Chapter 1 Wake up call

*GIANNA*

Was I being delusional holding onto the belief that he would change even after three years?

Was I being delusional or simply being stupid?

But right now as I stood in front of the mirror staring at my gorgeous gown.

I realized that it might've been worth the wait,the heartbreak and the pain.

We were finally going to get engaged.

Two months ago,he had promised me that he'd stop hurting me.

And so far he had kept to his word.

And now,Maximus and I were about to celebrate our engagement party.

Soon,I'll be Mrs Lewis.

I smiled at myself again.The party planner walked up to me and informed me that it was time to make our appearance at the hall.

I grinned.I didn't want to keep my guests waiting for long.

"Have you told Maxim? Where is he?"I asked the host.

"I've searched everywhere for him, so I assumed he was with you,"the host replied, looking just as puzzled.

I had been so busy that I hadn't confirmed whether Maxim was here, but who wouldn't attend their own engagement party? No one would miss their own engagement party. Unless…no, I refused to believe he would abandon me again.

We need to make our appearance together as a couple.

I picked up my cellphone and gave him a call.

He picked up on the second ring.

"Yes?"

He sounded impatient.

"Where are you?We need to go into the hall together now."

"Oh,I'm sorry,Gianna.I can't make it."

I gulped."Wha…what do you mean you can't make it?You were literally here a…"

"Something important came up,Anna.Cancel the party."

It felt as if someone poured cold water on me.

Cancel a party that had already started?

Cancel a party that had so many guests already seated?!

"Maxim,we can't…I can't…the guests, they're all waiting…Besides,what could be more important than our own engagement party…"

I paused realizing he had hung up on me.

I dialed his number again and again but he didn't pick up.

My legs grew weak and I slump on the couch.

How…why…?

I thought he had promised to stop hurting me.

My phone beeped.

I quickly raised it to my face thinking that it was a response from him.

But it was a text from Nadia.

Nadia:I warned you, Anna.I told you that I'll forever be more important to him than anything else.

Tears fell from my eyes.

Was he seriously going to see Nadia right now?

For three years,he always cancelled on me to go see Nadia.

For three years,that was a major issue in our relationship.

And I couldn't believe he could cancel our engagement party for her too.

I realized now that I wasn't just delusional,I was equally stupid.

Did I actually think I could change him?

Did I actually think I could make a man care about me when he clearly doesn't give a fuck?

I was too blinded by my love for him.I ended up loving him more than I loved myself.

Pain wracked through my body and it felt as if I was hit by a truck.

But at the same time,it was like the wake up call I need.

How could I love a man who never for once cared about my feelings?

How could I lose myself to loving him?

Why did I do this to myself?

He would always belong to Nadia.

She just had to make one phone call and he'll go running to her.

He never once brought up the idea of us breaking up and I realized now that he simply enjoyed hurting me and watching me stay with him despite everything.

But I was done!

I was done being stupid.

I was done being a fool!

Since he wanted Nadia so bad,I'd not be tied to him anymore.

I do not care how hard or how long it'd take me to get over him.

I had loved him for so many years,even before we started dating.

But I clearly meant nothing to him.

So I have to snap out of this delusion.

I clicked on his name and sent him a message.

"It's over between us!"

*************

I had left the party venue through the back door because I didn't want to be seen by anyone.

I knew this would cause a massive scandal but if I'm seen alone without Maxim,everyone's pitiful eyes will be on me and I didn't need that.

Two years into our relationship,I had moved in with Maxim because I couldn't stand being away from him.

Yes, I was that insanely in love with him.I realize now that the love I felt for him had made me senseless and I was never going to have anything to do with him ever again.

I packed my things and left his house,I was leaving his house and this city.

That was how far away I wanted to be from him.

I quickly booked the next available flight,on the plane,I couldn't bring myself to read the news because I knew that the engagement scandal would be everywhere.

Reading comments from people would only make me feel worse so I avoided going online by all means.

I had the wrong definition of love for so long,I believed that I might be the problem but there was absolutely nothing wrong with me.

I had let a narcissist manipulate me for so long to the point that I believed that I could never live without him.

But now,I was going to show him that he had no right to treat me like trash.