My heart tugs in my chest as I think about my time with Logan. It was all a lie. From the onset, he had said no to falling in love, but being the lost puppy that I am when it comes to love, I fell hard for him. Now, watching him kiss another woman feels like a punch to my gut.
I look closely and realize she is someone familiar. It’s the popular Samantha. Then it dawns on me that she is the one Laura was talking about earlier today, and Asher just minutes ago.
I stare back at Asher. “You… you knew about this?” I ask, my voice stuttering.
Asher looks everywhere but at me. I know he is consumed with guilt. “Nadine, I’m sorry. I tried to block you from seeing this, but I guess I was wrong.”
I turn my attention back to Logan and Samantha and realize he is looking at her with so much love and admiration like no one else matters except her.
I doubt he ever looked at me like that. My heart tugs in my chest as I realize I am only temporary in his heart, and his heart belongs to someone else.
A lump forms in my throat, and the realization hits me harder than I expected. Every moment we share now feels like a cruel joke.
I remember the last time Samantha was in our house. They kissed like they were ready to get down with each other right there in the living room.
Now, the truth is staring me in the face: “Nadine, you are a fool.” The voice taunts me in my head. My legs feel too heavy as I hurry outside the event.
Asher calls out, “Wait, Nadine!” but I am too lost in my pain to notice.
The evening air hits me, sharp and cold. I stumble to a bench nearby, my mind racing with images of Logan and Samantha.
The way he looked at her, the way he kissed her-it’s all too much to bear. Tears stream down my face, and I bury my head in my hands.
The music in the background becomes faint. Lost in my reverie, I don’t notice someone sitting beside me.
My heart jumps to my throat. I place my hand on my chest. “Gosh, you scared me!”
But when I turn to see who it is, my face contorts with disdain. I stand up, stepping away from him. “What the fuck are you doing here, Jake?” I ask, my voice filled with fury.
“Relax, Nadine. I mean no harm. I’m just concerned about you.”
“Concerned about me? I should be the least of your concerns, Jake.”
I look around, searching for Nathalie. They never go out without each other.
“If it’s Nathalie you’re looking for, she isn’t here,” he says, his voice strained, making me sense there’s trouble in paradise.
I slowly sit down as he runs his hand through his hair. There was a time when that little gesture warmed my heart, but now it only reminds me of the dislike I have for him.
“We were perfect for each other, but I let my lust break the perfect thing we shared,” Jake says softly.
“Jake now is not the time for regrets. You are married, and I am married. Case closed.”
He scoffs. “There is a thin line between marriage and staying married. I don’t think I can endure another month with Nathalie.”
My mouth forms an “O” shape, wondering why he is telling me this. I am an enemy.
“Why are you telling me this? I should be the least of your favorite people.”
He turns his gaze to me, looking deep into my eyes. “Nadine, you are my favorite person. I missed my chance with you, one I will regret for the rest of my life.”
I look away, memories of our time together flashing through my mind, mingling with the present reality of our separate lives.
“Jake, it’s too late for that,” I say quietly. “We’ve made our choices.”
“I know,” he replies, his voice barely above a whisper. “But that doesn’t stop me from wishing things were different.”
I let out a sigh, feeling the tension between us. “Wishing won’t change anything. We have to live with the consequences of our actions.”
He nods, looking defeated.
For a moment, I forget why I am outside. Then it crashes down on me again: the image of Logan and Samantha kissing.
Jake turns to me, smirking. “You know I saw that, right?”
I rolled my eyes like it didn’t matter.
“Oh, come on, feign ignorance all you want. I saw Logan kissing Samantha, his ex-fiancee.”
“Ex-fiancee?” I mutter, needing to be sure.
He scoffs. “Nadine, you don’t know, do you? You haven’t changed a bit-still the same naive girl, oblivious to things around her.”
“Samantha was supposed to marry Logan. She ditched him at the altar, and she didn’t even show up to say their vows. So, my dear, when I told you that you made a mistake marrying Logan, I knew what I was saying. It’s no news that Logan was head over heels in love with Samantha.”
The pieces of the puzzle fall into place. The depth of Logan’s feelings for Samantha, the way he looked at her-it’s all clear now.
And here I am, caught in the crossfire of a love that was never meant for me.
“I think I’ve heard enough,” I say, standing up from the bench. “We shouldn’t be seen together,” I add, pointing between Jake and me. “The paparazzi are around. They could cook up a story.”
“Nathalie and I are getting a divorce,” he says, his tone as indifferent as if he were commenting on the weather.
I stop in my tracks, my confusion evident. “I’m sorry to hear that, but why are you telling me this?”
“Our marriage was doomed from the start,” he explains.
“Who is to blame, Jake?” I ask, my anger suddenly igniting. “Why the hell are you telling me this? You made your bed-lie in it.”
I realize I haven’t yet vented my anger about his betrayal of my sister.
“I’ve been nothing but loyal and the perfect girlfriend to you. But how do you repay me? By sleeping with my sister. And guess what? I’m sure that wasn’t the first time. It was a continuous thing right under my nose. Now you come to tell me you’re getting a divorce? What does that have to do with me? Newsflash, Jake: I don’t bloody fucking care.”
Seething with anger, I know I’m passing my frustrations with Logan onto Jake. They both deserve whatever I have in store for them.
With one final glance at Jake, I storm into the event. One of the bodyguards meets my gaze, his expression showing relief. “Ma’am, it’s time to go home.”
“Home?” I called out. “Where is everyone?”
“In the car,” he replies respectfully.
“You know what? You guys can go without me. I’ll take a cab.”
“I’m sorry, but Mr. West has ordered that you come right away.”
I’m livid. “Go fucking tell Mr. fucking West to fucking fuck off! I don’t want to be anywhere near…”
I’m about to finish my statement when I see him standing a foot away from the bodyguard.
His eyes are cold, devoid of emotion. He stares at me with a chilling intensity, as if he could rip me apart. The anger radiating from him feels like it could light a cigarette.
I realize the cold, heartless Logan I knew before is back. But this time, I’m not ready to do his bidding.
I am no longer the naive woman they once knew. Something within me snaps. I stand my ground, square my shoulders, and face him.
Jabbing my finger at his chest, I repeat what I said to the bodyguard. “Mr. fucking West, go fucking fuck yourself. I don’t want to be anywhere near you.”
I turn away, leaving him behind.