Married to a retired play boy

oss her bed. Sunday had arrived, and with it, Vanessa's familiar routine. Sh

to the park etched in her muscle memory. As she pounded the pavement, the rhythm of h

her room into a haven of order. Clothes were folded and tucked away, books neatly sta

had accumulated like untended weeds during the busy workweek. One by one, they we

iends and family, a gentle smile playing on her lips as she liked ph

s Carolyn, no doubt. She is eager to catch up

Vanessa typed out a reply, their conv

and Prejudice." Curling up on the couch, she dived into the delusional world of

y the captivating world of the author and the promise of a relaxing Sunday after

notification pulsed on the screen, the sender's number an unknown string

itating message she'd ever received. She opted to ignore it, hoping it was some sort of wrong n

y doll?" the seco

ritation. "First, stop calling me baby doll,"

rying to hurt my feelings on purp

yourself or should I just block you," Van

hrough her. "Vanessa Caleb

on dawned on her – he must have gone through

acy," she texted back, her voice laced

. "Curiosity. Or confirmation

his violation, Vanessa cut to t

hould know I can't wait to see you." Another text follow

. A chance to confront him, to get her purse back. With a steely reso

e me, baby doll," Darryl's s

ned my peaceful afternoon, Darryl," s

doll," Darryl replied

rested in his messages. Her peaceful Sunday was shatt

ed closet. Tonight's date wasn't exactly a thrill in fact, it is making her ma

rack, making it a battle zone of textures and colors. Dresses of all shapes, colo

ingernails. Then, a flash of emerald green gown caught her eye. Relief washed over he

er best friend since their college days. A pang of warmth shot throu

amily, and also married into another wealthy family while she is from a humble background. Yet, their bond had transcended backgrounds, the proof of

ently splurged on peeked out from under a pile of boots, their metallic sheen a perfect match for t

the night held, she would face it head-on, looking like a million bucks, even if her dat