Chapter 17
Austin shoved me violently, his face contorted with fury.
His beautiful eyes blazed with an intensity that seemed as if they could burst into flames any second.
The force of his push left me unsteady, but I didn’t waver.
Instead, I gripped the ring tightly in my hand, and before I could react, it jabbed painfully into my palm, drawing blood that began to drip from my fingers in slow, steady drops.
“Who gave you the audacity to lay a hand on Rosemary?” Austin growled, his voice dangerously low, as if trying to keep this scene from being heard by anyone else nearby.
I slowly lifted my head, meeting his eyes. The fire in them only made me feel colder. With a slow, mocking smile, I quipped, “What? Am I supposed to pick the right day to beat up a bitch?”
I was tired. Tired of this endless, mind-numbing game.
Six years just a mistake of giving my heart to the wrong person. I never imagined someone could be this cruel.
This was the third time Austin had laid hands on me.
The number of times he’d hurt me? I had long stopped counting.
Every wound felt like a nail driven deep into my heart. And every time, I had pulled the nails out, silently, without complaint.
Over time, the pain had turned to numbness, but that numbness was just a facade-the wound was still there, festering, raw.
Each time the pain seemed to fade, Austin would find a way to strike again, just when the scar tissue was starting to form.
My voice was calm, but every word cut through the air with precision.
“Laurel, apologize to Rosemary.” Austin’s expression was cold and unyielding, his eyes devoid of warmth.
I didn’t say anything. I simply stood up, my gaze cold and unwavering as I looked at the tear-soaked Rosemary hiding behind Austin. I couldn’t help but chuckle.
It looked like I was too kind. I thought once I got this off my chest, we could walk away clean. But now? I had changed my
mind.
I was finished waiting for them to understand. I was done being patient.
“You’re the ones who should be apologizing!” I snapped, my eyebrow raised as I addressed Rosemary. “Don’t you want me to hit you? Well, I’ve done it.
“Shouldn’t you be thanking me for finally giving you what you wanted?”
Austin’s face twisted with rage, his features tightening as his fists clenched. He was on the verge of exploding. “Laurel, you don’t know what’s good for you. I’m giving you a chance!” he spat.
“A chance to jump into a pit of fire?” I shouted, my voice dripping with sarcasm. “Become your wife, just to watch you and your precious Rosemary sleep around right under my nose? Am I supposed to applaud you two?”
Austin stormed up to me, his fists clenched, his eyes dark with fury.
1/3
Chapter 17
“Apologize!” he snapped.
“What’s the matter? Thinking about hitting me?” I lifted my chin, meeting his glare with an icy stare. The man in front of me felt like a stranger. The air between us was thick, heavy with something almost suffocating.
A sharp ache twisted in my chest, but I ignored it. His hand twitched as if he was about to strike me. Before he could, I caught his wrist in a firm grip, my lips curling into a cold, mocking smile.
Just as I was about to speak, a shout rang out behind me. “Austin, what do you think you’re doing?”
A figure appeared behind me, shielding me from Austin’s fury.
Lucas’ icy gaze locked onto Austin, his presence enough to freeze the air around us.
Suddenly, I heard Angela’s voice, full of concern. “Laurel, your hand! What happened?”
I looked down to see blood dripping steadily onto the floor, and I felt a wave of exhaustion wash over me. Several classmates had gathered, watching the scene unfold.
Austin froze, his eyes widening as he saw the blood trickling from my hand.
A brief flash of shock and something like regret crossed his features before he was knocked back by a hard punch from
Lucas.
Rosemary, who had been sobbing dramatically just moments before, rushed to Austin’s side, trying to shield him. “Austin, it’s my fault. I shouldn’t have come.
“I only wanted to mend things between you and Laurel, but I never imagined she would strike me like that. You’ve misunderstood Austin. He would never hit Laurel. He couldn’t possibly hurt her.”
I couldn’t stop myself from laughing. The noise was like a snap, loud and jarring. The room fell silent.
“Rosemary, you really think you can lie this well?” I stepped forward, pulling off the scarf around my neck. Underneath, the mark from where Austin had choked me was still there, faint but clear.
“This, Rosemary, is what your ‘Austin’ did to me. He thought I was the one who tried to push you to suicide,” I said, the words dripping with mockery.
I added, “Do you remember that time he slapped me because of your accusation? Do you think I’ve forgotten? Should I post that video in the class group chat?”
I pressed my lips together, watching the disbelief flicker across Austin’s face. He hadn’t expected me to air our dirty laundry in front of everyone. In his mind, I had always been too proud to expose my wounds.
“Laurel, I know you’re upset about your grandmother’s ring, but you can’t just accuse Austin like that,” Rosemary said, her voice laced with feigned innocence.
I let out a soft laugh, though the bitterness of the past six years burned deep in my chest.
“Rosemary, you really should’ve learned by now.” As I spoke, I reached into the fold of my shirt and pulled out a small recording device.
I added, “Everything you said in the restroom? I recorded it. Did you really think I’d walk in there unprepared? Someone like you-I have to be careful.”
Rosemary’s face drained of color, her mouth snapping shut as panic flickered across her expression.
2/3
Chapter te
“You know what your biggest mistake was?” I said, exhaling slowly as I curled my lips into a smirk. “Taking my things to win over your new plaything.”
I opened my palm, revealing the emerald ring. “We’re done, Austin. Don’t bother trying to hold on to me. I walked away from the Herrera family with nothing.”
He was surprised as he recognized the ring.
“Laurel, I took it. Austin had nothing to do with it,” Rosemary rushed to say.
I turned to her, watching the panic set in. Slowly, I smiled. “I already gave you my place as his fiancée. What else do you want? Or do you just enjoy playing the victim while stabbing me in the back?”
My voice rose, thick with anger and humiliation. As I turned, my gaze landed on a group emerging from the third-floor VIP lounge. The moment my eyes met his, my breath hitched.
Above me, Austin’s voice wavered. “Uncle…”
Damn it. I exposed myself.
