Mia’s POV
1-200
“Oh my goodness, I hate him so much! I groaned, flinging my purse to the bed.
Who the hell does he think he is to threaten me? I grabbed a bottle of water from the table and chugged it until it was half empty.
Kendra stood beside me, watching me rant and air out my frustration until I had calmed a bit..
“Do you want me to get you anything?” She asked calmly.
I shook my head no. “How long until the construction is completed?”
“Two months at most.”
“I want it done in one. More laborers should be hired if that’s what it’ll take, I’ll pay. I want the project launched by next month.”
“Yes, ma’am” she answered, grabbing her phone at once. “Mrs Callaghan dropped a message. She wanted to confirm that you received
the stones.
“Oh, I mouthed. T give her a call later. Anything from Nathan”
Not yet
After Kendra left, I kicked off my shoes and strolled to the bathroom for a shower. I needed to get every speck of Xander’s presence off Having sat so close to him for so long, I had a crazy feeling that his scent might have rubbed off on me and I was determined to rid myself of it
As I washed my body, my mind raced back to our conversation, and my blood boiled.
He had no idea how far I was willing to go with this. I’d gladly go to the end of the world if it meant I’d be bringing him with me.
I could still feel the goosebumps on my skin but I reassured myself that it was simply my body’s automatic response to our proximity. I had loved Xander for five years, it was only natural that my body had gotten used to him. He was the only man I ever gave myself to Soon, every part of me would feel the rage burning through me for him and be in accordance.
Xander would not see what was coming to him
Wrapping a towel around my body, I stepped out of the shower and met Kendra in my room.
“Nathan called, he wanted to know if you had returned. He said he’ll pick you up by evening.”
“What about Irene?”
“She left.”
I fished out my cell phone, intending to call Irene, but I saw it flashing with an incoming call from her.
“Oh hi Irene, I was just going to call you.”
“You told me you stay alone,” she said, her voice strained as she tried to conceal her anger and irritation.
She was mad that I stood her up? She should be glad I didn’t do worse.
More calmly, she continued. “I waited two hours for you.”
deserved worse.
“I know,” I tried to sound sympathetic but I couldn’t bring myself to apologize. Not to this monster who
“Something urgent came up and I had to run off, but I informed Natlan that you were coming. Did he not entertain you?”
She hesitated before responding. “He did, but it was a bit awkward between us. I mean, he’s your guy, after all.”
“Oh no, you got it all wrong. Nathan and I aren’t together. He’s like family to me,” I said.
“I see. The relief in her voice was vivid. “Well, he was a good company but I came for you. How about we hang out some other day. somewhere different with just the two of us?”
I can make time.”
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Chapter 21
After the call ended, I knew the plan had failed but I also knew why, Irene thought Nathan and I were together. I could imagine how awkward it must have been to be around someone she wanted yet couldn’t have. For a woman with no dignity like her, it must have been hard
Next time would definitely be the catch.
Later that night, I sat staring out of the window, watching the rain beat down the earth in torrents.
My hand was under my shirt, resting on my stomach. As my fingertips made contact with the scars, a surge of grief enveloped me. It was a shame that I still found myself crying whenever the memory hit me, and no, it wasn’t just from the loss of my babies or the suffering 1 went through afterward, it was from the depth of Xander’s betrayal.
The man I had given five years of my life to.
My doctor had recommended surgery to get rid of the scars but I refused. To me, these were not just scars; they were physical proof of my mistakes, a clear reminder of the betrayal I had endured and what I was committing my all to.
my door.
A knock sounded on my
Mia, can I come in?”
“Yes, Nathan.”
The door creaked open and he walked in. He held up a bottle of champagne and two glasses with a grin but it faltered when he spotted my glass.
“Damn, you’re already drinking,” he said, his tone tinged with a hint of disappointment.
“Can I join you? It’s a night for two.”
I nodded and he came to stand beside me. “Cheers?” He beamed and I gently clinked my glass against his. We stood in silence for a moment before he broke it.
remember when you couldn’t stand the sight of a downpour.”
“Did I ever tell you when I started to hate it?”
“No.” he faced me.
“On the day I got lost. It poured for two days uninterrupted and I roamed the streets, scared and in tears. I can’t remember the details but I knew I hated the rain ever since.”
“It’s good to see how much you’ve grown since then
“Xander used to hate it when I’d call him every time it rained. He would say he wasn’t coming and tell me to grow up, but he’d show up every time,” I said. “That was why I thought he liked me, why I clung to him desperately even though he pushed me away. But all of the niceness and the sacrifices were to please his father. To secure his inheritance”
“Mia…”
“I don’t think this is growth, Nathan. Maybe not all of it,” I smiled sadly. “When it rains, all I see is that night. The horror, the fright… I see all of it. Is that really growth?”
“You have us, father and I. We’ll help you with everything that you want. You are my priority, Mia and you will always be.”
I ended the night in Nathan’s arms, wrapping my ache in the warmth of his comfort. As the rain outside reduced into gentle patters, 1 realized how comfortable I’d gotten around him. How safe and protected he made me feel.
Maybe that was growth. It might not be happening as quickly as I’d hoped, but it was steady, and that was what mattered.
Two days before the get–together, I finally agreed to meet Irene. As it was already close, she had to make all the plans without me, had cooked up different excuses as to why I couldn’t be there with her.
The meeting was on an afternoon and she had picked the venue, a fancy diner.
and I
Beforehand Nathan had come around to inspect the place and ensure that nothing was amiss. With Irene, he didn’t want to take any chance, and neither did I.
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Chapter 21
“Mia, bi” Irene waved at me from afar, bringing a few stares in our direction.
I walked up to her, a tight smile on my face. As expected, she was dressed exquisitely, too much for a casual meal. Me, I wasn’t in any competition so I came in a simple dress,
“Hey there, Irene. Did you wait for long?”
“Not too long,” she beamed, engulfing me in a small hug. “Sit
We both sat across each other, grinning like school kids. For me, it was fake, and I could tell hers was too, but we made no comment.
“You didn’t order yet?”
“Oh no, I wanted us to order together.”
At once, she signaled to a waitress, and we both ordered.
“I hope you don’t mind me taking a few pictures?”
“Of course not. Go ahead.”
She brought out her phone and it clicked repeatedly as she took pictures, What was supposed to be a few turned out to be more than I expected but I didn’t complain. With Irene, I had prepared myself for even the worst.
“Before I forget. I got you this,” she passed me a shopping bag. “I picked it myself from the designer.”
“Oh Irene, you didn’t have to. I took the bag, peering into it briefly. I wish I’d gotten you something too.”
“You don’t have to. You’ve given me enough by making time to be here and at the get–together,” she said. “I thought that since I’m throwing the party, I should pick an outfit for you as well. One less work for you to bother about.”
That’s so thoughtful of you. Thank you.
Our food arrived, and as we ate, we had small conversations. It was hard to see Irene as a friend, even as a facade. Hence, most of
my contribution to her words was either a nod, a murmur, or a polite smile. She didn’t seem to mind as she continued to yap and chat.
The one
one thing I wanted right now was to get this over
over with and leave.
“So, I haven’t told anyone this yet, but we’re besties, so I don’t want to hide it from you. We’ve always been open with each other and I value that,” she said, her eyes sparkling with excitement. She put her food down and leaned in like she wanted to spill her darkest secret. She glanced around the room as if ensuring no one was listening before signaling for me to lean in closer. I obliged, my curiosity piqued. With a squeal, she whispered, “Xander and I are getting married!”
I didn’t know when my mouth fell open and for the first time since I walked in here, I had a genuine expression on my face.
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