Chapter 1

Valerie

All I was trying to do was reach home hastily as people rushed along the sidewalk around me. I might have even bumped into a few but at this point, I just didn't care. As my apartment building came into view a sigh of relief left me, finally I was there. At last, I was going to be home. The only thing I was glad about was it being situated in the hustle and bustle part of the city and being within walking distance of the office, only if you liked to walk. It was a time saver yet I have been unable to be back home for the last two days.

Walking into my apartment the first thing I did was fall onto the couch, a wave of exhaustion instantly hit me. Waking up early and staying at the office for days to submit plans for an event that was almost a week away may not have been the best idea.

No one said event planning was easy - the deadlines, the nagging clients, and the pressure to make everything perfect were extremely draining on employees. After the stressful day, all I wanted to do was to have a peaceful night at home, with the TV and fridge all to myself. I wasn't a lonely person, but sometimes it felt good to be alone. I barely got time to myself in the last few dates. I haven't even had a decent meal in the last two days, it was all takeouts and all. Yet again it was takeout that I had bought while

Finishing almost a series and my last packet of salt vinegar chips, I realized it was only eight p.m. Battling with myself about whether I should go to bed early or watch another series, I decided to take a bath in hopes that it would help me relax after all these busy days. While the water was running I added some essential oils to relax my body and mind.

Lowering myself into the warm water, I closed my eyes and breathed a sigh of relief. It felt as I was in heaven as I breathed in the scents of lavender and jasmine.

In the back of my mind, I had this nagging feeling that I was forgetting something important. But I had done everything besides rest, I told myself. Unable to have anything cross my mind, I pushed the thought away and let my muscles relax in the water.

An unwanted memory from the past flashed in my mind like an unwanted visitor. It had been years since I thought of him or those days, I was in a dark place and I had no desire to revisit that place again.

It was my mother's death anniversary when he left me. I had woken up with the same feeling of dread, like all the years before ever since her death. Every year I wished the day of her death wouldn't bother me so much, but it always did. The feelings of loneliness and sadness emerge inside me.

Yet, I pushed my thoughts towards Drew. He was the only person in my life that made me happy now. I knew he was the one for me even though I had never thought of falling in love after seeing what happened with my parents.

From loving one another to tearing each other apart, I had watched it unfold in front of my eyes. My father was a devil who didn't have the courtesy to hide his affairs. All through the years, I saw the desire inside of him to hurt her for some reason.

In the blink of an eye, he changed from a good father to a father I hated. Every time Mom used to be out, he would bring women home, and warn me not to tell Mom. I wasn't an idiot; I knew what happened behind the closed doors from the voices that could be heard throughout the house. He wanted me to hide his secret but I told Mom the very first time it happened only to be stunned by the knowledge that she knew. He made her bleed by bringing women home in front of her. The first time I saw the blood I had puked on the floor.

I saw her misery and watched the pain become unbearable to the point where she almost killed herself. My father ruined our family, while I was stuck between two parents who didn't love each other anymore. I thought that having Drew in my life wouldn't make me feel so lonely. I was wrong, anxiety clawed on my insides.

On the bus to the college, I checked my phone for any calls or messages from him. I frowned when I saw that there was none. My mornings were filled with flirty messages from him but today when I needed them the most, there was nothing but silence. Time passed by, shifting from morning to afternoon without any messages or calls from him. I felt like the day was not being on my side, the sadness grew inside of me.

I needed Drew beside me today. Not waiting any longer, I called him myself only to hear his voicemail straight away.

I calmed myself by telling myself that he might be busy in meetings. He might have not had time to check his phone.

The rest of the day dragged on and my classes ended. For the fifth time, in the last ten minutes, I checked my phone only to find no messages from him.

"Where is he?" I mumbled to myself as I decided to go look for him at his office.

"Hello. How may I help you?" the receptionist asked me as I entered the reception area. It was my first time here. His office building was posh and enormous, with 'money' written all over it.

"I'm looking for Drew Weston," I told her feeling uneasy, my stomach in knots.

"Oh, he's not here," she paused. "He had already left early this morning for Chicago," I was perplexed by her answer.

Chicago? I wondered why there, and then I remembered he had family there.

Maybe there was some emergency.

"Do you have any idea when he'll be back?" I asked nervously.

"I have no idea, but I don't think he is coming back for a while. He has handed over the business to someone else in the firm," I felt discomfort settling inside of me. Did he hand his business to someone else? What was happening?

He would have sent me a message about it, I thought to myself exiting the building. Reaching home I found a letter on the floor addressed to me. From the writing on the envelope, I knew right away that it was from Drew.

My heartbeat rose to touch the moon while opening the letter. A million possibilities running through my mind. What was in the letter that he couldn't tell me himself? As I read it, my world came to a halt.

Valerie, we're done. I have no desire to be with you anymore. I know it is out of the blue for you but I have been thinking about it for a while. Until today I had been trying to find reasons to stay with you but I had run out of them today. So please don't try to contact me.

I don't want to hear from you or even see you. I further advise you to not to find me because I would deny even knowing you.

Goodbye

My heart clenched reading his words. We're done... but why? Did I do something wrong? I thought for a while only to have my mind come up with nothing. I thought that we both loved each other. I was sure that he was happy yesterday when we had spent time together.

What made him want to break up suddenly? And that too with a note?

I wanted answers. Picking up my phone I called him repeatedly only to find his number to be out of service. I felt shattered.

For once I had trusted someone, and let my walls down only to be rewarded with this. I fell in love only to have my heart broken. Slipping down to the floor, I cried my heart out for hours.

I let myself drown in the sadness and betrayal I felt. Letting out all the pain of everything that happened to me, promising myself to never fall in love again.

I was snapped out of the memory to reality by the loud noise of the door banging closed. I was quite sure that it was the front door. For a moment I was fucking scared that it could be some intruder but I remembered that the doors were locked and the security downstairs won't let intruders in.

I breathed in deeply, gathering my thoughts. Now only two people had the key to my apartment. One was my best friend and the other was my boyfriend, Aiden.

My bet was on the former though because she had a track record for showing up unannounced and making herself at home. Aiden preferred his apartment to mine and it worked for me. I liked my space a little too much and my apartment up to his taste. I wasn't poor but damn I wasn't fucking rich like him to own a penthouse.

So it surely wouldn't be him.

I just hoped Shay bought some wine.