Chapter 06
954 Words
Amanda sat and watched silently as her boyfriend danced with another woman. She didn't question it, though she only wondered how stupid she was. She was always the third wheel in her own relationship. She had been selfish to herself. Forcing a man to fall in love with her, when clearly his heart was taken somewhere else. And now she will give him what his heart desires. And watch him crash and burn just like love had done to her. Let him feel what she felt at the end of her life.
Their time was coming very soon. And soon, they would be on their knees begging for her mercy. Now she was no longer the stupid one. She was willing to play their game, but on her own terms. It's certainly not a game she intends to win, she only wants to destroy that even when they quit no one can recognize them.
“Care to dance?” she heard a deep voice above her. She looked up from her drink to see Jayden offering her a hand.
“Of course,” she immediately agreed, gulping down the last sip of her champagne.
“How are you feeling?” Jayden asked as he swayed her to the dance floor. They both started swaying to the gentle rhythm of the band, their movements smooth and swift.
“I feel really grateful. I mean, to be here with all these people fundraising money for the orphans. It's been amazing,” Amanda answered, his touch sending shivers all over her body as his hand landed on her back.
“I'm glad you enjoyed it. Though you kind of looked a bit distant. Is everything okay?” Jayden asked, a little concerned.
“Did I? I'm fine. It's not really something I can't handle. Anyway, what's going on with you? We never really got a chance to chat since our last… encounter,” Amanda probed, trying to get to know better the man her grandmother really wanted her to marry. In her past life, she had pushed him away to be with Robert, but that was one of the mistakes she regretted.
“What else? Taking care of family business. And my parents are on my neck about finally settling down,” he responded as they both continued to gently sway to the beat.
“I mean, you are successful, handsome, and clearly kind-hearted. If I were your parents, I'd be too worried about what's wrong with my son,” Amanda teased, her tone more flirtatious than she had intended.
“Two people pretending to care for each other for convenience? It's not really my thing,” he answered, his tone hinting at coldness.
“Are you saying you don't believe true love exists?” Amanda asked, curious. After all, there was a huge mystery behind the man who stood in front of her. No one really knew anything about him, only rumors spread by the internet. He had kept his life private from everyone, like a closed book.
“I just think it's stupid and foolish,” he answered. That hit a little too close to home for Amanda. Wasn’t love the reason she made all those stupid decisions? The reason she put herself last and her dreams on hold to impress a man, only to be betrayed in the end?
“Well, maybe it only makes sense with the right person,” Amanda replied.
“Like you and Robert?” Jayden's tone hinted at jealousy. Maybe all this “love is stupid” talk was just a facade, a wall he built to protect himself.
Though nothing about Robert's love with Amanda made any sense. Here he was dancing and laughing, teasing another woman, and here she was, her heart beating faster at the touch of another man.
Amanda let out a little laugh that sounded more like a scoff. “Are you threatened? The man who could get anything he wanted?”
“I don't know what you’re talking about,” he responded as he twirled her around in a full circle. The spin caused their bodies to crash into each other. So close they could feel each other's pulsating heartbeats. So close their faces were only a few inches away. Her eyes fell into his deep blue ones, like a calm ocean under the moonlight. Though so calm, they held so many secrets underneath. They pulled her in like a magnet. Her world stopped for a moment. The music slowly faded into the background.
“Uhmm. I… I have to check my phone. I promised to call my sister and update her,” she suddenly pulled back, rubbing her palms, which were beginning to sweat against her dress. Her heart thumped so hard that it threatened to break free from her chest.
“Uh. Yes, of course. Uhm… thank you for the dance,” Jayden mumbled too, as reality finally hit them both.
They both walked to her desk. Amanda picked up her phone. When she unlocked it, her heart immediately dropped to the floor. She saw multiple missed calls from Jennifer’s doctor.
“Oh my gosh. Oh my gosh. I need to go to the hospital,” Amanda said in a panicked voice.
She wondered what had happened all of a sudden. She didn’t remember Jennifer having any complications this particular night. She had been there the whole evening taking care of her.
“I'll drive you. My ride is already waiting at the door,” Jayden offered.
“Alright, let's go!” There was urgency in her voice as she rushed out of the gala, praying nothing terrible had happened to her sister. She just couldn't afford to lose her again.
- Writer
