Always Been You

~Lola’s POV~

“Are you bipolar?” I blurt out. He did not answer my question; instead, he continued driving. One moment, he’s extremely kind to me, and the next, he acts like the devil. It’s confusing because I don’t really know what he wants, and if he still wants an explanation from me, he won’t be getting one. I’m done explaining myself to people who see my explanation as an excuse. “You are being nice and acting like a devil at the same time,” I spoke up.

“And you should be thankful because I’m still gracious.” He will never stop making me feel as though I owe him something or as though I must first inquire with him whether it is safe for me to take a breath. It’s as though I am at his mercy. His gaze was fixed on the road; I didn’t even notice that he had arrived at the house or that the car had stopped moving.

“We’re here.” He made the announcement while displaying absolutely no expression. I tried to open the door for myself, but he stopped me and went to the passenger’s side to open the door for me.

At least some things haven’t changed.

I am only taking this much because of my kids. He led the way and rang the doorbell. An old woman opened the door to welcome us.

“Look at you, dashing as ever.” Dante smiled and gave the woman a hug.

“Um, this is Lola, my… wife.” He said as he motioned his hands my way.

“Oh, hi. My name is Grace. Elvis’s mother.” She embraced me, then turned to Dante and said, “You sure know how to pick the good ones.” He smiled once more, this time with genuine warmth.

Elvis’s mom was nice. We talked for about an hour and a half before she introduced me to Elvis’s wife, Cassie, who, like Elvis’s mother, was a pleasant person to be around. I stayed with her for a little over an hour.

“Let’s get you inside the main party,” Cassie uttered those reassuring words while maintaining a cheery expression on her face.

We walked inside, and as we walked, I was thinking about what could go wrong today. What if this is all Dante’s game? “Hi Caroline, this is Lola, Dante’s wife.” The lady was beaming, but as soon as the name “Dante’s wife” was mentioned, her smile faded and she withdrew her hand, as she wanted to extend it for a handshake. This is beginning to feel like a trap.

“Um, Caroline’s all that,” Cassie said, as a way to make me feel better. I pursed my lips and slightly nodded my head, trying to understand and also find a way out of this trap.

Why did I fucking think that Dante would have a change of heart? The sudden change in behavior was a sign, and I fucking let my guard down.

“So you are the woman who is stuck with Dante?” The Caroline girl finally spoke.

“Caroline, stop it!” Cassie forewarned.

“Yes, I am the woman stuck with Dante.” Caroline gave me a friendly smile.

“I like your courage, though.” She said as she sipped her wine, “But I’m curious. How does it feel to stay with a dead, gorgeous man who can’t even touch you and who has never seen you as a woman but as a friend? I’m curious about how it makes you feel. You’ve always wanted more, haven’t you?” That was a slap in the face. Who is this girl, and how did she know all these things she’s saying? I was just about to speak when someone interrupted me.

“Oh, Caroline, there you are.” a voice I can recognize anywhere. “Oh, I see you’ve met Lola, my ex-friend. The woman who ruined my life is getting what she deserves, and I’m glad she’s getting it. I mean, you are with Dante now, and Lola is just his wife for namesakes. And you, Caroline, have his body to play with. As usual, Lola, Dante would never choose you. You are only a friend and a burden. Having three children with him doesn’t mean you get to keep him. Look at you, even with the kids, you still can’t keep him.” I’m not sure whether I should cry or run. Why did Dante bring me here, knowing his girlfriend would be here? Was he bringing me here to hurt my feelings in this way? And Candice, wasn’t she supposed to have a restraining order?

“And who exactly is this?” Cassie asked.

“Oh Cassie, this is my friend. Oh, new friend Candice! We just happen to have a common goal.”

So I am the goal.

“I’m sorry, Caroline, but I don’t remember having Candice on my invite list.” Cassie made a remark.

“Oh, Candice came with her boyfriend; I didn’t invite her.”

“Who is her boyfriend?”

“Jiang Wang, the president of Wang Inc.,” Caroline said.

“I don’t fucking remember inviting a Wang.”

“Oh, honey, that’s true, but your cousin and my boyfriend are friends, so he wanted to see Jiang, and he asked us to come here. It’s a pity he’s not here yet.” Candice made a remark.

“Your boyfriend knows my cousin?” Cassie asked, and Candice nodded.

I have no idea who this Caroline girl is, but I am absolutely certain that Candice is manipulating both her and Mr. Wang in order to get what she wants, which is Dante. Dante is the man who is going to earn a great deal of my loathing from this point forward. I thought we were going to work together for the sake of the kids, but not anymore. I think I have taken too much. I am never going back; if he wants to keep the kids, he can keep them. When they grow up, they will ask for their mother. I am done.

I took a step back, and Caroline spoke before I walked away. “Oh Lola, are you running away again because you can’t handle the truth that you are an unwanted wife and that you will never warm his bed? Lola, you’re so pitiful! You’ll always be a friend who tricked him on your fake wedding night and got yourself pregnant.”

I’ve reached my breaking point; this is the maximum I can take. As I turned to leave, I accidentally bumped into someone and looked up to see a Chinese guy who wasn’t by himself. There were two other people with him. He was with…

Mason….