Destiny For Unlikely Vows

Chapter 23

After he left, I quickly headed to my room, practically running. I shut the door, making sure he couldn't barge in again. The entire week passed without seeing him—not even his driver came to drop me off at the office. I felt relieved. But today was Friday, so I decided to work from home and stayed in my room a bit longer.
After freshening up, I put on a tank top and my loosest, most comfortable beige pajamas. I tied my hair into a messy bun and applied some moisturizer and lip balm. Feeling relaxed, I headed downstairs for breakfast.
As soon as I entered the living area, my eyes fell upon a stunning woman sitting there, exuding elegance. She had long blonde hair, styled perfectly, and wore a light green summer dress that hugged her figure just right. She looked like an angel. Just then, my gaze shifted, and I saw him standing nearby, casually holding a coffee mug. He looked effortlessly handsome in a plain white shirt and black jeans—a look I'd never seen on him before.
The woman's gaze followed his, and as she noticed me, her charming smile turned into confusion. She said something to him in French, to which he responded in English, "She’s some charity case."
"Charity case?" His words hit like a slap. I’m his charity case now? Then he went on to explain to her that I was his grandfather's friend's granddaughter and that since I was new to Paris and couldn’t afford it on my own, I’d be staying with him for a year.
I was furious, but I tried not to show it. I walked to the kitchen, where Celine was preparing breakfast. She asked if I wanted her to serve it for me, but I shook my head. My mood was ruined, and eating in front of them would only add to the embarrassment.
“Who is she?” I asked Celine quietly.
“She’s Mr. Rathore’s girlfriend,” Celine replied.
My heart sank. “What?” I said, louder than I intended.
Celine nodded. "She works in a managerial role in his company, and they spend time together casually," she explained. "I often see her leaving in the mornings."
Hearing this, a sharp pain twisted in my stomach. I knew I shouldn’t feel this way. He was free to do whatever he wanted with his life.
Wanting to clear my mind, I took my coffee and headed to the pool area. I dangled my feet in the water, put on my headphones, and played Ellie Goulding's "Love Me Like You Do." Lost in the song, memories of my life flooded back, and a few tears escaped down my cheeks. I quickly wiped them away.
After a while, I felt a tap on my shoulder. I looked up to see her standing over me, looking every bit the supermodel with her tall, slim figure. She smiled at me and asked, “What’s your name?”
“Riya,” I replied with a polite smile.
“I’m Karolina,” she introduced herself. But just as I was about to respond, she continued, “I know you like him.”
Startled, I looked at her, confused. “Who?” I asked, playing dumb.
“Don’t act coy. I saw how you were eyeing my man,” she said, her tone sharp.
The last bit of politeness drained from me. “Are you insane?” I shot back. “If he was the only man left on earth, I’d rather eat poison than have feelings for him.”
I couldn’t hold back. “You should find someone who genuinely appreciates your beauty instead of a cocky jerk who has no respect for women.”
At that, her face twisted with anger, and without warning, she pushed me into the pool. I gasped in shock, splashing as I found myself submerged up to my chest. My ankle twisted in the process, sending a jolt of pain through me. But I wouldn’t give her the satisfaction of seeing me weak. I pulled myself out, grabbing my phone from the edge.
“You’re insane! I’m not interested in your ‘man,’” I yelled as I climbed out, water dripping from my soaked clothes. She just scoffed, muttering something about not tolerating any bad words about him.

______________________________________

Hi, My Lovely Readers!
Thank you for reading this chapter of my story. Your support means the world to me as I begin my journey in the writing world. ❤️
I’d love to hear your thoughts!
•Did you enjoy this chapter?
•What do you think will happen next?
Please leave a comment, share your suggestions, and like this chapter if you enjoyed it. Don’t forget to share the story with your friends to help it reach more readers!
Your feedback inspires me to keep writing and improving. Let’s make this journey unforgettable together! 🌟

Also.you can follow me on instagram @mona_granzer