1| A broken heart.

"Get out!" Jasper roared.

Reese stood there, transfixed, as a flash of wild grief ripped inside her. The sight before her was traumatizing, as she had just caught her boyfriend cheating on her with her best friend. And the first thing he said to her was, "Get out?"

She had always feared that a day like this would come. But never in a million years did she ever imagine that it would be this way—with her best friend, Rebecca.

And neither of them felt any remorse. Not even a hint of guilt skated across their faces.

"What are you still doing there?" He questioned, cutting through the torrent of emotions coursing through her.

"Why?" She managed to say, tears welling up in her eyes.

"Oh look, she’s crying." Rebecca sneered.

Jasper glanced at Rebecca, then darted his gaze back to Reese with an amused smile on his face. "Poor Reese. Did you think I was going to be with you forever?"

"You don’t have what it takes to keep a man, Reese. No man would ever want to be with a woman who is sexually weak. So, stop trying and focus on yourself." Rebecca added, hitting her where it hurts the most.

"Baby, should we show her what it takes to keep a man?" Jasper tightened his grip around her waist and pulled her even closer than she already was.

"Of course, babe. I am an excellent teacher in that aspect." She said, as she climbed on top of him and started grinding on his dick while moaning seductively.

Winking at Reese over Rebecca’s shoulders he muttered. "Learn!"

She couldn’t bear the sight before her any longer; it was too much for her.

With hot tears streaming down her cheeks, she turned on her heels and ran out of his house as fast as her legs could carry her, feeling betrayed and devastated.

The pain she was feeling in her chest was excruciating. It felt as if an invisible hot rod was being pulled through her chest.

She had never felt this hurt and betrayed before. She didn’t just lose her boyfriend; she also lost one of her best friends.

Pain goes away with the wings of time, they say. But reverse was the case for her. History keeps repeating itself over and over again. She’d meet a man, fall in love with him, and get dumped by him. Lather, rinse, and repeat!

And they always dump her because of one thing—her very low sexual drive. She’s unable to feel sexual pleasure. Her heart always loved the guys she’d been with, but her body never did.

She was supposed to have gotten used to getting dumped, but this one hit harder. It hurts more.

Not even in a million years did she imagine that Jasper could be this cruel and heartless. For someone who promised her heaven and earth. He promised to never break her heart. He told her that she was enough for him and that he would never leave her, no matter what.

And like an idiot, she believed all his bogus promises.

Rebecca was right—maybe she really should stop trying and give up. She'll never find love, and love will never find her, she thought.

There and then, she made up her mind. She was going to listen to Rebecca’s advice. She’s never going to let anyone in again!

No matter how lonely it gets for her, she will remain single forever. That way, she would protect her fragile heart from getting shattered into pieces again.

All she needed to do at that moment was get over the pain that was threatening to drive her crazy.

After she’s gotten over this one, she'll never have to feel hurt again. As long as she doesn’t fall in love again.

Down in the dump, she slipped her hand into her bag and rummaged through it until her hand caught her phone, which she tugged out.

Standing in the cold night, feeling hurt, sad, devastated, and every emotion that represented anguish, she dialled her other best friend's number—Lucy, and a sense of relief coursed through her when she picked up on the first ring.

Finally! Someone who could help her get through the pain she was feeling, she thought.

But her relief was short-lived. It disappeared into thin air when Lucy said, "I’ll call you back. I am really busy right now." And she hung up without even waiting for her response.

If Lucy had known the sticky patch she was going through at that moment, she would have dropped whatever she was doing to come and console her and cheer her up, like she always did whenever she got dumped.

But she was not going to call her back—she was hurt, but not selfish!

Now that she’s left to console herself in the cold night, she couldn’t possibly go home feeling that terrible.

Sleep wouldn’t find her while she’s sober. Her chest hurt so much that she thought she was going to die.

How would sleep even find her with the piercing pain drilling an unending hole in her chest?

She needed to drink her sorrows away, she thought.

And with that, she made her way to the bar that was at the far end of the street.

…

She thought guzzling alcohol was going to help with the excruciating pain, but she was already on her sixth shot of vodka, and the pain still lingered; it wasn’t going away, even though she was sloshed already.

Clenching a fist, and placing it over her chest, she started striking it.

"Please just go." She cried as she continued striking it hard, begging her fragile heart to stop aching.

The pain she was feeling from hitting her chest was nothing compared to the pain that was ripping her heart apart.

She wished a wave of magic would just hit her and zap her out of her anguish.

No matter how hard she hit her chest, no matter how much she begged her heart to stop aching, it didn’t stop.

Her own heart defied her!

Hoisting her head up to look at the bartender, she asked for a few more shots.

Maybe if she takes more, the pain will fade away, she thought.

"Are you okay?" The bartender asked, raising his brow at her.

Of course, she was not okay. Couldn’t he see? The hurt she was feeling from within was so palpable.

"Yeah." She lied and swallowed against her dry throat. "Just give it to me." She urged.

The bartender raised a questioning brow at her before turning back to get what she ordered.

"Come with me to my private booth." She suddenly heard a voice say.

"No, thank you." She replied. She didn’t bother to look at the person.

He was definitely one of those disgusting men who goes to the bar in search of a slut to sleep with, she thought.

Before she knew what hit her, a hand grabbed her ass and muttered. "Soft."

Her eyes widened, and she sprung up in total bewilderment as she gawked at the drunk man standing before her.

He lifted his hand up and plunged it towards her boobs, but she quickly attacked his face with her palm before his hand could reach her boobs.

Retreating his hand, he placed his palm over his face and winced in pain.

"You bitch!" He groaned as he lifted his hand up to slap her back, but his attempt failed when a strong hand grabbed his wrist mid-air and yanked him off.

In a split second, he was already on the floor.

The stranger that saved her from him quickly turned to look at the drunk retard on the floor, even before she could see his face.

"Who—" The drunk retard started, but his words died on his lips, and he trembled in fear when he hoisted his head to see the face of the man who dared to throw him on the floor. "I’m sorry, sir." He apologised and quickly picked himself up from the floor before disappearing into the crowd.

Reese trailed him with her eyes until he was out of sight.

He was trembling, and the fright beneath his eyes was palpable.

For her savior's presence to be so intimidating to strike terror in the jerk, she knew in an instant that whoever he was, he was so powerful.