Elizabeth Harding POV
I came to Veronica's after our talk in the car. Being the bestest friend she was, created blanket forts and ordered pizza. She also ordered my favourite ice cream, Ben and Jerry's Rocky road ice cream. I guess it was good for me to cry it all out. I mean no matter how much I plan on putting on that fierce shield, we were together for eight solid years. Eight years where we went places. Did crazy stuff together. Created beautiful memories. And all that while in eight years, not even once did Ryan act like we had a problem. Yes we had our ups and downs, but even then, he was still the perfect gentleman. I wonder what exactly went wrong. What did I do wrong? What did stupid Eva have that I didn't? That he decided to jump into bed with her.I wonder how long it has been going on. If I didn't see it for myself and someone told me, I would tell the person to go to hell because my Ryan is a masterpiece. But then I saw it myself, a whole new side of him that I never knew existed.Around five o'clock I decide that I'm done crying. I'm done moping around.Ryan is holding his software presentation launch tonight at 8pm and I'm gonna be there. I decided I didn't want to go, after what he did to me. But it's best I be there, and give him a taste of his own medicine."I don't have anything to wear" I whine in frustration. The whole point of this whole thing is to dress to impress. Not to impress Ryan but to impress everyone else and leave that cheater particularly star struck. All important personalities who can help him further his career are going to be there. It's going to be the best night and at the same time the worst night of his entire life."Girl, you have me as your bestfriend and that means I got you. I have this gold dress that I bought. I haven't worn it yet and I know it would look fabtastic on you" she says with a loud squeal"Did you just say fabtastic?""Yes. Girl, which century are you living in? Never heard of fabulous and fantastic put together to be fabtastic?""Nope." I shake my head "I think that's in your head alone""Whatever" she says with an eye roll and I chuckle"Now you go take shower while I get this dress ready""Yes ma'am" I say with mock salute and make my way to the bathroom.I take time to scrub my body of the disgust and dirt I feel, I shampoo my hair and brush my teeth. I clean myself with a towel and put on some undergarments."Here" Veronica passes me the dress. She wasn't wrong when she said the dress was amazing because it truly is.I slip it on and it's the most beautiful thing I've ever seen. I don't think any attire has ever looked this good on me. It leaves nothing to the imagination and at the same time it leaves everything to the imagination. It has the right amount of cleavage, showing the right portion on display. The slit starts a bit above mid-thigh all the way down. The beautiful pearls and little diamonds studs glow and shine when they meet the light."Wow" Veronica mutters."This is so beautiful Vee""I know. It looks perfect. It's good you have it, I don't think I would have looked this amazing in it. Okay now sit and let me do your makeup"Veronica Rodriguez is a model and a makeup artist. So if she's willing to do my makeup, I know she's going to transform me into someone else. Which just makes this whole night better."Done""Girl you barely lasted thirty minutes" I say in shock"Babe, I went to school for a reason. Besides, it's in my blood"She turns the chair around and I look at myself and let out a gasp. She did my makeup just the way I love it. Very natural. Nude lipstick to match my dress. Faint blush. Black mascara. A tinge of gold eyelash to complete the look."This is amazing. Thank you so much""Now you go and show that dude who has the upper hand over here. I would have loved to go with you but date night" she says with a little blushCute."Have fun Vee"I order an Uber and decide to finally view some messages. And a lot of them are from Ryan. The mother effer. If he thinks I'm going to answer even one of those, then he's a real joker.I arrive at the programme and a smirk takes place on my face. Ryan is about to receive the worst shock of his life."Elizabeth" Ryan says the moment he sees me."What is wrong with you? Do you know how worried I've been? I've been calling you non-stop. Sending you countless messages, which you read but don't reply any of them. Do you know the frustration that I had to go through knowing you're suppose to be home by 10am and you weren't?""I'm here now aren't I?""It's that all you can say? No explanation? Nothing?""Quit the shenanigans Ryan." I say with an eye roll and move past him, swaying my hips knowing he'll be watching my every move. I grab a champagne from the nearest waiter and down it.My eyes flicker to a certain male standing beside one of the tables. He catches my stare and doesn't break the eye contact.Handsome dude. Wonder what his name is.I decide to be bold and walk over."Hey there""Hello pretty. That dress looks gorgeous on you""Thank you." I say with a small smile and stare at his blonde hair and blue eyes. Typical male figure."It's a shame I have a girlfriend. But you'd make a lovely wife for-"Me. She's my fiancée. Doctor Elizabeth Harding"And after eight solid years, I'm now seeing clearly what my relationship with Ryan was all about. My fame. He didn't love me. He only loved that I had a name attached to mine. How could I have been so blind?"About that Ryan," I say turning to him, "It's over between us" I say with a cool smile, sliding off the engagement ring I once loved and never wanted to take off."What do you mean it's over? Elizabeth if-"Tsk tsk tsk. No baby boy, it's Ms. Harding for you. And just so you know, it's not a joke. It's really over.""Now we would like to invite Mr. Ryan Spencer and his fiancée Ms. Elizabeth Harding to give us a speech" the host says and the guests give a round of applause.It's time for a show."Hello everyone. I want to congratulate Ryan on such amazing success. And Mr. Host, it's ex-fiancée. I'd love it if you made that correction." I say and a sound of loud gasps go on everywhere."Elizabeth what are you doi-Ryan starts to say and I shush him"This is everything Ryan has ever worked so hard for and I'm happy that I've been able to help him. Even though we aren't together anymore, we are still great friends who support each other, right Ryan?""Y-Ye-es" he stutters and I scoff.Pathetic."So congratulations again. Enjoy your Night" I say and make it down the stage.I enjoyed that."Elizabeth I do not understand what this is all about""It's simple. I get bored really fast. So if I've been able to stick with you for eight years, I think I deserve a medal. I've done a great job. But now I've had it up to here" I say, motioning to my neck "I'm suffocating. So I just woke up this morning and decided to call it quits." I shrug"This is crazy" he says, passing his hands through his hair in frustrationOh boy, I'm about to show you insane"Oh and before I forget, move out of my apartment by 8am tomorrow""Your apartment?" He snorts.Oh I love attitude."Yes. My apartment. You know the one my father gave to me.""Elizabeth I don't have anywhere to go, I don't have any Plan B. It's-I cut him off, "Baby, Ryan, in life you should always have a plan B. I've taught you that much. If you don't move out by 8am tomorrow, I'll place a police report for trespassing""You're joking""Dare me." I say with a smirk "Which I wouldn't do if I were you, goodnight Ryan."3 years later"Do I look okay? Am I looking fine? Elizabeth I think I need a little bit more blush on the side" I stare quietly at the ever confident Diane, who is surprisingly asking too many questions at this point. Ah! What weddings can do to you. "Diane, you look gorgeous." I place my hand on her shoulder. "Don't tell me you're getting cold feet" I joke. "I'm just a bit nervous. But I would never get cold feet. Benjamin and I have officially been together for seven years, nothing is going to let me draw out at the last minute" "Diane, I'm happy that you're happy" "Me too" "I hope you are not getting your make up smeared Diane Harding" Veronica says, entering the bride room. "I wouldn't dare" we all laugh. Benjamin and Diane decided to the the knot today, and Veronica and I are her bridesmaids. Veronica is now with her boyfriend, Francis. She has bee
"Let's start by getting you naked." Charles mutters, his voice deeper, huskier. His eyes a shade darker, full of love and lust. "I am the most impatient man right now, but we are going to take this as slow as possible" His hands find my sweater, and takes it off. I gasp when my back connects with the bed. Charles proceeds to take off my jeans along with my underwear, ridding me of my clothes in the most sensual way I never knew existed, before unclasping my bra. I close my eyes in pure ecstacy. God, how much I have missed the intoxicating touch of my husband. He stands back, just to stare at me. "I just want a moment to look at you, savour this moment. You look even more beautiful now. Sexier, fuller" he murmurs, his fingers tracing my cheek, down to my neck, down to my chest, before rounding my nipples. "Shall I make you come like this?" He asks, before his mouth wraps around my areola. "Do you want
Five years. Five solid years. I lost a lot. And it took five years to pick myself back up. I got myself a job when I came here, I stayed at a hotel the first few months, and the bills were killing me but thanks to my bank account, I got it easy. I rented an apartment next, and got my things in, which weren't much at the time. I decided to emerge myself into something new, so I took a majoring class in Psychology at the University Of Melbourne. It was like starting life like a high school graduate all over again. Already having a degree in medicine, I caught on quickly. Now I'm a psychologist, at the same time a paediatric surgeon. My reason for getting into psychology was simple, I wanted to help people find themselves as my therapist helped me to find myself. It doesn't do everything for you, but talking to someone helps. I'm a motivational speaker as well, going for talk shows here and
"I know you saw everything that happened" "You don't have to talk about it if you don't want to" "Please Charles. Enough of that kindness. You deserve to know the truth" I sigh "The man I've been with till the time Ryan cheated was not Ryan, it was Brent, the man who got arrested" I see the shock and surprise on his face "Apparently Ryan hit his sister with a car and she died, so he came into my life wanting revenge, and I made it easy for him. I know Ryan was wrong, I know that he could have been the good man and mend his mistakes, get that girl to the hospital, and maybe, just maybe she would still be alive today." I pause and take in a deep breath "I'm tired Charles, I'm tired. All this is too much, I don't know how many more surprises I can take" I say and Charles pulls me into a hug. I wipe the tears on my face and try to muster some confidence within me, because I know the next words are going
During the car ride to wherever Helena says Ryan is, my heart can't stop beating at the rate that it is. My daughter just died, and I have barely been able to hold myself up. And then this happens, Ryan. The man who I thought cheated on me, the man that I have harboured so much hatred and anger for, is not Ryan Spencer, the man I grew up in love with. Does this change my life? Will I allow it to? How sure am I that Helena is saying the truth? Because I really don't want to believe her. Because this is so hard to digest. So painful to swallow. Am I ready to face the hard truth? Is it even the truth?What hurts me more is what I have done. What I did. I ruined his life. Destroyed everything. His reputation? Check. His job? Check. His whole life that I brought tumbling down? Check. And meanwhile he's lying in a warehouse somewhere, like a vegetable. For a whole 365 days.Oh Lord, I'm spent. I can't take anymore of this.We arrive two hours later i
It's been a week since my life went downhill. Everything is quiet in this mansion. The happiness has been sucked out of it just as the life has been sucked out of me with the death of my child. Most often than not, I wish I didn't let Jenna go away, because I really would love some company. This serene quietness is testing my sanity bit by bit, but all the same, I still love the quiet. Charles offered to stay at home with me for as long as I want. He was prepared to work from home just so that he can be by my side. He isn't taking the pain well either, but he's handling it better than I am. Way better. I guess he's trying to be strong for the both of us. Strong for me. Either way, I sent him off to work. Frost Capital is the only right thing going on in our lives right now, and we can't lose that as well. It's the only present thing standing, and we don't want it to come tumbling down like everything else. People come and go, family, trying