Nichole’s POV
"Daniel," I said, holding the packets of condoms up, my voice trembling, "What the hell is this?"
He barely glanced at it. When he realized what I was waving, his face contorted in fury.
"Are you seriously going through my things now?"
I stared at him in disbelief. “That’s your first reaction? You’re cheating on me, and I’m the problem because I found out?”
He snatched the condoms from my hand. “You don’t own me, Nichole. We’re not even married. Stop acting like you have a say in what I do.”
I blinked at him, stunned. “I gave you seven years of my life. Seven years, Daniel!”
“So?” he said with a shrug. “That was your choice.”
My hands balled into fists. A scream pressed against my chest, but I swallowed it back and stepped closer, grabbing his shirt collar. “Do you think I’m a fool? You’ve been stringing me along like I’m nothin
He pried my hands off, his eyes flashing with disgust, and pushed me hard.
I wasn’t expecting it. My legs gave way and I hit the floor, my hip slamming against the tile. Pain radiated up my side, but it was nothing compared to the ache tearing through my chest.
He towered over me, sneering. “You really think you’re something special? You’re not. You’re just a charity case; a filthy little orphan my family decided to clean up. But a pig in silk is still a pig.”
I stared up at him, breathless. That word, orphan, was a blade I have heard before, whispered behind my back, etched in glares and pitying smiles. But hearing it from him… from the man I once imagined my future with…
It shattered me.
I dragged myself up, limbs trembling, tears blurring my vision.
“Daniel,” I choked, “How could you?”
He scoffed. “Save the tears. You think those crocodile sobs move me? Please. If anything, they’re pathetic.”
I wiped my eyes, my hands steadying. I looked him dead in the eyes.
“Just tell me one thing,” I said quietly. “Did you ever love me?”
He laughed. Not just a chuckle, a full-blown, mocking laugh.
“Love you? Never. Even the thought of loving you makes me nauseous.”
The words pierced through me like knives. I staggered, but I didn’t look away.
“Then why did you propose?” I asked. “Why waste all these years with me?”
“Oh, please. My grandfather chose you,” he said, waving a hand like I was furniture. “Apparently he and your grandfather were best friends or whatever. And God knows what spell you cast on that old man, and he treats you like gold. I even heard he picked you out at the orphanage himself.”
I stared at him. “So you went along with the engagement… why?”
He leaned in with a smirk. “Because if I backed out, my grandfather would’ve disinherited me. And honestly, staying engaged to you meant I got to see Lila more often. It was a win-win.”
My mouth parted, but no words came.
“You were just… convenient, Nichole,” he added, with a cruel smile. “A placeholder.”
“So all these years,” I whispered, “You were using me?”
“Damn right. And you made it easy. Groveling around me like a lovesick puppy. All that devotion and affection? Ugh. I could barely stand it.”
He rolled his eyes. “I’ll still marry you. Grandpa insists on it. But don’t forget your place, my heart belongs to Lila. So stay in your lane and know you’ll never have it.”
With that, he grabbed his suitcase and walked out, slamming the door so hard the walls shook.
I stood there, frozen.
Not crying. I was not breathing, but I was just shattered.
It wasn't cheating. It wasn’t even the lies.
It was the realization that everything, every smile, every promise, every kiss, was fake. That I had loved a man who saw me as nothing.
I don’t know how long I stood there, but my phone buzzed, snapping me out of the daze.
It was Claire.
Don’t forget the high school reunion tonight. I’ll kill you if you ditch me. Also, you need a drink. Or twelve.
A small, bitter smile tugged at my lips.
Maybe she was right.
I texted her back.
On my way.
The restaurant buzzed with laughter and clinking glasses. People I hadn’t seen since I was seventeen hugged and toasted and shared embarrassing stories over dinner.
Claire had already ordered a bottle of wine for us. “You okay?” she asked, searching my face.
“No,” I said honestly. “But I’m here.”
“That’s a start,” she said softly, raising her glass. “To burning the past.”
I clinked her glass and sipped.
Halfway through the night, I got up to use the restroom. I was just rounding the corner when I heard a familiar voice, low and arrogant.
Daniel.
I stopped in my tracks, heart thudding.
I peeked around the partition and froze.
Daniel was sitting at a private booth with Lila and a few of their snobby friends from high society. His arm was draped casually across Lila’s shoulders as she giggled into his chest.
I turned to walk away, but then I heard my name.
“So, you’re still going to marry Nichole?” someone asked.
Daniel groaned. “Yeah. If I cancel, Grandpa cuts me off. But if she does it… problem solved.”
“Then just tell her about you and Lila,” someone suggested. “Let her freak out and end it.”
“I’ve tried!” he snapped. “I told her I have never loved her, but Nichole’s clingy as hell. It’s like she enjoys being disrespected. I’ve never seen anyone so desperate. It’s disgusting.”
Their table erupted in laughter.
I felt my stomach drop.
Then Lila’s voice chimed in sweetly, “Maybe I should post something. Just enough to push her over the edge.”
“Do it,” Daniel said, smirking. “The sooner she runs off crying, the better.”
That was it.
I stepped out from behind the wall, fury crackling in my chest.
Lila turned and her eyes widened.
“Nichole,” she breathed, voice cracking with guilt.
The table went dead silent.
I stared at them, at him, with spooky ice in my veins.
And I didn’t say a word.
At least not yet.
Nichole's Pov I took another taxi and went to the apartment I shared with Daniel.I did not want anything that would remind me of any of them so I first removed myself from the family group chat and any other group chat I was in together with them and Daniel.Then I arranged my things and walked out of the house. The house was my own because Daniel rarely spent time there because he was always going on business trips but now I know those business trips were Lila.I took one last look at the house, took a cab and went to Claire's place."I'm sorry I would have to inconvenience you for a while till I find my footing," I told Claire."What nonsense, you can never inconvenience me okay, so you can stay here for as long as you want," Claire said.I was grateful that I had a place to lay my head. Since I was still on sick leave at work, I was not going to the office for the next two weeks so I had time to recollect my thoughts.It was Saturday so I didn't have anything to do. I decided to
Nichole's Pov I rubbed my hand on my forehead. I just hope there will be no problem."Do you hear me?!" My mother shouted again."Yes mum, I will be there soon," I said.She ended the call without saying anything again and I groaned.I stood up to start getting ready."Are you sure you want to see them? I wonder what that conniving Daniel and that snake Lila might have told them." Claire said with concern."Well, I won't know until I get there, and besides, they are my parents, I have to give them that respect," I replied."Parents indeed! Like they ever treated you like a daughter!" Claire snorted.I know Claire was angry on my behalf and I smiled to see that there is still someone who has my back."I know you are angry at them Claire but at a point, they treated me well." I tried defending them."Yeah, defend them all you like but that won't change the fact that they discarded you immediately they got their precious daughter back." Claire retorted.I went to where she was and hugge
Nichole’s POVAll eyes turned to me.Gasps, shifting chairs, awkward glances. It was as if I had slapped the entire table across the face just by showing up. Daniel's gaze landed on me with pure venom, his jaw tightening as he stood up."What is the meaning of this, Nichole? Are you stalking me now?" he barked, not caring about the hush that fell over the room. "Is it not enough that I have to deal with your clingy presence at home? Now I have to endure your insecurity following me in public too?"I felt the burn creep up my neck. My fists clenched at my sides. He was turning the whole thing around on me, again. Gaslighting me in front of a crowd.No.Not tonight.I marched up to the table, my heels clicking like gunshots. I didn’t hesitate. My palm connected with his cheek in a slap that rang through the air like a gavel.He stumbled back a step, eyes wide with disbelief."Nichole?! Are you crazy?!" he growled, his hand going to his stinging face."Do it again, and you’ll regret it,"
Nichole’s POV"Daniel," I said, holding the packets of condoms up, my voice trembling, "What the hell is this?"He barely glanced at it. When he realized what I was waving, his face contorted in fury."Are you seriously going through my things now?"I stared at him in disbelief. “That’s your first reaction? You’re cheating on me, and I’m the problem because I found out?”He snatched the condoms from my hand. “You don’t own me, Nichole. We’re not even married. Stop acting like you have a say in what I do.”I blinked at him, stunned. “I gave you seven years of my life. Seven years, Daniel!”“So?” he said with a shrug. “That was your choice.”My hands balled into fists. A scream pressed against my chest, but I swallowed it back and stepped closer, grabbing his shirt collar. “Do you think I’m a fool? You’ve been stringing me along like I’m nothinHe pried my hands off, his eyes flashing with disgust, and pushed me hard.I wasn’t expecting it. My legs gave way and I hit the floor, my hip s
Nichole’s POVThe hospital corridor smelled like antiseptic and sorrow. I adjusted the strap of my bag on my shoulder and my discharge papers creased in one hand and my dignity was barely clinging to the other.I didn't cry yet, maybe not because my heart was bleeding. I had laid in a cold white bed overnight, staring at the pale ceiling tiles, waiting for someone to walk through that door.Daniel didn’t come.My mom didn’t call.Neither did Dad.The silence was louder than any heart monitor.Claire had sent me a message around midnight, asking how I was. She would’ve been here in a heartbeat if I told her where I was, but I lied. Told her I was tired and would check in tomorrow. I didn’t want to seem pitiful. Not again.Now, as I stood in front of the apartment Daniel and I shared, I realized how foreign it suddenly felt. Like a place I no longer belonged.The moment I reached for the knob, my phone rang.Claire.I picked up quickly. “Claire?”“Nichole! Where are you?” Her voice was