When I Knew The Truth, I Left Him

Talia's POV: Ronan's words left me frozen in place, my mind going completely blank for a moment. "Ronan, what kind of psychological suggestion did you plant in Talia? She's more wrapped around your finger than anyone could ever be." Someone pressed curiously. "I bet even without hypnosis, she'd still throw herself at you like this." Ronan didn't care at all, his tone lazy and unconcerned. "People like her are starved for affection. In her head, we're already married." The group burst into laughter as if they'd heard the funniest joke. "Does she seriously think she'll actually end up marrying you someday?" "Ariana Vale comes back next month. Do you think Talia will still keep chasing Ronan once she finds out the truth?" Ronan drew out his words thoughtfully. "She's still useful for now. Even after Ariana gets back, none of you are to tell her the truth." "Got it. It's pretty entertaining watching her trail after you like a lost puppy anyway." Just on the other side of the door, their teasing and laughter rang out loud and clear. I dug my nails hard into my palms. No one knew how much I looked forward to every single night, to the dreams that waited for me there. In those dreams, Ronan would accept every part of me. He never broke a promise he made to me. He was so, so good to me. Slowly, the line between dream and reality blurred. I couldn't stop myself from pouring all that warmth and devotion from my dreams onto the real Ronan Hamilton standing right in front of me. Even though in the waking world, he barely spared me a glance... nothing like the man who loved me in my sleep. "Though I've got to ask... there are so many people chasing you. Why did you pick Talia out of everyone?" "You don't get it, do you? She's plain, unremarkable. There's no way you'd ever actually like someone like her." "Fair point. Who could fall for such a drab, quiet bookworm?" And they were right. I was ordinary, nothing special. Good grades were the only thing I had going for me. When I first dreamed of Ronan, I didn't think much of it. He was the most talked-about student on campus, admired by hundreds. Two of my roommates were huge fans of his and gushed about him nonstop back in our dorm. I figured I'd just heard his name so many times that my mind conjured him up. "Talia, why won't you look at me?" In the dream, Ronan looked at me with hurt, soft eyes. "Don't shut me out, my love." At those words, I blurted out without thinking. "You've got the wrong person." His voice dropped to a rough, trembling murmur. "Don't you want me anymore?" I jolted awake, my heart hammering against my ribs. From that day on, Ronan appeared in my dreams every single night. I needed money badly. Along with my academic scholarship, I'd applied for a need-based grant... but my spot had been taken by another student with powerful connections. "Is something wrong, my love?" Ronan asked gently, stepping closer. Growing up, I'd learned to swallow every hurt and grievance on my own. I was quiet and kept to myself. I had no friends, no one I could talk to. But this time, I let my guard down. Ronan pulled me tightly against his chest, rubbing my back slowly and gently. As the dreams grew more frequent and vivid, I started to lose track of what was real and what was not. My roommates were confused when they saw me chasing after Ronan and kindly told me I was only setting myself up for heartbreak. For a moment, I realized the Ronan in my dreams and the Ronan in real life were two completely different people, and I thought about stopping. But the second that thought crossed my mind, the Ronan in my dreams said softly, "I don't want to only see you when you're asleep anymore." Because of those words, I became the punchline of every joke, the girl who couldn't take a hint. And now I know the truth. I was never anything more than a test subject, a way for him to see if his hypnosis worked. How could I not hate him? Was my heart, my devotion, really so worthless that it could be tossed aside like nothing? Behind the door, the conversation dragged on. "Ronan... are you seriously planning to set Talia up with someone else?" Ronan let out a cold, sharp laugh. "Set her up? Who says she'd ever dare say yes?"