge?" She slyly smiled while crossing her arms over her chest. "Fine. Don't blame me for the suffering that has befallen you. You've asked for it."

The events of this morning I still think of as a dream. Two people who were close and dear to me walked embracingly in front of me. Farrell didn't even take his eyes off my best friend until they got to his car.

But hearing them both admit that they had known each other for a long time, I realized they were on the same page. Farrell's voice was full of hatred when he spoke to me. Bella's eyes were full of anger when she threatened me. They really hated me.

I jumped up in surprise at the sound of the horn. I blinked my eyes and looked around me. Oh, my. I was daydreaming. I waited for a green light but was busy thinking about those two bad guys instead. I hurriedly stepped on the accelerator and drove the car.

A blinding light came from behind. A car was flashing its headlights repeatedly. Seeing that, I pulled the car over. I wondered if the taillights had gone out. The window on my side was suddenly hit hard, making me jump in my seat.

"Open the window! Open it quickly!" he ordered.

 I turned and saw a man staring at me with bulging eyes. I swallowed heavily. What had happened? I hadn't hit anyone or nudged a car. Everything was fine. Then what was he mad at me for?

"What's wrong? Why did you ask me to pull over?" I tried not to flinch at him.

He kicked my car instead. "I said, open up! You've worn out my patience. Open it!"

"Who's going to open their car window when you're acting like that?" said someone on the back left of my car.

"Hey, you stay out of it. Go back to your car! Let me deal with this bitch!" The man hit my window hard again. "Open it!"

"Please stop that, sir," the second man said again. He put his hands on the first man's shoulders.

"Assh*le! I said, stay out of it!" He threw his fist at the second man.

I squealed in surprise as I closed my eyes. Oh my. Oh, my goodness. What was going on? What had I done to make someone so angry with me that they forced me to open the car window? My heart was beating so fast. What should I do?

Hearing the sudden silence, I ventured to open my eyes. I saw the man running backward with limping steps. I watched him through the rearview mirror. The man got into his car and drove away.

The second man stood at the side of my car and smiled. My heart was still beating fast. I didn't know if I was out of danger or not. Seeing my hands holding the steering wheel trembling, I took a deep breath. After calming down, I turned to my helper.

"He's gone. You're safe now," he said kindly.

I braved myself to open the car door and then got out. "Thank you so much. I don't know what happened. He just suddenly pulled me over and hit the window."

"He was just looking for a fight. You were just a little late moving after the light turned green. It happened sometime," he reported. "Next time, don't stop. Just take him to the police station. He won't dare bother you."

"Ah, I get it." I smiled nervously. "Once again, thank you. You did me a favor."

"You're welcome. I'm leaving. Be safe on the road," he said politely.

"Will do," I replied.

I stepped into the car and glanced at the vehicle a few meters behind me. That second man entered the car. It looked like he was a driver because there was a shadow of a person sitting in the back seat. Hopefully, we would meet again so that I could thank you properly.

I didn't come to the courthouse that morning. I went straight to work and did all my job. I didn't care about all their baseless accusations. I had the right to refuse a divorce from my husband.

Farrell hadn't come home last night, so I intended to visit my parents. I wanted them to know about my divorce from me, not the media. The incoming calls and new messages from Farrell hadn't stopped since ten this morning. I didn't want to fight with him over the phone again. He could meet me at my parent's house to talk.

I pulled over when I entered the city border where they were. My tears wouldn't stop flowing, obscuring my vision. My chest was getting tighter every time I got closer to where they lived. I felt heavy carrying the bad news.

My phone vibrated, so I turned to the dashboard. Reading Mom's name on the screen, I took a deep breath and cleared my throat. "Hi, Mom."

"Camari, what should I do?" Mom was sobbing.

I was stunned for a moment to hear her. "Mom? What's wrong?" My heart was beating rapidly. Did something happen to Dad?

"Your dad,” she reported frantically. “He collapsed and is now in the emergency room."