Harder Than It Ever Hurt

Claire’s POV

Flashback

“The number you dialed is not responding..” beep beep

I sighed. That was the same response I kept getting each time I tried to call Aiden. I had been feeling unwell lately and even missed my period. It bothered me so much that I was forced to visit the hospital even though I didn’t have much money but only the little I was saving for my rent, which would be due in two weeks.

Since Aiden wasn’t picking up my calls, I had to go alone. But this was so unlike him.

For the past five weeks, I had only seen him once, and that was the day our eyes met while I was behind the counter working as a waitress at the café that finally offered me a job, despite me being a college dropout. I couldn’t approach him to ask why he had been missing or avoiding me. That was because his strict and mean father, Donovan Hale, was with him.

I also noticed the pretty woman sitting beside Aiden. She was tall. I could tell, even while she was seated. She was very beautiful, the kind of woman you see on billboards or magazine covers.

My mind immediately wondered who she was, but I brushed the thought off. Aiden’s family was rich now, so it made sense that they would associate with rich people. Maybe she was one of their business partners, and they came to the café for a meeting.

The lady signaled for a waiter, but my colleague wasn’t around, so I went to attend to them.

“Welcome to Café One,” I greeted, trying hard to control myself from running into Aiden’s arms. He faintly smelled of alcohol and cigarettes. I hadn’t realized how much I missed him until that moment. But since when did he start smoking and drinking enough for it to cling to his clothes?

He avoided my eyes. He looked a bit disturbed but still managed to keep a calm face.

“I see you work here,” Donovan’s deep voice broke the silence. I turned to look at him. His eyes met mine, and it felt like he was disgusted by my presence.

I only nodded. I didn’t want to say anything.

“Can we have the menu, please?” the pretty lady said. Her voice was soft and smooth.

I gave her a polite nod. “Sure.” I turned to leave.

“We won’t be needing that,” Donovan said.

I stopped and turned back to him. “Why?”

He ignored my question.

I couldn’t believe this man was once my father’s best friend and co-worker. Ever since my father died, Donovan had treated me like a curse. Like someone who didn’t deserve to exist. My three-year relationship with Aiden had been kept a secret from him and everyone else because of how much he hated and was embarrassed about me.

“I don’t want to be served by a lowlife like you,” he said coldly.

I froze. I knew he hated me, but this was the first time he openly said something like that, especially in public. Thankfully, the café was almost empty, but still, the humiliation burned. What hurt even more was Aiden’s silence. He didn’t say a word to stop his father. He just sat there and let him insult me like I was nothing.

“Dad, do you know her?” the lady asked.

He stood up. “I wish I never did.”

“Let’s get out of here,” Aiden finally said, placing a gentle hand on the lady’s waist as they both stood.

Tears filled my eyes as I watched them walk past me. At the door, the lady tripped slightly, and Aiden quickly reached to catch her. That broke me completely. It wasn’t just jealousy, it was the pain of watching the man I loved hold another woman like that, right after watching his father embarrass me.

I rushed into the staff room and finally let the tears fall. My manager saw me and was kind enough to give me the rest of the day off.

I didn’t know what else to do but to go see Aiden and find out why he was treating me this way.

I didn’t even think of going back to the small hut I lived in. I went straight to his house. The gate was open, so I walked in quickly before the security could stop me.

Once inside the mansion, I prayed silently that Donovan wouldn’t be around. I went straight to Aiden’s room, the one he always snuck me into when we wanted to see each other. After my father died and Donovan turned against me, no one had ever seen Aiden and me together. He always said he didn’t want to make his father angry, and I didn’t want to cause problems for him, so we always met in secret, especially at night. Most times, we didn’t talk much. We just made love until morning.

As I got closer to his room, I heard faint moans. It was a woman’s voice mixed with a man’s. My knees went weak. Maybe he let one of his friends use his room? I moved closer, even though my body was shaking.

The door was open. And what I saw made my heart stop.

Aiden and the same woman from the café were in bed, naked.

I gasped loudly. The woman screamed, startled to see me.

Aiden sighed in frustration, grabbed a bottle of alcohol from the table beside the bed, and took a few gulps.

My breathing was uneven, but I forced myself to speak. He looked at me, and for a moment, there was guilt in his eyes.

“W-what is happening here, Aiden?” I asked.

“What does it look like? Are you blind?” he snapped, pulling the blanket to cover himself and the woman.

That tone, he had never spoken to me like that before. Tears rolled down my face.

“You’re cheating on me, Aiden,” I said in disbelief.

The lady frowned, disgust written all over her face. She turned to Aiden. “You dated this filthy thing?”

“Ignore her, Serena. She’s delusional,” Aiden said coldly.

“I bet she is,” Serena said, turning back to me. “If you’re done, please leave us.” Then she leaned in and kissed Aiden right in front of me.

My heart shattered. Completely. I couldn’t control myself anymore.

I fell to my knees, crying so hard I could barely see. “Aiden…” I called, my voice trembling. “I’m sorry if I did something wrong. You didn’t have to punish me like this. I’m so sorry. I promise I’ll never talk about us again. Please don’t do this.”

He looked at me, eyes cold and empty. “Go home, Claire,” he said quietly. “We were never going to last.”

“No, don’t say that!” I cried. “We will last. We’ve been through worse. Please, come back to me. Even if you want her, I don’t mind. I just want to be in your life. I love you so much, Aiden. Since we were kids, since we had nothing, since these three years we’ve been together, I’ve always loved you. I forgive you for cheating, but please, don’t leave me.”

Serena frowned. “You have to choose between us because I will never share you with her.”

Aiden chuckled slightly, his words slurred from alcohol. “Claire, we’re done. I don’t love you anymore. I never did. You were just… there. For three years, you were just my toy. You see her?” He pointed at Serena. “This is my class, rich, classy, elegant. Have you looked at yourself?” He scoffed. “Do something about your life. Or better yet, disappear forever.”

He grabbed Serena’s hand and walked out, leaving me behind.

My chest tightened. My heart hurt so badly that I thought I might die right there. Was that really it? The end of us? Three years gone like nothing?

I slowly stood up and walked out of the house, tears blurring my vision, my heart shattered into pieces.

Back to my little home with nothing but pain.

*****

“Mommy!” Mira’s tiny voice pulled me out of my trance. “I have been calling you.”

I pulled her into a hug immediately, brushing her hair with my fingers with my eyes burning so hot that tears could fall any minute from it.

“I will make sure you don’t experience what I went through. I promise you that.” I whispered