4. The Traitors

Elena stared at the pair of humans before her with a look of disbelief in her eyes. Just an hour ago, her half-sister Bella had looked sad and sympathized with her. But now, Bella looked at her with a haughty and triumphant look in her eyes.

Her gaze shifted to Lucas who was just staring at her flatly. There was no longer an adoring look there. The man even let Bella hug his arm with a mocking grin.

She looked at Bella's outfit which looked sexy for an office worker. The skirt was too tight and the length only reached the middle of the thigh. The blazer she was wearing was also so tight that it made her chest look puffy.

Her heart throbbed with pain. Bella was like the woman who used to keep Lucas company in the man's apartment. Had her boyfriend, no, ex-boyfriend preferred sexy women in revealing clothes like them all along?

Suddenly she chuckled with amusement, laughing at her own stupidity. Of course no man nowadays would be interested in a covered-up woman like her. But suddenly she didn't care anymore.

Her body was her right. She would not degrade herself by showing off her body just for a man. She was too precious for that. Even though she was no longer a girl. Again, her left chest throbbed with pain.

"It turns out you're a good match. Both traitors," Elena said coldly.

Bella burst out laughing. She had never shown this side of her before in front of Elena. But now, all of her masks were off.

"You're the one who's too stupid. Oh, my poor sister. Do you think Lucas really loves you?" Bella taunted.

Elena's hands clenched into tight fists, trying hard to stop herself from punching the annoying face of her half-sister who used to pretend to be kind and innocent.

"I admit that you are smart. But we're much smarter than you. You worked hard like a horse to move the company forward, and now I'm kicking you away."

Bella's laughter echoed back, drawing the attention of several employees passing through the lobby.

"You think you can just enjoy my hard work?" Elena snorted. "You picked the wrong opponent, bitch. I'll make sure you and your whore mom are back on the streets."

"You!" Bella raised her hand to slap Elena, but Jack held her arm and pressed it firmly. "Ouch! Let go of me!"

This time, it was Elena who grinned. Her gaze turned to Lucas who had been silent. There was still some love in her heart for him, but it was getting old. Suddenly the man was no longer attractive in her eyes.

"You're still making the same mistakes," Elena said and shook her head. "Maybe I'm just a fool for believing in you."

She shrugged indifferently, then passed by them to exit the company. Her business here was done for now. Later, she would teach those traitors a lesson. Her heart really did not want the Pierce family fortune to fall into the hands of those two leeches.

***

Elena had been crying in the car for two hours. It turned out that she was not that strong. After her mother died, she promised not to cry anymore and focus on her family's company. She dedicated her life to the progress of the company that her grandfather started from zero.

But what happened to her this time, as well as the real faces of her family and her ex-boyfriend, no doubt made her feel sick again. Alan had warned her for a long time, but she always ignored him. She didn't believe that one day, his father would change.

And now it was proven.

"Are you okay?"

"Just take me to my apartment," she replied between cries.

Her hand was beating on her left chest which hurt like hell. Being betrayed by her stepmother, half-sister, and even her boyfriend was nothing compared to being betrayed by her own father.

She might be able to forget what those three did over time, but not her father. Blood could not just be broken. She would forever remain related to that man. And right now, her heart was broken.

"Is it really this painful to be hurt by your own father?" She asked in a heart-wrenching voice. Her throat felt like it was constricted.

Jack didn't respond. He was still focused on the wheel and the road ahead. Until Elena's apartment passed him by.

"Why did you pass my apartment?" Elena asked when she looked up and it was already far away.

"You're not safe there."

"What? What do you mean?"

Jack once again remained silent, much to Elena's annoyance. She wiped her tears roughly and threw the man a tissue box.

"Why do you have such a hard time answering my questions? Am I that pathetic that you don't even want to respond to me?" She shouted under her breath.

He still did not respond. Instead, his right hand turned on the music player and played a song that sounded unfamiliar to Elena.

Her brow furrowed when she found the song surprisingly pleasant to listen to. But she didn't know who the song belonged to. The lyrics were about a man who secretly loved a woman so deeply that he became stupid.

Elena unconsciously glanced at Jack who looked different. He looked...sad. Is this song about Jack? He was secretly in love with someone and planned to tell her when it was too late?

Is that woman...Claire?

She suddenly forgot about her sadness and was curious about the love story of the handsome man beside her. It hurts so much more when we love someone so deeply, but it's too late. Elena could see the deep sadness in his eyes.

"Whose song is this? I've never heard of it before," she asked after they had been silent while listening to the song.

"Saybia. The day after tomorrow."

"Is this song about you?"

Again, Jack was silent. And Elena already knew the answer. She became curious about the woman named Claire. How great was she that she could bring Jack Peterson to his knees? Lucas hadn't even come close to doing that to her. What a lucky woman that Claire was.

If she was loved by a man like Jack, then she would have accepted it right away. That man seemed to be so loyal. Even after the big incident last night, he didn't even glance at her at all. It was as if nothing had ever happened between them.

"Where are you taking me?" She asked curiously.

The vehicle continued through the city and headed towards an area filled with trees.

"Looks like...."

BRAK!

Suddenly, the car swerved and the loud sound of impact made Elena squeal in surprise. Her head snapped back and her eyes widened when she saw a black car trying to hit them again.

"What's going on?" She shouted in confusion.

"Put on your seat belt! Hurry up!" Jack shouted as he pressed the gas and occasionally dodged the car behind him.

Their car was hit several times and the chase continued until they entered the forest.

"Jack!"

Elena's car finally managed to roll over after being hit hard by another larger car. Elena felt like her head was spinning because she was upside down. She could feel Jack struggling to unbuckle himself from the seatbelt and now switch to hers.

"Elena!"

Elena's vision began to blur and her head throbbed with pain.

"Damn it! Why is it so hard?"

After hearing Jack's curse, Elena's vision darkened completely. Had she finally died?