Unveiled: The Survivor's Triumph

The recovery period lasted two months, and I felt really down the whole time. Bella was the only one who checked in on me; no one else seemed to care.

The marriage left me so scarred that just thinking about it made me sick.

Arthur called a few times, but I hung up on him. Seeing his name alone made me nauseous.

I didn't want to relive what he did to me. It was like ripping my heart out over and over.

Since he couldn't reach me, Arthur showed up at my place. When I saw him, I tried to shut the door, but he held it open. "Emily, dragging out this divorce isn't helping either of us. Be reasonable."

He was wrong. He was the one in a rush, especially with Vivian pregnant.

The more desperate he got, the less I cared. Making him squirm gave me some satisfaction. "Arthur, your thing with Vivian is your problem. Don't expect me to sign the divorce papers. When her belly shows, let's see who people blame." I slammed the door in his face. He kept knocking and calling my name, but I ignored him.

Later, I told Bella about Arthur's visit, and she praised me. "Emmy, don't give in. You're not in a rush to get married. Live your life and piss him off. Let that bitch Vivian worry about her wedding dress. If she has the baby without getting married, let's see who gets blamed."

Bella made sense. I needed to toughen up. Arthur and Vivian walked all over me because I was weak. For revenge or just to stop being a doormat, I had to change.

A few days before Valentine's Day, Bella came over with new clothes, insisting we go out.

I didn't want to, but I couldn't say no. As I was changing, I heard a knock and Bella's angry voice. "Arthur, you dare show up? Want a punch?"

Then I heard a punch land. I hurried out to see Arthur bent over, motionless.

Bella, who knew Taekwondo, had clearly hit him hard. "Arthur, that punch was for Emmy. My fists are for scumbags."

Arthur straightened up, wiped the blood from his mouth, and looked at me. "Emily, it's been long enough. Isn't it time to consider the divorce?"

Talking about divorce on Valentine's Day-what great timing.

"Get lost," Bella snapped.

She pulled me out, shoving Arthur aside. She loudly said, "Emmy, we're going out to have fun. Let's find some hot guys and go wild. Arthur can't control you now."

I couldn't do that, but Bella's words fired me up. Seeing Arthur's gloomy face as we left felt like a win.

Bella took me to get my hair done. When it was finished, I saw my medium-length hair dyed red with wavy curls. It looked stylish.

Bella admired it in the mirror. "I knew it. When you dress up, you're stunning. Tonight, you'll turn heads."

We went to Blue Ocean Bar. I wasn't used to the loud music and flashing lights.

Bella led me through the dancing crowd, with some people whistling at us.

"Emmy, loosen up," Bella encouraged. "Treat Arthur the way he treated you. Do whatever you want. If you see a guy you like, just kiss him."

I walked awkwardly, my eyes darting around, until I froze. In a VIP booth not far away, there were three men and two women, and one of them was Ethan.