CHAPTER THIRTY FIVE

Crack!

The vase that had been replaced fell to the floor and broke into pieces.

The sound echoed, and everyone knew that Luca was back

Slam!

It was something more expensive this time

Sharon was in her room, she had shut her door. But somehow she hoped that he wouldn't drink out his consciousness

Somehow she hoped that he would be the same person he was in the morning

Cold and dark, but slightly sweet

Now he was just Luca asshole Pavilochenki

She only pitied the servants who were going to clean up his mess, and Arman

Who was probably tired of him

What in the world prevented her from poisoning him that morning?

Oh yes, she needed a reason, she needed to be reminded how much of an asshole he was

She stood up, unlocked her door and walked to wherever the sound was coming from

He was in the parlour of the second floor, and she was certain the TV took a hit

She walked to him but maintained her three feet distance.

His eyes were dark and cold, and he had bled out of his bandages

The TV was fine, but the rest of the decor was broken or on the floor

“What the fuck are you doing here?”

He asked. She could hear the anger in his voice

“I was— I was just checking up on—”

“Flick the switch”

“What?”

“Flick the damn switch!”

Sharon shivered. She found the switch on the wall and flicked it on

And she could see the faint red glow of a bulb

She was in Luca's territory, and she had trespassed

There were consequences, she knew too well

She would probably receive a call from her father in the morning. He would probably ask her what she did to upset the Pavilochenki's

“Don’t meddle in my fucking affairs”

He said in a cold tone

At that moment she realised she had disobeyed not one but two rules

She didn't wait to hear anything else. She ran

Ran far away from him.

She was looking for a reason to poison him before

She just fucking remembered it—

*****************

Claire laid drove in a frenzy back home. She had lost her appetite

She never expected it, she never expected Sharon's words to be true

Donald was with someone else, and he was just using her

She was beginning to think he never loved her in the first place

Tears streamed down her eyes as she drove, she almost got a car, but her mind was far away

To make things worse, the song that was playing on the radio

Was Olga Myko’s “Use me

It was like the universe was out to mock her

Or punish her for all she had done

“Why do I choose people that don't choose me—”

The line hit her deep in her heart, and she decided she had heard enough

But ironically

The other station was playing Traitor by Olivia Rodrigo —

She turned the radio off and burst into a fresh set of tears

Donald would have an explanation for this. Maybe she was his sister

Hell no, she was making things up

As she entered the suite, she thought of the best way to confront him with it

He would definitely have a logical explanation—

Two hours later, Donald arrived looking elated. He had his own key

Claire was seated on the couch, a sullen look was on her face

She was holding the TV remote, but he show that was playing was muted, and she paid no attention to it

When he saw her, he gasped

“Did you stay up late waiting for me baby? I didn't know you missed me this much”

His hand grabbed her right cheek and he tugged on it, completely ignoring her facial expression

“How was work?”

She asked

Donald ran his hands through his hair

“Work was great, It took a lot of time and energy to finish up but I'm here now”

“Tell me Donald”

Claire stood up and they were now standing face to face

“What part of the work took more energy, the fucking or the flirting?”

Reality hit him, but he wasn't as surprised as she expected him to be

He was almost expressionless.

Then he laughed, a loud throaty laugh that pissed her the fuck off

He bent a little to whisper in her ear

“Well unlike you, she doesn't spread her legs because someone bought her a meal”

Claire felt cold. Goosebumps ran through her skin and all of a sudden, it was blurry

But he said what he said, and he was coherent enough

Donald had no regrets, felt no remorse or guilt.

Because to him they weren't anything to begin with

Tears streamed down her eyes

“You jerk! You were using me!”

“Took you long enough”

He grabbed his phone and began texting, like what she was saying wasn't the least bit important

Claire grabbed his shirt

“You made me think you loved me, you made me do things for you!”

“Ughhh, you're making a hell of a noise here, could you be more organised?”

Claire's face rose in shock

She had just realised that Donald Pavilochenki

Was a devil

“I'm going to tell Sharon, I'm going to fucking tell her—”

Smack!

Donald's palm landed on her cheek

Claire saw stars, the pain stung. But the pain in her heart would never go away

He grabbed her chin forcefully and made her look at him

“What are you going to tell her huh?

You're going to tell her that you took a picture of her abused mother

Yeah you can also tell her that you deceived her mother into telling you her life story

Why don't you also tell the Gray family that you're not from a rich family, and you dance at a club for quick cash

Then you can add that you sold private info about her family in exchange for sex

Because you're a good for nothing whore—”