3. A Fake Love

Nathan’s POV

I have been drowning in a sea of despair, suffocating under the weight of Scarlett's absence. Every breath I take, every thought I think, is consumed by her presence. It's as if she's haunting me, her memory taunting me with every passing moment. 

Just 48 hours ago, I exchanged vows, promising to love and cherish another, but my heart belongs to Scarlett. The ache within me is unbearable. 

Her unreachable phone line is like a cruel reminder of our separation. I'm trapped in a living nightmare, tormented by the memories of our time together, my mind screaming for her return.

“Hey, Nathan,” my so-called wife, came along. She reached up on her toes and pecked me on the lips. “Good morning, my love. Where are you going to wear two different pairs of shoes?” she asked.

I looked down at my feet, discovering I was wearing different pairs of white and black sneakers. I shoved the briefcase at her and turned to go change.

“Hey, what was that all about?” she whined, flitting to my front. “Do you want to bruise my arm? If my father gets to hear what you just did, he is going to get mad at you,” she said, pissing me off.

“Fuck your father, Everleigh!” I snapped, making her gasp in surprise. “Do I look like I care about you or your father? Look here; we are only going to live in the same room on the order of my mother. Don’t read the meaning of it, and stay away from me,” I warned, and jerked the briefcase from her.

“Ouch! You are so mean!” she cried.

I shot her a dark glance before slamming the door shut.

“Hey, son,” my mother said, attracting my attention to her. She was in her wheelchair in the dining room. I walked up to her.

“Good morning, Mother,” I greeted her, using the back of her hand to touch my forehead.

“Where are you going this early?” she asked.

“I’m off to work. I will see you when I get back,” I said, and I turned to go.

“Hold on, son. You just got married two days ago. You can’t go to work now. What happened to your honeymoon? Aren’t you traveling?”

“What is the essence, Mother? I married for business, so I have to go to work.”

"But, son,” she said, taking hold of my hand. “What are your wife and her father going to say about it? It’s awkward to get married and appear in the office two days later. You have to stay back for at least a week,” she suggested.

“And what would I be doing in that week?”

“What do you mean? If you aren’t traveling, you have to be with your wife.”

“Enough, Mother!” I snapped, pulling my hand away from her. This is the first time I have snapped at my mother. She gasped.

“Point of correction, Mother. Everleigh is your company's property. I only played the groom's role because you forced me to. If you don’t mind, I’m off to work,” I stated, and I walked out on her.

“Son!”

I ignored her surprise call and dashed out of the house.

***

I stepped into the office, and the familiar space felt eerily empty. The cold walls seemed to close in on me. I stood frozen, my eyes scanning the room, as memories of Scarlett flooded my mind. Her bright smile, her infectious laugh, our stolen kisses. My heart felt heavy with grief and regret.

"Why didn't I fight harder to keep her?" I thought, my mind replaying our last argument. "She deserved so much better than a broken heart."

Suddenly, I heard her voice, a faint whisper in my mind. "Excuse me, sir." My head jerked up, and I saw my secretary standing before me, concern etched on her face. "Sir, are you okay?"

My hand instinctively reached out, grasping for Scarlett's hand, but it was just my secretary. I jerked back, embarrassed, and cleared my throat. "Yeah, I'm fine. Just a little lost in thought. I’m sorry.”

“It’s okay, sir. You have an appointment with...”

“Cancel it,” I cut her off, picked up my briefcase, and walked behind my desk.

“Sir, it’s very important. You don’t normally cancel appointments,” she said.

“Get the hell out of my office!” I snapped. She jerked in surprise.

“Sorry, sir,” she apologized and hurried out of my office.

I tried to escape into the familiar comfort of music, plugging in my headphones and resting my head on my desk. But the melodies that usually soothed my soul fell flat, unable to penetrate the darkness that had settled over me. Frustrated, I ripped off the headphones and tossed them aside, the cord snapping against the floor.

Without hesitation, I grabbed my car keys and bolted out of the office, driven by a desperate need to see Scarlett. The drive to her compound was a blur, my mind racing with thoughts of her. I pulled up in record time, leaping out of the car and sprinting towards her front door. My heart pounded in my chest, fueled by a mix of longing and desperation.

"Scarlett!" I pounded on the door, my desperation echoing through the silence. "Scarlett, please! Are you home?"

The door creaked open, and her stepmother stood before me, her eyes cold and unforgiving. "What do you want, Nathan?" she spat, her voice venomous.

I took a deep breath, my heart racing. "Please, ma'am. I need to see Scarlett. I must talk to her."

Her expression turned glacial. "You have no right to see her. You lost that privilege when you broke her heart."

I stepped forward, my hands outstretched. "Please, ma'am. I know I wronged her, but I'll do anything to make it right. I'll wait here forever if I must."

"You're too late. Scarlett is gone. She left, never come back." Her eyes blazed with anger as she spoke.

My world crumbled around me. "What do you mean? Where has she gone?" I hardly heard my own voice.

"You know exactly what I mean. You shattered her heart, Nathan. You made her watch as you married her best friend. Do you have any idea how that felt?"

I stumbled back, her accusations hitting me like a storm. "I understand, ma'am. I'll do anything to make it right. Just let me see her."

Her face twisted in rage as she said, "You're responsible for losing me my daughter. Leave now and never come back! Get out of my sight!"

She shoved me back, and the door slammed shut, leaving me alone and shattered on the porch.

I sped away from the compound, my mind reeling with the news. Scarlett was really gone. Where could she have gone? The weight of my actions crushed me. I pulled over to the side of the road, overcome with emotion. I slammed my head against the steering wheel, the horn blaring in my ears. The sound was drowned out by my anguished sobs as I broke down, consumed by grief and regret.

“Sir?” someone knocked on the car window. I slid down the window. “Can you move out? You are blocking the way,” he said.

I looked at the opposite side and discovered I was parked right behind his car. I nodded and started the car.

I suddenly felt a wave of dizziness wash over me. Despite my best efforts to regain control, I was unable to stop the car, which continued moving forward, eventually colliding with another vehicle. The car soared twice in the air before smashing into the ground. A loud, high-pitched sound blared in my ears till I lost consciousness.