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Meeting a stranger

Ivery Clark POV

"What the fuck, Fayre? Let go! Your jealousy has rotted you to the core. You wanted John? You snatched him. You’ve spent your whole life stealing from others—first happiness, then love. But it’s not enough for you, is it? You’re so empty inside, you have to ruin people to feel whole!”

"You bitch!—"

“What the hell is going on here?”

Both of us froze, panting from the struggle, as a voice cut through the chaos—a mix of shock and fury.

Fayre’s grip on my arm loosened, and she immediately crumpled to the floor with a dramatic gasp, clutching at her wrist like I’d just broken it.

"John. She attacked me!" Fayre wailed, her voice cracking with perfectly timed tears. "I was just trying to talk to her, and she…"

John's eyes fell on me like a whiplash.

"Come with me."John’s hand gripped my wrist like iron as he pulled me through the ornate double doors of the hall.

My heels scraped against the polished marble floor, my protests swallowed by the echoes of Fayre’s theatrical sobs behind us.

"Let go! I have nothing to talk to you." I struggled to free myself, but his grip only tightened, his silence more crushing than any insult he could’ve thrown.

John’s hand latched onto my arm as I tried to storm away, his grip insistent and firm. "Ivery, stop," he said sharply.

I yanked my arm free, glaring at him. “Haven’t you done enough already, John? What could you possibly want now?” My voice cracked, but I couldn’t tell if it was from anger or heartbreak. Probably both.

“I need to explain,” he started, running a hand through his hair like this was hard for him, as though he was the one wronged here.

I laughed bitterly, shaking my head. “Explain? Explain what, John? How have you been lying to me for so many months? How you paraded me around while sleeping with my school bully?"

He flinched and his lips pressed into a tight line. “Why are you treating me so coldly? Are you seriously mad about what happened today?"

What..? This bastard!

"Look, I don't have a choice, okay?” His tone sharpens, almost accusing. "You clearly know what I have been through, Ivery. I had to fix my life too."

I let out a bitter laugh, crossing my arms tighter. "Yes, you fixed your life. By cheating on me. With my high school bully, of all people."

He has the nerve to roll his eyes, shaking his head like I’m the one overreacting. “Oh, come on, she is not that bad. Also she’s from a well-connected family, her dad is a boss of the company I work in. I had to think about my future, too.”

His voice cracks, sounding almost desperate, as if he’s the one carrying the weight of a thousand disappointments.

"I was tired of living like this. I hated being constantly under someone else’s thumb, watching other people get everything I ever wanted. Don’t I deserve a chance too?”

"I’ve spent my whole life suffering, working like a donkey with no success or with no proper background. I have worked hard for what? Just to be someone else’s tool, someone else’s… slave?"

He took a step almost leaving no space to move, eerily cornering me. "I wanted more, Ivery. I wanted to actually live, to have a life with power, with choices. I wanted control over my own life."

"And Fayre — she could give me that. She has connections, status, money… everything I’ve never had. She’s a way out. Can’t you see?”

John sighed heavily, his frustration clear. “I’m sorry things turned out this way, but...you know how important this position is for me, Ivery. This isn’t about love. This is about survival—about my career, my future.”

“Your future?” I repeated, my voice rising. “You mean the future I supported for years? The future I helped you build, sacrificing my time, my energy, my everything for you?" Tears brimmed at the edge of my eyes.

I sacrificed my whole life for him, I even took a part time job for him, paid his college bills and worked hard for him, daily encouraged him for exams. And now Fayre is more important to him?

“How long?” I repeated, louder this time, the words trembling with all the hurt and betrayal coursing through me. “How long have you been seeing her behind my back? It's just not months, isn't it? It's Years.”

His face darkened, guilt flashing across his features for the briefest moment before he masked it with frustration. “It doesn’t matter—”

“Doesn’t matter?” I laughed, the sound bitter and raw, echoing against the empty terrace. “Of course, it doesn’t matter to you. You weren’t the one who spent three years loving someone who didn’t love them back. You weren’t the one buying gifts and planning an anniversary dinner while your boyfriend was sneaking around with your bully.

John flinched at the word but said nothing. His silence spoke louder than any explanation ever could.

"Fucking bastard. No wonder you're perfect for each other. One selfish coward deserves another.”

Before he could respond, the door creaked open behind us, and Fayre stepped into view, her face a mask of innocent concern.

“What’s taking so long?”

"Nothing. I'm done, let's get inside." John looked at me one last time and walked away.

He crossed the terrace toward Fayre, who stood waiting with her arms crossed and a smug smile tugging at her lips.

I stood frozen, my chest heaving as I fought to keep the tears brimming in my eyes from falling.

The wind whipped through the cold night air, stinging my skin, but it was nothing compared to the ache splitting me apart from the inside.

So this was it.

Three years. Gone. Just like that.

The tears I’d been holding spilled over as I stumbled toward the stairs. My breath came in jagged gasps as I moved farther from the warmth of the building, away from the clinking glasses and soft laughter that had no place in my shattered world.

Each step felt heavier than the last.

I had loved him. Not just for three years but with every ounce of my being, through every late-night conversation, every stolen kiss, every promise that he’d always be there for me.

And now, standing on the edge of my pain, I realized that love had been my undoing.

My headache was piercing through and I could barely think straight.

Nearby opulent restroom was a stark contrast to the chaos unraveling inside me.

My heels clicked hollowly against the polished tiles as I stumbled toward the sink, my legs barely holding me upright.

I turned on the tap, letting the cold water flow over my trembling hands. It felt sharp against my skin, jolting, grounding—but it wasn’t enough to quell the storm raging within me.

Everything felt numb. I felt lonely, I wanted to cry my heart out. No matter how much I wanted to concentrate on the present I couldn't. His voice, the memories with him were haunting me throughout the journey.

Being fooled by your most important person who you solely relied on hurts the most. The pain hidden in it was the most raw one.

How did my life turn into this?

Knock Knock

There was a sudden knock on the door, interrupting my crying. I turned my head exhausted.

"Who is it?" I whimpered and opened it. And in a second, a tall figure overshadowed me.

Oh fuck, I have never seen a man so tall and with such a good physique. I couldn't see his face properly since my eyes were blurred with tears.

"Are you okay, miss? I heard you crying." The stranger's voice was the most deep, masculine voice I had ever heard.

His voice was so deep that everything in me vibrated, tingling my core.

Fuck...!

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