Jasmine was surprised to see her fiancé at Elysium hotel where she was meeting Director Jones . He was the director of the tv show that she would be starring in, in four months time. They had met to discuss the show and when they'll be on set. So, running into Daniel here was the least she had expected. Curious, she picked up her phone and texted him. "Hey babe, Where are you at?"….. she waited for few seconds and his reply came back almost immediately. "I'm still at the office. See you soon love". Her heart skipped a bit, she didn't expect him to lie. Doubts crept in and questions swirled in her head- what was he doing here? Why did he have to lie? she was wondering in her mind.
She decided to lurk around and wait, wanting to see what he was there for and why he had to lie.
She had been with Daniel for six years and he had never told her a lie, or maybe, she never had time to find out. She had probably been too busy with work and working on her public image as actress, to see through the deceits and lies.
They were supposed to go see a movie later today. They had been quite busy over the last couple of weeks and they had both decided to spend more time with each other regardless of their busy schedules as they'd be getting married soon.
As she waited in the dimly lit hallway, her anger simmered, ready to boil over. After what felt like an eternity, he finally emerged from the room, a look of nonchalance on his face. She strode towards him, her heels clicking on the floor, and demanded to know why he'd lied about being at the office. But before he could respond, a figure appeared behind him - Ivy, her own sister, looking sheepish and guilty. The sight of them together sent shockwaves through her body, freezing her in place. Her mind struggled to process the betrayal, the deceit, the sheer audacity of it all. How could her own sister do this to her? And how could the man she loved be so reckless with her trust?
She stood fixated to the point, she opened her mouth to say something, but words failed her. How could he? She had loved this man with her whole life and she was looking forward to spending the rest of her life with him.
Then her shock suddenly turned into anger, she was mad with fury, she was mad at herself. She had been foolishly loving this man for six whole years!. How could she have not suspected anything all those years?. She wanted to cry but the tears were not coming. Actually, she fought back the tears. She can't let these people see her vulnerability, she can't let them see her break down, not now.
Daniel's expression remained eerily calm, a stark contrast to the turmoil brewing within her. His eyes betrayed a flicker of irritation, mixed with a hint of relief that the charade was finally over. He seemed almost...unbothered by the revelation, as if he'd been waiting for her to discover his secret. The mask of the loving fiancé slipped, revealing a glimpse of the man who had been tolerating their relationship out of obligation and convenience. His gaze held a mixture of annoyance and liberation, suggesting he'd been suffocating under the weight of their engagement, counting down the days until he could break free. The thought sent a chill down her spine. Had he ever truly loved her, or had she just been a means to an end?
A stinging slap landed on his cheek, the sound momentarily sounding through the hallway. "How could you?" she demanded, her voice trembling with rage and hurt. "Why her? Why my sister?
His gaze locked onto hers, and she detected a faint sneer on his lips, as if her anger amused him. The corners of his mouth curled up slightly, but his eyes remained cold, devoid of any warmth or remorse. He didn't flinch, didn't apologize, didn't even attempt to justify his actions. Instead, his eyes seemed to say, 'I'll let the slap pass, but don't think about trying that again.' The silence between them was oppressive, heavy with unspoken words and unresolved tension. She demanded answers, her voice shaking with rage and hurt. "Why did you have to humiliate me like this?" she asked, her words barely above a whisper, as if she feared the truth. When he remained silent, she raised her voice, shouting, "Why?!" The sound echoed through the hallway, a raw expression of her pain and betrayal. Her hand flew through the air, intent on landing another slap, but it hung suspended mid-air. Daniel's grip was like a vice, holding her wrist in a crushing grasp. She struggled against his hold, her eyes blazing with fury. "Let me go!" she screamed, her voice hoarse from shouting. With a sudden jerk, he released her, his eyes flashing with anger. "I don't have anything to say to you," he spat, his voice dripping with disdain. "You're not even worth my explanation." The words cut deep into her already tight chest, and she felt a stinging sensation, as if the hottest and sharpest iron had pierced through.
Her heart skipped a beat, then plummeted, as his words cut through her like a knife. The pain was palpable, a heavy weight that threatened to suffocate her. She had secretly hoped he'd break down, apologize, and beg for forgiveness. She'd envisioned tears streaming down his face, his voice cracking with emotion as he pleaded for another chance. But instead, his mocking tone and dismissive words left her reeling. The disparity between her fantasy and reality was jarring, making her question everything she'd thought she knew about him. How could she have been so blind? How could she have wasted years on someone who didn't value her love? The memories of their time together flashed before her eyes, and she saw them in a new light - the laughter, the tears, the whispered promises. It was all a lie, a carefully constructed facade. Her thoughts drifted to her sister, and a bitter taste filled her mouth. It was as if her own flesh and blood had stabbed her in the back. Memories of her mother's favoritism flooded her mind , the way she'd always praised her sister, the way she'd subtly belittled her own accomplishments. She recalled the countless times she'd tried to impress her mother, to earn her approval, only to be met with lukewarm praise. The realization dawned on her that she'd been living her life according to someone else's expectations. Her sister's betrayal was the final straw. Something inside her snapped, and she felt a newfound determination rising up. She was done being the shadow of her sister, done being the second choice. She was done being a doormat, done being treated like she was worthless. As she stood there, frozen in shock and hurt, he pushed her aside, his eyes fixed on Ivy. He seemed eager to leave with her sister, to escape the uncomfortable scene. The gesture was a harsh reminder of his true priorities. But she refused to let him go, her hand reaching out to grasp his arm, holding him back. "Did you ever love me?"she asked, her voice was low, as though she was whispering . The question hung in the air, a desperate plea for truth. Her eyes searched his face, hoping to find some glimmer of sincerity, some hint of remorse. But his expression remained unreadable, leaving her wondering if she'd been living a lie all along. The silence between them was oppressive, heavy with unspoken words and unresolved tension. She waited with bated breath for his response, her heart pounding in her chest.
Instead of giving an answer, he jerked his arm off her and left, just like that. She watched their retreating back as the tears that threatened to fall came streaming down her cheeks. She didn't fight it back this time. She let it out.