SARAYA’S POV
I stumbled down the stairs, my legs barely holding me up as my chest heaved with broken sobs. The image was burned into my mind-Arlan, half-naked, scrambling out of bed, while Matilda stood there in nothing but her panties.
“Saraya, wait! Please, let me explain!” His voice chased after me like a ghost, hollow and meaningless.
Explain? What was there to explain? I had seen enough. The sight of his disheveled hair and Matilda’s smug expression said everything I needed to know.
“Don’t follow me, Arlan!” I screamed over my shoulder, my voice cracking.
But of course, he didn’t listen. I heard his footsteps behind me, his desperation clawing at my back.
“Saraya! Please! It’s not what you think!”
“Not what I think?!” I spun around at the bottom of the stairs, my face wet with tears. “You were in bed with her, Arlan! What exactly am I supposed to think?!”
His mouth opened, then shut, and for a moment, I saw guilt flicker across his face. That was it. That was all I needed.
I bolted for my car, fumbling with the door handle as his voice grew louder behind me. “Don’t do this! Please, Saraya!”
I slammed the door shut, started the engine, and sped off. My hands trembled as I gripped the wheel, the lump in my throat threatening to choke me. In the rearview mirror, I saw him. Arlan. Still chasing me. Like he could fix this. Like there was anything left to fix.
At the first red light, I stopped. Not because I wanted to, but because I had to. The world outside was blurry, my tears falling faster than I could wipe them away. My chest felt like it was being ripped open.
“How stupid could I be?” I whispered to no one, my voice shaking. “I came to surprise him… and I was the one who got surprised. Perfect. Just perfect.”
The light turned green, and angry honks from the cars behind me snapped me out of my daze. I hit the gas, not knowing where I was going. I just needed to go.
When I reached the bridge, I pulled over. My hands were shaking so badly I could barely put the car in park. The second the engine cut off, a scream tore out of me-a raw, guttural sound that scraped my throat.
“Why?!” I yelled into the empty night. “Why did I trust him? Why did I believe he was different?”
My hands flew to my face as the tears kept coming. My chest heaved, my breaths coming out in gasps. I felt like I was drowning, like the scene of what I’d just seen was too much to bear.
“I thought you care about me, Arlan,” I whispered, my voice breaking. “But this is who you really are behind closed doors. You are a liar, a cheat, a betrayal.”
I leaned my head back against the seat, staring out into the dark expanse of the river below. The world outside felt as empty as I did inside.
For a moment, I let the silence swallow me whole. Then, with a shuddering breath, I wiped my face and sat up straight.
“I won’t cry over you anymore,” I whispered, even though my tears betrayed me. “You’re not worth it. You never were.”
But deep down, a small, broken part of me still wished he had been.
ARLAN’S POV;
When I opened my eyes, I couldn’t believe Saraya was standing in front of me. I had initially thought of it as a dream until I saw her clenched her fists.
I got back in. “how did Saraya’s get in, in the first place?” I asked myself and remember Bridget.
“Bridget!” I called out loudly and she soon appeared in front of me. “Why didn’t you inform me of Saraya’s visit?”
“I’m sorry sir, she insisted on coming with me.” She explained.
“And you allowed her?” I snapped at her and could tell she was sorry from the look on her face. “If only Saraya didn’t see me in a compromising position with Matilda, then Saraya’s surprise would have been a pleasant one.” I thought to myself.
“Speaking of Matilda, what happened last night?” I asked in a low whisper. “I should talk to Matilda.”
I raced up to my room and slammed the door behind me, my chest heaving confusion churned inside me.
Matilda was casually pulling on her jeans, her calmness only fueling the fire in my veins. She didn’t seem to care about the scene that had just happened.
“What the hell was that?” I barked, my voice sharp and ragged.
She didn’t even blink. Pulling her shirt over her body, she turned to me with an infuriatingly bored expression. “What’s your problem, Arlan?”
“My problem?” I stepped closer, my fists clenched. “You were in my bed! Saraya walked in and saw you half-naked! Do you even understand what you’ve done?”
She shrugged, completely unbothered. “We got drunk. It happens. Chill out.”
“Chill out?” I could feel my temper rising. “How am I suppose to chill out when I don’t even remember what the hell happened last night!”
She crossed her arms, tilting her head like this was all some sort of joke. “You don’t remember,” she said casually. “I came over so we could celebrate my Cartier contract we drank, and… well, I guess we passed out.”
“Yes, we drank!” I snapped, my voice echoing in the room. “I sure remember drinking with you, and I sure as hell don’t remember sharing a bed with you!”
Matilda rolled her eyes, her tone turning dismissive. “And how is that my fault?” She asked as she shoved me aside. “Are not worried if Alex funds out you’ve been frolicking with his daughter?”
“And that is not your cross to carry.”
Matilda nodded her head. “About that my friend, you are right.” She said while walking towards the door but I was quick to grab her arm.
“What happened last night?” I asked. “Why can’t I remember anything?”
Looking straight into my eyes. “What do you think? We probably just fell asleep.”
“Probably?” My voice dropped, cold and dangerous. “What does that mean? Did we or didn’t we, Matilda? Did something happen between us?”
She hesitated, a faint smirk tugging at her lips. “I don’t know, Arlan. We were both wasted. Maybe nothing happened. Maybe something did. Who really cares?”
“I care!” I shouted, my chest tightening with every word. “Saraya walked in and saw you here! She thinks I betrayed her! Do you even understand what you’ve done?”
She grabbed her bag, slinging it over her shoulder with maddening nonchalance. “Look, that’s not my problem. If your secret girlfriend walks in and misunderstood, that’s on you.”
I stared at her, my breath coming in short, furious bursts as she sauntered toward the door. She paused, glancing back at me with that same smug look.
“Good luck fixing this,” she said, her voice dripping with mock sympathy. “You’re gonna need it.”
The door clicked shut behind her, and the silence hit me like a punch to the gut. My gaze fell to the bed, the crumpled sheets. I tried recalling everything that might have happened but my mind was all blank.
“Damn it!” I roared, slamming my fist into the wall. The pain shot up my arm, but it didn’t matter.
I sat on my bed, my head in my hands. Saraya’s face flashed in my mind, her tears, her voice breaking as she screamed my name. I’d never seen her look at me like that, like I was the biggest mistake she’d ever made.
I tried once again to piece together the night, but my memory was a black hole. No answers, no clarity. “I’ve messed this up again.”
I got up and headed to the shower, “I have to find a way to fix this.”