Love's New Bloom by Simone Hastings

Chapter 4 Threatened

At 3 am, Erin unlocked the door to her home and walked into the living room. She saw a pair of snakeskin heels that didn’t belong to her. Sure enough, Tracy was here. Erin took her shoes off and walked barefoot into the kitchen. Five minutes later, she silently pushed the bedroom door open and padded inside with a pail full of dirty water.

Seeing Ian and Tracy wrapped around each other with her own eyes made her feel like her heart was being ripped to shreds. Hatred filled her eyes as Erin lifted the pail and splashed the water all over them, making them instantly jolt awake.

Ian almost peed himself when he saw someone standing before him. After wiping the water from his face and getting a clear look at who it was, he roared, “Are you fucking nuts, Erin? What the hell did you pour on me?”

Beside him, Tracy immediately pretended to be afraid when she saw Erin. “Ian, I’m scared she’ll hit me…”

He turned to her and wiped her face with the sheets, saying consolingly, “Don’t worry. I won’t let her lay a hand on you!”

Erin couldn’t help sneering when she saw how Tracy remembered to keep Ian’s attention on her despite looking like something the cat had brought in. “I wouldn’t resort to physical violence—it’s just going to dirty my hands!”

Ian gave her a repulsed look. “I have nothing to say since you already know about this. Let’s get a divorce.”

heartless ingrate, and you stole my line. Make sure to split our assets equally!” After that, Erin turned

your greed addled your brains? Do you even remember who bought this house and the cars? I did! How dare you demand I give you

twisted so painfully that she could barely breathe. She looked up at him and

readily…He thought she’d kick up a fuss. Wasn’t she even going to shed a tear at the sight of him in bed with another woman? Ian wasn’t too pleased by this

took advantage of his distraction to shove him away and flee. Tracy, who had been eavesdropping on their conversation, was delighted by this turn

taxi, her face tear-streaked. Suddenly, she wanted nothing more than to get hopelessly drunk. She wore a shirt and

to the

…

Erin’s table. She plopped herself down in the chair and called out

to get me drunk, Holly? I’ve already had two beers…” Erin’s face was red.

some liquor makes you more lucid the more you drink it? I know exactly how you feel right now, so drink as much as

then, he’d blush whenever he talked to me…I was raised by a strict mother. As far back as I can remember, she’s told me time and time again that a woman’s chastity means the world

her food. She knew her best friend was in terrible pain, but she had nothing to make it better. Perhaps alcohol was the

were dating, yet he refused to lay a finger on me after we got married. He started spending more and

underlying meaning. “Wait, don’t tell me you and Ian have never

I’m saying.” Erin downed the rest

and yelled drunkenly, “Who the hell do you think you are, calling at such a godforsaken hour? Are you out of your mind?” Then, she

upright.

hopes that Ian would apologize to her or beg her for forgiveness…it seemed she was out of luck. She didn’t recognize the number, and the message read, “Come to our rendezvous

She was instantly shocked into sitting up straight. Whoever was texting her sent her another message. “I’ll spread this all