CHAPTER 4
1070 Words
Rafael didn’t say anything when he drove me to a nearby café. I didn’t ask either. My head was still pounding from everything that just happened. My chest burned with anger and confusion.
When we stopped, I reached for the door, but he stopped me with a hand on my arm. I looked at hm, raising an eyebrow?
“Wait a bit,” he said calmly.
I just leaned back in my seat, too tired to argue. I closed my eyes, trying to calm myself, but the moment I did, the memories came rushing in.
Marcus. Clarisse. Those two vermin!
The way they looked at me back there… like I was the enemy. Like I was some crazy woman trying to ruin their perfect little lives.
How dare they! Without me, would they even have a chance to be so proud of themselves?
And that b***h played the victim so well, crying like she was the one who’d been hurt. And Marcus? He didn’t even hesitate. He rushed to her, held her like she was the one who needed protection. He didn’t even glance my way.
But despite everything, I still can’t help but…feel this hollow sadness. Just…why did he do it? Wasn’t I enough?
I gritted my teeth as the rage bubbled up. My hands clenched into fists on my lap. I wanted to punch something. Break something. Scream until my lungs gave out.
But instead, I stayed still. Swallowed it all down like I always did. I’m really stupid. I can’t even let my feelings out.
A sudden knock on the window pulled me out of my thoughts.
Rafael opened the door, smiling like he hadn’t just witnessed my world fall apart.
I frowned and got out of the car without saying a word.
The café was quiet. “Where is everyone?” I asked, stopping at the entrance.
“I booked the whole place,” he said casually.
I turned to him, giving him an odd look. “That’s too much. I’m not some important person.”
“I didn’t do it for you,” he said with a smirk. “I did it for me.”
I glared at him, but he just chuckled and walked in. Tsk! This man is really something.
I followed him and sat across from him at a window seat. A server came out and placed two cups of coffee in front of us, then disappeared.
I wrapped my hands around the warm cup, trying to steady my shaking fingers.
“Why were you there?” I asked quietly, looking up to meet his gaze that was already on me.
“To save you of course,” He replied, sipping his coffee.
I scoffed. “I didn’t need saving.”
He raised an eyebrow. “Really? Because the police looked ready to drag you out in handcuffs.”
I didn’t respond. I just stared out the window, watching cars pass by.
He wasn’t wrong though. I bet if he didn’t came earlier I would have probably spent the night behind bars.
And I hated that he was right.
I was stuck. Trapped. Every move I made only made things worse. I thought I could handle this, that I was strong enough to fight back. But I was wrong.
I felt so small. So stupid.
Marcus didn’t even defend me. He stood by her.
I tried not to cry, but the tears came anyway. My eyes burned, and I quickly raised my hand to wipe them away, but before I could, Rafael caught my wrist.
His hand was warm. His thumb gently brushing over my skin.
“You don’t always have to be strong,” he said. “Silent battles are admirable. But everyone needs someone to lean on sometimes. It’s not weakness.”
I looked at him.
His eyes were soft. Calm. How could he give such an expression to someone he barely even knows?
For a second, I wanted to believe him. I wanted to just let go and rest in that warmth. Let him take over. Carry the weight I’d been holding on my own.
But then I remembered who I was. What this was. And most especially who this man in front of me was.
I pulled my hand away and frowned.
“Did you talk to the police?” I asked.
He nodded. “I made sure they let you go.” I stared at him. “Why?”
He didn’t speak right away. He looked down, then back at me. “I have a proposal,” he finally spoke.
I frowned. “What kind of proposal?”
“I want to help you get revenge.” I scoffed at him. “I can handle it.”
“No,” he said firmly. “You can’t. They tampered with the evidence. Paid off people. If you try to fight this alone, they’ll bury you.
And if that happens, you’ll lose more than your case. You’ll lose your career.”
His words hit me hard and my heart sank.
I worked so hard to become the kind of lawyer who helps the helpless. Who fights for truth, for people who can’t fight for themselves.
And now I might lose it all because I trusted the wrong people.
I stayed quiet. I couldn’t even argue. And I know he saw it in my face.
“Why help me?” I asked after a while.
“Because this benefits both of us,” he said. “You want them to suffer. I want them gone.”
His tone changed. It was no longer soft or charming. It was cold. Sharp. Like he meant every single word.
I swallowed. “I don’t want to destroy them. I just want them out of my life.”
He clicked his tongue. “Well that’s kind of you. I can do that. Easily. And I’ll take care of the mess they made for you.”
I looked at him, hesitating.
This wasn’t what I wanted. I didn’t want help. I didn’t want to owe anyone. But right now, I didn’t see any other way.
I narrowed my eyes at him, something ticking inside me seeing the smile he’s wearing. “What’s the catch?”
He snickered at the question like he has been expecting me to ask it and leaned forward, staring straight into my eyes.
“Hmmm…Let me think….How about. You?”
- Writer
