CHAPTER TITLE: Arthur's Fiancee
|| IRIS's POV ||
I badly wished to gunshot Arthur at that moment!
Xavier was unarmed, the look of betrayal, and pain all reflected in his grey eyes. He saw me as one of those people that he hated in his whole life. A few drops of tears rolled down from my eyes. I choked on my voice a few times, reaching out to speak to him,
" Xavier... listen to me...It wasn't.."
" So it was you always??", he cut me off, jerking away from my reach. The look of disgust in his eyes broke me into pieces. I kept shaking my head, saying 'No' repeatedly. I didn't do anything wrong to him. I could admit the fact that I entered his office with a purpose but didn't do the later parts.
Xavier continued with a bitter laugh, raking his fingers through his curls frustratingly,
" Here... I am looking for you everywhere.. worrying that you might be in danger but I find you here in my enemy's arms. What can be worse than this, Iris?"
I felt another round of cries threatening to come out of my throat. Each word that he spilled out cut deep through my heart. This was bound to happen but finding me with Arthur wasn't in my thoughts. Arthur sneered at his words, grabbing my waist from behind,
" Yes! She was always with me. This is something that you deserve, Xavier."
I broke away from Arthur's grip, pleaded with all my might,
" Xavier... Believe me...It was a mission from the beginning...But I did love you truly...I didn't.."
" ENOUGH!!"
His one single word made the statement clear. Xavier's eyes held onto me sharply. More than anger, it was full of hatred and anger. Another round of tears fell from my soaked eyes. I never felt so much pain in my life. It was the worst feeling that the person whom you love hates you now.
Xavier continued saying, his words full of anger,
" You dare to lie to me even in front of your Fiancee? How can you lie to me when we were in bed together? Is this how you play with every man that your fiance sends to you?"
His last words cut me sharp. I growled back immediately, staring deep into his grey eyes,
" XAVIER!!!! I might be his fiance but...I am not a slut!!!"
Xavier only smiled back maliciously. Taking a step back, he spoke glancing between me and Arthur,
" Then.. congratulations to both of you... Mission accomplished!!"
He turned and walked away with Daniel. I attempted to chase him but Arthur pulled me back. He said with a grunt, keeping me by his side,
" He doesn't want you, Damn it!! Let him go!! "
Anger slipped out of me at his words. I turned before giving him a hard slap. Arthur stayed stunned for a few seconds and I began to spit everything from my heart,
" IT'S ALL BECAUSE OF YOU & YOUR SELFISH DESIRE FOR REVENGE! A MAN LIKE YOU WILL NEVER UNDERSTAND WHAT IS LOVE AND TRUST. I GAVE YOU EVERYTHING, ARTHUR BUT YOU NEVER GAVE IT BACK. NOW THAT I TRULY LOVE SOMEONE, YOU DESTROYED IT TOO. I HATE YOU...I HATE MEETING YOU IN THIS LIFE! "
I ran away from him, heading straight outside until Artemis caught me. In his arms, I cried harder and harder until I fell unconscious.
_________
TWO WEEKS LATER...
Xavier was officially gone from my life. It had become more evident when he sent back my staff to Arthur yesterday. Arthur and I had been at odds for weeks. We didn't talk nor did he bother to talk to me. It was strange that this familiar world didn't attract me anymore. The place that I used to call home didn't give me peace anymore.
No matter what the situation was, It was true that Arthur used me as well. Deliberately he set me up to get his revenge by destroying my relationship with Xavier. His father issued a public apology and promised to give Arthur proper acknowledgment. But I doubted if Arthur ever wanted his acknowledgment or not.
Xavier's father did call Arthur a few times but he always ignored him. I was still hopeful to get a call from Xavier until one evening the news broke into the internet, all the tv channels,
" XAVIER GREY IS ENGAGED TO HIS LONGTIME FRIEND, PETRA."
" XAVIER GREY IS KILLING THE DREAMS OF ALL THE SINGLE LADIES OF THE NATION!"
On the news, they appeared like a Royal couple. I saw how Petra was smiling at him, the crowd cheered for them. My heart shattered at the news. I threw all the newspapers away and cried endlessly. Maybe he never loved me as he claimed. How could he move on so easily?
That night, I didn't go down to have my dinner. In the middle of the night, my door was pushed open all of a sudden. I expected Artemis to come but a deep voice shook me in my bed,
" Are you still not in the mood to eat?"
Lifting my head, I saw Arthur entering with a straight face. He was dressed nicely. It seemed like he had just come back from a meeting. I snorted coldly, getting under the duvet,
" Leave me alone! I don't feel well."
He stopped there for a few seconds before telling me casually,
" We have a meeting tomorrow. You must go with me."
I rolled my eyes, replied with a huff,
" I am not into your Mafia crap anymore. I think you have understood it already."
Suddenly there was a deep silence in the room. I thought he had left since I was facing him from behind. Not long after that, I was pulled out of my duvet to meet his murderous eyes,
" What's so good about loving, Xavier Gray?? What he can give you, I can give you too.. even better than him. Tell me, why the fuck do you mourn for him? Why are you hurting yourself for him? He is a shit like his father."
I smiled at his face, tears slipping out of my eyes. For the very first time, he acted like one possessive lover. But things would have been different if he cared for me earlier. Maybe I wouldn't have fallen for Xavier and his little caring. I replied with a sad smile, looking between Arthur's eyes,
" Are you any better than him? You lied to your fiance and then sent her off to your enemy's bed. What makes you better than him, Arthur? At least, he treated me nicely. He didn't treat me like a responsibility, an object to be taken care of."
Arthur became mute after I slammed the truth on his face. He grabbed me tight before pushing me away. Sticking his hand into his pockets, he said in a cold voice, looking down at my crying face,
" Be ready! You are going to greet everyone as my fiancee tomorrow. I want to show you what it feels like to be Arthur Ray's fiancee."
He hissed before walking away. I waited for him to leave before bursting into tears again. I couldn't stop the pain in my heart. Whenever I remembered Xavier with Petra, I felt the world burning down. I was happy after becoming his fiancee. I thought that I loved Arthur but after meeting Xavier, I realized that the idea of love was wrong. With Arthur, I felt trapped, burdened with tradition and responsibilities. But with Xavier, I craved freedom, the idea of being with him only made me happy.
Why couldn't I be free like other women? Why couldn't I get the love of life? Maybe I was born to be unlucky in love... Xavier should hate me.. as he said...