Carissa was utterly taken aback by his words. She was speechless, unable to form a single word. As she processed his degrading remarks, she felt a tightening in her chest.
Regaining her voice, she finally spoke. "Why would you say something like that about me?"
"That's just what you do, Carissa," he sneered.
"I beg your pardon?" She stood up, infuriated. "How have I ever used and manipulated you to deserve being labeled a manipulator?"
He smirked, much to her surprise. "You've just proven once again that those who hurt others never remember their own wrongdoings," he said, dropping his glass and intertwining his fingers, taunting her with a smug smile. "Someone used me and left me to die six years ago. You know that person very well, Carissa."
Understanding what he was implying, she shook her head. "Be direct with me. I never used you in the past and I definitely didn't abandon you. I was always there for you, but you never saw me. And now you have the audacity to sit there, judge me, and insult me? How heartless can you be?"
He stood up, angered by her words. "Back then, he was just your ordinary guard. You pretended to love him, used him for sexual pleasure, and then abandoned him when a better, wealthier man came along. How could you be so cruel?" His words were laced with diplomacy, but his stare was like lasers, shooting daggers at her.
"So you're talking about me and Lucas, huh? If you truly believe I pretended to love you and gave you my innocence, then you're mistaken!" She spat. "I married Lucas for a reason..."
"Of course, the reason being to secure your high-class lifestyle by marrying a wealthy man like Lucas, isn't it, Carissa Draven?"
"Oh, goodness." She chuckled softly in disbelief, running her fingers through her hair. She couldn't believe he thought so little of her when she had genuinely loved him all along and had always acted in his best interest.
"Why are you so insensitive?" she finally asked.
"Your perception of me is terribly distorted," she stated, disregarding their current boss-employee relationship.
His gaze narrowed, his once soft eyes now turning dark under his furrowed brows. "Really?"
"Yes! How could you think such things of me, after all the time we spent together? It's disgusting."
"You've always been good at acting," he retorted with a mocking smirk.
"I'm not pretending. You're just-"
"Enough!" He swiftly raised his hand, silencing her. "I don't want to hear it."
"Oh." She tilted her head, her expression puzzled. "But you've changed too, David."
"Have I?" He smirked, a hint of amusement dancing in his eyes.
"Yes, and it's not for the better." She let out a weary sigh. "Why have you become like this? Is it really so easy for you to hurt me?"
He pouted innocently, his feigned ignorance only fueling her anger.
"Is making my life a living hell just another part of your revenge plan?" she spat, her tone defiant.
"Revenge?" He scoffed, dismissing her accusation with a wave of his hand. "I may be many things, but I am not your brother."
"Leave my brother out of this. I finally understand why you've been tormenting me ever since you hired me as your P.A. You just want to mock and humiliate me!"
"You're nothing but a waste of my time, Carissa. Stop thinking so highly of yourself. I highly doubt your father would approve of you working for his former driver."
"Ah, I see. Go ahead and tell the whole world," she spat back, standing her ground. "You don't even know half of what my life has been like."
"Is it all sunshine and rainbows?" he asked with a cold, emotionless tone. "Because that's exactly what you deserve," he stated, sarcastically.
"You know, our dau…" Carissa's thoughts turned to her daughter, Angelina, but she quickly shut herself down. He didn't deserve to know about her.
Annoyed and aggravated, she snatched her bag and headed for the door.
"Do not leave!" His command made her freeze.
But after a brief moment, she shook her head as she glanced at him.
"I offered you coffee. You haven't even touched it, Miss Draven."
"I prefer not to drink coffee with you, Sir David. It makes me sick," she shot back before leaving, closing the door behind her.
As she leaned against a nearby pillar, tears started streaming down her face.
"Why is he like this?" she whispered to herself.
Suddenly, a bolt of lightning struck, followed by a downpour of rain. She looked up at the sky as if searching for an answer.
Inaudible voices whispered in her ears, urging her on. She stepped into the rain, letting it wash away her tears and fears.
She tossed her now damp hair as she hurried towards the gate, nearly colliding with an elderly woman.
"Sorry, ma'am," she offered quickly.
The woman studied her with concern. "Dear, are you alright?"
Carissa forced a smile. "I'm fine," she assured, then hurried away.
Inside, David stared blankly at the door through which Carissa had just left, his grip tightening around the glass in his hand.
"After all the time we spent together? It's disgusting." Her words echoed in his mind, fueling his rage until he finally shattered the glass in his hand.
At that moment, the old woman entered the room. Seeing his bleeding hand, her smile faded, replaced by alarm.
"What happened to you?" she exclaimed, rushing to his side.
David sighed, his frustration evident. "I will be fine," he muttered, looking away.
"Oh, my goodness. Stay here! I'll get the first aid kit," she insisted before dashing off, leaving him seething with anger and pain.
Meanwhile, Carissa arrived home in a hurry, taking a cab. Knocking on the door, soaked to the bone, she struggled to suppress her shivers.
Her mother opened the door and immediately scolded her. "What happened? Why are you all wet? Angelina was worried sick about you. Why are you coming back now?"
Unable to find the words, Carissa stumbled inside. Her daughter rushed over with a smile, but as she moved in for a hug, Carissa collapsed, overwhelmed by her condition.