Chapter 5
954 Words
She tried desperately to calm herself down. She couldn't hide her emotions, staring at Lillian with eyes full of shock and pain. "Lillian, first of all, congratulations on your upcoming wedding. And also, congratulations on being the most shameless woman in the world. The word 'friend'—I can't bear it, and you don't deserve it. I wish you eternal happiness."
Melina finished speaking and stood up to leave. Lillian merely gave a cold laugh and continued sipping her coffee. As Melina exited the café, she took deep breaths of the outside air, her heart aching intensely, yet no tears fell.
She wandered aimlessly through the streets, her mind filled with images of Adrian: his seductive look when drinking, his sexy demeanor when smoking, his cool detachment when silent. The deeper these memories were etched, the more intense the pain.
Unknowingly, she found herself at the plaza. She collapsed onto a bench, too weak to move. Her phone in her bag kept ringing, but she didn't notice. She looked up at the sky, crying out in her heart: Adrian, you bastard, how could you forget me and all our memories so completely?
The phone kept ringing persistently. Finally, Melina heard it and struggled out of her painful thoughts, pulling out her phone to answer with a weak "Hello?"
"Where are you? Why didn't you pick up sooner? Do you know how worried I was?"
It was her brother, Steve Harper. Melina's voice choked up as she whispered, "Steve."
"Where are you? Give me your location."
Melina looked up and realized she was at the plaza. "I'm at the fountain in the plaza."
"Wait for me." Steve hung up the phone.
Melina sat there listlessly, waiting, too exhausted to move. After about twenty minutes, she saw Steve hurrying toward her.
From a distance, Steve could see something was wrong with Melina. He sat down beside her, frowning. "What's going on? You look like the world is ending."
Melina's dull eyes gazed at Steve as she asked, despondently, "Steve, am I a failure as a person?"
Betrayed by a friend, the person she loved was getting married. Wasn't that a failure?
Steve looked at the pained Melina and thought of the news about Adrian marrying Lillian. He knew Melina had always liked Adrian, though he never understood why. He only knew how obsessed Melina was with Adrian.
Adrian was from a different world. Seeing someone like him even once was challenging. Melina worked at a bar Adrian frequented, sneaked into events he attended, worked as a hostess at groundbreaking ceremonies, and served at banquets—all just to see him. She was that foolish, a silly girl.
Now, Adrian was getting married. The blow to her must be immense. Lillian, a wealthy classmate, knowing Adrian wasn't surprising, but getting to the point of marriage was unexpected.
"It's because of him, isn't it?"
Melina hadn't meant to cry, but the more painful it got, the harder it was to hold back. Steve's question opened the floodgates, and she wept silently, then sobbed, and finally cried uncontrollably.
Steve held Melina as she cried, letting her vent her anguish.
Melina's sobs were heartbreaking. "Steve, he's getting married, to another woman... How could he forget me so completely? I love him so much. How could he marry someone else..."
Steve remained silent, knowing that now was not the time for words. All he needed to do was listen, to her pain, to the sound of her tears...
In a five-star hotel, a long-haired woman stood by a large floor-to-ceiling window. A man wrapped his arms around her waist from behind, nibbling gently on her earlobe. "Are you really breaking up with me?"
The woman adjusted her hair and looked out the window. "Yes, I'm getting married, so we can't be together anymore."
The man suddenly became agitated, gripping her shoulders with displeasure in his eyes. "Lillian, we've been together for two years. Why didn't you choose me? Is it because I'm not as wealthy as him? Just give me two more years..."
Lillian frowned slightly, giving a cold laugh. "What's wrong with you? Didn't we agree from the beginning that this was just physical? Don't break the rules. I'm only interested in him."
"A physical relationship? Fine." The man laughed, pulling Lillian into his arms. "Since we started with a physical relationship, let's end it that way. It seems fitting."
He kissed her harshly, with punishment and madness. Lillian resisted weakly before they engaged in a heated struggle. He carried her to the bed, yanking off his tie and clothes, pressing her beneath him, tearing at her clothes, and taking her with a ferocity.
Lillian gradually succumbed under him. Let it end tonight, she thought. After tonight, she will only be Adrian's woman. The man before her would become a part of her past...
Lillian had been riding high recently. Born into a good family, and now about to marry the CEO of Chambers Group, she couldn't be happier. She had many suitors, but few were as young, handsome, and capable as Adrian.
On her day off, Lillian woke up late. Just as she finished freshening up, the doorbell rang. She thought it was Adrian and opened the door eagerly, only to find a mail carrier instead.
"Are you Miss Lillian?"
"I am."
"There's a package for you. Please sign here."
"Okay."
Lillian signed and took the package inside, curious. Who could have sent this? Perhaps Adrian was being mysterious? She smiled and opened the package on the sofa.
As soon as she saw the contents, her smile vanished, replaced by a pale, horrified expression. It was... a stack of photos of her in the hotel room with another man.
- Writer
