HER WORLD, NOT MINE

CONT’D

“Gosh, I can’t believe she allowed herself to be paraded like a handbag. Utterly downgrading, no self-respect; it’s disgusting.”

My phone wouldn’t stop buzzing, and with every new notification, I felt a fresh wave of anxiety build up in my chest. The internet had been on fire since Victoria humiliated me at the event yesterday, and trust the blogs to make it even worse.

“WANNABE GIRLFRIEND, LEXIE GETS HUMILIATED BY THE ICONIC VICTORIA HAYES. Talk about putting people in their place.”

A part of me wanted to throw my phone across the room to stop seeing the flood of hate and ridicule that aimed directly at me.

But I couldn’t help it—I kept scrolling.

“The lengths women would go for money is despicable. Lexie is definitely a gold-digging wench. Did she actually think she could take Victoria’s place?”

“Talk about a poor wannabe! Her taste in fashion is tragic. Victoria could be blindfolded and still outclass her at everything.”

The comments went from hundreds to thousands, piling their hatred on me like I’ve met and offended any single one of them before. Was this how it always is? Anyone could just say anything they wanted online? What about mental health?

I hadn’t realized I was crying until I saw a teardrop splattered on the screen of my phone. Damian had allowed Victoria to publicly humiliate me; now the world thinks I was despicable.

And nothing more than a temporary placement for Victoria—all I did was play my part, maybe too well even.

I buried my face in my hands. I wanted to be angry at him for treating me like—but I couldn’t. somewhere inside me, I believed that this wasn’t his fault.

The front door creaked open, and my heart jumped in my chest. I hoped so desperately that it was, Damian. He hadn’t been home all night, and neither did he say a word to me since he followed Victoria home.

Then I saw him perfectly composed; his suit changed, and his hair slicked back just right. He didn’t even look like he’d spent the night anywhere but in his own bed. Except—there was one thing that hadn’t changed—and I recognized that scent.

Victoria’s scent.

“Damian….” I managed to call out; my voice shook where I stood with my phone still in hand.

But he didn’t stop. He was already walking past me like I didn’t exist, like I wasn’t standing right there, waiting—hurting.

“You’re just going to leave?!” I shouted. He paused as he stood by the couch, not even turning his face to look at me, or was I despicable to look at too.

He sighed, clearly annoyed.

“If this is about the media, I’ll handle it. You have nothing to worry about. People online are simple-minded; they’ll say anything for views and likes,” he started to unbutton his suit jacket like this was a casual conversation.

I scoffed, “You really think I’m bothered about some comments? Maybe yes, but why throw me under the bus like that? You might not love me, fine! But I’m being blamed for something we both signed for, and they don’t even know that!” My hand gestured wildly, as it pointed to nothing in particular.

“Lexie, I have no time for this.” His tone was clipped; his patience had worn thin.

“I have business to attend to. Stay home for now, until I fix the issue with the media. Pay whoever I need, to get some posts deleted, and you’ll be fine.”

He turned toward the hallway, ready to walk out on me again.

“Wait.” My voice came out shaky, and I swallowed the lump that had formed in my throat.

“All it took was three weeks for me to love you, Damian. Three weeks, and I wanted more than to just be your fake wife, but did you ever feel anything for me at all?”

Damian let out a long, tired sigh. “I think you could have avoided this emotional mess if you’d stuck to the rules of the contract. I never loved you, Lexie. You couldn’t keep to that. To think of it, you breached the contract, but I’ll let that slide.”

His words hit me like a punch to the stomach. Loving him was a breach of contract? But the phrase that kept ringing in my ear was, “I never loved you.”

“You fucked me!” I shouted; my voice broke under the weight of my pain. “Countless times! You told me you’d be the only thing I’d ever get to enjoy.”

He shrugged, like it was nothing.

“We were fucking, Lexie. Words can come out during sex; it’s natural.”

My eyes blinked back multiple times to stop more tears from pouring out.

“Stop trying to create something out of nothing; Victoria is back, so what?”

“So what?” I laughed bitterly as I wiped the fresh tears on my cheeks. “You watched her embarrass me. You stood there while Evelyn ridiculed me. And you didn’t say a thing. The moment you saw Victoria, you detached yourself from me like I was filth.”

He let out an exasperated sigh; I was already getting on some nerves. Then for the first time today he turned to face me, hands on his waist.

I moved closer, slowly as tears began to blur my vision again.

“I’m not even mad at you, Damian. I just—I just want you to say you’re sorry. That’s all I need, and I’ll be okay,” I sobbed.

His eyes narrowed. “Don’t make me lose my temper with you, Lex.”

“Why can’t you just apologize to me?” I cried. “I don’t care if Victoria despises me, but don’t hate me too, Damian. Please, I know you’re not at fault. You could never be.”

“Lexie,” he warned, with a low and threatening voice.

“But I’ve been here. and she wasn’t. We’ve had something—maybe not love, but something. I would do anything you ask, Damian. Just love me back.”

“Lexie,” he called again, but I couldn’t stop. I was desperate and clung onto that one thing that had held me together for so long. I had never begged for love, nor have I even come across any chance to be loved by someone.

All my life was hell-bent on surviving, but Damian saved me.

“Don’t hurt me,” I whispered, my voice small and broken.

“Lexie!” he finally shouted at me as he ran his hands through his hair, clearly tired and frustrated.

“Lexie! The contract was made to avoid things like this.”

“Loving me was your choice; you chose to hurt yourself.”

I blinked back more tears; his words just kept cutting deeper than I had expected.

“Just stay in the lane I put you in, Lexie. Don’t do anything unless I tell you to do is listen to me”

“For how long? If you won’t love me then for how long would I keep being a good girl?”

His gaze rested on me, “Till the contract is over”

“But Victoria is back! The-“ he cut me off

“I don’t give a fuck, Lex! Whatever I say is final”

“So you’re saying you can never love me because of her? But I can’t do anything I choose to also?” My voice was barely audible now; my heart broke all over again.

He didn’t flinch.

“I’m getting married to Victoria, so you’d better get used to it.”