"You're sadistic, and bitter, and empty." He rushed from the bar after she had embarrassed him, making him sing a song that had haunted him for years. Oh, how she hated herself. She always did that, went too far and lost respect, hurt people for no reason other than her own enjoyment. They were having a fine time until she had to be so harsh, vulgar even.

Maybe she really was a bitter woman. Her husband was never home, and when he actually was home all he did was abuse her, emotionally and sometimes physically. It wasn't a marriage at all. She saw the relationships between Will and his friends, how they were such a tight group. And she knew that she would have to change completely if she ever wanted to fit in with them. It seemed that only Jack cared about her, and only he wanted her around. It was because she always went too far. Karen Walker was a bitch.

A small tear fell down her cheek as she looked into the moonlight through the window of her limo, Will's words continuously replaying in her mind. It was two o'clock in the morning and she was on her way home from the bar. She was drunk, as usual, but, for once in many years, she wasn't numb. His words hurt her so much; not the words themselves, but the emotion behind them. He meant what he said, and she believed him.

"Miss Karen?" Driver opened the door and she quickly wiped her eyes, effectively hiding her sadness. She nodded to him as she stepped out of the limo, holding her head high until she walked through the door of her manse. She tossed her purse on the table and made her way up the stairs, her eyes glossy and connected to the floor. She felt so sleepy.

Suddenly, she felt a hard pressure against her as a body slammed into her, obviously in a hurry. She cursed beneath her breath and looked up to find a tall, blonde woman with beautiful blue eyes. Karen, who was much shorter, was reminded of a model, which was most likely what the woman was. The women stared at one another for what seemed like an eternity, before the model spoke.

"Oh, you must be Stan's sister." She reached out her hand in a form of greeting, but Karen didn't move. She didn't want to look at the woman, let alone shake her hand.

"No, honey, I'm his wife." She walked past the blonde, so tired of meeting the women he brought home. Oddly enough, she didn't mind so much the fact that he was cheating, as long as it wasn't in her home. She went to sleep in her bed, alone, as her husband occupied his own bedroom down the hallway.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

"Good morning, darling." Stan walked into her bathroom as she had just finished wrapping a towel around her naked body, after trying to kill her minor hangover with a bubble bath. He walked up behind her when she stepped in front of the mirror and began to brush her hair. His arms wrapped around her waist, but she dropped the brush in the sink and pushed him away, meeting his eyes. "What the hell is wrong with you?"

"I asked you not to bring them here and you're still doing it!"

"What are you talking about?"

"That whore in the hallway last night, the one you told I was your sister! That's low, Stanly, even for you!" He remained still for a moment, staring into her hazel eyes. It was definitely not the first time they had had the same conversation.

"What do you want me to say?"

"Say you won't bring them here anymore!"

"It's just so much easier." Her eyes widened in disgust.

"What the hell makes you think adultery is supposed to be easy? You're a billionaire, rent a suite somewhere! I don't give a shit what you do, just don't bring them here! Your children live her, for goodness sake!" She began to walk out of the room and into her closet, when he grabbed her wrist and yanked her towards him. Her long hair slapped against her face, still wet from her bath. He was just about to degrade her; she could see it in his eyes. She hurriedly spoke up, hoping to beat him to the harshness of their words. "Get your hands off me, you fleshy bastard." He reached a hand back, and she cringed in anticipation of the slap he would lay across her cheek.

"Miss Karen, I need you for something." Rosario knocked on the door, bellowing to her employer. Karen opened her eyes when Stan didn't hit her, relieved for her maid's presence. He pushed her wrist away and opened the door, leaving for work. "Did I interrupt something?"

"Nothing important, honey, what did you need?" She pulled her towel closer to her body; she felt exposed all of a sudden. Rosario only shrugged and leaned forward to whisper.

"I just needed to make sure you were alright." She walked away, not noticing Karen's confused expression. It probably wasn't much of a secret around the house that her marriage was strained and abusive in many ways, but actually hearing it from her maid was something different. It made her feel like her help was judging her for something she knew was out of her control.