Babe? That one word was stuck in my head. My gaze trailed their backs as they walked away, their intertwined hands hinted at a platonic relationship, yet the knowledge that he was her partner made my chest ache with something I didn’t dare admit. Mia had flinched at my touch, but she was openly holding hands with him.
How could she settle for that? My fist tightened, my knuckles burning to tear them apart and slam that dude in the face for holding her so possessively.
Mia only had one type, and it was me, and that scrawny, average–looking dude looked nothing like met
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Chapter 13
Chapter 18
Mia’s POV
My phone beeped. It was a text from Kendra informing me of Xander’s departure. A ragged sigh of relief left my mouth and it was then that I felt the arm encircled around my waist, the grip a little firmer now,
His other hand was roaming my sides as our bodies were completely against each other, his hot breath fanning the side of my face.
A wave of nausea hit me at the feel of his touch and I had managed to hold it in until now. With a firm push, I tore off his arm from around my waist and stepped back.
His touch was just as suffocating as the rest of them, and when he started to reach for me again, his eyes shut in ecstasy. I held back from smacking him across the face.
Ever since Xander happened, I found it increasingly difficult to interact with individuals of his gender or strangers in general. Even though I had done it several times as an integral member of Schaeffer’s group, sitting with them now was something I had to relearn as a businesswoman..
It felt like everyone else around me who wasn’t my family was up to betray and get rid of me; it felt like they all had one motive.
It felt like they were my ex–husband in another form and it made me anxious. With Xander, it was worse, while his touch fueled me with an unsettling familiarity, it made me furious as well. What right did he have to touch me! I could already picture what was running through his mind after encountering me again. Guilt? Not even a speck. He didn’t show any emotion, but his shock was evident, and I could bet that he was already plotting another means to get rid of me, possibly with Irene again.
But he had no idea what I had in store for him.
“What’s wrong, beautiful? We’re just getting started!” Lucas’s eyes snapped open, a look of annoyance briefly on his face.
Even though the compliment was intended to charm me, it felt like a trap and suffocated me
I recalled the first time Xander called me beautiful, it became a bittersweet memory when I realized how much he didn’t mean it. It had melted my heart then and made me daydream but it was all a ploy by him to get me to fall harder for him so he could take advantage of me further.
“I apologize. Something urgent came up, and I have to take care of it” Despite my brewing anger, I chose to be polite.
“Are you kidding?” He scoffed. Do you know who I am?”
“Honestly, I barely care!” I couldn’t help the outburst and before my tongue had the chance to run loose, I strode away from him.
He was in front of me before I could take another step.
“Who do you think you are walking away from me?” His eyes blazed with his true intention, something I wasn’t surprised about. I had learned the hard way to expect the worst from people, no matter how friendly they seem
“If I say we keep dancing, we keep dancing. Do you know how much I put into your company? You owe me your goddamn body.”
He started to reach for my wrist but before I could react, Nathan appeared out of nowhere, caught Lucas’s hand midair and gave it a firm squeeze.
“Is there a problem, Mr. Miller?” He asked through clenched teeth, a tight smile on his face.
Lucas winced but didn’t make
e any sound loud enough to attract attention.
“No, I Fuck” He groaned in pain. “We were just fucking talking”
“I bet that discussion is over. Isn’t it, Mr. Miller? Nathan smirked wryly, his eyes still holding anger.
“Yes Fuck, yes.”
He practically ran off the moment Nathan released him.
“Are you okay?” Nathan turned to me.
“Yes, I smiled appreciatively at him. “I want to go home”
Il walk you to the car, and finish off from here.”
672 AM c d
Chapter 13
I nodded and we started for the exit. Halfway through, a voice rang out from behind us.
“M–Mia, hil
1 froze involuntarily, resentment surging through me as the high–pitched tone pierced my ears.
I turned around, the mere sight of her enough to cause a twist in my belly pit
“Hi. Do I know you?” I asked, maintaining a stoic demeanor.
Without a warning, Irene covered the space between us and threw her arms out to hug me. I caught the hint late but I immediately stepped back before she could touch me.
“Oh Mia, I’m so sorry. You really did lose your memory. That’s very unfortunate, she began sobbing dramatically, dabbing at her eyes.
“It is. We were all saddened by the news, Nathan spoke, handing her a tissue.
I kept my demeanor fringed, a show of impatience but I was amused by the act.
“Do you really not recognize me, Mia?” Irene asked, her gaze inadvertently yet constantly slipping to Nathan with a familiar desire.
I almost puked when I realized what she was doing. She was just perfect for a deceiving evil man like Xander, I wouldn’t be surprised if she betrayed him. Just one encounter and she was already gushing at Nathan.
“Am I supposed to?” I arched a brow but kept my voice calm despite the storm raging within me.
“Oh my goodness, of course, you should,” she burst into another sob, her smeared mascara indicating that she had indeed shed some tears. I wondered how much practice it took to make it work, but despite the hard work the ingenuity was glaring. When Nathan offered her another tissue, she suddenly became blind; making him step closer to her. When he stretched out his arm again, she grabbed his wrist and made him wipe off the tears for her.
At the contact, Nathan immediately sprang back but I didn’t miss Irene’s quick motion as she splayed her fingers on his chest.
Such a bitch!
The disgusted look on Nathan’s face almost made me break character and he glanced at me for help.
“Nathan, please give us a moment.” I told him.
His brows narrowed and I figured he was inquiring if I would be okay with the devil’s daughter, so I nodded.
Left with Irene, I stood with my arms crossed, giving her a once–over. Her entire outfit exuded luxury from the jewelry she’d won at my auction to her designer dress, stylish hairstyle, high–end shoes, and sleek handbag.
“Oh, it’s you!” I said, pretending to be surprised. “The big winner from my last auction.”
“Not only that, I’m also your best friend, Mia. I’m Irene, it’s so sad that you can’t remember me
“You’re my best friend?” I had expected a believable lie but this
this was definitely not it.
Yes, at least until you disappeared. I never stopped praying for your well–being, Mix. When you suddenly cut off contact with everyone after the divorce, I wa
nd consumed with guilt.”
“Guilt? Wh
“After the divorce, Xander and I got together. It was spontaneous, and we decided to flow with it but I quilt for being with my best friend’s ex–husband”
Land” as if to convince me that our divorce had made it acceptable for them to start a relationship.
dn’t help but notice the contradictions in her words. Her story was plausible and even the old me would have play.
ved explanation implied that she was so devasted by my disappearance that she hooked up with my ‘ex–husband‘.
Did she seriously expect me to be grateful to her for that?
Given my sudden return, I suspected she hadn’t had time to craft a convincing lie. Hence, she was improvising and grasping at the next deceitful idea that came to mind.
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622 AM cr
Chapter 13
“I truly, deeply missed you a lot, Mia!”
I camouflaged my amusement with a smile.
“Well, thank you for your support, Irene. I’m
“Of course, we did! I’d love to share those memories with you again and talk about everything that has happened, Irene squealed. “We were incredibly close. Mia, and I cherish the trust we once had for each other. I hope we can rebuild that bond in the future.”
- e. I’m sure we had fun memories together. It is quite unfortunate that I do not recollect”
“I’m tempted to take the offer, but my schedule is swamped for the next couple of months, and I would hate to disappoint you”
“I understand,” Irene said, holding out her phone. “Why don’t I take your number, and we can hang out whenever you’re available?”
As I hesitated. I noticed Irene’s gaze averting into the hallway. Her eyes were fixed on Nathan, who was standing several feet away, ladened with desire. It was clear that Irene had feelings for him.
A sly thought crossed my mind, and I accepted her phone. As I entered my number, a smirk spread across my face.
Just as Xander had taken advantage of my love for him, I was going to take advantage of Irene’s desire for Nathan.
Without even knowing it, Irene was going to help me ruin her lover’s life.
#
