After a moment, she regained her composure and spoke up in a hushed voice.
âIâll return your watch.
Please forgive me.
I promise I wonât cross your path again.
â
Her voice was barely audible, irritating Marcus further.
He fixed his gaze on her for a moment before walking to the counter.
He poured himself a glass of ice water, drinking most of it in an attempt to calm down.
He then gazed at the glass, almost expecting an explanation from her.
âSo, thatâs all you wanna say to me?â
Melissa looked up slightly, struggling to keep her tears at bay.
Marcus turned towards her, his handsome profile silently observing her.
Suddenly, the glass in his hand was hurled against the wall.
The sound of it shattering seemed to echo the breakdown of their relationship.
He strode over, pushing her onto the sofa.
Leaning over her, he pulled out the note from his pocket and flung it at her, his sneer cutting.
âYou say you donât like me now.
But what about when you were with me? Why didnât you mention your feelings for that Ryan then?â
Melissa was in agony.
Her life had been difficult, but today was the pinnacle of her pain.
Nothing was more excruciating than being scorned by so
meone she cared for.
Marcus looked deep into her eyes.
He propped himself up slightly, retrieving his phone with a cold, unyielding voice.
âYou like Ryan, donât you? Iâll show you who he really is.
Watch this, and if you still claim to like him, then youâre just worthless as he is.
â
Marcus had previously deleted the video in a moment of disdain, but Melissaâs actions had provoked him.
Retrieving the video from the recycle bin, he placed his phone before Melissa, turning the volume up, forcing her to confront Ryanâs true character.
Melissa, however, wasnât interested in Ryan.
She simply felt debased by Marcusâ behavior.
Refusing to watch, she shut her eyes.
âNo, I donât want to see it.
â
âDonât you like him? Donât you accept all aspects of someone you like? Or are you afraid to see him with someone else, afraid itâll shatter your ideal image of him?â
Marcus taunted.
âAfter all, youâve been with me.
â
Tears streamed down Melissaâs face as she collapsed under the weight of Marcusâ scorn, pleading for her freedom.
Marcus watched her, seeing her tremble.
He had genuinely cared for her, had envisioned a future with her.