Her Heartbreak to Happily Ever After

Chapter 5

"Walking away like this won’t make you any better, Miel. Deep down, don’t you know what a loser you are?"

Ethan’s voice cut through the air, cold and sharp.

Miel froze mid-step. Her heart pounded in her ears, but she didn’t turn around. She couldn’t. If she looked at him now, she might actually fall apart.

"I mean, seriously," he went on, his tone dripping with mockery. "Throwing a tantrum like this? Ripping the cheque? You think it makes you the bigger person?"

Her fingers curled into fists. 'Don’t turn around. Don’t let him get to you.' She chanted within her mind like a mantra. But it was hard—too hard—when his words felt like thousands of knives digging under her skin.

After not getting any response from Miel, Ethan sneered. He couldn't let Miel go away humiliating him. He should let the whole Trinity city know that Miel was the one at fault. He looked around to see the murmuring upper-class people of Trinity City. He just needed a bit more push to get his victory.

Maybe, if he performed well enough, Eli would put good words to her dad and his promotion would be smoother. That was why she was the one who invited Miel here without informing him. To enjoy a good show and get proof that he was faithful enough to ditch every piece of his past.

Ethan figuring out Elina's plan sneered within his mind. 'If you want to see a good fantasy drama, I will give you one'

He focused entirely on Miel. He walked slowly towards Miel seeing Miel not moving an inch.

"You’re proving my point, Miel," Ethan taunted with extra vigor. "You knew very well that none would want an ugly and backdated woman like you. You did these willingly to make me grateful to you. But, what matters most to me is having a loving girlfriend not a caretaker for my family. You never loved me. If you did, you wouldn’t be acting like some bitter, materialistic woman."

Ethan paused for a bit as he looked down to show the whole room how unfair it was to him those years he was with Miel. He sighed a bit and spoke out slowly. "We could’ve ended everything on a good note, but no… I guess it’s easier to play the victim, right?"

Her chest tightened. 'Is he serious right now?' Her thoughts were a total mess. She didn't know how she was so blind, not to see his real nature.

Her vision blurred with unshed tears. 'I gave you everything. And this is what I get?'

Out of the corner of her eye, she saw her—Elina. Ethan’s perfect pretty fiancée. She stood near the entrance, pretending not to care, but her gaze never left them. 'Is that why he’s doing this?' Trying to rip her apart in front of Elina just to make himself look like the better man?

Her nails dug into her palms. She used the pain to hold on to her last bit of sanity.

'Hold it together, Miel. Don’t let him see you break.'

But just when the lump in her throat felt too heavy—when the world around her started to blur dangerously—a warmth enveloped her suddenly.

An arm—solid, steady—wrapped around her shoulders, pulling her into the warmth of a strong chest.

Before she could react, a low voice murmured near her ear. "It’s okay, Miel. I’ve got you now."

Her heart skipped. 'Wait… What?'

The familiar scent of sandalwood and something clean washed over her senses. Her breath hitched as she thought of a familiar person.

'Kyle?'

She glanced up to check if it was an illusion. Her cheek brushed against the soft fabric of his black shirt. But when she saw that face she was sure of his identity.

He is Kyle Watson, Amy's Younger Brother. The boy barely talked with her whenever they met at Amy's house a few years ago.

Kyle’s face was sharper now—older. The boy she remembered was gone, replaced by a man who stood taller, broader, with dark hair that curled slightly at the edges. He met her gaze with a warmth that was comforting her in this mess.

She wanted to ask if Amy sent him here, but no sound came out of her throat. She felt too tired to ask any questions. What would she do even if he knew the answer? Just let her take a break from all the storm going on with this supposed fancy Ambrose date.

Kyle didn't let Miel go, as he didn't sense any discomfort in her. He just embraced her to make her feel protected and comfortable.

"What the hell—" Ethan’s voice snapped, cutting through the air like a whip. His entire body stiffened as he locked eyes on Kyle. His jaw clenched, but there was something else—a hint of panic beneath his anger.

Kyle didn’t flinch. He barely acknowledged Ethan. Instead, he turned Miel slightly in his arms shifting her to a more comfortable position, his dark eyes scanning her face like he was trying to read all the grievances Miel faced here.

"You okay?" His voice was soft—too soft after the verbal wrecking Ethan had just delivered.

Miel swallowed hard, struggling to find her voice. "I…" She found it hard to even utter a word.

Kyle didn’t wait for an answer. He tucked a stray strand of hair behind her ear, his touch too soft and deliberately slow—like he wanted Ethan to see every second of it.

And oh, Ethan saw.

His fists clenched at his sides, knuckles white. "Who the hell do you think you are?" His voice was low and dangerous—like he was trying to hold it together for something. Maybe it was for Elina or for the position he was going to get after making plans for so long.

Kyle lifted his gaze—cool, composed, completely unaffected by the venom in Ethan’s tone. "Me?" He let out a soft, mocking chuckle. "I’m the guy who will gonna treasure what you were too stupid to hold onto."

Miel felt Ethan’s fury crackle across the air, but Kyle didn’t flinch. If anything, he looked… amused.

"You think you’re better than me?" Ethan snapped, his voice rising.

Kyle laughed—actually laughed—soft and smooth, like Ethan wasn’t even a threat. "I don’t need to think. I know." He leaned in just slightly, his voice dropping lower. "Because only a complete i***t would throw away a woman like Miel."

Miel’s heart slammed against her ribs, too loud, too fast. 'What is happening right now? How is he so good with these words as if he is saying the truth?'

Ethan’s face darkened with a flush of anger and something else—something very very subtle. Jealousy.

"Don’t act like you know anything about us," he snapped, his voice laced with venom. "She never even let me touch her in five years of our relationship. What makes you think you’ll be any different?"

Miel’s heart stopped. 'Did he—did he really just say that?'

But Kyle? He didn’t flinch. He didn’t even blink. If anything, his smile deepened—dangerously slow, like he was going to kill Ethan with his smile.

"Maybe…" Kyle leaned in slightly, his voice just loud enough for Ethan— Elina, and the whole room—to hear. "Or maybe you just didn’t know how to handle a real woman."