Vines: A Love and Second Chances Novel

By Katherine Glick

Why is it that when life, fate, destiny – whatever you want to call it – intervenes and tries to steer you in a different direction it does it in the most complicated, messed up way possible? Who really knows? For Ana Grand, life threw her a bunch of lemons to do whatever with, or make whatever with, and didn’t have the decency to give her a recipe card for instructions.

Leaving her small-town roots (and her mother) behind, Ana headed off to college to make something of herself. While living the best years of her life, or so they say, Ana meets Simon, the man of her dreams. Turns out Simon has no interest in Ana other than to provide her with the best friendship a girl could ever wish for. However, during her last year of college, Ana meets the man of her dreams...again. Except for this time, the guy happens to put a ring on her finger.

Andrew Lancaster is made of money, but you’d never know it based on his affectionate and noble personality. He’s precisely the kind of guy Ana would steer clear of, mainly because “his kind” didn’t mix well with “her kind.” Nevertheless, love prevailed, and the two of them got married and defied the odds – the odds meaning both of their families thought they were crazy for marrying each other and tried to persuade them not to. None of that mattered to them, so they chose to express their vows.

Over the years, Ana carved her way through life and became a successful writer and novelist, and all with Andrew by her side. But when Andrew’s father passed away leaving him his real-estate company, along with a sizable fortune, Andrew no longer lived by his chivalrous standards.

After arriving home early from a business trip, Ana finds Andrew doing more than inspecting their maids’ cleaning job. In fact, he was making sure the maid felt right at home, naked in his bed. Ana decides to divorce Andrew due to his infidelity, and move back home to her small town to be with her mother.

An incredibly distraught Andrew decides he can’t live with what he did to Ana, so he gives her something very special that should have been theirs to share on their wedding anniversary. Once Ana’s lawyer serves Andrew the divorce papers, he sends her his requests. He wants her happy, living comfortably, and he wants her to fulfill a dream only he knew she had.

Part of their settlement included a plot of land in Napa Valley, California. And part of Ana’s dreams in life included growing grapes and making delicious wine. So, against her better judgment, Ana makes the decision to accept the land and move out to California. But once again, life ain’t that easy. Sitting pretty on cloud nine (despite her heartache), Ana has no idea that Jake Fontaine would put a kink in her newly sought after plan.

Like Ana, Jake also suffered from a lover’s betrayal and decided he didn’t need another woman in his life for quite a while. Once Jake finds out Ana is moving to California to take over a part of the Fontaine land – land he had his eye on, he’s beside himself with anger. Ultimately accepting the inevitable, Jake knew all he needed to do was steer clear of Ana Grande...and her beauty. But that's easier said than done.

Two people meet, and they just know. They know they are meant to be together, but they know they shouldn’t fall for one another. They’ve both been hurt and cheated. They need to work on themselves, and not get caught up in the lust and desire they feel for one another. The last thing they need is to fall in love...again. But the allure of the vines and the passion for the grapes binds them together undeniably. They can’t resist it, no matter how hard they try. So what do you do when life hands you a bunch of lemons? You make wine, of course. And you take that second chance at love.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Katherine Glick
• Release date: Aug 28, 2017
• ISBN: 9781370699681

Katherine Glick

Katherine Glick was born and raised in North Carolina, and currently resides near Wilmington, NC. She's a wife, mother, and a southern girl at heart. Katherine loves to write and use her imagination to create magic on a page. Romance is her genre of choice when it comes to writing and reading, however, she dabbles in a little science fiction and historical fiction every now and then. When she's not furiously typing away on her laptop, she's spending time with her precious family, reading, exercising, enjoying the great outdoors, eating tasty food, and drinking delicious wine.

Book preview

Vines

Copyright © 2017 by Katherine Glick

All rights reserved

Prologue

If you had a return ticket to your past, would you go back and change anything in your life? For me, it’s both yes and no. Yes, I would go back and tell my younger self don’t drink too much tequila at the bar because you’ll feel like you’ve been run over by a semi the next morning and completely bomb a major exam because of a painful hangover. And yes, I would tell myself don’t date that one guy who is so damn clingy it will take you two years to get him to leave you alone. Those things I could have gone without – wouldn’t have missed them one bit.

But then there’s the no side. No, I wouldn’t go back and tell myself not to wear flip-flops while walking to class in the rain, which caused me to slip and bust my butt (and break my tailbone) only to be saved by my now best friend, Simon.

And no, I wouldn’t tell myself not to fall for the charms of my now ex-husband, Andrew, who threw me for a loop, broke my heart, and transformed my life forever. No, I wouldn't change that part of my life no matter how bad it hurt. Because if it had never happened, then I wouldn’t be where I am today – happy, carefree, and completely in love with my life.

* * * * *

I parked my car in front of a Charleston-style, single house, and shut off the engine. Studying the structure for what seemed like the millionth time, I shook my head, and once again, wondered why the original owners went with a salmon-colored stucco. And for the millionth time, I’d tell myself that paired with the black shutters and black front door, it wasn’t too much of an eyesore. Nevertheless, it was a place to rest my head, and thankfully the rent wasn’t beyond my meager budget.

Several years ago, the home had been converted into two, single-bedroom apartments, and I was fortunate to know the current owner, who was also one of my favorite professors at The College of Charleston. He cut me some slack on the rent because he was aware that I was a struggling student and a writer at that.

Emerging from my old clunker of a car, I was immediately suffocated by the South Carolina heat. After gathering my things, I lazily made my way up to the top floor of the house. Luckily, there was an outside staircase that led to my apartment, so I didn’t have to disturb the downstairs tenant, which also proved to be beneficial for those nights I came home tipsy from the bar.

Once inside, I collapsed on the couch. The August heat was unbearable that day, and I’d been walking from building to building to attend my classes. I’d sweated so much that my skin tasted like a salt block, but I couldn’t muster the energy to take a shower.

It was dark inside the apartment. All the shutters were closed to keep out the hot afternoon sun. The ceiling fans were on high as they vigorously worked to circulate the muggy air around me. I had A.C., but it just couldn’t compete with the hundred-degree weather outside. I should have thought about the fact that heat rises, and in hindsight, I wouldn't have chosen the top floor to live on. But the view was beautiful, so I didn’t think twice about it years ago. And in the fall, I could open the shutters and windows and enjoy the cool cross breeze that drifted throughout the home.

Resting on the couch, I was about to slip into a much-needed nap when my phone rang. I let out a frustrated groan. I knew it was Simon calling without even looking at the caller id. I slowly reached for the phone caring less if the voicemail happened to pick up. Not answering at all crossed my mind, but if it were Simon, he’d keep calling me until I picked up.

Hello, I drawled.

What’s up gorgeous? Are you coming out with me tonight, or are you gonna be lame and stay home and knit?

I don’t knit, Simon. And no, I’m not going out tonight. I’m tired. Plus, I don’t understand why college students feel the need to celebrate classes starting up again. Makes no sense to me.

Ana, you know why. You did it yourself no too long ago, you old lady. All the new horny students have to sniff out their prey. College students have to mate and what better way to do that than to go to a bar, get drunk, and have a one-night stand. It makes perfect sense to me.

I scoffed. Simon, you’re a man whore and have commitment issues. I don’t expect you to understand the side effects of binge drinking and one-night stands. Anyway, I need to work on my novel and complete an article for the newspaper. Plus, I have a book I want to finish reading. Oh, and I need to get some sleep. Yep, I’m looking forward to an enjoyable evening at home by myself.

Come on, Ana, he whined. I need you to come out with me. Your expertise on gay men will help me find some fresh meat. Your ability to spot a gay man is impeccable. Plus, you know what kind of trouble I can get into by hitting on the wrong guy.

Ugh, Simon. Did it ever occur to you that I would like help in meeting a guy for once and not be your crutch? Jeez. Sometimes, I think you just use me to find sex and could care less about our friendship, I seethed.

Simon paused a moment. Ouch, woman. I didn’t know it was like that. What’s going on with you today? You ok?

I sighed as I thought about how to answer him. It wasn’t fair that I was taking my emotions out on Simon. The truth was, I was lonely. I’d only had a few relationships while in college, all of which lasted for a couple of months. I was ready to find a companion and one that actually wanted to have sex with me. Simon, was a great friend, and he was sexy as hell, but he had no interest in my vagina.

I’m sorry, Simon. I don’t mean to be a bitch. I’m just ready to find a decent guy and settle into a relationship.

It’s ok, babe. I understand. Just because I have a lot of one-nighters doesn’t mean I don’t want the same thing.

I took a deep breath and exhaled slowly. Maybe I needed to go out and try to find someone. I’d been a recluse lately, so I could only blame myself for not meeting a guy.

Alright, Simon. I’ll go out with you tonight, but I’m not getting too drunk, so don’t keep feeding me shots. Got it?

I heard Simon clap and cheer. Yes! That’s my girl. I promise I won’t make you drink anything you don’t want to. I’ll be at your place at seven tonight, and we can grab a bite to eat before we hit the bars. Love you, babe.

Love you too.

I ended the call and let out a long sigh. What was I getting myself into? Going out with Simon was never an easy feat. He partied hard, and I always got roped into his shenanigans. Oh well. What’s done was done. I peeled myself off the couch and headed for the shower. If I was going to find myself a suitable man, then I needed to put some effort into my appearance.

* * * * *

Simon and I ate at S.N.O.B for dinner that evening. For those of you not familiar with Charleston dining, S.N.O.B. aka Slightly North Of Broad. The food is delicious, but that’s about it.

Our venue was Simon’s pick. I wouldn’t have chosen such a congested, touristy restaurant, but Simon insisted. He and I are both from podunk towns and usually preferred the laid back, down-home-type places. We immediately bonded when we first met because of this. The thing is, Simon and I didn’t really fit in with the Charleston crowd. It wasn’t them, it was most definitely us. We just preferred to live by our rustic roots.

Our choice to go to school in the Palmetto City had more to do with the fact that we both had scholarships, not because we actually wanted to live there. Over the years, Simon and I learned how to deal with all the stuck up people and tourists, and quickly realized we were better off the way we were – homegrown and wild – instead of uptight and bothersome. Naturally, this led to Simon and me spending a lot of time together, just the two of us.

After our ridiculously expensive dinner (that I made Simon pay for), we hit our first watering hole. Against my earlier objection, I had downed five shots of Patron within thirty minutes, and I was feeling good. Eventually, Simon and I made it to one of our favorite locales – a rooftop bar in the heart of downtown. It offered a fantastic view of historic Charleston, and the cocktails were unique and satisfying. It seemed like we always ended up there when we went out.

We scouted the place and found a little table off to the side, near the back and settled in. I was up first to order drinks, so I headed for the bar. As I made my way, I noticed a group of loudmouth guys sitting at a table. And more than likely, they were all wasted.

Each one of them had on polo shirts, khakis, and Sperry’s – typical attire for the male crowd in the area. With just one glance, I could tell they were all mama’s boys and attached to daddy’s puppet strings. They looked as if they hadn’t worked a day in their lives, had a stupid amount of money for no reason, and drove expensive cars they didn’t drop a penny on. I rolled my eyes at the thought and looked the other way. I wasn’t interested.

But something, or someone, made me take a second glance as I passed by them. One of the guys was staring right at me with a smile that made me weak in the knees. His hair was dark, and his light eyes twinkled. He seemed amused by me. I tried to avoid his stare, but I couldn’t help the pull I felt towards him. He was so gorgeous he made the other men look like trolls. My skin tingled as I watched him watching me. I honestly couldn’t remember the last time I felt that way about a man.

The effect he had on me made me uneasy, especially because I knew his kind – only interested in one thing. He probably wanted to screw me and toss me aside because mommy and daddy wouldn't approve of my poor background. I decided not to give him another thought, so I tipped my chin up, headed straight for the bar, and didn’t look back.

As I waited for our drinks, I glanced to my right and noticed an older man who looked like he was three sheets to the wind. Unfortunately, we made eye contact, which was a mistake because as soon as he saw me looking, he moved closer.

Hey there, beautiful, he slurred, you here alone?

I rolled my eyes at him. Was this guy for real? He was old enough to be my dad, and he stunk of liquor. Somebody should have cut him off a long time ago.

Um, no. I’m not. I’m here with my boyfriend.

Even though he’s gay.

I turned away from the man, but he didn’t get the hint.

He huffed beside me. I bet your boyfriend isn’t as good as me in the sack. What do you say? Wanna come home with me tonight, little lady? I can rock your world, sweetheart.

I slammed my hand down on the bar. Are you serious right now? I’m not interested, dude, so take a hike.

He frowned at me, and his glassy eyes turned angry. You don’t have to be such a bitch, he spat.

My nostrils flared, and the redneck in me was about to come out. I was two seconds from decking him when I felt a presence on the left side of me. A muscular arm wrapped around my waist and immediately I felt goosebumps erupt on my skin.

A warm breath of air ghosted the side of my cheek and caused me to shiver. Is this guy bothering you, darling?

I turned to the source of the deep sexy voice beside me and looked into the most gorgeous blue eyes I’d ever seen. Without skipping a beat, I responded, I'm all right, sweetie. I can handle this guy.

I gave the drunk man an eat shit and die stare. He slithered away, and thankfully, left me alone.

I turned to the hot guy beside me and narrowed my eyes. I didn’t need your help. I’m not some ‘damsel in distress.' You can go back to your friends now.

He laughed, and a minty scent invaded my nostrils. I fixated on his beautiful mouth and realized I was staring. I met his eyes, and he gave me a wink.

I have no doubt you can take care of yourself. I just saw an opportunity to be near you, so I took it. He extended his hand towards me. Andrew Lancaster. Pleased to meet your acquaintance.

I smirked at his proper greeting and reluctantly took his hand. But instead of shaking it, he brought my hand to his mouth and kissed it. The feel of his smooth lips made my skin tingle.

I’m Anabelle Grand. I go by Ana. Nice to meet you, Andrew.

He beamed at me, and I swear I heard angels sing. You have such a natural beauty, Ana. I couldn’t help but notice you when you passed by my table. You’re not like the other girls around here.

I blushed at his comment. He was right. I wasn’t like the other girls he was probably used to. My honey blonde hair fell below my shoulders in messy waves. It was always wild and uncontrollable in the humid air. And my idea of makeup was tinted moisturizer, a hint of blush, and a few swipes of mascara. My t-shirt and jeans finished off my blasé attitude.

I grinned at him. Thank you, I think. Well, Andrew, you appear to be like all the other guys around here. But you are more handsome, I’ll give you that.

He smiled. Thank you, I think.

Just then, one of his obnoxious buddies yelled across the room at us. Looks like you found a nice piece of ass. You gonna tap that, Lancaster?

Andrew looked at his friend, then at me. He laughed nervously and shrugged his shoulders.

I raised my eyebrow at him. Why do you surround yourself with people like that?

He thought for a minute. I honestly have no idea, Miss Anabelle.

It’s Ana. Only my mother calls me Anabelle.

He chuckled and gave me one of his gorgeous smiles. "Ok, Ana. Do you want to get out of here? Maybe find a quiet place to talk?"

He had such a hopeful look on his face when he asked me that, and for some reason, I didn’t want to let him down. I chewed on my lip as I thought. I usually didn’t put myself in questionable situations with people I didn’t know. However, I felt like I could trust Andrew. Maybe stepping outside of my comfort zone was exactly what I needed. And maybe he was just the guy I’d been looking for.

I guess that would be ok. I need to tell my friend I’m leaving and give him your name, address, social security number, and driver’s license number in case you kidnap me. I gave him a playful wink. Follow me.

He laughed at my joke as I led the way back to my table. I introduced him to Simon, and they seemed to like each other. The three of us chatted for a while and then I said my goodbyes to Simon and left the bar with Andrew.

The night air had cooled making it pleasant outside. We walked down to the Battery, stretched out in the freshly cut grass, and watched the ships go by. We talked about anything and everything that night, and I realized then, after only just meeting him, that I could easily fall in love with him. He had such an easygoing personality and was so charming it was borderline obnoxious. I was surprisingly comfortable in his presence, which was unlike me.

We talked about our families. His father was in investment banking, and his mother a typical housewife. I told him that I was a senior at The College of Charleston and majoring in English. He was working for his father and planned to follow in his footsteps to become an investment banker himself.

Out of all our similarities and obvious attraction to one another, I could only think of one small detail that may have proven itself problematic in forming a relationship with him, and that was our age difference. He was twenty-nine, and I was twenty-two. But despite his seniority to my junior status, we grew very fond of each other that night.

After talking into the early morning hours, I decided to go home with him. We made love several times that night, and I knew it was the start of something amazing. And from that moment on, we were inseparable.

Eventually, we met each other’s families, and it wasn’t lost on us that both parties didn’t really approve of our relationship. I wasn’t the type of girl his family expected him to date, and my mother thought he was out of my league.

But none of that mattered to us because we were crazy in love. Andrew had such a free spirit despite his upbringing, and it matched my wild heart perfectly. We traveled together, played together, moved in together. We did everything together. I couldn’t believe I’d finally met the man of my dreams.

The night of my graduation, Andrew had planned a special evening for us. We had a nice dinner, went back to the rooftop bar where we first met, and then found ourselves in the exact same spot along the Battery where we fell in love. We watched the ships chug along, made small talk about nothing in particular, and then Andrew pulled out a little felt black box.

He fixed his dreamy eyes on mine. Ana, I’m hopelessly in love with you, and I can’t imagine my life without you. I know this may be too soon, and I know you’re still young, but no one makes me happier in this world than you. You have such a beautiful soul, and you bring out the best in me.

He paused and took a deep breath. He opened the box, and inside was a perfect sparkling diamond ring waiting patiently for its new home on my finger. Ana, can you accept me into your heart forever, darling? He reached up and cupped my cheek. Will you marry me?

I was stunned. I hadn’t expected a proposal when he told me he had a special evening planned for us. But never mind that, I was in love with him, and I felt the same way he did. I couldn’t imagine my life without him.

My eyes welled with tears as he spoke those beautiful words to me. The look on his face was a mix of hope and fear. I grinned at him and kissed his lips. Yes, Andrew. I will marry you.

He instantly scooped me up into a warm, tight embrace. I couldn’t help but feel that we were perfect for each other and that we would be together forever. The very next day, we informed our families of our plans, and of course, they protested. We threatened to elope if they didn’t accept our nuptials. My mother wouldn’t have cared, but Andrew’s parents wanted to spare the embarrassment of such a charade.

We got hitched about six months later. People wondered why we were in such a rush to get married. It was hard to explain, but the bond of marriage just seemed so natural – so right for us. It was the next logical step in our relationship.

I never believed in love at first sight until I met Andrew. I just knew the day I laid eyes on him that I could love him. I trusted him and gave my heart to him. And I was sure we had it all figured out.

But as we aged, our lives changed – our relationship changed. And our strong bond was tested. Still, I wouldn’t alter a thing during that time of my life. Because of Andrew, I wouldn’t be where I am today. And I can honestly say that I’m grateful that bastard threw a wrench in my life’s path. Because now, I’m happy, I’m fulfilled, and I’m me.

Chapter 1

Ana

Seven years later…

My plane touched down at the Charleston International Airport at about two-thirty in the afternoon. I looked out through the small window and thanked God that I’d arrived home safely. No matter how many times I’d traveled in the air, I still couldn’t get past my nervousness while doing so. As the plane reached the gate, I released my grip on the armrests and stretched my fingers to get my blood flowing again. The flight was beyond rough, and I vowed to never fly again. First thing I’d planned to do when I got off that plane was kiss the ground beneath my feet.

As I exited the aircraft, the heat hit me like a ton of bricks. It was only April and already hot as hell in Charleston. I immediately missed the agreeable weather in upstate New York. I’d traveled there for a few days to do some research for an article I was writing. It was such a relaxing and enjoyable trip I didn’t want to leave. But unfortunately, I had to return to reality.

I scooped up my luggage and arranged for an Uber to pick me up and take me home. I’d texted Andrew before I boarded the plane in New York to let him know I would be home early, but I never got a response from him. Didn’t surprise me, though. More often than not, he wouldn’t respond to my messages – he always claimed he was busy. Over the years our relationship had become strained, and we grew distant. I was always traveling, and he was always working. We hardly saw each other, and when we did, we didn’t have much to talk about.

I met the Uber driver outside the airport, put my luggage in the truck, and hopped in the car. 5203 East Bay Street, please.

You got it, the driver responded.

I was in a daze as we drove down the streets of Charleston. For twelve years that place had been my home, yet I felt like I was in a foreign place. But I suppose I never really felt like I fit in there.

After Andrew and I had married, we moved into a house together overlooking the water. Everything was perfect at the beginning of our marriage – we’d proved everyone who thought we wouldn’t last wrong. I was happy writing novels and freelancing, and he was happy working for his father. At the end of the day, we’d return home to each other, eat a meal together, and then make love all night long.

But four years into our marriage Andrew’s father passed away, and Andrew took over the company. It was tough at first for all of us. Andrew’s father had just died, and there was a thriving business that needed to be run. He got thrown into a position he wasn’t prepared to handle. And sadly, he never had the chance to grieve properly.

No matter how many times he’d deny it, Andrew changed as a result of his new found responsibility. And that’s when our marriage started going downhill. He wasn’t the same man I met at the rooftop bar and fell in love with while stretched out in the cool grass along the Battery years before.

Finally, the Uber reached my house. I hesitated before getting out because I wasn’t ready to step back into my role as a Charleston wife. The thought depressed me. I should’ve been excited to be home and eager to see my husband. But I just couldn’t muster the happy thoughts. At least I’d have a few hours before Andrew got home to sort my feelings.

I got out of the car and stared at the structure in front of me. Andrew had to have an expensive place to live. He couldn’t stand the idea of owning a house that didn’t live up to daddy’s standards – or anyone else's for that matter.

It was gorgeous, though. The Georgian-style, brick home proudly stood in front of me. The lawn was neat, and the white ornamental stucco gleamed in the sunlight. Part of me missed the salmon-colored building I used to inhabit. At least it had personality.

I walked towards the driveway and spotted Andrew’s car. Huh. Wonder why he’s home, I said to myself.

I didn’t think too much about it. Maybe he was feeling sick, or he just called it a day earlier than usual. Oh well, I’d find out soon enough. And I would also see why he didn’t respond to my text message about me coming home early, which resulted in me having to take an Uber home.

I entered the house through the side door. The kitchen was clean, and I detected a hint of bleach in the air. Daisy, our maid, must have just cleaned. At least I could be thankful for that. I hauled my luggage towards the foyer and began to ascend the steps to my bedroom. I had a room to myself so I could relax without being bothered.

After Andrew had become consumed by work, I decided I would occupy a separate room so he could get the sleep he needed. As a writer, I kept late hours, and he’d complain that I was keeping him up at night. It used to piss him off to hear the tapping of the keys on my laptop while lying in bed. He could be quite rude about it. So to avoid arguments, I decided to sleep in a different room.

I took the first three steps on the stairs and stopped in my tracks. I heard voices coming from upstairs. I couldn’t decipher the sounds, so I kept moving up, but slower this time. As I got closer to the top, I heard a man and a woman both groaning and moaning. Immediately, I assumed Andrew was watching porn. At least that’s what it sounded like to me.

A wild idea caught me, and I thought I’d surprise him by interrupting his masturbating. Maybe he and I could try to rekindle our sex life, which had been non-existent for the past year.

It was just as much my fault as it was his that we weren’t intimate anymore. I had hope for us, though, and maybe this was what we needed. Our sex used to be so intense and passionate, and I missed those days, believe it or not.

I reached the top landing and stood outside his bedroom door. I was amazed that the sounds seemed so real as if there were actually people inside making the noises. Now, I’ll tell you this. The thought did occur to me that maybe Andrew had another woman in his bedroom, but I was sure he’d never do that to me. Even though he’d failed me in other aspects of our relationship, the one thing I was certain of was that he was faithful to me – no matter what.

I reached for the door handle and took a deep breath. I needed to work on my seductiveness if I was going to pull this off. I shouldn’t be uncomfortable around him, but it’d been so long since we’d been with each other physically. I quickly fluffed my hair, unbuttoned the top of my blouse, and entered his room.

I was rendered speechless by the horrid sight in front of me. There, on his bed, was Andrew and a very naked Daisy. He was pounding into her, and all I could focus on was the slapping sound of their bodies as he made contact with her behind. My skin prickled, and I felt like the walls of the room were closing in on me as I witnessed such a shocking scene.

My face grew hot, and my palms began to sweat. A salty taste invaded my mouth, and I just knew I was about to vomit. Daisy’s annoying screams made me want to rip her fucking hair out. And the sounds that escaped Andrew’s mouth were all too familiar to me.

I grew angry – I was so mad I was seeing red. I picked up the closest object to me, which happened to be a frame with a picture of Andrew and me in it, and I threw it at them. Unfortunately, I missed, and it hit the wall beside the bed.

What the hell, Andrew!

In record speed, the two of them flew apart. They scrambled for their clothes and managed to cover up, thank God. A look of horror formed on Andrew’s face as he realized what was happening. Daisy hid in the corner, and when I gave her a look of pure evil, she ran to the bathroom.

Ana! I thought you weren’t coming home until later tonight, he said breathlessly.

You’re kidding me, right? That’s your response to what is happening right now? I caught you fucking our maid, and that’s what you say to me? Fuck you, Andrew!

Ana, listen baby.

Don’t you dare call me baby. You no longer have that right, I spat.

He swallowed hard. Ana, you weren’t supposed to see that. I’m sorry you had to see that.

I scoffed. Really? I wasn’t supposed to see that? So you were going to keep screwing that whore behind my back, while I was none the wiser?

Andrew’s face fell, and he looked devastated. No. Yes. I don’t know, Ana. I’m so sorry.

Andrew reached out to me, and I flinched away from him. His chest heaved, and sweat had formed on his brow. The sight of him disgusted me.

Don’t touch me, you sick bastard.

Andrew closed his eyes and sighed. Ana, I’m sorry. I don’t know what to say.

The tears in my eyes were planning their escape. How did I miss that he was cheating on me? I felt so stupid for thinking he would be faithful to me. I mean, no matter how many times I had the opportunity to cheat, I never did because I was a married woman. It was against my morals. Apparently, he had none.

How could you, Andrew? I whispered. I would have never thought in a million years that you would do this to me.

He lowered his head in defeat. I could tell he felt terrible for what he’d done, but I didn’t give a shit. He was useless to me now.

I kept picturing the two of them together, and each time it felt like a knife driving into my back. I needed to get away