Chapter 42
Gasps erupted again.”
Lothario finally reacted, his eyes widening slightly. “Pearl-”
I didn’t stab anyone. I didn’t cause a scene.
Instead, I dragged the blade across my palm, hissing as sharp pain cut through my skin. Then, with slow, deliberate movements, I smeared my blood across the white tablecloth.
A stark red stain. A final mark. The last thing I would ever give him.”
“This is my last gift to you,” I whispered. My voice was calm. Steady Dead.!!
Then, I turned my back on him. And this time, when I walked away- I never looked back.
I stormed into my apartment, my hands shaking with rage. The moment the door slammed shut behind me, I moved.
I tore through my closet, grabbed every single one of his shirts, his jackets, the ties I carefully picked out for him when he was still mine. I yanked open the drawers, shoving everything Lothario left behind into a black trash bag–his cologne, his expensive watches, even the old, worn–out hoodie he used to let me wear when I got cold.
I loved that hoodie once. Now, it made me sick.!!
His expensive suits? In the bin. The stupid love letters he once wrote? Burned.
I dragged the bag outside, dumped it into the trash bin, and without hesitation–I set it on fire. Flames roared to life. swallowing every trace of him.!!
Good. Let them burn!
I stood there, watching the fire, feeling the heat on my skin–wishing it could burn away everything he put me through. Then, I pulled out my phone. The one number I swore I would never call again.
My father. Mr. Alexander Anderson. The most influential and richest man in the Europe.
The phone barely rang twice before a deep, familiar voice filled my ear.
“Pearl?”
Just that. Just my name. And suddenly, I couldn’t breathe.
I squeezed my eyes shut. My throat tightened. I had spent years proving that I didn’t need him. That I could survive without his money, his influence–his name.
I disowned myself just to show him I could make it on my own. And I did.
But right now, at this moment. I had nothing.
I broke down. I sobbed so hard I could barely get the words out.
“Dad… can I come home?‘
There was a pause. A deep breath. And then-
“Of course, sweetheart. You never had to ask.”
My knees buckled. Relief flooded my chest so intensely it hurt. For the first time in years, I allowed myself to be his daughter again.”
As I packed the rest of my things, the memories hit me like a tidal wave.
Memories of him.
Of Lothario De Luca
The man I fell for long before he even knew my
name.!
I had been working part–time at a small coffee shop back then, juggling shifts to pay for my rent and college fees,
And every morning–like clockwork–he walked in. He always ordered the same thing. Black coffee, no sugar.
At first, he was just another customer. But then, I started noticing him. The way he ran his hands through his hair when he was stressed. The way his brows furrowed when he stared at his laptop screen. How his lips curved into a soft smile whenever I handed him his cup.
He was beautiful. A quiet mystery that I couldn’t stop watching.”
And then, one day… he spoke to me.
“You always look so tired,” he had said, tilting his head. “Do you even sleep?”
I laughed. “I try.”
“Try harder,” he said, sliding an extra five–dollar tip across the counter. “And maybe eat something too.”
My stupid heart fluttered. I had a massive crush on him.
11:32 AM
t
But that was all he was back then–a distant fantasy. A man I admired from afar.
Until the night I saw him fall apart.
I still remember it. The way he sat slumped on a park bench in the pouring rain, clutching a rejection letter. His hands trembled. His eyes were hollow. And for the first time, he looked… human. Broken. Defeated. I didn’t know what came over me, but I sat beside him, holding out my umbrella.
“You again?” he muttered, looking at me with tired eyes.
I shrugged. “You looked like you needed company.”
That night, he told me everything. How he had nothing left. How Alessia had just left him for her career. How he was drowning in debts and failures.
“Then let’s start with nothing.” I whispered. “Together.”
And just like that, we became us.”
I worked double shifts–day and night–just to support him. I paid for our rent. Our food. Even the small investments that would eventually build his empire. He worked as a waiter, but it wasn’t enough. So I pushed myself harder. I barely slept. I barely lived. But I never gave up on him. I
And when his business finally took off–when he became the Lothario De Lothario the world admired–he had held my hands and whispered,”
“I will never love anyone but you. You are my everything, Pearl.”
Lies. All of it.E
I gave him everything. And when he finally reached the top, he handed it all to her.
I was still shaking when my phone rang again.
Lothario. I stared at the screen, my heart pounding. Then, I answered.
Before I could speak, his furious voice crashed through the speaker.
“What the hell were you thinking?” he growled. “Crashing my engagement? Making a scene? Have you lost your goddamn mind?!“g
I let out a bitter laugh. “You lost that privilege the moment you betrayed me.”
“You need to learn your lesson, Pearl,” he snapped. “I need Alessia for my company. Her father is Mr. Alexander Anderson! The Europe most richest man. Alessia is the lost heiress. You should’ve respected my decision and played your role!”
I almost laughed. Alexander Anderson. “My role?” I repeated.
“Yes!” His voice dropped lower, almost desperate. “You should’ve just waited for me. Stayed quiet. You should’ve understood that I need her for my business, but it’s you whom I love!”
i felt sick. He expected me to sit in the shadows like some mistress while he paraded her as his wife?!
No. Never
I exhaled sharply. “Go to hell, Lothario.” Then, I hung up and blocked his number.
By midnight, I was at the airport. As I boarded the plane, I looked out at the city one last time.
The place where I built my dreams. Where I built us. Where I lost everything.2
I took a deep breath. And then, I let it all go.
Goodbye, Lothario. Goodbye, my past.
I was going home. But this wasn’t the end.
I would rise again–stronger, smarter. And when I did, Lothario would regret ever betraying me.” Because this time, I wouldn’t just walk away.
I would destroy him.
