Chapter 3 Ridiculed

Flora walked down the main staircase with tears in her eyes, her ex-husband showed no regrets whatsoever for what he had done to his wife, Rosalyn by his side was smiling openly, as if she had finally gotten what she had always wanted - Flora's life. The woman just ignored them, gathered all her dignity and went outside the house, where she watched her for one last time and moved on, as part of the divorce, the car in which Flora had been a few minutes before, belonged completely to her ex-husband. Without direction, without a cell phone and eventually without anyone, Flora made her way to the central park where she used to go with her family - feeling that she was being followed, but it could all be a figment of her imagination, as well as everything she was going through at the moment, a nightmare she should wake up soon. Sitting down on the nearest bench, Flora left her suitcase beside her and stared up at the sky, thinking that it was all just a sick joke, she closed her eyes and blinked heavily, but when she opened them - she felt the shock of reality and realized that everything that had happened minutes before was true. A flashback went through her mind of everything she had lived through with her husband, all the promises and words of love he had said, all the plans and goals to be fulfilled, in the end it had never been real - in the end she had fallen in love all by herself, it had all been nothing but plans she had made for them. With not a penny in her pocket and nowhere to go, Flora quickly remembered Cibelle Warren, her best friend and private attorney. Both had met approximately nine years ago, while still in college, and even though they were not in the same area, this didn't stop their friendship. Her friend's mansion was thirty minutes away from the central park, the cloudy skies announced a rain soon, her feet already ached from the walk, she was still in disbelief at the direction her life and marriage had taken - but she had always been a strong woman and would turn things around, starting with her ex-spouse's company. Looking at the happy families gathered in the park, she wished for her own to get everything back to normal. She got up and walked to the exit, where she decided she would do her best, as she had always done. The sky had already lost its color, it had been about fifteen minutes since Flora had been walking towards Cibelle's house, the cold was present, making her hold her arm with one hand, as the other hand was pulling her bag. At every moment, Flora looked back with the intention of recognizing someone and asking for help to get to her friend's house, but without success, even though she felt watched at all times, she didn't let this haunt her. She was already thinking of borrowing a cell phone to make a call, since she had left hers at home, and possibly, at this point of the championship, it would be broken. To protect herself from the rain that dared to fall, the option the girl had found to get to the mansion faster was to cut her way, feeling the cold of the street, she missed her warm and comfortable mansion, which she had helped her husband work hard to conquer, but his efforts were in vain, in the end of everything, he had never deserved her. Entering a dark alley, Flora felt afraid and soon regretted that she had taken the shortest route, it turned out, the place she was following was known for gangsters and thieves. Flora held on tightly to her purse and as she passed by the place, she observed it all the time, arriving at the end of it, she felt a great relief, until she noticed a man, apparently drunk, coming towards her. The man looked about 5'8", if she had judged correctly, the man was about her size. With a pudgy body, she thought she would have no chance against the man, even though she had fought when younger. Trying to avoid eye contact as much as possible, Flora continued on her way, until she felt arms around his waist.

- Where do you think you're going, hottie? - asked the drunken man sniffing her neck, making her want to vomit immediately. - Let go of me you filth! Gathering all her strength and courage, Flora used the martial art techniques she learned around the age of fifteen from her high school boyfriend who trained her when he could and used them on the man, who took her blow and could do nothing against the girl. Without looking back, Flora grabbed her purse and started running as far away as she could, both to get there soon and to get rid of the rain and future threats from the man and whoever else saw her alone in the middle of the street, but the thing is, since she left her house, she was no longer alone.

Ryan approached her and observed the state of the man lying on the ground and gave a mischievous laugh, at no time did he approach the girl, he kept his distance protecting her as best he could, but he saw that she never needed to be saved, she was always strong and independent to act alone in difficulty, and that was a quality in which he admired in her, even after everything that happened between the two of them.

- What did you think you would do with that girl, hm? - he inquired to the man who was still down, only this time with his eyes wide open. - I'm sorry sir! - he stammered, recognizing Ryan. - You already know what to do with him. - he said to his subordinates, heading towards his car to continue what he had been doing since very early in the morning, but before he could get in, a shiny jewel caught his attention, revealing emerald earrings of exceptional design. - Be quick, and don't be seen. - he ordered. - Yes, sir! - said the men in unison.