Semua Bab Two Loves, One Destiny: Bab 71 - Bab 80

Jake I walked out of the airport with the feeling of having been defeated by Kiara once again. I didn’t even have the strength to try to force her to stay; she looked too determined. We didn’t need more problems right now. The automatic doors closed behind me, and the constant noise of the place was muffled. Kiara was gone. I had watched her plane take off. She had left. And I had been incapable of stopping her, incapable of finding the right words, not because I didn’t have them, but because I saw how broken she was. I had hurt her too much, and I no longer wanted her to think that I hated her. I wandered aimlessly for a few seconds, hands in my pockets, head down. I felt defeated, but not surprised. There was something almost ironic about it all: me, who had always wanted to control everything, hadn’t been able to control anything. The image of her walking away with her suitcases was still fresh in my mind, reminding me that it was my fault. Her look before leaving —firm but wo

KiaraTwo endless days had passed since I left California to spend a couple of days at my older sister’s house in Connecticut. She had a small, cozy house that she’d been renting for a few years. Every noise from outside made me jump, every phone notification made my heart race with nerves. I didn’t want to check my phone. I didn’t want to talk to anyone. Everything reminded me of the life I had started to build in California.It was strange, because before I hadn’t wanted to go there or stay, but now I missed the city, and part of me wanted to go back.Thomas’s call came in mid-morning.I saw his name on the screen, and the air got stuck in my lungs. A sudden chill ran through my chest, down to my stomach. My first thought was clear and cruel. As sharp as his tone had been when he told me to leave the city, he’s going to end things with me. He’s going to tell me this is over. That there’s no turning back.The phone kept vibrating in my hand for a few eternal seconds. I didn’t answer.

JakeThe music inside the rented hotel ballroom could be heard from miles away, blasting at full volume. The cars outside filled entire blocks. The night had only just begun, but the party was already a success, and everyone was excited about the auction we would be holding.Everything was in order at the event: the donors were confirmed, the press was settled in the assigned area, and the stage was ready for the speeches to begin. It was another company party, another night when I had to smile, shake hands, and pretend my head wasn’t full of thoughts that had nothing to do with fundraising. A night when I had to forget that something hurt and present myself as cold and distant to everyone.I adjusted my jacket and took a deep breath. My tie felt tight around my neck because I knew it would be another difficult night.This time, the funds would be donated to an institution that worked with vulnerable families, and that should have been enough to keep me focused. I had to occupy my min

Kiara Thomas stood in front of me, unable to believe what I had just told him. I knew that even though he had been expecting the worst, he was still shocked by how blatant all of this was. I was shocked too, by the situation, and by myself. I had already told him the truth about the kiss. I had told him that Jake had kissed me just minutes ago, locked inside the hotel bathroom after cornering me as if this were some soap opera. The tension in the air cut through the cold breeze brought on by the storm. Thomas didn’t say anything, and that made me nervous. Nothing going through his mind could be good. His body was rigid, his shoulders tense, his jaw clenched so tightly I thought his teeth might crack. His hands hung at his sides, but his fingers opened and closed slowly, as if he were holding himself back from exploding. I didn’t know if his anger was directed at me, at Jake, or at both of us. That uncertainty made me tremble more than any scream could have. “I didn’t look for it,

KiaraI was lucky that Jake didn’t ruin my relationship this time. I thought Thomas would get angry with me and throw my feelings for Jake in my face, but he was respectful and understanding.Thomas was a great man. Nothing like Jake.Jake was a monster. A monster who liked seeing me alone, with no one to give me love. To him, I was just his toy. You don’t do that to someone you say you love. The other night in the living room was stupidity: his confession no longer carried any weight for me, because it was all a lie. Jake might believe he loved me, but it was only his twisted idea of what love is.Thomas and I didn’t bring up the subject again, but the next medical appointment was approaching. On the same day as my weekly ultrasound, I also had to undergo chemotherapy. Jake wasn’t going to attend the ultrasound with me because he had a meeting with businessmen, and Thomas had another meeting at a different company. I was going to go alone.When I woke up that morning, I had the feeli