He hadn't planned on walking by Don Lothario's condo, but lately Darren Dreamer found his usual walking route was not long enough for him to deal with his thoughts. For the past six years, he had walked around Pleasantview every morning, usually to the park and back home. He had found that if he didn't clear his head, he wouldn't be as attentive to his work or his son Dirk. His friend Cassandra was marrying a man that Darren was not sure was right for her. Why does that bother me so much? he thought. Sure, I've had feelings for Cassie, but I would never act on them. Not after Darlene. Darren tried to push the thought of his late wife to the back of his mind. If he thought about her for too long, he'd start crying. Tears would shed at the most inconvenient times. Darren had quit his office job and pursued painting as a business. If he cried, it was in the privacy of his own home office, not in front of his boss. In fact, Darren's most recent emotional outburst was when he was trying to get Dirk into private school. Needless to say, Dirk's application was rejected.

Darren met Cassandra five years ago when she found him crying in a change room at the local mall. He remembered how she listened to him and gave him a hug. They found a connection over their lost loved ones. Everyone else in Pleasantview seemed to have forgotten about Darren a few months after Darlene passed away. Cassandra had been catching up with him for coffee ever since.

Darren's thoughts were distracted when he saw Kaylynn Langerak quickly walk out of Don's condo, and straight towards him. She must have started early this morning if she's finished already, thought Don, mindful of Kaylynn's work as a cleaner. As Kaylynn approached Darren, she was staring at the ground, deep in thought.

"Good morning, Kaylynn." Darren greeted Kaylynn politely.

Kaylynn looked startled when she heard Darren.

"Good morning, Darren." She stammered. Her usually tidy hairstyle was messy, and pulled into a loose ponytail.

"Is everything alright?" Darren asked, quizzically.

"Yep, everything's fine." Kaylynn glanced at her wrist. "Sorry, I can't chat today. I'm running late for work." Kaylynn picked up her pace and walked past Darren.

She's not wearing a watch, Darren thought, slightly amused.

As these thoughts floated through Darren's mind, he noticed a pink sports car in Don's driveway.

That's not Cassandra's car. Darren was reminded of Don's reputation as a ladies man. But surely he wouldn't cheat on her now. Not this close to the wedding.

Curiosity prompted Darren to find out more details. He quietly approached Don's house, and kept out of the view of the windows.

Making sure no one was watching him, Darren pressed his ear to the front door.

"I don't think she's ever Woohooed just for fun." That was unmistakably Don's voice.

Is he talking about Kaylynn? Darren contemplated, an intense anger growing in his gut. But he's engaged to Cassandra!

"The less you know about my Woohoo partners, the better." Don's voice said.

Absolutely disgusting, Darren seethed.

A female voice replied, "Not unless their surname happens to be Goth."

Darren needed to hear the rest now. They had to be talking about Cassandra. Talking about someone he cared for.

"You do realise I am marrying Cassandra for you and Dina, right?"

Darren realised Don was speaking to Nina, audibly gasped, then clapped his hand over his mouth. Why would Don marry Cassandra for the Caliente sisters?

"I haven't been able to find a job since they discovered my parents are aliens. Everyone knows I had something to do with Bella's disappearance."

Darren couldn't believe what he was hearing. Bella's case was closed a few years ago when they discovered Flamenco Caliente was running a Sim abduction network in Strangetown. Flamenco had passed away by this time, but the Caliente sisters' reputation was in tatters.

"Nina, I'm sorry. But if I had confessed to my involvement, I wouldn't be able get you or Dina any money."

No one would have ever guessed Don Lothario was ever involved, thought Darren.

Darren heard the front door unlocking.

In a panic, Darren lept up, ran across the road and dived in to a bush. He let out a whimper as thorns dug into his chocolate brown skin. As he adjusted his view, he saw Nina Caliente pull on a pair of sunglasses, get into her pink sports car, and drive away. It didn't appear that she'd seen him. Phew, Darren thought. But I've got to tell Cassandra!