As usual, he was late.
"Where are you?"
What did she expect? He would dramatically change for her. Who was she kidding?
She should know by now that she did not mean anything to him. She was just another notch in his belt, a name in his black book or whatever womanizers did to keep track of their conquests.
No! They were over.
However, she hated to think that the year they were together meant nothing to him. For her, it was real. She had devoted her life to him. She even planned a future with him on her mind.
She guessed he never loved her even a little bit. But she was too naive and stupid to realize that. Was she that pathetic, begging for scraps?
No! He was just an asshole.
Then, she checked her phone for the tenth time, wondering if he texted.
Nothing!
What else was new?
She admitted the beginning of her relationship with Jeremy had been a whirlwind romance. He had been very attentive to her needs.
But he had changed, as he had paid less and less attention to her. She had heard rumors that he had been dating women on the side, but she only believed it when she saw him with her own eyes.
"Look who has decided to show up." Two girls approached her at the bar, ordering their drinks. "We thought you were still hiding in your little hole, crying yourself into sleep."
It was another one of her stupid mistakes, thinking these women were her friends. But they only tolerated her presence because she was Jeremy's girl.
Now that it was clear that Jeremy had broken them up, they finally showed their true colors.
"It's nice to see you too, Bella." She was not going to let them see her cry.
She had enough of being labeled a loser. She would not let these mean girls bully her around. She would show them that they could not trample on her again.
"Ruby, you look lovely as ever." But she was just being sarcastic. She never liked their overly accessorized clothing and jewelry.
In truth, she wanted to puke every time she saw their faces and heard their pitchy, ear-piercing voices. They were just too much, but she tolerated them for Jeremy.
Another dumb move!
Anyway, she could finally see the benefits of breaking up with Jeremy. At least she would not have to deal with his two-faced friends anymore.
"Would you like to join us?" But she knew the invitation was far from sincere. "But I don't think Jeremy would show up tonight since he had a date." Ruby intentionally added.
Of course, they would rub that to her face. She knew they never liked her since she had never fitted in their little group.
She might have belonged in this social circle when she was young, but not anymore. She was stripped of that privilege when her parents died and left her with nothing.
"Yeah, I heard he was taking out his fiancee for a romantic dinner." Bella could not keep her excitement as she announced it loudly around the bar.
"No, thanks. I am leaving anyway." She would not allow them to humiliate her further. "But I hope you enjoy yourselves."
She was not doing this anymore.
She had enough of him and his friends.
She was leaving.
"Suit yourself." Ruby tapped her on her shoulder, pretending she sympathized.
But, of course, she knew the truth. Deep inside, they were laughing at her.
"Loser!" Bella whispered as they strode away, but it was still loud enough for her to hear it.
She guessed she should expect more of this as soon as the news spread. After all, Jeremy was a popular figure in the upper-class society.
Damnit, Andy! You are going to be the laughingstock again.
But she did not know what was worse. To be ridiculed or to be pitied. She remembered how many felt sorry for her when they heard about what happened to her family.
She never wanted to experience that ever again.
"Fuck it!"
She did not even bother finishing her drink as she dropped some bills on the counter.
Stupid Girl!
But before she could even move another muscle, a familiar authoritative voice stopped her from leaving. Then, an arm wrapped around her shoulders, keeping her on her spot.
"Stop feeling sorry for yourself. Those girls are just jealous. So, they want to bring you down." He raised his hand. Automatically, the bartender brought him a drink.
"One more thing, Jeremy doesn't deserve your tears." He added before taking a seat beside her.
"That is none of your business." She believed he had no right to pry into her life. Quickly, she shook off his arm, releasing her from his hold.
What was he doing here again anyway? Was he following her? Why else would he be here? It was too much of a coincidence to find him everywhere she went.
"If you still think Jeremy would marry you, you are simply fooling yourself. His parents already arranged for him to marry the Wilson heir." He stated, drinking his first glass of scotch.
"They would be announcing their engagement by next week." He added as if adding salt to her injury.
Of course, Jeremy would marry from his kind. What was she thinking?
She was just another plaything to him, someone to pass the time before he married a wealthy heiress. Once again, she was the joke.
"What makes you think that I still care about Jeremy?" She did not want to talk about him. "You know, Lucas, I don't need your shit tonight."
Suddenly, she grabbed her untouched drink and poured all its contents into her mouth. She did not plan to get drunk, but she needed something to calm her nerves.
She confessed the news still left her shaken. She wanted to act like it did not affect her, but she loved the man. It still hurt to feel his betrayal.
"Then, marry me." He reached into his side pocket, pulling out a black box. "Let us change the narrative."
She did not know what he was trying to pull. But she could not deny that she was curious.
"Again! I told you I'm not marrying you." She just wanted that clear, seeing the ring box in his hand.
"But if you do." He opened the box, showing her the big diamond ring inside. "You can tell everyone you dumped him because you found someone better."
"You mean..." Of course, she understood what he implied.
"ME."