All That's Left Are Memories

Chapter 7 Considering the Deal

Cynthia's eyes widened with fury. Anger and humiliation churned in her chest as her fists clenched. Her whole body trembled with the effort of holding herself together.

Jessica noticed and smiled even wider. She leaned closer, her lips almost brushing Cynthia's ear as she lowered her voice. "Oh, right. He also said something else... Sleeping with an i***t is incredibly boring. And the little bit of money your family gave him? Not even close to covering his emotional damages." She laughed.

A resounding slap echoed through the garden. Jessica's head snapped to the side.

A bright red handprint bloomed across her pale cheek, and the ring on Cynthia's finger left a small cut that immediately began to bead with blood.

What happened next surprised everyone. Jessica didn't get angry. Instead, she suddenly acted like a completely different person.

She grabbed at her evening dress, tugging frantically at the fabric. "I'm sorry! I shouldn't have worn the same dress as you! I shouldn't have tried to steal your spotlight! I'll take it off right now! Please don't fire me! I really need this job!"

Before anyone could react, a suit jacket dropped over her shoulders.

Russell had rushed forward, wrapping the jacket around her almost naked body and pulling her behind him.

"Cynthia! Have you lost your mind?" he snapped. "Look at what you've done!"

Cynthia staggered back, stunned by the sudden turn of events. "I only slapped her. She started taking her clothes off herself. I didn't..."

"Enough!" Russell roared.

More and more people had gathered around them. Jessica trembled violently behind him. "No... It was my fault. I took it off myself. It has nothing to do with her. Please don't blame Ms. Parra."

Whispers began spreading through the crowd. "I knew it. Ms. Parra is probably jealous. Ms. Galvan is prettier and smarter than she is."

"That's just vicious. People who are both stupid and cruel are the worst!"

Every mean word landed in Cynthia's ears.

That was when she understood. This had been a setup. "You framed me!" she shouted, lunging forward and grabbing Jessica by the shoulders. "Why would you do that? I didn't do anything! Check the security footage!"

"Enough!" Russell barked again. "Haven't you embarrassed yourself enough tonight?"

The next second, a deafening buzz filled Cynthia's ears. Pain exploded across her face. She clutched her cheek in disbelief and stared at the man she had once loved more than anything.

"You hit me?"

Cynthia had grown up surrounded by privilege. She was the cherished girl of the Parra family. No one had ever dared lay a finger on her.

Even when she had been bullied at school, those people had only attacked her with cruel words, terrified of her family's background to ever get physical.

And yet the first, and only, person who had ever struck her was the man she had once given her whole heart to.

Russell had already lifted Jessica into his arms. At her words, he paused and glanced back. There was no pity in his eyes, only cold, unmistakable disgust.

"Yes," he said flatly. "I did."

"Cynthia, look at yourself. Do you even realize how vicious you've become?"

Later that night, Cynthia returned home. The house was dark. Her phone screen lit up suddenly in the silence. It was an i********: notification.

Jessica: The most important person is always right beside me.

The photo showed Russell draping his jacket over her shoulders.

Cynthia let out a quiet, self-mocking laugh before turning off the screen.

Of course, Russell wouldn't come.

She had thought things might stay this way until the cooling-off period ended.

But sometime after midnight, the front door burst open. Russell stormed in, fury radiating off him, his eyes bloodshot.

"Cynthia, was this your doing?" he demanded. "Mr. Dudley was still considering the deal, and now he's kicked me out completely!"