Yasmeen's legs shook beneath her as he loomed closer, his piercing gaze making her skin crawl. "Why do you hate me so much?" she demanded, her voice rising. "Why?"
Jayden's response was swift and brutal. He slammed her against the wall, his lips inches from her ear. "Your lips, your eyes, your hair... they remind me of her," he whispered, his breath sending shivers down her spine.
"Of Yasmeen Silver Kai," he yelled, his voice echoing off the walls. Yasmeen shivered, her back pressed against the wall as he came closer.
"It's only Yasmeen who can dance the _Creepy ballet dance_ when she's about to deal with someone," he said, his eyes glinting with a sinister light.
As Jayden's face drew closer, Yasmeen's mask began to slip, revealing a glimpse of her fresh skin. Yasmeen hated vanilla cake, and he knows that.
He took out the cake and brought it to her lips.Laila "Chew," he demanded, his voice cold and detached.Yasmeen's legs shook as she opened her mouth and chewed.
"Swallow," he demanded, his eyes never leaving hers.
Yasmeen swallowed, her neck reddening as she panted for air. Jayden's eyes widened in surprise as he saw the mask slipping, revealing Yasmeen's pretty face.
Anger swelling up is heart as he removed the mask. Yasmeen's eyes welled up with tears as she pleaded, "Please spare me, save me. I don't want to go to jail. I'm not at fault."
Tears ran down her face as she gazed up at Jayden, her eyes pleading for mercy, But his eyes splitting fire.
***
Yasmeen's life was a gilded cage, her every move controlled by her father, Silver Kai, the ruthless billionaire who ruled her world with an iron fist. As the daughter of a tech mogul, she attended Royal Bells College, where everyone trembled at her feet. But beneath the surface, she seethed with resentment. Her father's grip was suffocating, his guards cutting off the fingers of anyone who dared to touch her by mistake.
In the sterile halls of her school, Yasmeen found solace in one person - Mia Lucas, a brilliant student who became her unlikely friend. But amidst the sea of admirers, one boy caught her eye - Jayden Geraldo, a poor but talented student who excelled in basketball, music, and art. As he rose to fame, Yasmeen found herself drawn to him, and they began to secretly date.
Jayden was her sanctuary, teaching her to play basketball and guitar, and sharing passionate kisses on the rollercoaster. Their love was fierce and all-consuming, and Yasmeen bribed her guards to be with him. But their happiness was short-lived. Her father arranged her marriage to Damon Asher, a union that would secure his business empire.
Torn between her love for Jayden and her duty, Yasmeen's world came crashing down. The day of her arranged marriage, she failed to show up, and the next day, Jayden was gone. The pain of losing him was suffocating, and she was forced into a loveless marriage with Damon, who made her life a living hell. The wedding bells tolled for a nightmare that would haunt her forever. For three years she was stuck with an abusive husband, and now she is free, How did it happen?
***a month ago***
Yasmeen Kai trembled as she cracked eggs into the skillet, the sizzle of the pan a stark contrast to the turmoil brewing within her. The kitchen door swung open, and Damon's imposing figure filled the frame, his eyes blazing with a malevolent intensity. Her heart sank as she saw the belt coiled in his hand, like a snake ready to strike.
"How dare you?" he bellowed, the belt slicing through the air with a deafening crack. Yasmeen screamed, her body contorting in agony as she begged for mercy. The belt struck her face, the pain exploding like a supernova beneath her right eye. Her vision blurred, her knees buckling as she teetered on the edge of consciousness.
Damon's face twisted in a snarl as he turned to leave, the kitchen door slamming shut behind him. Yasmeen crumpled to the floor, her body shaking with sobs. The sound of high heels clicking on the tile floor heralded Mia's arrival.
"Too bad my man will always defend me," Mia chuckled, her voice dripping with malice. Yasmeen felt a surge of anger, but it was tempered by her fear and pain.
"You're evil," Yasmeen spat, her voice barely above a whisper. "You know I was in love with someone else, and yet you pushed me to marry Damon, when he was your lover." Yasmeen yelled why Mia's eyes glinted with a sinister light. "His parents chose you, who was I to deny that fact, Yasmeen Kai?" she whispered hauntingly. Prepare for the gala, Damon Asher's wifey," she mocked, her laughter echoing through the kitchen like a cruel taunt.
***
The grand gala was in full swing, with New York's corporate elite mingling amidst intricate decorations and impeccable ambiance. Champagne glasses clinked, and polite laughter filled the air.
Tonight was the night of reckoning, the culmination of a year's worth of ruthless competition.
The richest CEO of the year would be announced, and Yasmeen's family's legacy would either be solidified or left in tatters. As the emcee's voice boomed through the microphone, Yasmeen felt a sense of trepidation wash over her.
"Ladies and gentlemen, put your hands together as we announce the winner of the best company with the highest purchase... Jay's World!" The room erupted into applause, and Yasmeen watched in stunned silence as a young secretary from Jay's World accepted the award.
No company had ever beaten Yasmeen's family's conglomerates. The audience was abuzz with whispers and gasps, but Yasmeen's attention was riveted on the stage. The emcee's voice boomed once more, "And the CEO of the year goes to... Jayden Geraldo!"
The founder of Jay's World. The room exploded into screams and applause as Yasmeen's world came crashing down. Jayden, her first love, her only love, the one she thought was dead, stood before her.
His eyes, once warm and loving, now burned with an icy intensity. Yasmeen's legs trembled, her breath seized, as Jayden stepped forward, his confident stride devouring the distance. The past and present collided, leaving her breathless.