FATE UNWRAPS

Chapter 8

Ita's pov

I was left utterly speechless, my mind reeling in shock. Ryder had just entered the room next to mine, the implications sinking in like a ton of bricks. The paparazzi earlier, the chaos - it all made sense now. They were here for him, Ryder, whom I unknowingly helped. I had stumbled into a world beyond my wildest imagination, and Ryder, with his mesmerizing beauty and troubled eyes, was at the center of it. The realization was almost too much for me to take in.

"Excuse me," a deep, velvety voice interrupted my reverie, shattering the moment that had held me captive. I spun around, my eyes locking onto the unmistakable figure of Neil, the leader of Rhythmic Spectrum, standing before me in all his glory. My mouth agape, I struggled to process this unexpected encounter. First Ryder, now Neil - what did the universe have in store for me?! "Hey," Neil said again, his voice snapping me back to reality, prompting me to compose myself. I felt a flush rise to my cheeks due to embrassment.

I finally found my voice, speaking softly, "Hello..." My tone was laced with confusion, or perhaps a hint of feigned bewilderment. Neil's charming smile put me at ease as he introduced himself, "I'm Neil Morris, Ryder's friend. I wanted to thank you for helping him out downstairs." He extended his hand, and I nodded, shaking it firmly. "I'm Ita Venus," I replied, still trying to process the unexpected turn of events. Neil's eyes crinkled at the corners as he smiled again, "I'm really thankful for your kindness, Miss Venus. It means a lot." With a sigh, he continued, "I handled the situation with the manager. Unfortunately, the hotel bar was open to the public today due to a yearly festival, which added to the chaos."

I smiled warmly and replied, "It's alright, Mr. Morris. I just did what was right in the moment." Neil nodded graciously, his expression softening.

Author's pov

Ita hesitated, her voice laced with uncertainty, but Neil's encouraging nod prompted her to continue. "I... I think Mr. Ryder is blaming himself for whatever happened downstairs," she ventured, "I don't know the details or whether he's at fault, and I don't know him personally, but... he is being hard on himself." Her eyes locked onto Neil's, filled with a deep concern. "I just felt compelled to share my observation with you," she concluded, her tone gentle yet urgent. Neil's expression turned thoughtful, his eyes narrowing slightly as he absorbed Ita's words.

Ita felt a shiver run down her spine as Neil's piercing gaze lingered on her, as if he could see right through to her very soul. She sensed she had crossed an unspoken boundary, but before she could feel too uncomfortable, Neil nodded curtly and said, "Nice meeting you, Miss Venus." His deep voice was tinged with a hint of warmth, but his eyes remained inscrutable. With that, he turned and strode towards Ryder's room. She took a deep breath and entered her own room. As she leaned against the door, she couldn't shake the feeling that her life had just intersected with something much bigger than herself.

Ryder's pov

I stormed into my room, slamming the door behind me with a resounding thud. Frustration boiled over as I groaned, my mind still reeling from the encounter with Ita. "That woman, God... she's so infuriating!" I exclaimed, my voice laced with irritation. "Does she have any idea what she's commenting on so casually?" I thought. "Accept it, Ryder, she helped you. Is that really so hard to swallow?", my mind taunted me. I shouted back at myself, "Shut up! Who knows what her motives were? Nobody does something selfless for a stranger without wanting something in return. She's probably just like all the others."

My mind kept drifting back to the events at the bar. It wasn't hard to piece together that they were all fans, and their outrage stemmed from the news of my scandal with Jacey Hord, my ex-girlfriend. Just thinking about her made my stomach turn. I never could have imagined that Jacey, of all people, would turn out to be so manipulative and pretentious. My disdain for her knew no bounds - I genuinely loathed her.

The people I had once considered devoted fans have turn against me in an instant. It was a harsh realization, and I couldn't help but think, "What a fool I was to love and trust them so blindly." All it took was one unconfirmed accusation for them to abandon me, to forget every effort of mine. It was almost laughable, how quickly they turned their backs on me. The loyalty I thought we shared was merely a facade, and I was left to face the bitter truth.

I've heard people say that celebrities don't truly care about their fans, that it's all just an act. But I can speak for myself and my bandmates - we genuinely care about our fans. We remember the days when we were just starting out, chasing our dreams with no one but ourselves to believe in us. Our fans were the ones who stood by us, who supported us when no one else would. And as we've grown and achieved success, we've never forgotten that. We realize that we're here today because of them, and that's why I'll always be grateful. I strive to give my best, not just for myself, but for them - the ones who have been with us every step of the way. But the happy memories I once cherished with my fans - the laughter, the tears, the countless moments of connection during fan meets and concerts, the heartfelt letters - now seem tainted by the way they're treating me. The same people who once showered me with love and support have turned against me, and it's hard not to feel betrayed. The memories that were once a source of joy and inspiration now feel bittersweet, a reminder of the fleeting nature of fame and the fragile bond between a celebrity and their fans.

Even as the thoughts continued to swirl in my head, there was a bit of relief. I realized that I shouldn't blame myself, and that I didn't deserve to, just as the woman with the beautiful eyes had said. 'Miss gorgeous eyes' I muttered.

"A while ago, you were calling her infuriating, and now this? Ha! Nice, man!" my mind mocked. "Oh, come on," I snapped, feeling a bit defensive. "I don't even know her name so I had to use a pet name whatever.. also those eyes... they got my attention. They were truly stunning – the most beautiful pair I've ever seen."
I found myself smiling, unsure of why. "But beauty could be deceptive, it hides the truth within." I sighed.

To be continued..