When the past walks in.

Ariana's POV

I was standing in front of the mirror, brushing out my hair, trying to make myself look like a person who hadn't been falling apart for the last forty-eight hours. I'd been back home since yesterday, but I hadn't seen my dad yet.

Not that I was surprised. Work always came first for him.

Tonight was supposed to be dinner with my mom. She'd been trying to get me to "reconnect" ever since I came back. I could already hear her moving around in the kitchen, the smell of garlic and onions filling the air.

I walked in and sat at the counter. She looked up from the stove.

"You didn't come back with Riley?" she asked casually.

I swallowed hard. My chest tightened. "She had something to do," I said, keeping my eyes on the chopping board.

"That's unusual. You two are always together."

I forced a small laugh. "We're not kids anymore, Mom. We don't have to be joined at the hip."

I could feel her eyes on me, but I didn't look up. I couldn't tell her the truth. She had much problem on her own to take mine.

Before she could ask more, the front door opened. Heavy footsteps.

My father.

He stepped into the kitchen, and his eyes landed on me. I felt the weight of his disappointment before he even spoke.

"So you decided to come home this time," he said flatly.

"Nice to see you too," I muttered.

He didn't waste time. "You should have stayed at your Aunt house like you always do. It saves ysa little face."

"Stop it Kelvin," my mother scolded.

"No," he spat. "Didn't you tell your daughter everything she costs us by giving up her scholarship?"

My mother inhaled deeply, rolling her eyes back to me. "Don't mind your father. He is just pissed."

"That doesn't look like the case," I said.

"Exactly," he looked around. "So where is boy anyway? Don't tell you guys have broken up."

I bit my lips, my eyes going down. I didn't even have the guts to look my father in the eye.

"Ari," my mother called. "Are you guys still together?"

I forced a smile. "Yeah," I replied, fighting back tears. "We just had a little fight yesterday."

"I still can't believe you threw away your scholarship for that boy," my father mocked.

I clenched my jaw. "That's none of your business."

"It's my business when you ruin your future over a loser. You're nothing but a—"

"Stop!" My mom's voice cut through the air like a knife. She set her spoon down with a sharp clink. "Enough, both of you."

She turned to me. "You actually came home at the right time. Your father's boss is having dinner here tonight. We want him to know our family."

My dad scoffed. "She came home at the wrong time. The last thing I need is my boss thinking my daughter is a failure."

The word stung more than I wanted to admit. "You've always hated me, haven't you?" I snapped. "Just say it."

"You made it easy to hate your decisions," he shot back.

I grabbed my bag off the counter. "You know what? I'm not doing this."

Before my mom could stop me, I was out the door.

The cold air was biting at my skin as I wandered with no real destination. My mind was spinning—my father's voice echoing, the memory of Riley's betrayal burning like acid in my chest.

I didn't even realize where I'd walked until I stopped in front of Riley's house. She was outside, leaning against the fence, laughing with two girls.

She saw me instantly. Her smile twisted. "Well, look who it is. The pathetic ex-girlfriend."

I turned away, pretending I hadn't heard her.

"Hey!" she called louder. "Don't walk away like a coward."

Something inside me snapped. I turned back and started walking toward her. "You and I both know who the coward is," I snapped. "You slutty boyfriend snatcher."

Her friends stepped forward before I could get close. One shoved me hard. The other grabbed my hair. The pain made my eyes water instantly.

They pushed me to the ground, kicking and laughing while Riley stood there watching.

When they finally stepped back, Riley crouched down next to me, her voice dripping with venom. "You really thought Jerry loved you? God, Ariana, you're stupid. He's been mine since high school. That's why I never had a boyfriend—because he was my boyfriend."

My stomach twisted so hard I thought I might throw up.

"You were just the backup," she continued. "The one to keep him busy when I wasn't in the mood. Did you really think someone like Jerry would actually fall for you? Look at you."

Tears were blurring my vision now, but I refused to let her see me break.

"Pathetic," she added, standing up. "Everyone knew that Jerry was my boyfriend, that's why they always invite me and him to parties. You were just too stupid to get the message."

"Or she just couldn't accept that she isn't the hot Jerry girlfriend," one of the girls laughed.

"Fuck, she's really ugly in person,'' the other said. "Thank goodness, Jerry isn't actually dating her."

I got up slowly, my knees shaking. My chest felt like it was caving in. Between my father's insults and her words, it was like every part of me was being crushed.

I turned and walked away without looking back. By the time I reached home, my face was wet with tears, and my throat was raw from holding back sobs.

An expensive black car was parked in front of the house. Even from a distance, I knew this wasn't my dad's. This had to be his boss.

The last thing I wanted was to walk through the front door and face my father or anyone. So I went around the side of the house instead, heading for my bedroom window.

I climbed up, slipping inside quietly. I staggered to the bed but my legs gave out before I could reach it as I burst into tears, clutching my aching chest. I couldn't take it anymore. I just wanted to die. No matter what I did I was always just "another person". I was a nobody.

I started pulling my dirty clothes from my bag, tossing them onto the floor. I couldn't stop crying.

I muttered curses at myself under my breath. Stupid. Ugly. Worthless.

I left the room and walked to the bathroom to clean up before anyone saw me in my dirty state.

I turned on the shower, the sound of water filling the small bathroom. Steam began to rise, and I stepped in, letting the heat burn against my skin. I wanted it to wash away everything desperately but it clung to like a second skin.

I slid down to the tile floor, my knees pulled to my chest. The water kept falling, but my tears blended into it.

At some point, I must have drifted off, because the next thing I heard was my father's voice.

I froze, my heart hammering. I reached for my towel, pulling the shower curtain back slowly.

I pulled the curtain back, my eyes widened in alarm.

What was my father doing here?

"I am so sorry," my father apologized.

"It's fine," the other person replied.

My brows furrowed in curiosity.

Where have I heard that voice before?

The door slammed shut. And I released my breath.

I have to get out of here before he come back.

I got out of the shower, reaching for the towel when I instinctively turned around and froze.

In front of me was the stranger from the hotel. That was the first time my brain worked so fast because it gave me the answer I wanted to ask.

He was my father's boss. The stranger was Jaxon Devereaux.

I'm now utterly screwed.