CH 3: Practiced Guilt

“Junior sister, Alex didn't mean to betray you. Please d-don't blame him…Everything is my fault.“

“ I loved him so much that i couldn't control myself, even when i knew he had a girlfriend…I'm s-sorry. Please don't blame him.“ Daniella sniffled and lowered her gaze, her voice trembling with practiced guilt.

She looked so pitiful and fragile, hiding behind Alex that no one could bear to reprimand her.

But beneath that fragile and meek expression, a tiny flicker of triumph danced in her eyes. A faint, quick smirk she quickly swallowed.

“Who's your junior sister?“ Lynette questioned mockingly.

“ I only know that the two of you were already scr*wing each other behind my back while we were still in a relationship.“

“ And yet you feel wronged and hurt - acting like a bitch and a mistress.“ Lynette voiced cracked with rage. She glared at them, a bitter scoff escaping her lips.

“ Who are you putting that fragile, pitiful face on for, huh?“

Lynette felt disgusted by Daniella's pretense of acting as if she's the victim.

“ Between you and me, who is supposed to look wronged and hurt for being cheated on…?“

“ Answer me!“ Lynette demanded.

“Junior sister, actually, Alex and I are…we…“ Daniella bit her lips, looking inexplicably pitiful and flustered.

“ That's enough, Lynette.“ Alex spoke sharply, annoyance twisting his expression. He saw his woman defending him and looking so fragile and bullied. He naturally wanted to defend her, to assert his authority as a man.

He turned, pulled Daniella into his arms , and stated arrogantly, “ Don't vent your anger on Dani…She's the victim here.“

He gritted his teeth, while avoiding eye contact with Lynette.

Lynette stood there, shocked and baffled by Alex's ability to twist the truth so effortlessly.

Hah…good, good, Lynette thought with a cold smile.

“ To tell you the truth, i–“

“ Alex, please…don't.“ Daniella interrupted him, her voice dripping with fake fragility, which Alex failed to noticed.

“I know what you want to say.“ Lynette's voice cut through the air, silencing whatever drama they were trying to stage.

“Are you trying to say that you two were in a relationship before i came into the picture? That you dated me just to make her jealous and be closer to her, killing two birds with one stone.“ Her tone was full of contempt.“ That you never had any romantic feelings for me…“

Every syllables from Lynette hit them like a storm, leaving them motionless and stunned.

“You, you… How did you…?“ Alex was stunned. His eyes brimmed with shock and disbelief.

A wave of irritation hit him, the unsettling feeling that the situation was slipping out of his control.

Alex hated this feeling – this sense of always being at someone else's mercy. A sharp glint of hatred flashed in his eyes.

“Pathetic.“ Lynette thought mockingly.

“ Fine. Since you already know the truth, let's stop wasting each other's time ” Alex said with a smug, self satisfied smile playing at his lips.

“ Let's break up, Lynette ” His voice came out unbothered, almost careless, as if it means nothing to him

“ But don't worry,” He said “ I'm not that heartless. I will compensate you with one million for the time you wasted on me.” He smiled arrogantly with an air of superiority as if he was doing Lynette a favor.

Hah…Fool. You walked right into my trap, Lynette thought with a sneer.

Alex felt smug, his gaze dripping with arrogance as he looked at Lynette as though she was beneath him unworthy of even a second of his attention.

He was certain the compensation would make Lynette cling to him in gratitude since she hardly earn such amount.

Little did he know, he had just fallen straight into her trap.

“ You know…, what will happen if your reputation were at stake?“ Lynette insinuated slyly .

They both stared at Lynette with a stunned expression, unable to grasp what she meant.

What does compensation has to do with reputation, they thought.

“ Get straight to the point Lynette,” Alex demanded with an irritated tone, “ What do you mean?”

“6 million AUR.”

Huh…

“ I want a compensation of 6 million Aurelion.”

Gasp!

“ Are you insane?,” Alex gritted his teeth in anger.“6 million AUR !, why not go rob a bank.”

“What? You wouldn't do it ?” She mocked, lifting her phone elegantly with a taunting wave , as if she might upload their lewd videos at any moment.

“ Should I?”

The moment they saw her acting as though she was about to upload the video, panic struck them and they shouted in unison.

“ NO!!”

“ Fine, i will do the transaction but on one condition,” Alex stared at Lynette with deep hatred.

“ Go on.”

“ You must erase every incriminating videos you have of us– right now, all of them ”

“ Sure, money first before any other thing ”

Ding!

Checking her phone to confirm, Lynette saw six million. Her smile widened in joy.

In a good mood, she fulfilled the condition of deleting their incriminating videos without hesitation.

“ There, Done.”

“ Since it's done, get loss.” Alex clenched his fist inorder to control his anger from lashing out.“ Make sure you don't come begging me to take you back or help you?”

Tsk, tsk…

Lynette turned to walk out of the door and out of his life without any lingering feelings.

On getting to the door, Lynette paused, looked over her shoulder, and said to Alex ,“It's me, Lynette Carter that is breaking up with you, Alex Hale.”

“ Get that straight .”

“You're not even worth my spec.”

Lynette looked at the two, sneering with a cold, condescending smile.

“ You both deserve each other. After all, that's exactly how a scumbag and a bitch relate.” With that said, Lynette walked out of the house without hesitation.

Her posture radiating elegance, graceful and unpretentious as if nothing can outshine her.