Page 200 of My Ruthless Opponent

Seven days. Seven days have passed since my heart broke and still, agony tears through me at the thought of him.

Like a fool, I was expecting him to call me.

He used to say that he doesn’t believe in giving space. I know it was stupid to expect anything from him after I broke my word. But there was this small part of me that hoped. Hoped for him to return to me.

Night after night, I waited for his text or his call. Neither came but his memories? They visited me every night without fail.

I spent my days with Dad. Only during those hours, do I feel alive.

As soon as I used to return home, that hollow feeling inside of me used to make its presence known.

In the echoing silence of my apartment, my heart missed him. So much.

My life was colorful when I was with him. Now it’s back to being black and white.

I can’t even call my best friend because he is ignoring me. Archer has shut me off completely. I left tons of messages and voicemails. I considered dropping by at his place to return the necklace and apologize but I refrained myself. My heart was fragile. I couldn’t take it if he refused to see me.

I shake my head and focus on Dad. He is still unmoving. His gray eyes that are identical to mine are unfocused.

I sigh, a smile that curls my lips is sad.

Taking his fragile hand in mine, I stare out the window. “Dad, I met a man,” I say then chuckle. “Not recently, though. We met over a year ago. He was my opponent.” I smile as I recite my love story to him.

I tell him everything. I tell him about the promotion. I tell him how he came up with a crazy idea to get married on an island for an advertising campaign.

I briefly look at him. “I was desperate. So I agreed to be his fiancée.”

I tell him how Archer joined us on the trip. My chuckle is painful. “We always used to be alert, always checking for his signs. Archer always had an eye on us.” I shake my head.

Then I tell him how I experienced my feelings changing for Raleigh. How I stopped pretending. How I fell in love with my archenemy.

“It was a one-sided love.” I reach up with my free hand to wipe my tears.

Unrequited love is like rain in the Sahara desert. Although there are chances of rain, it's scarce. It’s like you are waiting for something that isn’t going to happen.

“I backed out at the last minute.” I choke out.

I tell him that in the process of putting an end to this pretense, I lost two men I love. One is the love of my life and the other is my best friend.

“They hate me.” My voice cracks and I screw my eyes shut. Tears fall rapidly on our joined hands. “I miss them, Dad.” I sob quietly. My shoulders shake as I break in front of him.

Once the tears start, they don’t stop, my mind hurts me by flashing images of Brielle, Mia, and everyone.

Snippets of moments play in my head. Me laughing with my girls. The hours of meetings in the sitting area. Raleigh’s proposal. The day out in Maui.

My fingers trace the bracelet Brielle gave me. I am going to miss my team. I am going to miss KIM Advertising. I am going to miss the Korean restaurant Archer and I used to frequent. I am going to miss competing with my ruthless opponent.

I squeeze his hand and try to breathe. Then something happens. Something unthinkable. Something that makes the hair on my skin stand on end.

My eyes snap open. I sit straighter. I look down at our joined hands.

Dad’s free hand that was resting on his lap is now covering our linked ones. It’s trembling.

I look up at him. And find him staring straight at me. His gray eyes that were blank not seconds ago are full of life and they are glistening.

“Dad?” I whisper.

His lips tremble and I hold my breath. “P-Princess.”

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