Chapter 5: Heart Shattered

Hannah said fearlessly, “You don’t—”

Lala lifted her hand to strike her. Hannah flinched back, but John stepped in, caught Lala’s wrist, and warned, “You can’t do that!”

Lala yanked free and sneered at Hannah. “So you’ve got a dog who barks and bites for you. Both of you are shameless—you deserve each other.”

Hannah’s lips curled in a mocking smile. “Yes, we do. That’s why we’re getting married. And you? Everyone keeps rejecting your sorry ass.”

The color drained from Lala’s face. Her eyes widened, filling with tears. “W-What?”

Hannah didn’t let up. “Yes. John chose me. We’re getting married soon.”

Tears slid down Lala’s cheeks. She looked at John, voice trembling. “She’s lying, right? Tell me she’s lying.”

She grabbed John by the collar. Hannah reached over, pried Lala’s hand away, and scoffed. “Stop touching my man.”

John stared at Lala, guilt flickering in his eyes, but he still said, “It’s true. I’m going to marry Hannah.”

The words stole Lala’s breath. She stood frozen, mouth opening and closing without sound. Then she spun around, broke into sobs, and ran for the exit.

Tears blurred Lala’s vision as she stepped off the curb. She walked straight into the busy road, ignoring the blaring horns, not stopping, not looking.

A hand shot out and yanked her back. She stumbled into a solid chest. When she lifted her head—face soaked with tears and mucus—she recognized the man holding her.

“Are you trying to get yourself killed?” John snapped, frowning. “I almost hit you with my car. If I hadn’t pulled you back, another car would’ve.”

Lala didn’t answer. She broke down harder, throwing her arms around him and sobbing into his shirt. John didn’t push her away. He wrapped his arms around her and held her as they stood by the pedestrian crossing.

After a few minutes, Lala’s sobs quieted. She stepped back, embarrassed, wiping at her face, though tears still streamed down.

“I’m sorry for ruining your—” she started.

“You don’t need to apologize,” John cut in gently. “Come on. Let me drive you home.”

He guided her to his car, helped her in, and drove her back. When he parked outside her house, Lala hesitated, then asked, “If you’re free… can you come in and stay with me for a while?”

“Sure,” John said.

They got out, and he followed her inside. Lala gestured to the couch. “Please, sit.”

John sat down. After a moment, Lala asked softly, “What should I get you?”

“I’m fine,” he replied.

Lala walked to the bar, grabbed a few bottles of liquor, and set them on the table. She poured herself a glass and downed it, then poured another and did the same. After several rounds, she finally looked at Philip, her eyes glossy.

“I feel so worthless,” she said, voice thick. “My best friend took my man. I really thought I was untouchable—that nobody could take what was mine. But she did. And it wasn’t just anyone… it was her. The man I gave everything to, and my best friend—they did this to me. It hurts more than I thought it could.”

She poured again, swallowed it in one go, then stared at him in silence before whispering, “I didn’t know it could be this painful. I’m so hurt.”

Philip’s jaw tightened. “You shouldn’t get yourself drunk.”

Lala didn’t answer. She poured yet another drink and threw it back, then looked at him with a lopsided, reckless smile.

“The first time I saw you, I couldn’t get you out of my head,” she said. “And that day you touched me… I don’t know how to explain it. It just felt right.”

Philip poured himself a drink and downed it, watching her carefully. “You’re saying that because you want to get back at the man who dumped you, right?”

Drunk and emboldened, Lala pushed herself up from the rug, swaying as she moved. She climbed onto his lap, straddling him, looping her arms around his neck and holding his gaze.

“No,” Philip warned, breath unsteady.

Lala fisted the front of his shirt and leaned in. “I wanted you the first moment I laid eyes on you.”

Something dark and hungry flickered in Philip’s eyes. His voice dropped. “You won’t regret it?”

Lala answered by kissing him—firm, insistent. Philip’s hands slid to her hips, pulling her closer as he took control of the kiss, deepening it until she let out a soft, involuntary sound against his mouth.

Breathless, she broke away and buried her face in the curve of his neck. “Take me to my room,” she murmured.

Philip didn’t hesitate. He wrapped his arms around her and lifted her, carrying her down the hall. The moment the bedroom door closed behind them, they were kissing again, stumbling toward the bed as urgency overtook them. His hand found the zipper at her back and pulled it down, baring her skin while their mouths stayed locked.

Her fingers—unsteady, impatient—went to his belt, fumbling before finally unbuckling it.

She gave a breathy, tipsy laugh and looked up at him with a bold grin. “You’re just as horny as I am.”