Elena stared out the windshield, her mind clouded by Damien's abrupt words. "I don't want to see you again."
They echoed in her head, a constant reminder of the fragile state of her plan.
This wasn't supposed to happen. She had calculated every move, every word exchanged between them.
Yet, it felt like the ground had slipped from beneath her feet, leaving her in a free fall.
She clenched the steering wheel tighter, struggling to make sense of it all. Why the sudden shift? Why now?
In need of clarity and comfort, she had reached out to Alex.
He would listen, even if he didn't agree with her decisions.
Alex had always been her voice of reason, even when she didn't want to hear it
Pulling up across from the café they often visited, Elena spotted the familiar soft lights and bustling energy inside.
It felt comforting, like a small piece of stability in her chaotic life.
As she parked the car and stepped out, she took a deep breath.
Maybe talking things out would help her find some answers.
But as she started crossing the road, she didn't notice the scooter speeding down the street toward her.
"Watch out!"
A screech of tires snapped her out of her thoughts, and before she could react, the scooter clipped her side, sending her crashing onto the pavement.
Pain shot up her leg as she hit the ground, her knee scraping against the rough asphalt.
Her breath caught in her throat, the sting of the wound intensifying with every second.
From across the street, a black luxury car rolled to a stop.
Inside, Damien watched the scene unfold, his sharp eyes catching every detail.
His heart clenched as he saw Elena on the ground, hurt and vulnerable.
For a brief moment, he hesitated, his hand hovering over the door handle.
Should he go to her? Every fiber of his being screamed at him to rush out, to help her, but something held him back.
His pride. His anger. His fear of confronting the emotions he didn't fully understand.
Just as he was about to step out, he heard someone else.
"Elena!" Alex's voice pierced through the commotion.
He bolted out of the café, stopping traffic as he hurried over to her.
Kneeling beside her, he quickly examined her bleeding knee, his brows furrowed with concern. "Are you okay?" He asked softly.
Damien's hand dropped from the door handle.
His jaw tightened, and his chest ached with a mixture of frustration and jealousy.
"Drive," he ordered his driver in a cold, clipped tone, forcing his gaze away from the scene.
The car slowly pulled away, leaving behind the sight of Alex helping Elena to her feet.
Inside the café, Alex guided Elena to their usual table by the large window.
The warm, inviting interior of the café was a stark contrast to the chaos outside.
Soft lighting illuminated the rustic wooden furniture, and the sound of quiet conversations mixed with the hiss of the espresso machine.
The place was filled with the comforting aroma of fresh coffee and pastries, while people gathered in small groups, enjoying their drinks.
Some were lost in the glow of their laptops, others chatted animatedly about their day, oblivious to the world outside
Elena sat down carefully, her knee still throbbing. Alex took a seat across from her, concern etched on his face.
"Your order?" a young barista asked as he approached their table with a bright smile, his notepad in hand.
"Iced tea," Elena replied, her voice barely audible. The barista nodded and disappeared behind the counter.
Alex leaned forward, his eyes never leaving Elena's face.
"Tell me, what's going on?" he asked softly but directly. "You didn't call me just for a casual catch-up. Something's bothering you, and I want to know what it is."
Elena bit her lip, avoiding his gaze for a moment. She knew Alex had always been against her plan to manipulate Damien, and part of her didn't want to admit what was really going on.
But the weight of it was too much to bear alone.
"It's Damien," she finally said, her voice cracking slightly. "He told me… he doesn't want to see me again."
Alex exhaled heavily, shaking his head. "Isn't that what you wanted? You were only getting close to him for revenge, right? So why does it matter?"
Elena was silent, her thoughts spiraling. That was the plan, wasn't it? To hurt him the way he hurt her.
But now… it felt different. She hadn't anticipated how his rejection would feel like a punch to the gut. She hadn't expected the fear that crept into her heart at the thought of never seeing him again.
Plus she was only beginning her revenge.
"Isn't it a good thing?" Alex pressed when she didn't respond.
Elena stared out the window, watching the street outside but not really seeing it. "I don't know," she whispered. The admission hung in the air between them.
"Are you serious?" Alex asked, his voice tinged with disbelief. "What's going on with you, Elena? You've been acting strange lately, and now this. Are you sure this is just about your plan?"
She didn't want to answer. How could she admit to Alex, of all people, that the lines between her plan and her feelings were starting to blur?
Before she could find the words, the barista returned with her iced tea, placing it gently on the table before walking away.
Elena picked up the glass, her hands trembling slightly.
But just as she was about to take a sip, Alex's next question stopped her cold.
"Are you developing feelings for Damien?"
Elena froze, her grip tightening around the glass.
Her heart skipped a beat, and for a moment, she couldn't breathe. "W-what? No. How could I? After everything he's done to me?" she stammered, her voice shaky.
Alex leaned back, studying her with a piercing gaze. "Then why are you so shaken up? Why are you acting like this?"
"I'm not—" Elena started, but she couldn't finish the sentence.
The truth was too hard to face. She didn't want to admit, even to herself, that she was afraid her plan had gone too far—that somewhere along the way, Damien had become more than just a pawn in her game of revenge.
At that moment, the café door swung open, and a woman stepped inside, drawing everyone's attention.
Tall, with perfectly styled hair and an air of confidence that demanded notice, Vivian Lawson made her entrance.
She glided through the café like she owned the place, her designer clothes and accessories a testament to her wealth and status.
Elena's eyes followed her, a new idea forming in her mind. Damien might have shut her out, but she wasn't finished yet.
She had just found a way to force him to see her again. And her name was Vivian.
Without thinking, Elena stood up and walked toward Vivian, who was about to join a friend at a nearby table.
"Oh my God, is that the latest LV designer bag?" Elena exclaimed, her voice filled with feigned admiration.
Vivian looked up, clearly pleased by the recognition. "Yes, it is," she replied with a smile. "How did you know? It hasn't even been released yet."
Elena smiled slyly, already knowing how to play this game. "I've been dying to get one, but my husband hasn't been able to pull it off yet. Where did you get yours?"
Vivian's expression softened, and she motioned for Elena to sit next to her. "Sit," she said, her voice dripping with entitlement.
Elena's lips curved into a faint smile as she took a seat.
She had just found her way back into Damien's world.