Chapter 3

The sound echoed through the room as my palm connected with Clara's cheeks. Her head snapped to the side, a shocked gasp escaping her lips.

A dark viscous satisfaction curled inside me at the sight of my stunned expression.

But before I could say another word, Nicholas retaliate the slap back at me. “Enough “ he shouted at me .

I stared at him as I held my face, my breath caught in my chest.

And in that moment, I saw it, the truth I had been too blind to see before.

Nich wasn't sorry.

He wasn't ashamed..

He had never loved me. Not the way I had loved him.

Clara also holding her cheek, then smiled, she actually smiled like she was enjoying this. “You should leave iris, you don't belong here.”

My stomach twisted.

She was right, I didn't belong here.

Not in this house.

Not with this man.

Not in a life that had never really been mine to begin with.

Slowly, I pried my hand from my face, my face has already become pale red.

Without another word, I stormed toward my wardrobe, my chest rising and falling with ragged breath. Every step felt like fire under my skin, anger curling around my veins like a slow burning fuse.

I needed to leave now.

Yanking open the wardrobe, I grabbed my biggest suitcase and threw it onto the bed. The same bed which Nicholas and I had once laid together, whispered secrets, made love. The same bed he just defiled with Clara.

I swallowed the lump in my throat, forcing the tears back. Not now, not for them.

Clothes were pulled off my hanger , tossed into the suitcase with no care. I didn't think about what I was talking, I just grabbed whatever my hands founds shoes, jeans, dresses. It didn't matter. I just needed to go.

I reached for the drawer, pulling it open so hard it nearly came off the hinges. Insides were memory, out wedding bands, frames photos, a love letter Nich had once written to me. Lies all of it .”

My finger hovered over the letter for a second. Then, with a sharp inhale I crushed it in my first and throw it across the room.

A small, bitter laughed escaped me.”what a joke”

Slamming the suitcase shut, I zipped it up and pulled it off the bed my arms trembling from the weight, not just of the luggage but of everything.

When I steppped out of the bedroom, dragging suitcase behind me, I half expected Nicholas to stop me to chase after me. To say something anything.

But no.

He was still in bed with Clara.

Causally Lying there, as if my leaving meant nothing.

Clara smirked at me, completely unashamed. Nich just watched, expression unreadable, arms drapped behind his head.

That hurt more than anything.

I clenched my jaw. Fine. If he wasn't going to fight for me, then I wouldn't fight for him either.

Without a word, I turned and walked out of the house, slamming the door behind me.

And just like that , I left behind the man , I had given my heart to .

The man who never deserved it in the first places.

I gripped the steering wheel so tightly my knuckle turned white, my foot pressing harder on the accelerator as if I could outrun the pain clawing at my chest. But no matter how fast I drove, the betrayal replayed in my mind like a cruel never ending reel.

Nicholas. Clara. Together. In our bed.in our home. On our anniversary.

I blinked rapidly, willing back the year threatening to spill. Not while driving. Not yet, I tried to hold the tears.

But where was i even going.

There was no place for me to go.

The thought of my parent flickered through my mind.

I could go to them. They were my family after all and I was their only child. Maybe they would take me in, offer me comfort, a place to figure what to do next.

But then, the bitter truth crashed over me like a wave.

They were the one who sold me if to Nicholas family.

Not for love, not for happiness. For business.

For their reputation. Their status.

My finger trembled as I exhaled shakily, shaking my head of the thought . No they didn't car then. They wouldn't care now.

Swallowing the lump in my throat, I pulled out my phone and dialed the only person who had ever truly been there for me.

She picked up in the second ring. “Iris? What's up?”

“Cecilia, I breathed when she picked up. “Are you still at work?”

“Yeah, but I can leave what's wrong?” Her voice sharpened, instantly alert. Cecilia knew me too well, se could hear it.

I swallowed, “I need to stay with you for a while”

A pause. Then without hesitation “of course come home, I'll be leaving the office now”

I nodded, even though she couldn't see me. “Thank you.”

Hanging up I forced myself to focus on the road, on the city lights flickering past me. I didn't know how I made it to Cecilia place without crashing, but somehow i did

By the time I pulled into her driveway, my body drained.

I got out of the car and dragged my suitcase to her doorstep, standing there like a lost child. The evening air was cold, but I barely felt it.

Minutes passed. Then headlight flashed down the street.

Cecilia car pulled up, and the moment she stepped out, our eyes met.

And just like that I broke.

A strangled sob tore from my throat as tears spilled down my face. My cisn blurred as I clutched my chest, gasping, unable to hold it anymore Cecilia was in front door f me in seconds “ Iris”

I didn't let her finish .

I collapsed into her arms, my entire body shaking as sob after sob wracked through me.

She held me tight, one hand stroking my hair, the other gripping me like she'd never let go. “I got you,” she murmured. “I got you”

I finally let myself fall apart.