1| WHO THE F WAS I DATING?

ELARA

“Hold it steady, baby, I need to watch this again later.”

A pool of saliva gathered in my throat, my fingers went numb and my phone slipped from my grip. I’d just revealed my fiancé on Dilly app, and almost at once, I got a video message and an apology from a friend back in college.

In the grainy footage that was still replaying on my screen, my fiancé, David was balls deep in said college friend, pounding her with the energy of a bull.

His sweat poured onto her body, and his face was twisted with the same pleasure I used to search for on his face whenever he bothered to touch me.

Her head was thrown back, dark hair spilling but her moans were high and desperate, nothing like the polite sounds I made when he fucked me. I used to be a screamer, until David deemed it razz and unladylike.

She arched as he thrust, harder, faster, whispering filth I’d begged him to say to me many times. He never had.

I couldn’t hold the tears back anymore as the images replayed over and over.

David was in bed with someone who wasn’t me. I wasn’t too shocked, I realized. Just defeated.

I wouldn’t lie and say the signs weren’t there. All the subtle jabs at my body, my career…

“You’re getting fat. Did you cancel your gym attendance, baby?”

“All you do is lie on the bed while I do all the work. Fucking you is a damn chore!”

“You barely have time for me these days, baby. Shut that laptop and let’s go to dinner at least. Your treat.”

A rush of emotion washed over me, and I stood on shaky legs, picking my bag off the photographer’s table.

We were in the middle of choosing the perfect pictures for a modeling shoot I’d been paid for, but I ignored her voice calling for me as I made my way to the front door.

I didn’t remember shutting the door behind me. I simply exited the content house and hopped into my car, speeding off to David’s penthouse.

On the drive down, my hands quivered, but not from fear. It was rage, coursing through my veins. I kept biting on my nails all the way there until I bled.

For three years, I gave him my everything. I endured on the days he neglected me, apologized for his excesses and mine, supported every single decision of his—even when they didn’t make sense. Too foolishly in love to see.

With tears in my eyes, I barged into his house and stomped into his room, finding him by the terrace. He faced away, blowing off a roll of tobacco with a glass of vodka by the coffee table.

“Are you going to stand there all day, baby?” He finally spoke.

“Screw you.” I gritted out with shaky hands. I reached for my phone to shove it in his face the second he turned to look me in the eye.

“Elara. What’s wrong?” He stuttered, taking a few steps back as he watched the video.

“What’s this about?” Scowl lines were starting to form on his forehead.

“Oh wow. So, asides from being a dirty cheat, you also can’t see? What else will I discover today, David Thorne?” I barked, vibrating with every word.

His eyes flicked down to the screen of my phone.

“You can’t even see my face properly. That is not me.” He started to push the phone back in my hand. I said nothing, just stood there, glaring daggers at him. My eyes begged him silently to repeat the lie.

He let out a sigh.

“Listen, it’s not what you think.” He finally said. I didn’t miss the void of emotion in his tone.

“It’s exactly what it looks like, David! And crazy that you don’t look or feel sorry.” I paused, rubbing fingers through the strands of my hair.

“Wait, were you ever going to tell me or I was meant to stay stupid?” I choked.

David stepped forward to cup my cheeks, but I took two steps away from him. All my pent up emotions were morphing into hatred, red hot rage, so much I slid that ring off my finger and tossed it in his face.

To think he was screwing someone else—God knows if it was just one person—and he had the nerve to propose.

“Look, Elara. This is a misunderstanding, okay? We’re not taking it too far.”

A scoff left my lips.

“You’re insane.” I walked away, only for David to grip my forearm and pull me back.

His features had wrinkled up with an emotion so hard to decipher, but it was dark, dangerous and everything I never knew David to be.

“Elara—”

“You don’t get to say my name ever again, you don’t get to talk me out of my decision. I’m done with this.” I spat out, struggling to get my wrist off his grip, but he wasn’t letting up.

“No, you don’t get to walk out on me mid-conversation…”

“And you don’t get to cheat and think you still have a say in my life! That’s not how this works.” I clapped back, and hard.

“I’m done with you, the wedding.” I continued, hoping that sunk in enough for him to leave me the hell alone.

“But I am not done with you,” His grip went to my throat, pinning me against the wall all together. It genuinely took me aback, but I gave little or no reaction, not wanting to show him any sign of weakness or hurt.

“Stop being delusional.” I rolled my eyes at him, hoping that a bold retort would make him step away from him, as well as walk away from me. For good.

“Delusional, that’s what you think this is?” I asked.

“I know what I want and I’m going to get it,” he continued, and for the huffed at him and his delusion.

“You can’t have me, not anymore.”

He laughed in my face.

“You think so highly of yourself, baby. My inheritance, not you. It’s my inheritance I want.” My breath hitched as the words slipped out. Then I burst out laughing. He stared at me like I was crazy. Maybe I was. Because what inheritance?

“I can’t get you what you want, so please...” I nudged towards his hand, not wanting to play these games with him.

“Yes, you can. I need to get married to get my inheritance, Elara. I never told you about it because you’re too emotional, you might want to leave, but this would be beneficial for us both…”

My vision blurred for a moment. I was… all this while he’s been dating me for an… inheritance…

I can’t do this.

“I want nothing to do with you, David. Find someone else.” I squared up to him.

His grip grew tighter around my neck, cutting my airflow. His eyes even thinned while he glared daggers at me.

“I can’t find someone else. I have to be in a relationship for more than a year to be eligible. You’re the perfect choice. I’ve worked too hard for this for it to be ruined now.” He moved impossibly closer to me. Then he continued,

“Fuck this, let’s cut to the chase. This is what you’ll do, Elara. You will marry me in two weeks, or else, your sex tapes would be all over the internet.”