Chapter 03: How We Burned That Night

Kimberly didn’t even have the luxury of wondering why he was mad at her right now. Because the moment his voice hit her ears, the past crashed over her like a wave, dragging her straight back to that night.

~~ SIX YEARS AGO ~~

Kimberly stared at herself in the mirror, smoothing out the wrinkles in her dress. Her best friend, Cindy, helped her zip it up, her hands gentle on her skin.

"You look stunning, Kim. Ryan is so not going to recognize you!" Cindy said, beaming with pride as she stepped back to admire her handiwork.

Kimberly beamed, feeling extremely happy, and at the same time nervous.

Today was Ryan, her boyfriend's birthday, and he had promised her a surprise. She couldn't help but wonder if he was finally going to pop the question.

Kimberly and Ryan had been together for quite long now, and she felt like they were ready to take the next step.

She has waited for this for so long, and couldn't help but get nervous when he mentioned having a surprise for her.

As Kimberly slipped on her heels, she smiled widely as her mind wandered back to their first date. Ryan had taken her to a luxurious Italian restaurant, and they had talked for hours about their dreams and aspirations.

But lately, Kimberly had started to feel like something was missing. There was just something off about him lately that she couldn't really understand.

However, she didn't worry much about it. She loved Ryan and Ryan loved her just as much.

Cindy, who had been watching her with a knowing glint in her eyes, handed Kimberly a pair of earrings. "These will complete the look." she said, handing them to her with a big smile.

Cindy had been Kimberly's best friend from Highschool. Always there to offer Kimberly advice and support. A best friend she could ever wish for.

"Thank you." Kimberly smiled and put them on, feeling a surge of excitement. Tonight was going to be special. She thought in her heart.

But just as she was still on that, her phone buzzed. She picked it up, expecting it to be Ryan. But it was a text from an unknown number- a photo of Ryan kissing a blonde-haired woman.

Kimberly's heart skipped a beat. What was going on? She instantly felt a wave of nausea wash over her, and her mind went blank.

This couldn't be true! It had to be photoshopped.

Cindy, who noticed Kimberly's sudden expression, quickly rushed to her side, asking, "What's wrong?" With concern plastered on her face.

Kimberly couldn't speak, she could only show Cindy the text, and Cindy's expression changed from concern to anger.

"What the hell is this? This has better got to be a joke. Let's go!" Cindy said, already heading for the door.

Kimberly's heart thumped hard in her chest as soon as they stepped into the hotel. She didn't see Ryan in the lobby, but she decided to investigate further.

They made their way to the room number mentioned in the text too. She hesitated for a moment, her heart pounding, wondering if she really wanted to know what was going on because she was still in doubt.

But her curiosity got the better of her. She leaned in, listening carefully. The sounds she heard made her blood run cold. It was unmistakable that Ryan was with someone else and he was f*cking....

Kimberly felt a wave of devastation wash over her, but she was determined to confront him. She took a deep breath, preparing herself for what was to come. As she listened more closely, she heard their conversation.

Ryan's words cut deep. "I'm telling you, she's getting too clingy and boring. Not like I loved her anyway," Ryan said flatly, his voice smooth and low.

"I need someone who can keep up with me," he continued, and the lady laughed.

"I think I can keep up with that," she said.

Kimberly felt a surge of anger and hurt. How could he say such things about her?

Did she just hear him say he never loved her? And was just using her for the mean time?

How cruel?!

Unable to contain her rage, Kimberly pushed the door open, slamming it against the wall with rage.

The air in the room was filled with the scent of sex and perfume. Ryan and the woman were tangled together on the bed, their clothes scattered across the floor.

The scene Kimberly met broke her heart into tiny pieces. Ryan was slamming hard into the woman, Clara, his groans filling the entire room.

He wasn't just slamming into any woman, but her friend.

Clara wasn't so much as a close friend, but she was close enough to twist the knife.

"What the fuck?!" Ryan cursed as he turned at Kimberly, his face darkening both in shock and anger.

"Kimberly, wait....." before he could complete his sentence, Kimberly slàpped him hard across the face, her eyes burning with rage.

Clara quickly pulled the blanket and covered herself up.

"What the hell is wrong with you, Kimberly?" Ryan couldn't hide his anger and frustration anymore; his voice dripped with malice.

“You bastard!” Kimberly cried, her voice breaking. “After everything I gave up for you?! You cheat on me with.... her? Clara?!”

She could barely see straight. Her mascara stung her eyes. Her whole world spun.

“This was the surprise you promised me?!” she screamed. “Is this it, Ryan?!” Kimberly was about slapping him again, but before she could, Ryan grabbed her wrist, pinning her against the wall, causing her to gasp.

"You're just so predictable, Kimberly," Ryan's eyes flashed with anger, his voice low and menacing as he moved his face closer to hers. His warm breath danced across her skin, making her recoil.

"You believe you're the only one capable of making me happy?" He sneered, his lips curling upward. "Well, let me tell you something. I'm a man, Kimberly. I have needs." He paused, his gaze roaming over her face. "And I don't see anything wrong with having another woman satisfy those needs."

Kimberly's eyes widened, her face stinging from the venom in Ryan's words. She felt a cold dread creeping up her spine as she searched his face for any sign of remorse. But there was none!

"You should be grateful that I still consider you my girlfriend, despite your... limitations," Ryan spat, his voice dripping with disdain. "Aren't you supposed to be getting married tomorrow, huh? Why are you here stalking me instead?"

Ryan's words cut deep, and Kimberly felt her heart racing with anger and hurt. She opened her mouth to respond, but the words caught in her throat.

Her eyes stung, glistening with tears from the venom in Ryan's words. But she refused to cry — never in his presence, and certainly not in front of the woman on the bed. No matter how much his words cut deep in her chest, she wouldn't cry and show him how much she was hurting.

She couldn't believe what Ryan had just said. Not like she hadn't heard their conversation earlier, but hearing him say it right to her face, hurt even more.

Those words sure stung her to the deepest part of her heart.

Kimberly struggled to break free from his grip, but he held tight, choking her.

"Let me go, jerk! Fucking let me go!" Kimberly's voice echoed through the room as she wrestled against Ryan's grasp. Tears threatened to fall, but she blinked them back.

With a surge of adrenaline, Kimberly managed to wriggle free. She snatched the wine bottle from the bedside table and emptied its contents on Clara, soaking her completely. Then she smashed the bottle on the floor, shattering it.

"I'm done with you!" she spat, breathing hard.

"Screw you, Ryan! Screw you both!" Kimberly couldn't contain her rage. She was hurting too much.

"Kimberly!!" Ryan flared up, grabbing Kimberly by the neck, raging. But Kimberly struggled and succeeded in getting out of his grip again. She kneed him, instantly making him lose his balance, and he crouched to the ground in pain.

Ceasing the opportunity, Kimberly rushed to the door, and stormed out of the room, leaving Ryan and his mistress behind.

The rest of the night for her was a blur. She ended up at a club, dancing and downing shots and trying her best not to cry, even though it was the hardest thing to do.

The music seemed to get louder, the lights more intense. Kimberly felt herself getting lost in the chaos, her emotions numb. She stumbled back onto the dance floor, letting the beat consume her.

She suddenly felt pressed and stumbled out, searching for the restroom, but only to end up in the wrong room.

What happened next in that room blurred into moans, heat and desperation.

Two strangers trying to forget themselves in each other. That night burned.

And the next morning, Kimberly woke up with a hollow chest, and the taste of regret on her tongue. She left his room quietly, shame sinking into her bones.

With Cindy’s help, she later fled the city because her father was looking for her everywhere, and she knew if he found her, she'd be doomed.

But none of those hurt more than what came a few weeks later.

She found out she was pregnant.

And now, years later, that man. The one whose touch she couldn’t forget, was standing in front of her, looking into her eyes like he couldn't believe he he was seeing her again after so many years.

Of course he couldn't believe it. Because even Kimberly herself couldn't.

“You think I forgot?” Bryce said, jolting Kimberly back to the present, his gaze so intense it burned. “You think I wouldn’t recognize you? The way you looked at me that night?”

Kimberly’s lips parted, but no words came out.

“The way you felt beneath me? How we burned that night?” he added, voice low and dangerous. “Still pretending you don’t remember? Or should I remind you right here and right now, how you moaned my name like it was the only thing keeping you alive?”

Her breath caught, hands trembling against his chest.

She couldn't speak, neither could she move.

Because she did remember. She remembered everything.

And the scariest part?

A small, stupid part of her wanted it all over again.

That electrifying touch.

She held her breath, shutting her eyes tight as his face loomed over hers, his hot breath on her skin making her insides throb with anticipation.