She Got A Better Man

No daughter ever wanted to cut ties with her mother. If Rowena had been even a little kinder, a little less extreme, Elvira would have forgiven her. But Rowena crossed too many lines. Forgiveness was off the table.

Elvira thought that maybe she just wasn't meant to have a loving family. Her parents had always been selfish and detached. For years, Elvira had convinced herself that her father just didn't know how to love. But watching how he treated Judy made the truth painfully clear. He had love to give-just not to her or Marsh. The harsh reality was unavoidable. And somehow, she had to live with it.Original from NôvelDrama.Org.

Zach, watching his wife carefully, felt a pang of frustration. She was brilliant and capable. But he could tell when her mind wandered back to her parents. It always darkened her mood. Only they had the power to make her feel this way. He wrapped his arms around her, kissing her gently on the forehead. "You've got me. You've got us. Don't let them ruin your peace."

"I know it's not my fault, and I know they're the ones lacking compassion, but every time I think about it, it stings... it really does," Elvira said, feeling helpless. No matter how heartless her parents were, she couldn't help but feel that twinge of sadness every time they crossed her mind.

"You've done everything right. You've been kind, strong, and decisive. You've got nothing to feel guilty about." Zach admired how Elvira always tackled things head-on, with decisive action and no unnecessary delays. That quality, in particular, drew his respect. Elvira nodded, her resolve hardening. "When we have kids, I'm going to drown them in love. They'll grow up in a home filled with warmth and kindness, and they'll never feel the way I did."

"You love kids, and I love you." Zach wasn't sure he could give a child all his love-because his heart was already entirely Elvira's.

"You have to love them too. I want my child to grow up surrounded by love, so much love. Everyone in this house will love them," Elvira insisted. She had grown up in a world starved of affection and knew too well the emptiness it brought. She'd never let her child feel that void.

"Alright, whatever you say." Zach'd always give her whatever she needed.

After dinner, the couple took a leisurely walk, hand in hand. It had become their little ritual, a quiet escape from the world They relished the tranquility, the simplicity of being together.

Later, they showered together, enjoyed each other's company, and drifted off to sleep. Their life was simple, peaceful, and filled with quiet joy.

Meanwhile, things were far less serene for Cheryl and Morris.

Cheryl tried to convince herself everything was fine, but her body disagreed-food felt like lead, and sleep wás a distant dream. When she did manage to fall asleep, the nightmares always found her.

Tonight was no different. She woke up gasping, tears streaming down her face. In her dream, she had been back in that dark place, trapped by that man who wanted to control her. This time, she had fought back and paid the ultimate price.

Grabbing her phone, Cheryl thought of calling Elvira. But it was 2 a.m. She knew she couldn't disturb Cheryl, not now. Instead, she set the phone aside and got out of bed for something to drink.

Morris's situation was even worse than Cheryl's. The online harassment had hit him harder, and when Cheryl came out, she found him drinking, his mood darker than ever.

"You're still up?" Cheryl asked, settling onto the couch. "I thought you'd be asleep."

"Couldn't sleep. No point in lying there." During their time filming together, Morris and Cheryl had grown close. They had

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gotten to know each other's personalities well, and their conversations had become more comfortable, with fewer reservations. They had a camaraderie born from shared struggles. "I had a nightmare. I can't go back to those days, Morris. I'd rather die." Cheryl poured herself a drink.

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"I get it. But I don't have that choice. I've got someone depending on me." Morris knew too well that if he had gone down, Vivian wouldn't stand a chance. He had to live.

He had already planned a way out. If things didn't turn around soon, he'd take Vivian somewhere safe, somewhere no one could find them. He wouldn't let Vivian go back to living those hellish days, not again.

"Yeah. We've got to believe in Miss Willis. She'll handle it." Cheryl believed in Elvira, but it was hard not to spiral.

Cheryl took another drink, hoping that getting drunk would help her sleep more soundly. Tomorrow was a new day, after

all.

Morris also took a drink as his mood was still heavy. "I miss Vivian," he said softly. "I really miss her... I just want to see her, I want to give her happiness."

Cheryl looked at him, seeing the pain on his face. Though he hadn't shared the details of his relationship with Vivian, Cheryl had experience and could guess what was going on. "Why don't you call her?" she suggested. "She's probably awake too, worrying about you. It might help to talk to each other right now."

Morris looked at her, then immediately grabbed his phone and dialed Vivian. Cheryl had been right-Vivian had taken some medicine to sleep but still couldn't rest. She was more worried about him than he realized. Worry caused chaos. Even though Elvira had assured her that everything would be resolved, Vivian couldn't shake the anxiety.

Vivian picked up the phone almost immediately. "Are you on your phone?" Morris asked.

"No. I'm just lying here, not able to sleep," Vivian replied.

"Don't look at all that stuff online. Ms. Willis said she'll take care of everything," Morris reassured her, hoping to calm her down. He knew she had struggled with depression, but he hadn't realized how bad it had gotten.

"I know. I haven't been on those sites. I was just checking WhatsApp," Vivian replied, trying to comfort him in return. "Don't worry. I trust Ms. Willis. She'll help you."

"Then get some rest. Put the phone down. If you can't fall asleep, I'll sing to you," Morris said softly, genuinely worried about her condition.

"That sounds nice," Vivian said. "I love hearing you sing. But won't it bother other people?" She couldn't help but worry how her actions might affect his relationships with others. She was always thinking of him, putting his well-being first.

"It won't. I'll go to my room and sing for you." Morris grabbed a bottle of alcohol and headed to his room.

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Cheryl, watching them, sighed. She was the one suggesting that the couple call each other and share sweet words, while here she was, a single soul, drowning her sorrows in alcohol, hoping that a little more would help her sleep. She carried another bottle of liquor back to her room, determined to knock herself out.

Whatever tomorrow brought, she'd face it-she had no choice. Right now, she was just a small, helpless soul trying to survive the storm. 'Let it come. I can handle it. No matter who is trying to bring me down, I won't be defeated. And whatever monsters lurk, I will expose them for what they are!'