𝐅𝐨𝐫𝐛𝐢𝐝𝐝𝐞𝐧 𝐕𝐨𝐰𝐬

𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝟓𝟎

ELENA

I rushed into the Sanchez Lair, my heart hammering against my chest, my legs feeling like they were going to give out. The second the door clicked open, I bolted inside, barely aware of my surroundings. Everything was a blur of emotions—pain, anger, confusion. As I darted to the left, I saw Atlas and Christopher lounging in the lounge, beers in hand, laughing together like everything was fine.

They hadn't noticed me yet, but when they did, their smiles dropped. Christopher shot up from his seat, concern written all over his face. "Lele, what the hell—"

Before he could finish, I crashed into him, burying my face into his chest. Tears spilled uncontrollably, and I could barely breathe as the words tumbled out. Everything came pouring out—everything. The surprise party, the kiss, the blonde woman with her fake boobs and tight dress. How I ran like an idiot, looking like a mess, trying to escape the image burned into my mind. Zade, the man I loved, the man I thought I knew, was kissing someone else.

Christopher's arms wrapped tightly around me, holding me steady as I broke down in his arms. I couldn't stop shaking. My words were mixed with sobs, and I barely knew if he could even understand me through all the crying, but I didn't care. I needed to get it all out, all the pain, the humiliation, the anger.

He didn't say anything for the longest time, just held me. But then I heard him, his voice low and filled with an anger I hadn't heard in him before.

"That bastard."

His body tensed, and I knew he was furious. Atlas stood nearby, silent but watching, his jaw clenched, waiting for me to say more.

Christopher pulled back just enough to look at me, his eyes dark with anger. His chest was heaving like he was trying to hold himself together, but I could feel the rage simmering beneath his calm facade. He looked over at Atlas, and without a word, Atlas reached into his pocket and tossed the keys to Chris.

Christopher caught the keys, but before he could move, Atlas stood up, setting his beer down with a firm thud. "I'm coming with you," he said, his voice calm but firm, leaving no room for argument.

Chris glanced at him, a brief look of understanding passing between them. Without saying anything else, they both headed for the door.

"No, don't go," I called after them, panic rising in my chest. I could barely breathe, my words tumbling out as a plea. "Please, just don't do anything. It's not worth it."

Atlas turned back to me, his face softening slightly. "Lele, I've got this. Trust me," he said, his voice steady, trying to calm me. But I could see it—the anger, the protectiveness.

"Just stay here," he added before turning to follow Christopher out the door.

I stood there frozen, my heart pounding in my chest as I watched them leave. The room felt emptier without them, and I sank back onto the couch, the weight of everything pressing down on me. 

As the door closed behind Christopher and Atlas, I felt a cold emptiness take over the space they left. I sank into the couch, my mind racing with thoughts and fears that I couldn't seem to silence. My emotions were a chaotic whirlwind, spinning around my heart, and every breath felt heavy, laden with the weight of what I had just witnessed.

Why did Zade have to do this? Why did he have to make me feel so betrayed and hurt? I thought we were building something real, something that was ours. I thought he understood me better than anyone else ever had. But now, it felt like all of that was just a lie, a beautiful façade that crumbled in an instant.

The image of Zade with that blonde girl burned in my mind. I had seen the way she clung to him, the way her lips pressed against his. It was like a punch to the gut, and it made me feel sick. It wasn't just the fact that he was with someone else; it was the fact that he had been hiding things from me, that he knew more than I did, and I had been kept in the dark.