Chapter 2~ Refusing to believe

Claire was frozen in her spot. Her eyes grew wide and her mouth was open, making her throat run dry.

She didn’t expect to hear the news of her boyfriend dating someone else that night… heck, she didn’t even know he had someone else! She foolishly thought he had called her over to surprise her… This was indeed a surprise but not the type she was expecting.

Her heart began to pound as Jessica hooked her arm around Oliver’s arm and exclaimed, “Oliver, look! It’s Claire! Let’s go say hi.”

When they walked up to Claire, Jessica said, "Hi, Claire. Nice to meet you here." Then she unhooked her arm from Oliver’s and told him, “Dear, I know you and Claire have something to say… I’ll take care of the guests. See you soon."

After those words, Jessica turned her back to Oliver and glanced at Claire, giving her a contemptuous and defiant look.

Claire furrowed her eyebrows, wondering what that was about. Jessica was acting like she was already a winner.

However, she couldn’t dwell on it because her focus was on the man who had not acknowledged her presence despite standing close to her.

“What the hell is going on, Oliver?” Claire asked, clenching her hands into fists as she waited for Oliver’s response.

Despite the sting of betrayal that was gripping her heart, she was willing to give him a chance to explain. She wanted him to say she was overthinking things and there was nothing going on between Jessica and him.

“What are you doing here?” Oliver asked instead of responding to Claire’s question.

Claire’s eyes stung with tears. ‘He’s not even trying to explain himself,’ she mused painfully.

“Was I not supposed to be here? Was I not supposed to see you declare your relationship with another woman?” Claire questioned, raising her voice.

A few gasps echoed through the hall as everyone watched the drama unfold. Despite all this, Oliver’s face remained emotionless.

He frowned and hissed, “Don’t make a scene-“

“I’m not making a scene. I just want to know why my boyfriend is in a relationship with another woman!” Claire snapped, pain flitting through her eyes. She was so hurt and angry that her chest rose and fell heavily.

There was a brief silence and each second that passed by felt like someone was stabbing Claire’s chest repeatedly and twisting the daggers.

His silence was killing her.

However, when he finally spoke, Claire wished he hadn’t said anything at all.

“It’s over between us,” Oliver declared coldly, his deep voice resonating throughout the hall.

Claire’s heart dropped to the pits of her stomach. She felt like someone had shoved a hand down her throat and forced her heart to sink lower and lower until it settled beneath her feet.

Not only did she witness Oliver practically announcing his new relationship in public but he also broke up with her in front of all those people.

“W-what? W-why? I-I… Oliver, today is our eighth anniversary… we saw each other this morning. What do you mean it’s over between us?” Claire asked, her stomach knotting.

She couldn’t believe that Oliver was breaking up with her for no reason.

They were in love, right? At least, that’s what she thought.

“So, you decided to break up with me on our anniversary? Couldn’t you wait other than giving me this horrible memory?” Claire’s eyes stung with painful tears and a sob escaped her throat. 

“There’s a board meeting tomorrow… Now that I’m becoming the CEO, I need someone who matches my status,” Oliver replied coldly, his face devoid of any emotion. 

Although his face was cold, he never strayed his eyes away from looking at Claire. It was as if he wanted to see how she reacted to the bomb he dropped on her. 

“Oh, so I now have an unimpressive background? Why didn’t you think of that before you wasted my time you bastard!” Claire hissed, her eyes glaring at the man before her who seemed unphased by the current situation.

When Oliver didn’t respond, Claire slumped her shoulders and whispered, “I thought you loved me.”

“Love? Come on, Claire. I never loved you… I was just passing time but it got out of control. It’s time we both move on,” Oliver stated, his words cutting through the air like sharp shards of ice.

“How could you do this to me?” Claire gave Oliver an accusatory look, trying to remind him of the promises he made to her.

Was it all a lie?

Her heart clenched, the pain threatening to consume her whole. When she thought Oliver couldn’t hurt her more, his next words pushed her off the edge of the cliff that she was hanging on.

“I’ll compensate you.”

Blistering pain surged through Claire. Anger flashed through her eyes as she glared at Oliver, hatred brewing within her.

“Compensate me? Do I look like I’m money-hungry? Is that how you saw me all this while? How dare you?! You’re a bastard!” Claire screamed, her heart pounding violently in her chest.

Oliver frowned. He turned to the security and ordered, “Escort her out.”

At those words, Claire’s world crashed beneath her feet.