CHAPTER 20 — BROKEN EDGES

Roy left Dianne’s doorstep with a hollow ache in his chest, each step heavier than the last.

He didn’t drive home—he dragged himself there, soaked, shivering, and emotionally drained.

The moment he entered his bedroom, everything inside him snapped.

He slammed the door, kicked off his wet shoes, grabbed a bottle of whiskey from the shelf, and downed it like water. The burn barely registered. He poured another. And another. The numbness helped. The silence didn’t.

He tried calling her.

Once. Twice. Ten times.

No answer.

He stared at his screen, eyes bloodshot. “Dianne… please…” he whispered into the empty room, but the phone kept ringing and ringing without end.

He sent messages.

Voicemails.

Everything he could think of.

But nothing came back.

He slid down the wall, the room spinning around him. “I’m losing her…” he choked.

Meanwhile — Dianne’s Apartment

Her phone buzzed nonstop.

Call after call.

Message after message.

Roy’s name lighting up her screen like a warning signal she couldn’t ignore.

Her heart tugged.

“He’s hurting…” she murmured.

She reached for the phone — but Maya snatched it.

“Don’t.” Maya’s voice was firm. “You’re not picking that call.”

“Maya… he hasn’t slept. He was in the rain—”

“I don’t care,” Maya cut her off sharply. “You are not going to reward him for letting his mother humiliate you. Have some pride, Dianne.”

Dianne swallowed hard, guilt and tenderness twisting inside her.

Maya tossed the phone aside and folded her arms.

“He needs consequences,” she said coldly. “Let him feel what it’s like to lose access to you.”

Dianne didn’t answer.

But she didn’t pick up either.

The next morning, Dianne woke up with a pounding headache and a heavy heart. She dressed carefully, choosing something simple—professional—hoping it would shield her from the storm she knew waited for her.

She worked for Roy.

Avoiding him would be impossible.

But speaking to him?

That felt… dangerous.

She arrived at the office early, hoping to hide behind her tasks, bury her emotions in documents and emails.

When Roy walked in, he looked nothing like his usual controlled self.

His eyes were swollen, red.

He hadn’t shaved.

His steps were slow.

His shirt wasn’t even buttoned properly—something he had never done in his life.

He saw her instantly.

“Dianne…” his voice cracked.

She didn’t look at him.

She stood from her desk, grabbed files, and walked away without a word.

He followed her.

“Dianne, please talk to me.”

Silence.

She breezed past him into the conference room.

“Dianne—please…” His voice broke again, raw, desperate, but she brushed past him with practiced professionalism, as though he were just another colleague asking for a report.

But the pain in her chest was unbearable.

Roy stepped toward her, voice low, pleading.

“Dianne… he touched you. I couldn’t just—”

She snapped.

“Roy, stop!”

Her voice tore through the room like a whip, and every head turned.

“You’re not my boyfriend,” she said, breath trembling, eyes bright with hurt. “You don’t have the right to police me.”

Roy froze.

Each word hit him like a blow.

Dianne blinked hard, refusing to let tears fall. “You don’t own me. You don’t get to dictate who talks to me. Leave me alone, Roy.”

Roy’s lips parted, but no sound came out.

Leo, seizing the moment, stepped beside her smugly.

“You heard her,” he said with a shrug.

Dianne didn’t even look at Roy as she walked away.

She left with Leo—right past him, right past the entire office, her heels clicking like a final verdict.

Roy stood rooted in place, throat burning, heart splitting wide open.

After work, Roy waited.

He stood near the entrance of the building, hands in his pockets, staring at the road, hoping she would come out alone.

Hours passed.

Finally, Dianne appeared.

She looked exhausted. Beautiful. Broken.

“Dianne,” Roy called softly.

She stopped but didn’t look at him. “I’m waiting for my cab.”

“I can drive you,” he said gently. “Please. Just let me make sure you get home safe.”

“No,” she said firmly. “I don’t want you to.”

Roy’s heart dropped. “You’re really shutting me out.”

Her jaw tightened. “I told you, Roy. We’re not anything. You don’t have to worry about me.”

A lie.

He knew it.

She knew it.

Her cab pulled up. She got in quickly, not giving him a chance to say anything else.

Roy stood there, watching the car pull away, feeling pieces of himself crumble with each passing second.

Dianne walked into the living room slowly.

Maya jumped up instantly. “How did it go? Did you ignore him? Did he suffer?”

Dianne threw her bag on the couch, sinking into it weakly. “Maya… it wasn’t fun. He was hurting.”

“Good,” Maya said without remorse. “Let him feel it.”

Dianne rubbed her face. “But I’m not happy. I feel terrible. I shouted at him… and he looked so broken.”

Maya waved her hand. “Broken? That’s exactly how you looked when his mother embarrassed you. Don’t soften up now. He needs to feel it.”

Dianne didn’t respond.

Her heart didn’t match Maya’s ruthlessness.

She wasn’t proud of what happened.

But she didn’t know how to fix it either.

Meanwhile, in Roy’s apartment he staggered into his living room, tossing his keys on the floor.

He didn’t turn on the lights.

He sat on the couch, elbows on his knees, hands pulling at his hair.

He couldn’t breathe.

He grabbed his phone and called the only person he could trust with the mess in his chest.

Bro?” Aaron answered instantly. “You sound like shit. What’s going on?”

Roy exhaled shakily. “She’s done with me, Aaron. She… she shouted at me. Told me I’m not her boyfriend. She left with some guy from the office. She wouldn’t let me drive her. She hates me.”

Aaron sighed heavily. “Roy… maybe you need to let her go.”

Roy’s heart clenched. “What?”

“You guys aren’t even dating. And look at the drama already. Maybe the girl isn’t for you.”

Roy felt anger spike through his chest. “Don’t say that again.”

“I’m serious,” Aaron continued. “Your mom hates her. Karen is still obsessed with you. Your sister dislikes her. And now she’s yelling at you at work? That’s too much. Leave her. Move on.”

Roy’s voice dropped to a deadly quiet.

“Aaron… shut up.”

“Roy—”

“I said shut up,” Roy repeated, jaw tight. “Don’t ever tell me to leave her.”

Aaron paused.

Roy’s breathing was harsh, uneven. “I love her. Even if she hates me right now. Even if she won’t speak to me. I’m not letting go.”

The anger.

The pain.

The desperation.

It all poured through his voice.

Aaron exhaled slowly. “Bro… then fight for her.”

Roy didn’t answer.

He only stared at the floor, heart racing, mind spiraling.

Because he knew…

This wasn’t just a crush.

It wasn't just an attraction.

It wasn't just infatuation.

He was falling in love with Dianne.

Hard.

Dangerously.

Irreversibly.

And he was terrified he had already lost her.