Chapter 4
986 Words
Noah
I knew this day was going to come, and I needed to face it head-on. This was Amelia's hometown too, and it was foolish of me to think she would disappear, never to return. I had been preparing myself to face her again but when I actually first saw her, everything I practiced to maintain my cool collapsed like a stack of cards.
Amelia was gorgeous back then. She had a round, chubby face with a dimple on her right cheek. And don't get me talking about her curves. They made me always lose control over my senses. Her smile radiated happiness and spread to everyone around her.
Now she looked completely different. She had become a grown woman, all that baby fat on her face was gone, making the dimple more prominent and deep. Her once curvaceous body was replaced by toned muscles which I was sure she had gotten from working out regularly. Nevertheless, she was still gorgeous and I had a hard time not staring at her. Even with a huge desk between us, I could smell her intoxicating scent of berries and jasmine. It was a combination that stirred memories from deep within and made my entire body harden.
However, she smiled seldom and a pang of guilt hit me hard to think I had caused her all the pain and suffering.
There was a tightening in my chest as I watched her talk and laugh with that man she had brought with her. It shouldn't bother me that Amelia was with another man when I was the one to betray and break her heart. I should be happy to see her moving on in life but the ache was physical and brutal in my chest. I couldn't digest the fact that she was no longer mine to be jealous of that man.
My phone rang and it was a harsh reality that my life had changed whether I like it or not. The called ID read Tory's name. I couldn't stop from rolling my eyes.
"Is it Tory?" Ron asked, reading my expression.
"Yes.." I groaned and walked out of the banquet hall. Even though I wanted to ignore her calls, I was forced to accept them all the time. "What is it?"
"Can't you greet me properly for once, Noah?" She asked with a hint of disappointment in her voice but I didn't feel sorry. This is my way of punishing her. She asked this upon her and now she has to suffer through it.
"If you have nothing else to say, I am hanging up.."
"Noah, wait.." Tory stopped me on time from ending the call abruptly. "Are you at the dinner rehearsal?"
"Yes, I am.."
"I heard Amelia was there.."
My stomach clenched at the mention of her name. "She was. So?"
"I am glad she found herself a man. Now you have nothing to feel guilty about.."
I paused for a second, unsure if I heard what I'd thought I heard.
"Excuse me?"
"You never had a reason to, Noah. Your marriage was already troubled when you slept with me.." She continued.
All I could see was red around me. How dare she talk about my marriage when she was the reason it went to shambles.
"Watch your f*****g mouth, Tory.." I hissed into the line, not bothering the people who turned their heads at me. "If you hadn't drugged me that night, I wouldn't have willingly slept with you. Not even if you were the last woman on this planet.."
I would never talk to a woman this way but this was Tory we were talking about. And no gentleman can rein his temper with her.
"My intention wasn't that, Noah. I wanted to help you forget her. You were sad, upset, and miserable over her leaving you.."
"You took that as your chance and got pregnant with my child.." I spat venom at her through my words. "So, don't make it sound like a favor when you know you took advantage of me while I was wasted.."
"God.." She whined, "There is no use talking to you. You always blame me for what happened.."
"Yes, that's because the fault is yours.."
I hung up on her this time, cursing my stars for tying me up with this despicable woman in the most terrible way.
"Are you okay man?" I didn't notice when Ron followed me out but he was behind me when I turned around.
"Do I look okay?"
"Not really.." He sighed, "You look pissed. What did she do now?"
"She's glad to know that Amelia has a man now.." I mumbled, rubbing my thumb on my forehead. "She thinks we should be guilt-free now that Lia has moved on.."
"That woman.." He muttered under his breath, "She knows how to push your buttons.."
"She sure does.." I agreed with him.
"How do you feel about it, by the way?"
"About what?" I arched my brow at his question.
"Seeing her moving on with another man.." I know he wasn't rubbing it on my face. Being my best friend and watching me go through all the hell in the past few years, he was concerned about me and I appreciated it even though I didn't voice it out.
I shrugged my shoulders, "I have no right to feel anything about her anymore, I guess.."
He hummed and then slapped the back of my shoulder. "Let's get in.."
We did and for the rest of the night, I drowned in alcohol. I drank anything and everything that was offered to me. I wanted to forget everything. The past, present, and my possibly despairing future, in which there would be no Amelia.
With all my heart, I wanted to wish the best for her but at the same time, to think her with another man was torture. Torture I would wish for no other man.
- Writer
