Chapter 31

Zoya's POV

The way she looked at me when she saw Anne shattered my heart. It nearly compelled me to confess that my heart still belonged to her. But then Elijah's presence and his arrogant remarks flashed in my mind. I remembered how she didn't even bat an eye to put him in his place. That's when I chose to walk away, clinging to whatever dignity remained.

"So, is it true?" Anne interrupted my thoughts.

"True about what?" I asked, puzzled.

"About you and Olivia. Is something going on between you two? Is that why we're here pretending?" Her innocent question carried an underlying edge that I knew better than to entertain. I didn't trust Anne one bit.

"Are you serious? Olivia wouldn't leave Elijah for anyone, and as far as I know, she's straight," I replied nonchalantly, trying to play it cool.

"I don't think it's true, for what it's worth," she shrugged, catching my attention. Did she really think so little of me? The thought provoked me, and she seemed to have achieved the reaction she wanted all along.

"And why is that? You think someone like Olivia wouldn't look at someone like me?" I asked, annoyed.

"Of course not." She stopped walking and turned to face me. I watched as her hands gently cupped my face, and before I could react, she pressed her lips to mine, catching me completely off guard. The kiss lasted only a second, but it was enough for the sudden flashes of the camera to blind me. Between the unexpected kiss and the paparazzi's onslaught, I was left frozen in place.

"Anyone would be lucky to have you by their side, Zoya," she smiled sweetly, though behind her smile, I sensed a satisfaction about the photos that would undoubtedly flood the media tomorrow.

"Why did you do that?" I tried not to show any signs of anger or disapproval, aware that all eyes were on us, and the thought of Olivia witnessing that kiss made me uneasy.

"Because there's nothing straight about Olivia, and if the rumors are true, I'm just helping out a friend," she said casually, pulling me towards the bar to get more drinks as she walked away.

I took a seat beside her at the bar while we waited for the drinks she had ordered. I was too apprehensive to glance behind me and see if Olivia was watching. I wanted to hold onto hope and tell myself she probably hadn't witnessed the kiss, but even if she hadn't seen it, she would likely discover it once the pictures were released.

"I have to say, I didn't think you had that in you," Sebastian remarked as he approached, his usual cheerful grin in place.

"She doesn't. I stole the kiss," Anne chimed in with a giggle.

"This isn't funny, either of you. That wasn't the agreement," I huffed angrily.

"The agreement was to give them something else to focus on," Sebastian tried to soothe my tension, though I could tell he was already relishing the impending drama.

"If you claim nothing is happening between you and Olivia, why are you so upset?" Anne prodded, aiming to provoke another reaction from me.

"I'm upset because you don't just kiss someone out of nowhere like that, especially someone you dumped and hurt due to selfish impulses," I retorted, regretting listening to Sebastian. I didn't feel good about potentially hurting Olivia, and I certainly didn't feel good about being kissed by my ex whom I despised. The entire situation was spiraling into chaos, but perhaps it would indeed divert attention away from Olivia and me, allowing me a moment to catch my breath.

"Zoya, I know I hurt you. Trust me, I regret it every single day. I've tried to make amends and fix my mistakes. I understand if you don't forgive me, but I'm genuinely trying to help you now. That has to count for something," Anne said, her tone serious. I wrestled with her words, unsure if I could trust her despite feeling a twinge of guilt for my earlier outburst. Before I could respond, she excused herself, mentioning she needed to touch up her makeup in the restroom.

"Do you believe her?" Sebastian leaned closer, propped against the bar.

"Nope," I replied flatly, taking a sip from my drink without glancing his way.

"Uh oh," Sebastian murmured, catching my attention. I followed his gaze and spotted Olivia, clearly upset, making her way toward the restroom.

Olivia's POV

I never truly grasped the depths of heartbreak until that moment. It's not just a metaphorical pain; it's a visceral, physical sensation that consumes you from within. It's like feeling your heart being squeezed in a vice, each beat echoing the ache of loss. Your chest tightens, as if the weight of the world is pressing down on you, making it hard to breathe. It's a hollow feeling, as if a part of you has been torn away, leaving an emptiness that nothing can fill. Your mind races with a mix of emotions—pain, disbelief, and a profound sense of loss.

And in that moment, as I watched Anne press her lips to Zoya's, it felt like the world had paused. The pain hit me like a tidal wave, knocking the air out of my lungs and leaving me standing there, grappling with the devastating reality of heartbreak.

"Olivia!" Ava's nudge snapped me out of my daze, though her words seemed distant and disorienting.

"What?" I asked absentmindedly, struggling to refocus.

"She moves quickly," Elijah interjected sarcastically.

"If I hear one more remark from you about her, I'll create a scene that could destroy your career forever, even if it costs me mine first," I snapped, my pain morphing into seething anger. I directed my fury at Elijah for refusing to divorce me, at Ava and Ezra for forcing me into this deceit, at myself for my own cowardice, and at Anne for daring to touch what belonged to me.

"Everyone just calm down," Ava urged, attempting to diffuse the tension, clearly anxious about drawing attention to my anger, though I doubted all eyes were on me at that moment.

"Shut the hell up," I snapped at Ava, unable to bear another word about how I should behave.

My gaze darted back to Zoya, watching Anne head towards the bathroom. Without thinking, my body moved on its own accord, and before I knew it, I was following Anne towards the restroom, ready to confront her and speak my mind.

I swung open the bathroom door angrily, finding her standing in front of the mirror. Our eyes met in its reflection, and a sly smirk played across her face before she casually returned to her makeup kit.

"What the hell do you think you're doing?" I demanded, my voice laced with anger, her smirk only fueling my frustration.

"Retouching my makeup, what does it look like I'm doing?" she replied coolly, still focused on her reflection.

"You know damn well what I mean," I retorted angrily, slamming the bathroom door behind me. The noise startled her, and she turned to face me, leaning casually against the sink with a relaxed demeanor that seemed to challenge my anger.

"I really don't," she shrugged dismissively.

"Who gave you the right to kiss her?" I ground out through gritted teeth, my hands clenched into fists, the urge to wipe that grin off her face growing stronger by the second.

"She did? That's what you do when you're on a date with your girlfriend—you kiss," she remarked as she walked past me, her words cutting through me like a blunt dagger. Instinctively, I reached out and grabbed her forearm, stopping her from leaving.

"First of all, I am not your girlfriend, and secondly, Olivia, let her go," Zoya's voice cut through the tension as she entered the bathroom.

"Hey, baby," Anne greeted with another grin, and I tightened my grip on her forearm.

"No," Zoya interjected firmly, raising a finger to Anne's face. Anne giggled, completely disregarding my hold on her. "And where do you think you're going?" Zoya continued, looking at the bathroom door that remained opened.

"I'm not missing this," Sebastian's voice chimed in, but my focus remained on Anne.

"No, this is the women's bathroom, for God's sake," Zoya exclaimed in frustration.

She approached me and gently placed her hand on my arm, but I couldn't meet her gaze. "Oli, let go, please," she urged, and reluctantly, I released Anne.

"Anne, take him and leave us, please," Zoya requested, pointing at Sebastian.

Anne smiled nonchalantly, as if nothing unusual was happening, placed her hands on Sebastian's shoulders, and walked out, closing the door behind her.

"What are you doing, Oli?" Zoya sighed heavily.

"How could you kiss her?" I snapped angrily at her. She took a step back, visibly surprised by my outburst. It was the first time I had ever raised my voice at her—or anyone, for that matter.

"She kissed me, and even if I kissed her, you're not my girlfriend. Last time I checked, we're not dating, and you're still married," she said, grabbing my hand and pointing to the ring on my finger.

"Are you doing this out of spite?" I scoffed, pulling my hand away from hers.

"I'm doing exactly what Ezra and Ava told me to do—to not ruin your perfect little life that you've built for yourself. What did you expect? For you to stay with your husband and keep me as your safety blanket? You don't get to have the best of both worlds," her voice started to crack, and despite my anger, I felt the urge to hold her.

"Is that what you think of me?" I asked, feeling the weight on my chest grow heavier.

"I think you're a coward. Love isn't for those who hide; it's for those who have the courage to sacrifice and to try. You're living a life built on deception, expecting me to join you in settling for whatever scraps you're willing to offer," her words struck deep, resonating with the pain in her voice as tears streamed down her face.

"I deserve more than this, Olivia," she whispered, her words echoing in the confined space of the bathroom, heavy with disappointment and agony.

I struggled to find my voice, feeling as though a heavy weight was crushing my chest and constricting my throat. She held my gaze for a moment, waiting for any response I could muster. Eventually, she shook her head in disappointment and walked over to the sink, wiping away tears and fixing the smudges beneath her eyes.

"Better smile for the cameras, Olivia," she said coolly as she brushed past me.

"I love you," I blurted out desperately before she could open the bathroom door. She paused, hesitating for a brief moment, then turned back to look at me.

"But you don't love me enough," she whispered, tears welling in her eyes once more, before walking out and leaving me alone in the bathroom, feeling as though my very soul was slipping away from my body.