Rachel's POV
I furiously walked out of the car, slamming the door behind me. I was still fuming from the gala event earlier that night.
I couldn't believe what Darius had done.
I was mortified. I never saw his defense coming, talk less of his lies.
Tears filled my eyes as I remembered the way everyone had his claws at me, Andrew precisely.
I couldn't believe Victoria was pregnant.
How is that even possible for god's sake?
For how long has Andrew been having an affair with her?
It pained me, knowing I lost my child because of them, and now they are expecting, happily?
How cruel was fate?
What wrong have I done to deserve much?
I had never been so humiliated in my life.
As I stormed into the house, I heard Darius walking in behind me. "Rachel, wait," he called out.
But I didn't want to hear it. I was too angry. I turned around to face him, my eyes blazing with fury.
"How could you do that?" I demanded. "How could you introduce me as your fiancée without even asking me?"
Darius shrugged, looking completely unrepentant. "I did you a favor," he said. "I saved you from embarrassment."
"Embarrassment?" I repeated, my voice rising. "You think introducing me as your fiancée was doing me a favor?"
Darius nodded. "Yes, I do. You were struggling out there, Rachel! It's the least I could do for you!" He spat in annoyance.
I laughed humorously, finding his words oddly amusing.
I was furious. "You had no right to do that," I spat. "You had no right to lie about me like that. How do you think Andrew feels?"
He hissed in rage, pinning me to the wall.
I shivered in fear as his grip on me tightened. "Are you stupid or something? Don't you see? Huh? Or are you so gullible and naive?"
My lips quivered, unsure of how to respond; the glare he was sending at me made my words die down.
"He doesn't fucking want you. He doesn't care about you; didn't you see it out there? He chose her, and he will continue to choose her while you kill yourself with regret, which you shouldn't even be feeling. The person at fault is less bothered about you, but here you are..." he paused, grunting.
More tears streamed down my eyes.
For a second I saw guilt in his eyes as he pulled away.
Darius sighed. "Fuck Rachel!" He hissed.
I was furious. I didn't know how much more of this I could take, but I couldn't speak knowing that all he said was right and disturbing.
It made my heart squeeze.
"I don't care about what you think. You are going back there and telling your family the truth," I say barely above a whisper.
Darius raised an eyebrow. "Oh? And what are you going to do about it if I don't?"
I wiped my tears. "I'm going to make sure you pay for what you did," I threatened, trying to change his mind, but who was I kidding?
"Is that so?" He pushed.
I hissed, "Try me."
He narrowed his stare at me almost like he could see past me, which didn't sit well with me; I averted my gaze away from him.
"Goodnight," I bid and turned on my shoe, walking up the stairs as the new set of tears rolled down.
As I walked into the room, I was met with Diana's figure working on something on my study table.
Her brows furrowed in confusion seeing me in tears.
"Hey! What's wrong?" Diana walked to me in concern and came to me and hugged me.
I broke down completely recalling how Andrew had held Victoria with so much worry and adoration while he fired at me.
How everyone pointed his fingers at me like I was the Scarlet Witch.
I recounted the event and told Diana what had happened; her expression unreadable as I wiped off my tear-stained face after crying enough.
My heart felt a little bit lighter.
"So let me get this straight: you are saying everyone thinks you and Darius are engaged, Andrew and that bitch too?" She asked, her expression still unreadable.
I nodded in response.
"Hands down, I knew it! Darius has to be the one, she declared proudly.
I stared at her like she had completely lost it, as though she didn't get the part where Darius lied about us, but she seemed to be pleased by it.
"I have to say, I'm impressed with Darius. He stood up for you in front of all those people."
I couldn't believe what I was hearing. "You're on his side?" I asked, feeling irritated and annoyed.
Diana nodded. "I think he did the right thing, Rachel. You were being humiliated by Victoria and your cheating ex-husband and Darius stepped in for you; shouldn't you be at least grateful?."
I shook my head, feeling frustrated. "But he lied, Diana. He lied about us being engaged. How can you defend him? All his family thinks we are together, even his grandmother, for goodness sake."
"See Rach! I also told you that it would be a perfect way to get back at Andrew. Play along and see how far things go; who knows if Darius might just be the one responsible for your true happiness? Diana reasons.
"But—"
She cuts me off, putting a hand on my shoulder. "Rachel, you need to calm down and think about this rationally. Darius was trying to help you. And—"
I cut her off, having enough of it, "No! Let's not go there. It has already been a long night; I can't have more of this."
Diana smiled, getting up. "I'll let you get some rest, but for once, Rachel, don't think about that motherfucker or how he is going to feel knowing you are together with his uncle." She paused, "Think about yourself; put your feelings first… Cause in the end, you are all that matters.