HIS UNDOING: CONTRACT OF HEARTS

Olivia's POV The hotel smelled like roses, champagne, and happiness. I was on cloud nine. Guess what, everyone? I screamed, my heart exploding with joy. Tonight is my last night single! The receptionist smiled politely as she slid the room card across the counter. "Mr Alexander checked in an hour ago. He asked us to expect you," she informed me, "and he said to refer to you as Mrs Quin". The title made my heart flutter. Mrs Quin, I mused, repeating it in my head over and over again, imagining how it would sound when he called me that tonight. By this time tomorrow, I will be married to the love of my life. I clutched the spare key she handed me and said, "Thank you". The elevator ride felt endless, and I twirled in it as my imagination ran wild. Thinking of how Alex would hold me in his arms, how right it would feel, how our first night would be. Gosh, I couldn't wait! The key card clicked, and I pushed the door open, then my world collapsed. Lucinda's moan was the first thing I heard. Then Alexander's voice as he rammed into her while telling her how wet and good her p***y was. I froze, the door wide open, my feet refusing to move, and there they were - in the bed my fiancé and I were supposed to share. Lucinda looked up and saw me, then proceeded to smile at me, without shame or remorse that I had caught her f*****g my fiancé. "Oh, hey, Liv", she moaned from underneath Alexander, who had his back turned to me. My shameless fiancé didn't even stop. He turned his head to look at me, and with a smirk, he just kept moving inside her like the sight of me meant nothing. "Guess the virgin bride came early", he said. The sound that tore out of me didn't feel human. It was pain and disbelief breaking me open in one cruel second," Alexander....Alex...." My voice cracked. " How could you do this to me?" He finally pulled out of her, standing up shamelessly and walking towards me naked, his c**k still erect. "Don't act so surprised, Olivia. You've been guarding your body like it's some temple". "Did you think I'd wait forever?" He held his c**k. "I'm a man and I have needs". Lucinda, who'd come to stand next, wrapped her arms around, her eyes glittering with triumph. "He needed someone who wasn't afraid to actually please him, so he settled for the best." My knees went weak, but I forced myself to stand tall."You promised," I snapped, my voice rising. " You swore you'd wait until our wedding night and you'd make it memorable." He laughed, " And I planned to, but why wait that long for something that may not be worth it?" His hand hovered around Lucinda's ass before he smacked it. Lucinda moaned his name, and she pressed her bare chest to his body. "Nobody would want to be tied to someone like you". "You disgust me," I choked, tears blurring my vision. "I hate both of you; everything about the two of you disgusts me." His smile was merciless, "No, Olivia. You are the disgusting one here because nobody will ever want you." He shoved me so hard that I fell to the floor. Not with your pathetic self, your innocence, you'll die untouched and unloved. His words pierced me deep, and the tears fell freely. It felt like a nightmare. Welcome to the real world, Olivia. I looked at Lucinda, her smug grin, her hand possessively stroking his chest like she'd won some prize. She was supposed to be my best friend. I had my suspicions from the onset, but I had ignored them. The warning signs were there. Now here I was, watching the two people I trusted the most rip me apart and laugh while they did. I couldn't breathe. My chest burned, my heart ached as I rose to my feet, placing my hand against the wall for support. You're wrong, I whispered, though my voice trembled. "Someone will love me". Someone will want me, and I'll prove it. Alexander's laugh followed me as I stormed out of the room. "Good luck with that". The hallway outside was cold, but not as cold as the hollow inside me. Every step felt heavy, like walking on shattered vows, and the air was suffocating. I pressed my palm to the wall, steadying myself. His words echoed in my head. No one will ever want you. I clenched my jaw, tasting salt and blood from biting my lip too hard. Maybe he was right. Maybe I can't be loved, and that was why every good thing that entered my life was being taken away. Outside, the night was colder than I expected. The wind whipped cruelly at my hair and dress as though the universe wanted me to remember: nothing would ever be warm again. I pulled my shawl tighter around me and walked aimlessly down the street, my tears almost blurring my vision. Where was I supposed to go? Home? Back to the apartment where Lucinda’s clothes still hung in my closet, where Alexander’s cologne still lingered on the couch he’d claimed as his? No. That place was poisoned now. I found myself on a park bench instead, my tears flowing freely now, smearing the makeup I had applied that morning. I broke down completely, shoulders heaving. My chest burned with every sob, but the pain refused to ease. For a while, I forgot where I was. When I finally looked up, the world around me felt too real. People were passing by with curious eyes. Heat rushed to my cheeks. Embarassment with grief, choking me even more. I quickly wiped at my tears with trembling hands, trying to hide the wreck I had become. I was about to push myself up from the bench when a shadow fell over me. For a moment, I thought it was another stranger stopping to stare, but instead, a clean handkerchief appeared in front of me. Long, steady, and sure, he held it out as if he'd been waiting for me to take it. Slowly, I lifted my gaze higher, meeting the outline of a tall man in a crisp suit. His posture was calm, almost commanding, but there was no mockery in the way he stood. My finger as I reached for the handkerchief, my voice barely a whisper Tha...nk you. As I wiped my tears, I could see the shadow disappearing. I looked up again and could only see his back. I stared after him, clutching the fabric in my hand tightly as if it were the only proof that he was real. But as I sat there, broken and raw, a voice rose inside me. "You're not cursed, Olivia". A tiny voice in my head reminded me. "He says no one will want me, right?" I'll show him just how desirable I am, I said, resolute in my decision. I whispered into the night, more to myself than anyone else, “I’ll show them. I’ll prove I’m worth something. I’ll prove I’m desirable.” The fountain water splashed gently, almost as if it were applauding my resolve. Somewhere deep in my chest, beneath the ruins of my broken heart, a spark flickered to life. And a new path, though I didn’t know it yet, was already walking toward me.