Chapter Four

Violet 

I stood there stunned, throwing explanations that fell on deaf ears. 

Meanwhile, Nicole was fanning Nate and holding a glass of water for him which he took from her lovingly.

“Honestly Nicole, what would I even do without you?” He said to her and my heart broke a little.

I was sure that this was some trick and that years of trust wouldn’t disappear in an instant.

But that seemed to be the exact case.

“Rule the pack and make it the most powerful one” Nicole smiled at him, giddy at the acknowledgement.

“Really, Nate? Won't you even…” I began but he received a call and immediately picked it. 

His replies were short and clipped but I could see anger rising in his eyes the more he spoke to the man.

“Thank you. I will send you the payment shortly” He said and disconnected the phone, placed it on the desk and shook his head.

Nicole placed a hand on his shoulder and asked. “What did he say?”

Nate threw me an utterly venomous look as he answered her.

“That it is legit. There is no tampering of the footage.”

“What footage? Can you two stop behaving as if I am not here?” I asked and Nate pulled his laptop closer, typed some keys and then turned the screen to me again.

A video footage began playing of the day before of the restaurant we were in. I watched the scene replay once again as the rogues barged in and Nate rushed to save Nicole.

It felt as if a knife was being twisted in the exact same spot I had gotten injured earlier-my heart.

But then the scene proceeded to the stranger fighting the rogues, doctors rushing in and the chaos dying down eventually.

“I don't understand,” I said, staring at them for an explanation.

“There,” Nate quickly rewound the clip and zoomed in on a particular section involving me.

“Watch yourself.”

 It started with me looking at myself in the reflection as I had done earlier.

But the zoomed-in effect looked like I was admiring myself smugly. He then moved the cursor and zoomed out to show the entire frame.

And it showed me sitting diagonally opposite in the line of sight of a stranger. The same one who had saved me.

To me, it had been nothing but curiosity. But when seen like this from a specific angle…it didn’t seem to be a mere locked gaze. It seemed something else entirely.

Like longing.

Then the next seconds zoomed in on just the two of us- the brief period where he had taken a leisurely sip.

"Do you have anything to say in your defense now, Violet?” Nate asked.

“I…I still don’t understand what you are trying to prove here.” I said and he slammed his hand on the table angrily, making me step back due to the shocking reaction.

“How dare you pretend to be all naive and innocent, Violet? This footage was played all over the news channels repeatedly since the attack. This is from the restaurant’s CCTV footage, while a few onlookers also managed to take a few videos. And do you know what is common in them all?”

“You leaving me to die alone while you run off with Nicole?” I shot back, unable to keep my calm, but instead he roared at me.

“It shows you ogling at that man like you wanted to slip into his bed right away. No wonder you had taken such an effort to look good and dress up.”

I almost laughed bitterly.

“I had dressed up for you, Nate. I don't even know who he is.”

“Lies” He slammed the laptop shut as I whispered.

“You didn’t even look back at me as you ran away with Nicole.”

“Don’t you dare try to tarnish her name when you are the one who is rotten and filthy.”

I tried reaching for his hands to take in mine, but he vehemently shook me away.

As if touching me would make him sick. As if I was not worthy of touching him.

“It is not true, Nate. You have known me for years, do you really think I would look at anyone else when I had you?” I hated the way my voice sounded.

Choking and desperate.

“Lies and more lies, that is what you do, Violet. At first, when the news was broadcast and it showed the clip, I couldn’t believe my eyes. But when even Nicole saw what I did, I knew it was true.”

Nicole again.

She was getting the front row seats to the live telecast of not just the spectacular failure of my relationship, but also my life crumbling to pieces.

“I spent thousands on verifying the video to see if it had been tampered with. I hoped against hope that it was fake. That the dating profile was fake, that you were not a cheater. But you broke my trust and heart, Violet.”

I had opened my mouth to make him understand, but I saw him get emotional and turn to Nicole, who patted his back comfortingly.

“Relax, Nate. I will make her understand her mistake. She will apologize to you.” She then looked at me as Nate sobbed in her arms like he was the one needing consoling.

“Won't you, dear Violet?” she asked me.

I curled my fingers into fists so hard that I could feel my nails slicing into my palms. 

When I stayed silent, she pressed on,

“We all make poor choices, Violet. I will ensure Nate forgives you for your mistakes. You only have to beg hard enough.”

I tried not to let the anger flowing in my veins make me do something rash.

That would only provide her further ammunition.

So I tightened my fists and felt something warm ooze out of my palms.

The pain helped me focus.

“Is that what you wanted to see? Me begging for my life?” I asked her and she looked uncomfortable.

“Being confronted sucks, doesn’t it?” I asked but Nate wouldn’t let me speak any more.

“You are still being arrogant despite the glaring proof.” He sighed and looked at Nicole miserably.

“Do you still think she deserves a chance? She is literally blaming you instead of owning her mistake. I want her gone from my life, and I don’t want to see her face again.”

“I am still standing here, you know,” I said evenly, not wanting to give her the satisfaction of seeing me crumble.

Then I straightened my back and stated. 

“Since you have already made up your mind that I am the culprit, I don't want to waste my breath on explaining anything to you, Nate.”

A lone tear tried to escape my eyes but I quickly wiped it away and looked ahead as he let go of Nicole and stared at me with disbelief.

“How low can you stoop, Violet? You have been cheating on me all these days and have the audacity to look me in the eye as if you are proud of it.”

How could I have loved him all these years, run behind him like a devoted puppy, when he could abandon me based on the words and a few carefully taken shots that could alter the perspective of what actually happened back at the restaurant?

“You want me gone from your life, right? Consider it done.”

“What? Are you really going to walk away without any apology?” It was Nicole who asked, sounding surprised that I wasn’t pleading anymore.

“Watch me,” I said and turned around without a backward glance.