4. A Bitter Goodbye

[Arella]

"Please, don't sign it!"

It’s Vivian’s voice, loud and clear. My blood boils with anger.

What does she want now?

Deric frowns and narrows his eyes at her. "Babe, what are you doing?"

"Just let me talk to her, okay?" She looks at me, her eyes wide and pleading. Her voice is soft and shaky.

"I should explain myself. I never intended to make him fall for me, I swear. It just happened, I was only trying to help him. Y-you can take him back. Please, don't fight because of m-me."

She hiccups and tears fall from her eyes, looking fragile and helpless.

"Why can’t she just let them be happy? Such a crazy woman," I hear someone sneer from the crowd.

That’s all it takes to make me snap. I lunge at her, grabbing her by the shoulders. Rage burns inside me, and my voice shakes as I speak.

"What’s the use of all this? You’ve already ruined my life! Why didn’t you clarify right away? Why didn’t you try to stop him, to tell him about me? I treated you like a friend, Vivian—no, like a sister. But you? You’re just a conniving little—"

Suddenly, I’m yanked back, and a hard slap lands across my cheek. The sting of it hits me like a shock, leaving me frozen.

"Y-you slapped me…" The words come out broken as the pain and disbelief set in.

Deric actually hit me. The man who went against the whole world to defend me just slapped me, right in front of everyone.

"I thank the heavens that I don’t remember a vicious woman like you!" He sneers.

"Just look at her—she’s crying her eyes out, and this is your attitude? You’re shameless!"

Deric hit me.

The man who held me close and protected me now looks at me with disgust.

The realization breaks something inside me—something fragile, something that tells me it’ll never be the same again between us.

Vivian sniffles, her voice soft and full of innocence. "No, Deric, don’t treat her like this."

He tsks, cupping her cheeks. “Vivian, you’re too good for this world. Only you would try to save a vicious woman like her."

I feel the mocking gazes around me, a crowd watching my humiliation.

I walk back to the table, my hands trembling as I clutch the pen tightly, trying to hold myself together.

Steeling myself, I sign and place the paper in his hand, letting my eyes linger on his face—the face of the man I love, who now seems like a stranger.

"Thank you for all the love you’ve shown me Deric.”

Vivian goes to say something else but I hold up a hand, my gaze boring into her's and then back to his– remembering his harsh words, how he let them drug me and my heart hardens.

“This is probably for the best”.

He snickers, stepping back and placing his hand on Vivian’s waist as if I were nothing more than an afterthought.

I drop my hand, turn, and walk out of the restaurant, my heart feeling heavier with each step.

A deep ache mixed with a strange resolve settling in my chest.

I can feel the eyes of the crowd on my back, their whispers and judgment following me like shadows.

The cool evening air hits my skin as I step outside, but it does little to calm the fire burning inside me.

How did everything fall apart so quickly?

Why did it have to be this way?

•°•°•°•°•°•°•°

"And you're sure he drugged you?" the officer asks, his expression serious.

"Yes, officer," I reply, my voice shaking. "He was the only one who offered me a drink. I’m certain it’s him."

"And you said your husband knew about this? Why would he do something so messed up to you?"

I swallow hard, struggling to stay calm. "He’s my ex-husband, and he admitted it himself. We have some… issues."

The officer nods, his tone firm. "Still doesn’t justify his actions. Don’t worry, ma'am, I’ll get to the root of this."

"Thank you, officer." I turn and walk out of the police station, feeling a strange relief that Frank will face justice. He won’t be drugging any other woman anytime soon.

As I leave, a hollow emptiness settles in me.

Where do I go from here?

For the past three years, my life has revolved around Deric, and now…

My phone chimes, pulling me from my thoughts. It’s a video message from an unknown number.

I hesitate but feel pushed to open it.

The video fills the screen, and my heart lunges into my throat.

Ava.

She’s tied to a tree, her face streaked with tears, her school uniform soaked like she’s been through a storm.

Bottles and snack wrappers litter the ground around her, and the crowd taunts her, laughing and pointing.

She keeps shaking her head, her eyes wide, pleading for them to stop. A bucket of muddy water is thrown on her, soaking her even more, her body trembling with shock and fear.

The laughter only gets louder.

My hands shake as I stare at the screen, panic rising in my chest.

Her face is covered in tears, her body shaking, and then—the screen goes black.

I blink, but nothing happens.

No sound. No movement.

Just darkness.

My heart stops, a scream tearing from my lips.

“Ava!”