Page 190 of My Ruthless Opponent

“Of course.” Brielle smiles but then slaps her forehead. “Show me your hand.”

“What?”

“Just do as I say, Hannah.”

I do then she asks me to close my eyes. I reluctantly do that as well. I feel her fingers around my wrist for a moment.

“Okay, now open.”

I open my lids and find a four-leaf sapphire blue crystal silver bracelet around my left wrist.

“Brielle….”

“Something blue.” She smiles at me. “A small gift from me. It’s not much…”

I stare up at her, a lump forming in my throat. I put my arms around her. “Thank you.”

“We are a family.” She rubs my back.

She thinks I have no family. I have lied to her so much. I don’t deserve her friendship.

She smiles at me one last time before leaving me alone.

As all of them pile out of the room, I pad over to the chair and grip it. Hunching over, I try to breathe.

Brielle’s sweet gift replaced my numbness with overwhelming sadness.

How will I survive today?

I just got to know that the man I was in love with was lying to me this whole time.

The man who made me feel so special yesterday, just made me feel like I was nothing today. After all, that’s what he said, didn’t he? That I mean nothing to him.

I don’t know what’s killing me more, the fact that our moments weren’t real or that I was wrong about him all along.

All the things that he said… everything was a big lie.

Why, Raleigh? Why did you do this? Why did you play with my emotions like that? After so long, I dared to trust someone and you betrayed my trust.

I know where he is coming from. He told me about his struggles to get here. All he had to do was ask and I would’ve backed down from the race of this promotion.

I would have faced difficulties after quitting, but I know I would’ve been content knowing he is getting what he wants.

I truly meant it when I said I will always be there for him.

He is the only man I ever fell in love with.

The sad thing is I know I still love him. I truly love him. Despite what he said about me, I can’t bring myself to hate him.

You can’t force anyone to love you. I can live with the fond memories I have of him. I’ll make my heart believe that the moments I shared with him were real.

These seven days were the most beautiful days of my life. I will cherish it forever.

You come across hundreds of people in your life. Some unexpectantly, some through planned dates. Some you forget, some stay in your memories forever. Some bring you heartache, some bring you joy.

I don’t know if I was meant to meet Raleigh, but I am glad I did.

He is a passionate man. And he brought happiness to my heart, however brief it may be.

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