Chapter 7: His Fiancée

[KRISTEN]

Never did I imagine encountering him again. In the aftermath of that incident, I was convinced he had landed himself in jail. Yet, upon reflection, he struck me as the kind of man who'd defy such circumstances.

His parting words that night echoed in my memory: "You will never be happy, not while I'm still alive."

The fleeting respite from my struggles to forget that incident crumbled as he flashed before my eyes, reigniting the pain and resentment.

"Calm down, Kristen. You don't need to panic." I convinced myself with those words, but then, nothing changes and it wouldn't stop me from trembling in fear.

Attempting to leave, I felt an unsettling heaviness on my feet, stopping my escape, and despite the urge to run home, I found myself unable to go far.

On the brink of stumbling, caught by the edge of the pathway, I was suddenly caught by someone.

"Hey, are you alright?" he asked.

His presence raised questions in my mind. How did we end up here? Does he hold any knowledge? Is he connected to him?

Before I could voice these questions, my vision faded into darkness.

I woke up almost lying on a swing somewhere in the garden area. It's a huge swing with a soft and fluffy cover like a couch, enough to make anyone feel comfortable.

While trying to raise my upper body a bit away from the backrest, I saw our CEO heading towards my direction.

"Here you go." He handed me a glass of water with a friendly smile.

"So, why were you like that? Well, if you don't mind me asking." He asked, his tone carrying a blend of casual concern. His gaze, however, wandered to the landscape ahead, as if finding comfort in the simplicity of the scene.

"Sir, I." In that moment of hesitation, the air held a quiet tension.

It took me a few minutes before finding the words. Honestly, I never wanted to delve into it again, but then I figured it might be good to clue him in. Perhaps that would be my ticket to heading home, steering clear whenever that man is around.

"I mean, I saw someone I never wished to see again."

He nodded, probing, "A man? Ex? Just trying to guess."

"My ex, and the person I fear the most." I'm keeping it vague because spilling my whole tragic past to a stranger, even discussing it with Lynn, makes me uneasy.

"If it's possible, I wish we never crossed paths, ever again," I added.

After that, I took a deep breath and focused on the view before us. Undeniably beautiful, enough to coax a genuine smile.

"You know what? There's something I've learned after going through a tough situation," he said.

I shot him a quick gaze, curious. "What is it, sir?"

"Just like fear, I had to face it so that it wouldn't haunt me too much when reminded of that situation," he responded.

I nodded slightly, saying, "Well, yes. Face your fear, that's what they often say."

"But it's easier said than done, especially when you know it's partly your fault."

"Yeah, that makes sense," he nodded. I thought it was the end of our conversation, but before I could ask if it was okay for me to leave, he started revealing something unusual.

"But, how about using me?"

I furrowed my brow, staring at him. "What do you mean? What are you trying to say?"

He locked eyes with me and said, "I'll help you face your fear, so that you won't have to suffer anymore."

For some reason, I wasn't offended by his questions, yet a part of me felt frustrated. He, my boss and a complete stranger, spoke as if he knew everything.

"You're insane. I need to go home." Those were the only words I could muster after a minute of speechlessness.

Frustration in tow, I stood up. But as I turned to face the pathway leading back to the event place, my ex-boyfriend appeared.

He was with someone, presumably the woman he'd marry. Initially, I didn't get a good look at her, but gradually, as they faced our direction, the two of us—me and his woman—locked stares.

"This can't be," I uttered to myself in disbelief.

"Kristen? So, you're still alive." I heard him chuckle.

I didn't pay much attention to what he said. My disbelief lingered as I saw the girl he was going to marry—none other than my best friend, Lynn.