I was usually downstairs working out in my gym at the crack of dawn like clockwork. This morning, I woke up and hesitated for five minutes, debating if I should work out or not.

You see, I slept on my side with my back to her, but when I woke up, she was hugging me from behind. She felt so good and soft that I didn’t want to risk waking her up, so I gave myself five minutes to enjoy her warmth.

She didn’t wake when I slowly untangled her limbs from me. I studied her for a couple more moments before I left to go change and get ready to exercise. When I came out of the closet, I made a quick glance towards the sleeping beauty and was greeted with a sleepy smile.

“Gym?” she sleepily asked.

I nodded, pausing before I gently moved towards her. “I am. Want to come and join me?”

Stella smiled, shaking her head. “How about you come and join me? I’ll make you work it good.”

That certainly made me laugh. “Glad you learn quick.” My thumb caressed her forearm and then I planted a swift kiss on her lips. “Go back to sleep. I promise to wake you after I shower and do another set of muscle stretching before I go to work.”

“Deal.”

So that’s how my day started. It was ideal and how I’d pictured things were going to be with Stella. After my lunch meeting, I was in a bright mood, planning all sorts of things to do with her when I got back home tonight.

I had ideas, but as always, life was much more creative than my own.

My light mood instantly darkened when I saw a familiar form waiting inside my office.

“Zara? What are you doing here?” Did I sound disgusted? Appalled? Hurt? Shocked? Aghast? Furious?

Double check to all.

Three years passed with not a single word uttered from her. Now, out of the blue, she shows up here without notice. The few years that passed hadn’t eradicated any hateful feelings I had for her, but still, seeing her again took me back to the past, the present and the happy future I had once pictured in my mind.

I could hate her all I wanted, but one thing I knew for sure, my body still responded to her. It clouded my mood some more, however it was a fact I couldn’t deny.

Zara was still the most beautiful woman I had ever laid my eyes upon. I once worshipped this woman, loved her more than life itself, even more than my own. Never did I hold back from showing her just how much because I truly believed that she was going to be mine, my wife. However, she got greedy and threw it all away.

Three years later, she shows up unannounced. I was still rooted on the spot, motionless.

Zara tried to smile, but it somehow looked pained. She was nervous and she didn’t even hide that from me. “I wasn’t eavesdropping, but I accidentally overheard the news that you were getting married?”

So the news quickly reached my father, how lovely. “Are you here to congratulate me? That’s very kind of you, but I’m busy, so you can show yourself to the door.” It was all a lie, but no one knew that except for Stella and me.

Zara tried to step closer, but changed her mind the last minute. “Please, don’t marry anyone. It would kill me to see you marry someone else.”

That’s all it took really.

I cracked and was ready for battle. “Who I marry is my own goddamned bloody business! You walked away from me!” For three years my spite for her had been brewing and I wasn’t going to stop it from flowing out. “You’re a filthy cunt who went after a man who had more money that I could’ve offered you then,” I bellowed, uncaring at her flinching face as if my words were hurting her.

“How fucking dare you come in here as if you’re a welcomed guest! You left me two weeks before our planned elopement. Two fucking weeks. I had my vows written, rings ready and honeymoon booked. You didn’t even have the decency to inform me that there was no wedding. You simply up and left me, vanished through thin air. I even reported you missing for fuck’s sake!” I laughed as I recalled the painful memories I went through. “But father sent me straight to hell, just like a loving father should. Apparently, he acquired himself a new wife. YOU.” I threw her a hateful, scathing glance. “As far as I know, you’re dead to me. You mean nothing. So don’t come in here, expecting shit from me because you will be sorely disappointed.”

Zara gently wiped her tears away, sniffing. “Your father blackmailed me. What was I supposed to do?”

Was she lying? “What blackmail?” I demanded.

“My family was on the brink of bankruptcy. Your father offered a way out. My parents begged me to consider, stating that I had to put my selfishness aside for a few years and help them get out of the rotten financial ruin.” She sniffed, bracing her arms around her body. “Your father made me sign a contract that I would be married to him for three years and never contact you in any shape or form, but I swear to you, on everything that I believe in, your father didn’t touch me.”

And she expected me to just what, believe her? No. I wasn’t going to play an idiot when it came to Zara… or to any woman for that matter.

“You should’ve come to me and told me everything. I may have not had the money then, but I could’ve easily spoken to my grandfather. I was his only heir after all, but you didn’t even give me a chance. You simply threw me away without a second thought. If you’re having any regrets, then that’s all on you because I’m done with you, Zara.”

“I’m so sorry. Everyday I regret not going to you. Forgive me. In two month’s time, the contract will be null and void. I’ll be a free woman.”

Oh, she regrets it now? Good for her. I wasn’t going to lie; a big part of me wanted to explore the option that she was telling me the truth. If she hadn’t had any other man… that ought to prove something, right? Either way, she violated my trust and broke me apart. The lacerating pain I’d gone through was something I would never forget. There was no point in dwelling on the “if” side. She hadn’t given me the option before, so why should I even give her that leniency?

“I wasn’t as rich as my father then, but I am now. I’ve since tripled my inheritance in folds. Had you waited then, you’d be my wife by now.” I shook my head, impatient. “It’s all over now. Go home to your husband, Zara.”

Dark, soulful eyes looked sad, awash with fresh tears. “I still love you, Callum.”

My chest tightened. Somehow her words continued to affect me. I stilled, speechless, not knowing what to do. A part of me wanted to hold her and make her stop crying, but a huge part of me argued that she deserved to be unhappy. After all, she betrayed me. Big time. There was no going back. She did what she had to do, what she felt was right. Zara threw away our love. Pity was something I shouldn’t be even feeling right at this moment.

She came closer while I froze, heart thudding as I got to see her up close. It somehow felt as if she still knew me because she was undaunted when I felt her hands rest on my chest at the same time my eyes trained upon her, conflicted.

“Your heart still belongs to me.” She gave me a sad smile. “It doesn’t matter what you tell me because one thing I know, Callum, is that your heart knows the truth.” Zara pressed her lips to mine. “I’ll be waiting for your return.”

My eyes didn’t even follow her when she let herself out, but I knew she’d left because the energy in the room felt empty, draining.

It hurt to see her. It truly did. Now I was at a loss because I knew I wouldn’t be able to stop thinking about what she had told me.