Chapter 18

Chapter 18

Laura glanced around casually with her calm demeanor masking the tension beneath. "Of course, let's go somewhere quiet," she suggested.

Jonathan nodded, his gaze never leaving her, and followed her to a small dressing room tucked away from the bustling event. As they entered, the room was filled with an awkward silence, thick with all the unsaid words between them. Laura exhaled deeply, steadying herself as she turned to face him.

"Yes?" she asked, her voice steady but guarded.

Jonathan wasted no time. "What happened to you? You're wearing—" he gestured towards her dress, his disapproval barely concealed— "this. It's too revealing. And your hair, it's different. Why did you change it?" His tone was sharp, laced with disappointment.

Laura blinked, taken aback. "Is this what you wanted to talk about?" she asked, shaking her head as if trying to understand. "If it is, then I'm out." She turned, reaching for the door handle, but Jonathan moved quickly, his hand pressing against the door to stop her from leaving.

"That's not even half of what I wanted to say," he muttered, his voice low but agitated.

She sighed, folding her arms and leaning against the door, her eyes cold but curious. "Then say what you need to say."

Jonathan's gaze bore into hers. "Why him, Laura? Why my brother? Is he just a replacement after I rejected you? Is this revenge?" His voice wavered with hurt and disbelief. "You told me you loved me. What happened to that? What about everything that happened between us? Are you just going to pretend it never—"

"Nothing happened between us," Laura interrupted, her voice cutting through his words like a blade. A bitter smile tugged at her lips, and her eyes hardened. "Ever since I was 14, I made sure you knew how I felt about you. I wore my heart on my sleeve for years, Jonathan. So, yeah, when something finally happened between us, I was overwhelmed. I thought—maybe—you were finally reciprocating my feelings. But I was wrong."

Jonathan's face faltered. "Laura—"

"No," she said firmly, her voice growing steadier with each word. "I still remember how you shrugged it off like it was nothing. How you said you didn't see me that way, that I wasn't someone you could love like that." She let out a dry laugh, but her eyes reflected years of quiet pain. "You even said you couldn't imagine kissing me. And then you told me to forget it happened. Like it meant nothing."

Jonathan's stomach twisted as her words hit him. He had never imagined that his dismissal of her feelings had cut her so deeply.

"You're important to me, Laura," he whispered, barely able to look her in the eye.

"No," she said, shaking her head. "'You' are important. And I've had years to think about it. I moved on, Jonathan. I had to. You made sure of that."

Then, silence overwhelmed them for a while.

"Is that why you're with Nathaniel?" Jonathan asked quietly, his voice softening.

Laura's expression softened too, but there was still a trace of sadness in her eyes. "I'm with Nathaniel because he loves me and I love him. He's kind, and he doesn't make me feel like an afterthought. I deserve that, don't I?"

Jonathan's heart sank, but he couldn't argue with her. She deserved someone who would choose her, without hesitation or doubt. And deep down, he knew he had failed her in that way.

Laura took a step forward as her expression softened, though her words carried a deeper weight. "You should be happy for me, Jonathan. Don't you want me to be happy?" she asked with her gentle but firm voice.

Jonathan stood frozen, his chest tightening with every word Laura spoke. She smiled, that same bright, carefree expression that made it all seem so simple for her. She reached out again, patting his shoulder as if none of this had touched her at all.

"The one I love now is Nathaniel," she said, her voice light but firm. "Whatever misunderstanding happened between us... just forget it. Be happy for me and your brother. After all, soon, I won't just be your friend—I'll be family," she giggled, her excitement genuine and yet so far from what he wanted to hear.

Jonathan's face darkened as her words sank in. "No, Laura," he finally snapped, his frustration boiling over. "You don't love Nathaniel. It's not possible. You can't just bury or throw away your feelings for me and marry my brother. You can't forget everything after what happened between us that night!"

His voice was louder than he intended, raw with emotion while his mind was racing with all the moments they had shared, all the things left unspoken between them.

Laura sighed, her gaze soft but steady, as if she had already made peace with all of this long ago. She looked him directly in the eyes, her tone calm and almost pitying."

Jonathan, no matter how much you insist I still have feelings for you, I'll let it slide. You're my friend, after all." She shrugged lightly, brushing off his intensity. "Whether you like it or not, your brother and I will be married. We'll have kids, build a life together. Isn't that exciting? Don't you want that for us?"

Her dismissiveness felt like a slap to his face, but she didn't seem to notice—or maybe she just didn't care anymore.

She sighed again, as if she were speaking to a stubborn child. "Go get back with your girlfriend, Jonathan. I won't ruin your relationships like I stupidly did in the past. We're both grown adults now. I've moved on. Maybe it's time you do, too."

"Laura!" Jonathan roared, grabbing her arm as she tried to walk away, pulling her back with a desperate grip. His voice trembled, frantic. "Break up with him," he demanded, his tone pleading.

"Look, I'm sorry. I'm sorry I rejected you. I'm sorry I hurt you and said things I shouldn't have. But don't marry him. I'll take responsibility for everything—just stay with me. Be mine, okay? You're mine, not my brother's. You're the only one I have left," he spoke quickly, barely keeping it together, desperate for her to agree.

For a moment, Laura just looked at him while her face remained calm, almost cold. She slowly shook off his hand, and when she finally spoke, her voice was soft but sharp. "You know... it feels good somehow," she began, her lips curling into a faint smile, "to see you like this. Desperate."

She then met his eyes and added, her words biting. "I pity my old self. I looked exactly like that before."

Her gaze lingered on him for a second longer before she turned and walked out of the room, leaving Jonathan standing there, dumbfounded. Her words echoed in the empty space she left behind.