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“Get out of the way” She shoved her shoulder into mine as she walked past me wrapping a towel around her.

“It is not what it looks like” Carl tried to explain while standing in front of me still naked, with Julia trying to put her clothes on.

“After everything I have done for you” my voice came out in a whisper, I was stuck in disbelief

“Why are you here?” He let out a sigh

“Why am I here?” I shot him a glare

“Out of any fucking one you could have cheated with you choose my sister?!”

“Stepsister” Julia said

“Ask everything we have been through, after everything I have done for you!” I yanked my hair in frustration, it felt like I was losing my mind. I couldn’t comprehend that he would do that to me.

“And what exactly did you do for him?” Julia let out an evil cackle

“Do you think denying your chance to go aboard because you wanted to stay by his side during his “dark times” is anything?” She laughed “That just shows how stupid you were and still are”

“He told me everything Raven, I always knew you to be a fool but you are worse than I imagined” she continued with a taunting laugh

“Giving everything to a man who never wanted you, you are pathetic” she flipped her wet hair in my face

I turned to Carl and he couldn’t even look me in the eyes, she watched her say all those things to me and didn’t open his mouth once to defend me.

I made sacrifices for him, I never thought about myself when making decisions and always put him and his feelings first. When he begged me not to leave because he was emotionally distressed about his mom’s death, I did so without a second thought. Even though that was my dream, my key to freedom. I stayed.

When his father kicked him out after he was arrested for drug abuse. I helped him get off drugs and start his company from scratch. I worked beside him for years as his secretary, manager, personal assistant, every damn role in that company.

I made his company what it became.

I was so ashamed I couldn’t voice it out loud but he knew, everyone knew. I have been called names over and over by my family but I didn’t care, I was blinded by love.

“That’s enough Raven leave” he sighed picking up a robe and putting it on

“You are asking me to leave?!” I exploded

“Aren’t you going to explain yourself!” I screamed at the top of my lungs

“You can’t be so daft Raven” Julia stepped forward pulling him out of the bathroom by his arm

“You aren’t blind, I would like to believe that” She ran her hand through his chest

“Tell her exactly what you said you were going to tell her” she whispered in his ears

“We are done Raven leave my house” he looked me in the eyes for the first time then pointed at the door.

I couldn’t believe my eyes, he was cheating on me and I caught him red-handed, he didn’t apologize, he didn’t go on his knees groveling for my forgiveness. He was breaking up with me.

“That’s not all, there is something else” Julia smiled

“I-I-” he stuttered

He cleared his throat before he said “I was only with you to get close to Julia, I never wanted you”

His words landed on me with so much force, my knees grew weak and I almost lost my balance.

“What” I whimpered

I slowly walked towards him and the fake confidence he wore disappeared immediately, he shook slightly trying to step away from me.

“Repeat it!” I stood face to face with him daring him to speak but he couldn’t, he moved his gaze to the floor. He was a fucking coward and that irked me even more.

“He doesn’t need you anymore, you were nothing but a free maid now your time is up” Julia said

“He got a huge contract worth millions, his father would take him back and we are going to get married” she kissed him

He got the contract!

It immediately dawned on me how fucking stupid I was. That explained everything the distancing, not showing up, not responding to calls or texts. He didn’t need me anymore.

From the idea, meeting setup, to drafting the proposal I did that all by myself. Sitting in the lobby of different companies for hours, pitching to them over and over again only to be asked to come back the next day.

“So that’s what all this is about?” My voice shook as I spoke, tears threatened to escape my eyes but I didn’t let them. I wasn’t going to cry in front of people that hurt me

“Not everything has to be about you, if it is payment you want for everything you have done fine I would pay you” he said through his teeth

I couldn’t believe it was the same man I was looking at.

“I mean you would be getting married thanks to me what more do you want” Julia laughed

I couldn’t hold it in anymore, I walked up to her and smacked her across the face.

“How dare you” Carl hissed and before I could blink I felt a sharp sting on my cheek

He slapped me. The tears I had fought so hard to keep from falling, continuously rolled down my cheeks. I only paused for a moment in horror, then I grabbed Julia's hand and pulled her roughly.

“I am taking you to father” I said my lips quivering, she was the one I was after anyway. I wasn’t getting married in her place

“Carl, tell her to let go of me!” She screamed and Carl jumped in like a loyal dog, yanking my hand and pushing me hard to the floor.

“Get out” he kicked my sides and I let out a painful wince

“Drag her out” Julia ordered, I hadn’t recovered from the kick to my side when he tugged my hair dragging me across the floor with my hair. I kicked and cried for him to let go but he didn’t stop.

He dragged me downstairs not caring that my body was slamming across the hardwood floor, he didn’t stop until I was outside the house.

“I have tolerated you all this while, so stay out and stay the fuck away from me” he spat before he slammed the door shut leaving me stuck in a daze.

Was I dreaming?

My phone started to ring and snapped me out of the trance. I pulled out my phone and when I glanced at it, it was my father. I immediately answered the call

“Get back home Raven do make me come after you” his loud voice said through the phone

“I found Julia, she is at Carl’s house, come fucking get her and leave me alone!” I screamed

“She is telling lies just to escape her responsibilities” I heard Helena say on the line

“I am not lying she is here, come get her!” I shouted in annoyance, frustration, anger, and hurt all of them

“I don’t want to hear it Raven” he shouted “You are getting married and that is final” and he ended the call

The phone slipped to the ground and I stared ahead into the darkness. Dawned with the realization that there was no winning for me.

I picked up my phone from the ground and stood up. Walking aimlessly, I had no place in mind but I just kept walking.

I spotted a bus stop and took a seat there crying until I couldn’t breathe anymore. I didn’t care about the looks I got from people who drove past. I was in shambles, I could feel my heart breaking and it hurt so fucking much.

How could he?

I couldn’t tell how long passed but the road became empty. No single car drove past and no buses showed up.

I stood up to keep walking when I suddenly felt someone behind me. As I turned to look a black cloth was thrown over my head and I was surrounded in pitch darkness. I tried to scream but no sound came out.