CHAPTER 11- RHEA'S POV

“I had sex with your fiancé… but it was a mistake.”

No. That was too cold.

“Vanessa… I slept with Darnell—but it was before I knew he was your fiancé.”

Fuck.

My chest tightened, and I exhaled slowly, the air leaving me in a shaky breath.

I was parked outside Vanessa’s apartment building, my heart hammering against my ribs. I should get out. I should go upstairs and tell her everything.

I think.

I wasn’t sure.

I rubbed my neck, still sore from this morning. God… that choking—part of me had loved it, but part of me had genuinely thought I was going to die. I had seen my life flash before my eyes, and the worst part?

He hadn’t cared.

He was a fucking psychopath. He needed help—professional help.

After forcing myself to finish that goddamn form, I had gone back to my desk, my brain completely fried. I had to leave early—told myself it was to get syrup for my throat, to get some air.

But really…

I just needed to get away from him.

I didn’t think I could do this. Today was my first day, and he had already—God. What was going to happen if I stayed longer?

I felt ridiculously stupid.

Because for some reason…

I still wanted to be around him.

Even though he was Vanessa’s fiancé. Even though they were getting married.

I had to stop wanting him.

And to do that… I had to tell Vanessa everything.

Not everything.

Not the way he had touched me. Not the way he had fucked me senseless until my brain couldn’t function.

Just that it happened.

That it was a mistake.

A mistake I knew—deep down—I would make again if I had the chance.

But I wasn’t going to say that.

Vanessa was going to be furious. She might even try to kill me.

I’d probably deserve it.

I stepped out of the car, the cool breeze brushing against my skin, lifting my hair as I walked into the building and toward the elevator.

For some reason, my mind drifted back to that night.

That elevator.

Him.

Maybe if I hadn’t stepped in… I wouldn’t be here. I wouldn’t be on my way to apologize to my sister for sleeping with her fiancé.

Are they even really lovers?

The thought came uninvited.

Because if they were…

He wouldn’t have slept with me that night.

He wouldn’t be doing whatever it was he was doing to me now.

Come to think of it… I didn’t even understand their relationship. Or even how they met.

The elevator chimed softly as it reached her floor. I hesitated before stepping out, my feet suddenly feeling heavier with every step toward her apartment.

I raised my hand and pressed the doorbell.

“Vanessa, I’m sorry. It was a mistake,” I rehearsed under my breath.

“What was a mistake?”

The door opened.

And my world tilted.

My eyes locked onto the figure in front of me—tall… broad… bare… brown eyes…

My gaze dropped before I could stop it.

His chest.

God…

It looked even better than I remembered. My fingers twitched, a dangerous thought flashing through my mind—

Stop.

“What are you doing here?”

I forced my eyes away from his body and back to his face.

Darnell.

Half-naked. Just pants. Standing at Vanessa’s door.

What the hell was he doing here?

My thoughts spiraled, confusion crashing into something sharper—something deeper—

Then Vanessa appeared behind him.

“Rhea, you didn’t say you were coming. Is there something I can help you with?” she asked casually, like this was normal.

I didn’t look at her.

I couldn’t.

My eyes stayed on him.

And he just… stared.

No explanation. No reaction. Just those same unreadable eyes fixed on me.

And then it hit me.

Hard.

Something tightened in my chest, sharp and suffocating. Not the soreness from earlier—something worse. Something deeper.

“I just… I, um…”

The words refused to come out.

I just stood there, completely still, as Vanessa wrapped her arm around his and leaned into him.

“Do you want to come inside?” she asked.

I shook my head quickly, biting down on my lower lip to stop the tears from spilling.

“Good night,” I managed to bid.

I spared him one last glance before turning away.

I walked back into the elevator and pressed the ground floor.

The moment the doors slid shut—

I dropped.

My knees hit the ground as everything came crashing down at once.

The tears came immediately, uncontrollable, my sobs echoing in the small space as I struggled to breathe.

He was her fiancé.

They're engaged!!!

There was nothing wrong with them being together.

So why did it feel like this?

Why did it hurt so much?

Darnell was going to marry Vanessa.

I needed to remember that.

I needed to keep reminding myself.

Then why…

Why did he make me feel things I knew I shouldn’t?