Tangled By Fate

Veronica wasn't expecting to meet that person in the alleyway. She wasn't even close to the bar.

Max looked surprised at first and then his face beamed.

"Well, well, well, isn't this my favorite customer!"

He rubbed his hands together and licked his lower lip. Acting like a proper boot licker, he stepped forward.

Zinnia became alert when she noticed someone recognized Veronica.

Veronica calmly smiled. "Isn't this Max? It's been a while."

"It is.. You have been gone for months. I was a bit sad." Max touched his chest. "I'm honored that you remember my name."

"Max sure knows how to jest."

Veronica shook her head helplessly. She could never get used to his way of talking.

"Not at all. I'm surprised to see you tonight. What brings you here?" Max's eyes landed on the red-haired woman beside Veronica.

Veronica knew she had to introduce Zinnia to him. "I've brought my friend to look around the area where I live. Why are you here?"

"I'm going to my bar. The friend of my customer is also my friend. How can I not invite such a beautiful lady to my bar?"

Max bowed toward Zinnia and introduced himself, "Mademoiselle, I'm Max, the owner of the most popular bar in the town. It would be a privilege to share my best drinks with my new friend as a celebration."

Veronica was surprised. "Celebration?"

She didn't know any festival was going on at this time of the year.

Max shamelessly replied, "Celebrating the meet of a pretty friend of course."

Zinnia came forward and said, "Max, when it comes to me, flattery will get you anywhere. Call me Zinnia. It's a pleasure to meet you."

"Well then Zinnia, would like to taste our first-class alcohol?" Max invited her with a charming smile.

Zinnia smirked. "Absolutely!"

"Please come this way." Max showed them the way.

Zinnia elbowed Veronica. "I didn't know you had a generous friend," she whispered.

"He isn't. Trust me," Veronica mumbled.

"What do you mean?"

"While you eat, I'll just work at his bar. This way, we won't owe him anything."

"True. There is nothing such as a free meal."

Later, Zinnia enjoyed the beer that Max served while Veronica worked as a waitress. 

She put down two mugs on the counter. Feeling a bit tired, she leaned against the counter and used her handkerchief to wipe her forehead.

"Tired already?" Max served two customers who were sitting in front of the counter.

"Too many customers today. This place is stuffy." She fanned her hand close to her face.

"You know, you can uncover your scarf. Covering your hair might be making you stuffy. Why don't you take it off?"

Max pointed his index finger at her head.

"I'm fine with my scarf."

Veronica quickly covered her head. She wrapped her head with a white scarf so that her silver hair was hidden. She didn't want to attract unwanted attention.

Max leaned backward and rubbed his chin.

"Surprisingly, when you were suddenly gone for the past few months, Arthur vanished as well. Did you guys go somewhere together?"

"Huh? Me with Arthur? Why do you think that?" Veronica tried to hold her composure.

"Well, when the last time I met you, he warned me not to approach you."

Max took a trip down to memory lane. At that time, Arthur's eyes were chilling cold. Max knew his warning was serious.

"But you still approached me tonight."

Max nodded. His face was delighted. "Yes, I did because he lost interest in you."

Veronica blinked. "I beg your pardon?" She thought she heard him wrong.

Max gave her a surprised look. "Did you not know? Maybe he grew tired of you. He is back at Morina's Palace. A leopard doesn't change its spot. He is the same as ever."

"What are you even saying?" Veronica's voice quivered.

She did not want to believe him. Such defamation without evidence against the man she loved with all her heart made her mad. Her expression said it all.

"Yo! Don't be mad. You don't trust me? Why don't I show you?" Max suggested.

At that moment, he was sure that Arthur and Veronica were together this past few months and now Arthur had no affection left for her. He threw her away just like he did to other women. He got bored easily of women.

"Do you want to take your friend?" Max glanced at Zinnia who was enjoying a glass of beer.

Veronica recalled at noon, when she was looking for Arthur, Zinnia hurriedly cooled down and changed the subject.

Her answer was swift. "No, we don't need to let her know about that."

"We can use the backdoor. Just tell her that you are going to work in the basement since the beer is running low."

"Okay…"

Just as planned, Veronica left with Max using the backdoor. Zinnia didn't even know.

They were both quiet. The two of them had two different thoughts and worries.

Max broke the silence first, "Your skin darkened quite a bit. Did you go to the countryside?"

"Ah… um… yes… for a while…"

Veronica was distracted. She couldn't reply properly. Her thoughts were swirling to the words he said back in the bar.

'This Max… how could he say anything bad about Arthur like that? I know Arthur. I know he genuinely loves me and cares for me. Although he never promised not to meet another woman, I don't even care.'

'I don't casually touch men or women while talking. This is how I was taught. It's our culture. Tybu's culture is too open. For Arthur touching and holding people must be a friendly gesture, nothing more than that.'

'This is why he must be being misunderstood by our people who are more conservative.'

She came to a conclusion and calmed down her heart.

She was afraid of nothing and she believed in her husband.

"We have arrived," Max announced as he stood in front of the gate of Morina's Palace.

Only then Veronica noticed that she had reached the destination. Her head was too occupied to notice where she was going.

"Let's go inside." Max held her shoulder and took her inside.

After he showed his membership, he was able to go upstairs.

In the upstairs, only VIP guests could enter. Those guests only went there to seek pleasure for their bodies and souls.

For a night, Veronica worked there. She knew people came here not only to sleep but also to pass time by watching dancing or listening to music or singing.

It also reminded her of the drunk guy's assault. It chilled her spine.

She saw some women were giggling and talking about something excitedly.

"I can't believe Arthur is here after such a long time."

"I knew he would come back. I missed him so much!"

"Me too. I can't wait to be the next!"

'What are they talking about?' Veronica was confused.

"We are here," Max whispered.

He lightly pulled her close to the room, waited for the women to leave, and the corridor to be empty. Then, he opened the door.

Through the slightly opened door, Veronica could hear coquettish laughter coming out.

She held her breath and peeked inside.

She shouldn't have seen what she just saw.

Her heart dropped as she watched the scene inside the room unfolding.