NAYA'S POV
"Oh my God…" Chloe covered her mouth with her hands.
I just stared at the screens with a newfound indignation that coarsed my insides against the Andersons.
I started to think about the possibility of going on a lone journey to get my revenge on the Andersons, when my phone chimed several times with text messages from Ivan and his mother inviting me on a scheduled urgent interview with the press, at the Anderson's conference hall the next morning.
"What is it? Who is those text messages from?" Chloe asked me as I handed my phone over to her.
She stared dimly at me before she took the phone from me and read through the messages.
"These bastards are truly evil!" She hissed in annoyance.
I just sat there on the bed and thought of how I'd make Ivan suffer in the most painful and agonizing way.
"How could they do this to you?" Chloe furrowed her brows in confusion in front of me, almost like she couldn't understand it.
"Tell me one more time, Chloe, that this is my chance to make them all suffer.." I mumbled under my breath as I watched her press her lips into a thin line.
"I just need you to tell me.." I muttered as I bit my lip to stifle my emotions.
Chloe's eyes sparkled with obvious sadness for a moment before she shook her head up and down and sniffled.
"You are capable of making them pay for all they have done to you.. so yes, this is your chance to make them all suffer!" She said thickly as I scoffed at the sight of her confidence in me.
I nodded slightly at her and pulled the bedsheets off of me.
"Will you go to the press conference tomorrow?" She asked as I paused my movement to look at her.
"I should." I said simply.
"What if they try to complicate things even more, will you be able to handle that?" She decided to ask just to make sure that I'd be okay with anything that is bound to happen.
I shook my head. "Yes, I will. I just need your help with something important."
She furrowed her brows at me. "What is it you need help with?"
"My hair.. I need to cut it." I blurted.
And that was because I believed that I could subscribe to a new beginning by first cutting my hair.
"What?" She was surprised at my request.
"Yes, Chloe. I crave for a new look, I need to start over and hopefully, I don't ever have to go back to the old me ever again." I said as I tried to make it convincing enough to my ears.
She squinted her eyes at me. "Are you sure?"
I nodded slightly. "I figured that if I want to get back at the Andersons, I must first get rid of the old me by cutting my hair and not subscribe to her weakness ever again."
Chloe looked at me like I'd grown two heads. "Are you really sure about that?"
I nodded again. "Yes, now let's go home. I'm really hungry." I said as I forced a small smile at her.
Then I tore the hospital sheets and used the torn material to cover my face, so that I could successfully avoid the prying eyes of the press.
Chloe nodded at me before we both walked out of the ward and eventually, out of the hospital.
As we both stepped out of the hospital doors, the bright sunlight was a jarring contrast to the sterile, fluorescent-lit rooms that I'd been confined to for several hours.
I squinted and raised my hand to shield my eyes and felt a wave of dizziness wash over me. Chloe, walked beside me and quickly grasped my elbow to steady me.
"Easy, Naya." Chloe said, her voice was soft with concern. "You're sore and still recovering. Let's take it slow."
I nodded slightly, taking a deep breath as we made our way to Chloe's car. The fresh air and warm sunshine on my skin felt wonderful, but my body still ached from the ordeal. Then I instantly felt grateful Chloe's support, both physical and emotional.
I thought about my resolve for a transformation as we drove through the quiet streets.
All I'd ever wanted was a quiet life before and after I was arranged to marry Ivan Anderson. But the memory of the past five months has been everything but quiet. A very sharp contrast to my desires.
I felt Chloe's eyes on me as I glanced at her. She pulled up a small smile and reached out to give my hand a reassuring squeeze. "We'll figure it all out, Naya." She said. "One step at a time, you'll get through it."
I smiled weakly and couldn't help but feel a sense of gratitude towards her.
When we finally pulled up to Chloe's apartment, she guided me inside and without further hesitation, she help me do a total makeover to my appearance starting with my hair.
I barely slept a wink that night, I stayed up thinking about the possible turn out of the press conference and what the Andersons had up their sleeves.
The scheduled time approached and Chloe stepped into my room to help me prepare for it.
I glanced at myself in the mirror for a final once-over at my reflection. My short neatly stretched hair and my body hug clothing was obviously a sharp contrast to the timid appearance of the old Naya Simpson.
How quick the process of change felt, and how sweet the thrill that sat at the pit of my stomach.
"Are you ready?" Chloe asked me as I looked at her through the mirror.
I nodded slightly. "I am."
"You look different and beautiful, I bet Ivan squirm at the sight of you today.." She smiled with satisfaction evident on her face.
"I don't care what he thinks." I said as I tucked my hair behind my ears.
"Right." She said. "I'll be your humble driver today."
I snapped my head back to look at her. "You'd do that?"
She smiled and nodded at me. "Of course, I would."
I quickly pulled her in for a quick embrace. "Thank you."
When I let her go, she smoothed out my hair. "Remember, no crying or feeling sorry for yourself. Today is meant for you to shine, and you will." She said softly as I pulled up a small smile at her.
"Now, let's go." Chloe said as we both got out of the house and drove off to the venue.
Before we got out of the car, a sea of paparazzi swamped the entrance and I didn't let myself feel bothered by it. Chloe just gave my hand a final squeeze.
"You want me to go in with you?" She asked gently.
I smiled at her. "No, I got this. Just be quick enough to pull up the car in case there's an explosion."
We both giggled at my words, before she nodded slightly at me. "Now, I'm convinced you got this."
"Yes, I got this." I said again and took a deep breath before getting out of the car.
I saw Chloe from the corner of my eyes reverse to park the car properly.
I straightened my back and walked confidently towards the entrance with my purse and my phone.
The few people that saw me didn't even recognize me but when I got closer and when the bodyguards furrowed their brows at me in recognition, they quickly came up to me to guide me through the paparazzi and inside the building.
That was when they all recognized me and almost clustered the entrance with their many insignificant questions flying in the air.
When I successfully got inside, all the bodyguards except one followed me further inside as I clutched my purse wearing a no game look.
When we began to walk through the final hallway that led to the conference room, Ivan, my ex-husband appeared in the hallway and began walking towards my direction.
I swallowed the lump in my throat and clutched my purse tighter.
I saw him furrow his brows at me and stopped in front of me. The bodyguard bowed slightly to him in regard and quickly disappeared behind me.
"Naya?" He spoke in confusion and began to narrow his eyes up and down my body.
He ran his hand through his hair and scoffed at the sight of my body, as if he was trying so hard not to grab me.
Something about the distorted look on his face made me feel more comfortable and confident.
"Hello, ex-husband." I greet him as he grunted.
"Don't you dare call me that!" He hissed low.
"Why, you wanted to get a divorce so badly and now you suddenly don't like the face of reality?" I said and tilted my head to peek at his face.
He furrowed his eyes and quickly looked around for anyone who might be watching. He grabbed my arms and pushed me up against the wall as he took in my cologne.
"Damn!" He brought his eyes to look at me but I still had a no game look on.
So I decided to taunt him. "Do I affect you that much? You look beat."
"Shut the fuck up!" He growled under his breath.
I resisted the urge to smile satisfactorily.
When a few people popped out into the hallway, he quickly let go of my arms and looked like he was going to explode with impatience.
I leaned further towards him and reached to arrange his tie. The people that walked past commented on how I was still a sweet wife to Ivan regardless of the situation. I couldn't help but smile at that.
"Now, ex-husband, make sure you behave in there. We don't want any anomaly now, do we?" I said slowly as he cursed under his breath.
I took that as my cue to walk away from him and into the conference room.
Immediately I stepped inside, the batch of paparazzi inside rushed to me and blarred questions at me.
I felt Ivan behind me and subscribed to not care about his existence.
I ignored all their random questions and pulled up a small smile.
"I'll probably get to answer all your questions at the commencement of the interview, and please, I urge you to interview me not as Ivan Anderson's wife but as his ex-wife." I stated confidently as they mummered amongst themselves and began to yet again throw up questions at my statement.
I ignored them and turned to look at Ivan whose clenched jaw and balled fists posed a satisfactory sight to me.
Maybe I was a fool being his wife but I'd definitely make him suffer as his ex-wife.