A Shot to the Heart

Nearing noon, I habitually checked the time. For five years, I delivered lunch to Owen's office without fail every day.

However, today was an exception.

Jessie, who had noticed the break in routine, quickly ordered food delivery for her boss. 30 minutes later, the food arrived.

"Mr. Mancini, please have lunch first." She placed the food on his table and left his office.

10 minutes later, Owen was done with work and grabbed his lunch. He frowned after taking a bite. He must have noticed the difference in taste.

He took a few bites and cast the lunchbox aside.

Later that day, his phone on the table buzzed.

I stole a glance and spotted a familiar name on the screen. Not looking away from his documents once, he answered the call.

"Owen, are you done with work?"

He lowered his gaze and smiled when he saw the name on the screen. "Soon."

"Let's have dinner tonight."

Staring at the documents on his table, he replied softly, "Sure."

He worked faster and finished reading the documents requiring his attention. After that, he left for the Hillington Hotel.

…

Upon spotting Owen's car from afar, Sonya Hamilton straightened her dress and smiled as she waited for him to get out.

"Hi, Owen."

He handed over his car keys to the valet and approached her.

"Have you waited for long?"

Sonya held his arm naturally and whispered, "No. I just arrived too."

Owen's arm stiffened upon contact, but he quickly relaxed. The pair walked into a restaurant on the third floor of the Hillington Hotel.

Acting gentlemanly, Owen pulled out the chair for Sonya before ordering a few of her favorite dishes.

The sight was ironic because he had never done all this for me. Every time I eagerly cooked for him and anticipated his feedback, he would reply coldly, "Marcie Sawyer, don't you ever feel ashamed of yourself? Just save the effort."

Seemingly in a good mood, Sonya had a smile on her face throughout dinner. Once the exquisite dishes were served, she dined with impeccable manners, occasionally placing some food on Owen's plate.

Owen looked up at her with concern. "Are you feeling better?"

Apparently, he was capable of expressing care to anyone except for me.

She gracefully cut the steak on her plate and replied softly, "I'm doing much better. It's just that I have gastric issues, but it's been there for a while. It won't flare up as long as I take my meals on time."

"If my memory serves me correctly, you didn't have gastric issues back in college."

Sonya paused for a moment. Smiling, she met his eyes and explained, "Well, it was all because you took great care of me."

His eyes flickered. "Does your man not take good care of you?"

Sonya set her fork and knife on the table with a serious face. "Marcie has taken you away from me for five years. And I forced myself to date another man for five years.

"But both of us know that love cannot be forced. We are deeply in love with each other. Had Marcie not forced her way in, we could have stayed together five years ago."

I thought to myself, "Yeah, right. It's all my fault, I guess. But I'm dead now, and you have my blessing."

Owen seemed to recall the terrible memories from five years ago because his face darkened. "I wronged you."

Sonya got up and walked over to him. Bending over, she circled her arms around his neck. "No, you have nothing to apologize for. It's Marcie and her dad who forced you into that relationship against your will. We had neither the power nor the status to fight them."

Her gaze traveled from his eyes all the way to his lips. Then, she slowly kissed him.

In a split second, he instinctively turned his face sideways to shun the kiss.

I mused, "Did he happen to remember my words?"

I had told him not to betray me after marriage and that he was not to hug or kiss anyone of the opposite sex other than me.

Shaking my head, I thought I was being delusional. Owen would never care what I had said to him.

Sonya's expression froze. She bit her lip before standing up straight in disappointment. "Sorry for crossing the line. For a moment, I forgot you're a married man."

"We got divorced," revealed Owen while habitually touching his ring finger on his left hand.

The wedding ring he had worn for five years was no longer there, leaving behind only the mark from years of wearing it.

Sonya feigned a shocked face. "Is that true? Did you get a divorce?"

Still, I briefly caught a glimpse of Sonya trying hard to suppress a smile.

Owen stood up and helped her back to her seat. He confirmed gently, "Yeah, we got a divorce."

She covered his hands with a bright smile. "That's awesome. Owen, you don't have to force yourself to stay by her side anymore!"

Holding his hand firmly, she decided, "This is great news. Let's celebrate."

Yet, Owen brushed it off nonchalantly. "Nah, it's not a big deal. There's no need to celebrate."

"Of course we need to!" She cooed, "I've been waiting for this day for five years. Just celebrate it for my sake!"

Owen saw the radiant smile on her face. Reluctant to let her down, he allowed her to do whatever she wished.

On the eighth floor of the Hillington Hotel was a luxury nightclub, frequented by infamous playboys of Alburton City in search of excitement and thrill.

After dinner, Sonya led Owen to the nightclub. My spirit tagged along as if it was out of my control. It wasn't my wish to watch their PDA.

When we arrived on the eighth floor, they ran into Owen's friends, who were having some drinks. Without hesitation, Sonya dragged Owen to the private lounge occupied by his friends.

Deafening music could be heard from the lounge. Sonya had almost pressed her entire body against Owen. She held his arm firmly as though proclaiming that he was her man.

Owen's friends goaded him to drink and wouldn't stop filling up his glass. In the end, he was too drunk to stand.

Heavy in the head, he squinted at his wristwatch and mumbled, "It's midnight. I have to go home. Marcie makes a fuss when I'm home late."