The One She Needed

TEN

RAQUEL

He can't be serious. Tonight was supposed to be a big night for me, and this is what he decided to do?

Meeting my ass.

He swore he'd be there for me. I never thought he could be this petty—all because I said no.

Flashback

My heart slammed against my ribs. Out of all the scenarios I had imagined, this was never one of them.

"So when you said you had an emergency... you just wanted me here for this?" I gestured to the candles scattered across the room, their flickering glow casting shadows on the walls.

On his knees, a diamond ring in hand.

I want to get married. But can I say I do... to him?

"Raquel, you seem disappointed this isn't an emergency." Terrance's smile wavered, morphing into a scowl.

"I just need more time."

The ground suddenly seemed more interesting than looking him in the eye. This was awkward.

"Time?" He stood, exhaling sharply before sinking onto the couch.

Don't make this harder than it already is.

"Can we not do this right now? I'm tired." My head suddenly began to throb from everything that had transpired tonight—from Alex to now this.

"I can't believe you. You're just dismissing me like that?" His voice sharpened as he stood again, stepping toward me.

A flash of old wounds ignited a fire in my chest. I spun around, meeting his glare with one of my own.

"Be grateful that's the most I'm doing. Considering how little we talk these days, this is the most we've said to each other face to face. I may care about you, but I will not marry you."

*

And that was that.

The next morning, he left without much more than a peck on the cheek. For a moment, I convinced myself we were okay—that he understood. Marriage isn't something you just rush into.

But his silence as the day progressed began to tell me otherwise.

The message he sent—blunt, indifferent—reminds me just how unwilling he is to set aside his anger because his ego got bruised.

It's a good thing I didn't go to work. If Angie took one look at me, she'd pick up on my shift in mood instantly.

With everything that happened last night, I still haven't let myself fully process what happened with Alex. If that call hadn't interrupted us, I know exactly where things would have gone.

I would have let him take whatever he wanted.

I need to stop this before the damage becomes irreversible.

He's Derek's assistant.

Not only that—imagine the scandal if anyone found out.

I moved aimlessly around my apartment, mind a chaotic mess, until a knock at the door yanked me back into focus.

Of all the people I expected, Janelle Williams—my mother—was not one of them.

"Morgan needs money for a divorce attorney," she announced, pushing past me without waiting for an invitation.

Well, hello to you too, Mother.

I exhaled sharply, already bracing for the storm that followed her everywhere. "Looks like Morgan and Trent's marriage isn't as picture-perfect as you claimed."