Chapter One.

It was her payday.

A day every working individual in the world always looked forward to, and Tessa Rashford wasn't an expectation.

Just like the other waitresses standing in a straight line, all were dressed in their usual knee-length polka dot gown, with fatigue written boldly on their faces.

Another hectic day of working in a fast food restaurant had come to an end, and unlike the previous where everyone was eager to return home, they were patient to receive their pay.

“And lastly, Tessa.” Mr. Carl, a lanky dark-skinned man with a hideous bowl cut called with an envelope dangling freely from his hand.

The blue-eyed unarguably pulchritudinous 24-year-old stepped forward then, doing a light bow, accepted the envelope from his hand.

Yet, she wasn't quick enough, since his loose grip on it made it fall to the floor.

“Go on — pick it up pretty.” That term used mostly to address attractive ladies as dumb was infuriating, but Tessa remained calm.

She didn't spare him a glance, instead picking it up and straightening herself, flashed Mr. Carl a thankful smile.

It vexed him immensely — every single worker of the restaurant distaste her.

The female mostly because of her charming personality, undeniably otherworldly beauty, and curvy body.

And the males considered her a bitch — one that stuck herself with a poor bastard known as Tony, her boyfriend.

Countless attempts have been made by multiple to get her attention, yet Tessa is madly in love with Tony.

“Everyone, get the fuck out of my restaurant!” Mr. Carl, clearly outraged by Tessa's calm reaction, snarled at his workers.

Soon, they exited the building, and stepping out of it to meet his absence, Tessa sighed.

“Where the hell is he?” She muttered, worried about Tony's absence.

Usually, he'd be here with his bike to pick her up, but lately, he didn't show up.

“Mind riding with me?” One of her co-workers, the cleaner, who surprisingly owned a bike, hollered at Tessa.

“I appreciate your concern but no,” Icily, she retorted and, despite how late it was, began her journey to the apartment she shared with her boyfriend.

“Such a stupid girl!”

She heard them insult her yet wasn't going to glance at him or talk more or less of responding to their words.

Tessa was more than ready to get immersed in a limitless ocean of insults for Tony's sake.

“Perhaps something's wrong.” She halted then tried his mobile number for the umpteenth time, and heartbreakingly, he didn't pick up.

“What if something's happened to him? Maybe I should take a cab."

Tessa, now standing by the sidewalk of the busy streets thought, but as her blue eyes caught sight of a charming jacket, reconsidered.

“That'd fit Tony perfectly!”

★

Fortune seemingly wasn't by her side that night, since it unexpectedly began raining.

Due to the fact her recently gotten salary was spent entirely on getting a new jacket for her boyfriend, Tessa had to walk in the rain.

Being someone with a weak body constitution, it didn't take long before she began shivering like a drenched cat.

Yet, a smile was playing on her lips — everything was worth every discomfort for Tony.

Ultimately, and after trekking for almost an hour, arrived at the front door of the apartment shared with him.

The rain got her oblivious to the stares the neighbors in their houses flashed at her — it was that of pity.

“T-Tony?” Tessa, shivering feverishly, uttered loudly while walking further into the crapped living room with numerous water droplets drenching where she walked past.

“Tony?” Again, Tessa called, and she went to drop the jacket on the couch — it was fucking expensive and thankfully was packaged in a leather bag so wasn't soaked by the rain.

However, the couch had numerous envelopes sitting on it. With a shaking hand, picked them and, roaming her eyes sharply through the content, let out a sigh.

They were bills — unsettled ones, and Tessa was to make the payment. She was the sole one taking care of each of the expenses spent by both her and Tony.

“Shit…” Tessa was about to toss them when her eyes caught sight of…

“An invitation?” Apprehensively she reached for it and took the seal off, curiously reading through the content.

“A cordial invitation to the matrimonial union of… Tony Williams…and … Mary Grey. Wh-wh-what..?”

Tessa's body shook more vigorously, and it wasn't due to the coldness of her clothes but utter shock.

What the fuck was she looking at? What is this?

A wedding invitation? — why in hell's name was Tony's name inscribed on it!?

The questions running through her head were countless, and surely were getting her system fucked up.

Tessa remained rooted to a spot, shaking like a leaf in the middle of a storm when footsteps were heard.

“Oh, the bimbo's back!”

That voice belonged to only Tony and, lifting her head slowly to meet him and someone else.

A dark-haired lady, about her age but with an evident baby bump, and had her hand entangled with Tony's.

“T-T-T-Tony? What's… what's… what's this! What the fuck is this?” Tears rapidly gathered in her eyes as she ranted raucously at him.

“She truly is a bimbo — dumb and blonde!” Mary placed her head on his shoulder, then sneered mockingly at a very unstable Tessa.

“I know right?” Tony's once affection-filled eyes were now filled with scorn for her. His lips curved into a heartless smile.

“I've been accepted back into the Williams Family but with my soon-to-be wife.” He turned to Mary and his lips were unhesitatingly pecked by her.

“Huh…?”

She met Tony as a poor sad bastard — one who came from a wealthy family, but because of his perverted lifestyle, his parents temporarily disowned him.

Since then, she has been the breadwinner — the one providing for him.

Was this how she was going to get repaid? — in such a callous way! She wasn't deserving of this bullshit!

“I… I… clothed you! I fed you, Tony! I did everything for you — I've done every single damn thing for you, and you're leaving me! Yet you're getting married to someone else, Tony? Tony!” Tessa shook tearfully with every word escaping her lips, and he laughed out.

“And that's why you're a bimbo!” The cruel couple burst out into laughter, and Tessa's feet took steps backward.

“I…hate you.” She spoke in a whisper and the next instant dashed out of the apartment.

It seemed the rain despised her whenever she stepped into it, and its downpour turned heavier.

Strong chilly winds blew and, with her tears pouring out unceasingly despite her shut eyes, fell on her knees.

In the rain thoroughly soaked, she felt her heart shattering to uncountable pieces and her quivering lips released an utterly pained yell.

“Why? … Why! Why!!”