Chapter - 1 Betrayal

The busiest city of the province was buzzing with life during the night. 

The moon was shining brightly in the sky, enchanting the people who had gathered near the beach to see the marvelous view of firecrackers. 

With stars twinkling above the sea, it was indeed a beautiful sight to see.

If one was to look around, it was easier for someone to get lost, seeing the huge crowd that had gathered this time. 

It was a special day today. The day today marked the beginning of the new year according to province culture. 

Few reporters were clicking pictures of the huge crowd. These pictures will be shown on their channels the next day. 

Reporters who had come to click pictures were delighted to do their work while enjoying themselves with their families and friends.

People around were laughing and eating with full content. Some couples had gathered to impress their loved ones or just to show off their love. 

Some were holding hands while some were hugging each other, smiling brightly with the moon. 

Of course, there were families too, with love blossoming among the young ones and sweet bickerings among the older.

All in all, love was in the air. Everyone seemed extremely happy today.

But at the same time, in the famous star hotel near the same beach, things were turning ugly to the point where there was no coming back for the girl named Luo Qingxi.

"What have I ever done to you? Xia? Why are you just standing there? I have always given the best to you. Turning all of my opportunities for you? Can't you see how much I love you? Why? Why did you cheat me? You knew how much I loved brother Gao Ying, but you went behind my back and seduced him? What for? For fame? Money?" Qingxi asked, her voice getting louder and louder with each word.  

It was unbearable for her to see the two most trusted persons of her life, cheating and stabbing her like this. It was hurting. 

Her whole body was hurting, but more than that her heart was hurting.

Looking at those two, she felt like her heart was being stabbed by some dagger again and again.

'Is this was betrayal feels like?' She thought, smiling sadly.

"There, there. You see dear sister, you have been giving me soo much, that it made me want to snatch every little thing that you had.

Do you think I never noticed? That pathetic sympathy gaze you had been always giving me? Do you think I am a fool that won't notice how you use to always find a problem in all the things I used to do? Hmm? 

You wanted me out of your way for a long time. Didn't you?" That Xia girl whispered in Qingxi's ear so that no one could hear her, not even Gao Ying.

"Why are you wasting your time here Xia. Qingxi, I know how things turned out is not good, but you have to understand that it has nothing to do with Xia. It was me. Okay? I want to break up with you. She has nothing to do with it." Gao Ying said, trying to go closer to Qingxi to hold her but the latter only dodged him and went near the windows.

It was an irony, how this beautiful moon was becoming the witness to her miseries.

"Let's get this over with and enjoy the new year. This day does not only symbolizes the start of the new year, but also the end of our relationship with Qingxi. From here you will lead your life on your own. I wish you a beautiful future Qingxi." Gao Ying said, sounding as if he was doing a great favor to Qingxi.

"Qingxi, I wish you a better future ahead. You need to stop thinking about me and get this over with. I know you loved me but then what? Didn't you cheat behind my back sleeping around just for an advertisement endorsement? I had never thought you would be this fake inside out."  Gao Ying said, shaking his head in disappointment.

"You know that's not true brother Gao Ying. Don't you even trust me? I have loved you for soo long. Do you think I would stoop so low?" Qingxi asked politely.

"You. Did you ever love me? Did you ever consider me your fiancé? I want to know before everything comes to an end forever. But looks like you won't believe me even if I explain things to you right?" Qingxi asked slowly.

As she was leaning against the window with her back towards the duo, they could not see the sarcastic smile which had now started to appear on Qingxi's face. 

Even though she felt betrayed, but she didn't want to believe that these two had done this.

However, her tearful eyes right now were enough indication that deep down her heart knew this was all planned by her sister only.

"To be very honest, I liked how innocent you were. You were and are the kind of beauty every man would die for. In addition to that, you were the elder daughter of the Luo family. You were, as I quote 'The untouchable beauty'. You were so pure and innocent that it made me want to cherish you more." Gao Ying said, smiling beautifully at the memories.

"You need to understand that now I love Xialing. I know I should be sorry to you but I can't help it. You used to only focus on your studies, leaving only Xialing to accompany me on trips to different cities and countries. I don't know when it happened, but we started to have feelings for each other, and one day we did the deed accidentally. I should take the responsibility for what I did to your sister. Don't you think it's the right thing to do?

I wanted to explain things to your sister and break it with her for you." Gao Ying said, taking Xialing in his arms as if comforting her.

"But then what? I heard of you sleeping with some man and whoring around, just for the sake of an advertisement? Qingxi you are what? Just 16 years old and yet you are involved in these kinds of things. If words got out about this, my whole reputation will be ruined. You never let me even hug you in the public and here you are sleeping with some random man. Was it all a facade to lure me in? I can't come to hate you Qingxi. I really can't." Gao Ying said sadly.

"Brother Ying, I think we should leave now. We don't want my sister to be late with her schedule. But sister you shouldn't do this." Xialing said, trying to get a reaction out of her.

"I have always looked at you with soo much respect. It breaks my heart to see you like this. I can't even imagine that my respectful sister who is an epitome of dignity and respect would do something like this." Xialing said, crying pitifully in the arms of Gao Ying.

Qingxi looked sideways towards both of them talking nonsense. 

It appeared comical to her how her patience, image, character, dignity, nature everything was ridiculed because of a small trap and rumor which she was not familiar with.

She looked sideways towards the person she loved for four years. She had never thought there would be a day where she would stop loving him. 

It was because of her love for this man, that she had endured soo much injustice for these years.

Even though her mother was her biological mother and she was her elder daughter, she was never given any privilege for that. 

Because her biological father is always busy with some work, she had to live with her maternal grandmother for 13 years. 

It was only because of Gao Ying that she had agreed to live in the Luo household and then suffer all the injustice in the name of sisterhood.

Thinking back at how she had given her habits, her attitude, her old friend circle, her brothers, she regretted all of it. 

She had changed herself into that perfect socialite and innocent Mary kind lady that she thought brother Gao Ying preferred.

There were times when she thought of going back to her life, her old carefree life, but the thought of marrying brother Gao Ying, always stopped her.

But in the end, what did she got? All her endurance, preservice, everything was treated back with betrayal.

All she got in return was lies and Betrayal.

"I think we should end the chat here. We don't have much time on our hands anyway. Mom and dad must be worrying about where we all are. Brother Ying, I have a special gift for you on your birthday this time. Sister, you should come along with us or otherwise, mom will be disappointed in you this time.

You know that father doesn't fancy you much either now after the news had spread among the elders. So it's better if you come and join the birthday celebration today otherwise he will get angry again." Xialing said, holding Qingxi's hands as if trying to persuade her.

"Let go of me," Qingxi said, while snapping her hand at her. Even though the force she used was minimal, Xialing still managed to fall on her butt crying painfully.

"Xialing!" Gao Ying exclaimed, while rushing forward to help her to stand.

"Qingxi are you out of your mind? Do you think you hurting her will make me accept you? If you think so then you are delusional. I will never accept a tainted girl like you!" Gao Ying said before hugging Xialing sideways.

"You know what Gao Ying? You deserved better. Don't come crying to me when you get betrayed by her. Because as far as I know, you are not the only guy for her. Go ahead make yourself useful to her. I'll see to it that you succumb to your weaknesses." Qingxi said, flipping him off, by showing her middle finger, before closing the door of her room.

Gao Ying stood rooted at the spot for a few seconds. He was shocked by seeing the innocent Qingxi using such a provocative gesture. 

Thinking that she did that only to gain his attention, he decided to ignore the nagging feeling in his heart that was constantly saying that Qingxi was more than what she had shown him.

Both of them looked back one last time at the lady before making their ways out of the scene.

"I...I don't want things to end like this either. Do you guys think that you guys won over me just because you snatched my dream from me? I'll come again and will make sure that you are on your knees when I rise to become the phoenix. " Qingxi said, looking towards the sky before falling miserably on the ground.

'An eye for an eye.'