Vivian's POV
Abby is the love of my life.
Each word hit me like a physical blow.
Abby.
Is.
The.
Love.
Of.
My.
Life.
You thought I cared about you?
Air refused to enter my lungs. I opened my mouth but nothing emerged. My mind couldn't process what I had just witnessed.
My chest burned as Ryan released his harsh grip on my face.
"Why?" The word escaped as barely a whisper. I sounded broken. "Why would you destroy me like this?"
Abby released a delighted giggle as she approached me, completely nude and shameless. "Oh sweetie, you still don't understand?" She cocked her head, her gaze sparkling with cruelty. "You were nothing but a pawn in our game. It's been so long, hasn't it?"
My breathing became shallow. "You promised to stay away from me."
"And I honored that promise. Mostly." She made a disapproving sound with her tongue. "But then I understood that happiness isn't something you deserve. That's when my darling boyfriend became useful."
She caressed Ryan's face, her expression triumphant.
"That's a lie!" I forced the words out, spinning toward Ryan, desperation coloring my voice. "Please tell me this is some sick joke, Ryan. Tell me you haven't been manipulating me this entire time." I struggled to breathe properly.
Ryan's expression hardened, but then he looked at me with that same dark satisfaction. "Every word is true, Vivian. Did you ever wonder why I never touched you? You didn't actually believe it was because you wanted to save yourself for marriage, did you?"
"You believe Ryan simply discovered you by chance?" Abby taunted. "That he accidentally fell for your pathetic, inexperienced self?"
Ryan positioned himself beside the bed, his posture confident, a merciless grin spreading across his features. "Abby shared every detail about you before we ever crossed paths. Your patterns, your weaknesses, exactly what kind of man could fool you. Christ, pretending to be decent for you was exhausting. Though it made everything surprisingly simple."
I stumbled backwards. Pain radiated through every part of me. My skull throbbed. My ribs felt crushed. My heart felt shattered.
"You orchestrated this? Everything?"
Abby's smile grew wider. "Naturally."
"Why?" The question tore from my throat. "Why would you torture me like this?"
Her tone became poisonous. "Because destroying you is the only thing that brings me joy."
This time I collapsed completely, no longer fighting the sobs that wracked my body. "I loved you both... I trusted him."
Abby knelt beside me, stroking my hair with false compassion. The cruelty of someone who shared my face inflicting this pain was unbearable.
But Abby had always been vicious to me from our very first breath.
"I'm aware," she whispered, moving close enough that I could smell the aftermath of their intimacy on her skin. "That's exactly what makes this so perfectly devastating."
She straightened and released another cruel laugh. "Honestly? I'm somewhat disappointed he never slept with you. It would have been so much more satisfying knowing you surrendered everything to him, and it still meant nothing."
I rose unsteadily, approaching Ryan. "Ryan? Ryan, please... please tell me that what we shared had some truth to it. Tell Abby she's wrong about everything."
But as I searched Ryan's face through my tears, I recognized he was beyond redemption.
He recoiled, glancing toward Abby. "This is disturbing. Having both of you here. It's like staring at identical people. Except..." he reached for her. "I only love one of you."
They embraced again and I began backing away.
Abby faced me one final time. "Do you mind leaving? We have unfinished business here. I'm incredibly aroused." She tilted her head mockingly. "Though you're welcome to stay and observe."
I remained frozen, watching them together, desperate for some way to retaliate. Some action I could take to hurt them the way they had destroyed me.
But I was powerless.
All I could do was brush away my furious tears while feeling completely humiliated. Then I fled from that room.
The bartender didn't hesitate when I demanded another round of shots, which I consumed instantly, savoring the way the alcohol scorched my throat repeatedly. I had lost track of how long I had been here. After abandoning the hotel without retrieving my possessions, I had wandered the streets aimlessly until I found this club.
I laughed bitterly.
I should have been celebrating with my new husband. Instead I was drinking to erase the memory of my sister screaming his name in ecstasy.
Definitely not drinking to forget that I had been completely deceived. That I had been so naive and allowed my feelings for Ryan to blind me to his true nature.
I consumed another shot, embracing the burning sensation.
Embracing the thunderous music pounding in my ears and making my entire frame tremble.
Wait.
No.
The music wasn't causing me to shiver.
Someone was observing me. I could sense their intense gaze penetrating me from behind, making every nerve ending alert.
I refused to turn around.
"Makes you wonder what you did to earn that attention," the bartender commented casually while cleaning a glass.
"Excuse me?" I raised my head, uncertain if he was addressing me.
The bartender grinned, nodding toward something behind me. "You've caught the attention of this country's most unreachable, most intimidating bachelor." His voice grew louder. "I'm curious what he finds so fascinating about you."
Despite the deafening music, my heartbeat thundered in my ears.
I held my breath, wavering momentarily.
Then I turned and looked up toward where the bartender had indicated.
The first detail I noticed was his timepiece.
I couldn't identify the brand from my position, but I knew it contained black diamonds based on how the strobe lights danced across them.
The watch adorned a powerful hand, and with my sharp eyesight, I could discern a tattoo that vanished beneath the sleeves of his black suit.
That was all I could observe clearly.
The remainder of him existed in shadow, positioned against the railing as if he owned everything around him. Though I couldn't see his features, I knew with certainty that his attention was focused entirely on me.
Not casually observing.
Beyond mere curiosity.
I felt an inexplicable urge to approach him. To demand an explanation for his scrutiny. But I remained paralyzed.
My pulse faltered. I faced the bartender again. "Who is he?" I whispered, the alcohol making everything slightly unsteady.
The bartender's expression grew serious. "That's Liam Simon."
Something clenched deep in my stomach.
That name was familiar.
The bartender studied me carefully. "And it appears he's selected his next interest."