Heartless (Completed)

Chapter 20

Chapter 20

I collapsed onto the bed in Desiree's room, my fingers tangled in my own hair, heart pounding. The scene replayed in my mind, over and over, a whirlwind of disbelief. I couldn't wrap my head around it. I mean, seriously—what the hell? Why was he the one there?

I had made choices, deliberate ones, to distance myself from Art. I followed my father's wishes because I believed it was for the best, for me. I thought this would finally be the way to move on. Yet somehow, every single decision still led me back to him. Again, him! What kind of cruel joke was this?

This was supposed to be my chance, my one opportunity to stay out of his life, to stop complicating things for him. But somehow, despite everything, my choices only seemed to push me back into his orbit. For days now, I've been carrying this burden, and... damn it!

"So, you're telling me it was Art? The guy your dad wants you to marry? The one he set up for you to meet today? All this time, it was the Art Jake Monteleone?" Desiree's eyes widened in disbelief. "I thought you two were just going through the same things, but... wow! I seriously can't believe this!"

I groaned, burying my face into a pillow. This was mortifying.

"So? What happened?"

"What do you mean?" I asked weakly, removing the pillow and glancing at her.

"Duh! Your date, of course. How did it go? What happened?"

My eyes squeezed shut, the memory replaying itself in full force. There wasn't anything overly dramatic, nothing to write home about, but the humiliation I felt was suffocating. I had been too stunned to think clearly, and he—he just walked out. No words. No emotions. His face was completely unreadable. Was he angry? Shocked? I didn't know.

"He walked out," I mumbled, almost whispering. This wasn't good. This was a complete disaster.

"Seriously? Without saying anything?"

I nodded, sitting up straighter and meeting her gaze.

"What am I supposed to do now?"

"Do what exactly?"

"I know our parents are going to push this. They're already planning a family dinner next week, and just thinking about it makes me feel like collapsing. I don't know how to face this."

"Says the girl who used to chase after him years ago," she teased, raising an eyebrow.

"That's completely different!" I argued, feeling defensive. It was different. He had a fiancée now. I wasn't the type to ruin someone's relationship for my own happiness. Sure, I still had feelings for him, but I wasn't about to shout it to the world. We weren't kids anymore.

"Maybe you should talk to your dad."

"He won't listen to me. When he decides on something, that's it. No ifs, no buts. That's just how he is." I sighed, feeling the weight of it all settle over me. Was there any way out of this marriage? Even the tiniest chance, I would take it.

"Maybe I should just run away," I blurted out suddenly.

She slapped my arm and pinched my ear, making me wince in pain.

"Are you stupid? Where would you even go? If you try, I'll personally kick you to the curb!" Her scolding tone rang in my ears, but I could tell she was worried.

I sighed, exasperated. "What am I supposed to do?"

I was getting more frustrated with my life the older I got. Every decision seemed to become harder, and nothing about this situation made me happy.