Chapter Two

It was after two hours that there was a knock on my door. I wiped my tears and slowly walked up to the door and opened it to see Natalie standing with a plate of food and an evil smirk on her face.

“I was already to break you guys up but it looks like I don't have to do anything. Nicolas looks like he hates you and is done with your bullshit.” She sneered. As I continued looking at her not understanding what was happening.

“You know what just happened down there, Nicolas asked not to call you for dinner because he couldn’t digest the food with you sitting there.” She laughed maniacally.

“Why do you have to be so cruel? I never said or did anything to you.” I questioned with a raised voice feeling frustrated with all the things that had been going on.

“You being born is the biggest mistake you ever made. You shouldn’t have come into our life and most importantly you took something that was mine since I knew what love was. You took Nicolas from me and I will never forgive you for that.” Natalie said through gritted teeth.

Does she hold that much hatred for me just for being born? It wasn’t like I went out of my way to pursue Nicolas. He was the one who pursued me and I agreed to go on a date after his relentless pursuit.

After that date, I realised that he was the best man I’ve ever met. Then we went on a few more dates and I knew he was the one. He asked me to be his girlfriend officially and I happily agreed.

But what I didn’t know was the impending hell I was bringing upon myself. Natalie and Rachel who already hated me and wouldn’t leave a chance to punish me took their torture to a whole new level.

Suddenly Natalie threw the plate aside and fell to the ground holding her cheek. I looked confused and shocked at the behaviour. But she stared at me with tears in her eyes.

“Why do you have to be so cruel to me? I was just trying to apologise for what happened downstairs, whatever I said earlier was in the heat of the moment by bringing you food since you didn’t eat your dinner and you slapped me.” She cried.

“What are you talking about? I never—”

“I thought you were a kind innocent girl but I didn't know you were this evil and cunning.” I heard Nicolas’s voice from my right. I whirled around to see him looking at me with disgust and anger on his face.

He walked to Natalie and helped her stand. While I stood there trying to understand what was happening.

“What! No Nico, no I didn’t do anything to her.” I tried to tell him but Rachel walked up to me and slapped me right across my face.

“How dare you hit my child, for all the love and care I showed you this is how you repay.” I held my cheek, shocked that she hit me in front of Nicolas. But Nicolas was busy trying to comfort Natalie.

“Nicolas,” I whispered hoping and praying that he would at least look at me.

“Go to your room and don’t come out until I tell you to,” Rachel ordered, holding my hand in a firm grip she pushed me into my room shut the door and locked it from outside.

“Open the door, please. Nico, please listen to me. I didn’t hit her please trust me you know I would never do that.”

But all I heard was fading footsteps as the three of them walked away. I slid down the wall sobbing as the only person who I thought would love me unconditionally and support me no matter what was ignoring me and wouldn't even talk to me.

After what felt like forever someone opened the door. When I turned to look at it Nicolas was looking at me with a hard expression.

“Nico, finally.” I stood up. “What happened? Why are you behaving like this?” I walked closer to him. But he moved back as I tried to touch him.

I stiffened, Nico never refused my touch. He hated when I tried to put distance between us but now he is moving away from me. I gulped looking at him in confusion.

“Wha–”

“ I want to break up with you.” Those are the first words I heard from my boyfriend of a year after not seeing each other for two weeks. The love of my life.

“What!? Are you serious? Why would you say something like that Nicolas?” I cried. But he just looked at me with angry eyes.

“Why would I say something like huh? Why? Because you are cheating, lying bitch, you have been betraying me since the beginning.” He spat with so much hatred and disgust in his voice that it sent a shiver down my spine.

“Cheating. Lying. What are you talking about.” I exclaimed.

“Don't act all innocent now. I know what kind of girl you are now. I loved you so much but what did you give me in return nothing but your disgusting lies and cheating on me with multiple men.”

“Nico, what are you saying? I would never cheat or lie to you. You know that I love you, why would I do that to you?” I exclaimed in frustration. Why is he being like that? “Who told you all these lies?”

“Lies! Lies you call these lies.” He pulled something from his suit pocket and threw it at my feet. When I looked down they were photographs. I bent down and picked them up to see what he was talking about.

I froze looking at the pictures. There were pictures of a woman with multiple men and the woman looked exactly like me.

“What are these? This isn't me.” I said, shaking my head frantically. “Nico, you know I wouldn't do that right?.” I begged as desperation laced my voice. “These are fake Nico.”

“Shut the fuck up.” I jerked back at his harsh tone. He has never in the time we've known each other spoke to me like that. “I'm sick and tired of all the lies you have been telling me. Do you think I'm that dumb not to check if they were fake or not? I did check them multiple times and each one of the tests proved they were real.” He sneered with so much venom in his voice that I had to take a step back from him.

“Nico please-”

“Stop. You know what hurt me more than anything.” He snatched the photos and showed me a picture that had me and my best friend Jackson. “This, I told you so many times that I don't like him or how close you guys are. But you said I was being irrational and Jackson is a brother to you, is this what a brother and sister do nowadays?”

“Nico please I never did any of these. I love you so much.” I pleaded with him.

He suddenly lurched forward and held my face in a tight grip. “I'm going to kill you if you ever utter those words again. Do you understand?”

“Nico-”

“It's Nicolas bitch. You lost the right to call me that, the moment you let another man touch you.” Bitch! I froze, my heart squeezing painfully. He called me bitch. He looked like a stranger and not my Nico who wouldn’t even raise his voice at me.

“Nico, you're hurting me,” I said between my sobs. Suddenly a thought struck my mind. “Nico, please give me a chance to prove myself. Please.” He looked like he knew what I was going to do. He pushed me away roughly.

“Prove it. Prove it to me that you didn't fuck other men when we were together.”

I rushed to my phone and with shaky hands I dialled my best friend Jackson. He is the only one who could prove my innocence. Jackson picked up on the fourth ring. “Hey babe. When are you coming over? Is your date finished?” I frowned, why is he calling me that?

“Jackson, it's not the time to joke. Nico thinks we slept together. Please tell me that's not true.” I requested. Nico looked at me with narrowed eyes.

“Aria, listen I'm tired okay? I don't want to hide us anymore. If he finally found out, tell him the truth. There is nothing wrong he will understand. We love each other, Aria. How long are you going to hide this? Let him know we slept together not once but many times. Because we can't keep our hands off each other.” He said seriously with no hint of humour in his voice.

I was shocked, frozen in my place. What is happening? Why is he lying? “Jackson, what are you talking about? This isn't the time to prank or joke like that. My relationship is on the line. please Nico is here tell him the truth.” I cried.

“Oh, I think it's the perfect time Aria just told him. Please for us, for the sake of our future.”

“Jackson why-” Nico snatched the phone from my hand and threw it on the bed.

“Enough. I've heard enough. Stop lying, how much more are you going to deceive me? Do you think I wouldn't go to him the moment I realised the photos weren't fake? I did and he told me everything. How you are with me just for the money. How you sold all the gifts I gave you saying that they were lost and giving him money for his business.”

I shook my head. All the gifts he gave me were stolen. All the expensive gifts he gave me suddenly disappeared as soon as I placed them in my locker.

I changed my locker many times but they still stole it. So I have been keeping them with my grandma. Even Nico knew that but he still questioned me.

“I'm done. I want to break up with you.” He said with finality with no emotions on his face. I was stunned, looking at him with tears streaming down my face.

“You can't be serious, Nico. Just like are you going to end us just like that.” I cried moving towards him while trying to hold his hand. He jerked out of my hold, his face turning in disgust.

“Yes, just like you let another man touch you so easily.” I shook my head trying to make him understand. But he just wrapped his hand around my throat. I stilled in place. My mind went completely blank.