Chapter 4 Episode 4

TAMERA'S POV

Why the hell do I have to be here? I cursed silently under my breath, glancing around at the fine dining restaurant, feeling my social anxiety creep in, even though no one seemed to care that I was there.

"I don't want to marry him. How is that so hard to understand?" I muttered under my breath. My mother had somehow convinced me to go on a date with this Richard guy, insisting I would like him once I got to know him better.

I arrived ten minutes early, having to wait for him to show up.

The second the door opened, I forgot how to breathe. He walked in, and for a moment, I couldn't move, couldn't breathe, couldn't think. He was stunning. Every inch of him gave confidence and power. His tall muscular frame moved with a kind of quiet authority. The way his tailored suit hugged his body made it impossible to look away. Dark hair, slightly tousled, a sharp jawline that was both intimidating and seductive. And those eyes-icy blue, the kind that seemed to look right through you, like they could see every thought, every fear.

When our eyes locked, the world around us seemed to blur and fade. Time slowed down. It felt as if I had known him forever, and yet, he was still a stranger. A stranger I was supposed to marry in a few weeks.

I started having weird thoughts, thoughts that shouldn't even cross my mind. Was it his irresistibly good looks or was this man swooning with an unhealthy amount of sex appeal?

I snapped out of my daze as he took the seat across from me. He didn't rush, didn't stumble. Richard Garrison seems to always be in control. His presence filled the room, and I hated how aware I was of it.

"Tamera," he said smoothly, sending shivers down my arms, "How are you?"

I didn't know how to respond. I'm fine? A sarcastic remark? I couldn't decide, so I just looked down at my glass, swirling the wine inside.

"You're late," I finally said, hoping to sound unaffected, but my voice came out softer than I intended.

He didn't apologize. Of course, he didn't. Instead, he leaned back in his chair, watching me with those piercing eyes. "I had a business meeting. But I'm here now."

I didn't think I was ever going to like this man. Sure, he was easy on the eyes-devastatingly handsome, even-but was that really all it took? He already had this arrogant air about him that I couldn't stand.

I took a deep breath, gathering my anger. "Tell my parents you are not interested in the marriage or whatever you want from me," I said, finally meeting his gaze with the courage I had been trying to summon since I sat down. "I don't want this. I don't want to marry you."

There was a pause, and for a brief moment, I saw something flicker in his eyes-something unreadable, almost vulnerable. But it was gone in an instant, replaced by his usual cool exterior.

"No," he said simply. "I won't cancel it. The marriage is important to me."

I felt a flash of anger rise in me. Important to him? What about what was important to me?

"You don't even know me," I said, my voice rising slightly. "How can you say that? You can't just... force me into this."

Richard's eyes narrowed slightly, but his tone remained calm, infuriatingly calm. "This isn't about force, Tamera. It's about what's best. For both of us."

"For both of us?" I laughed bitterly, shaking my head. "You don't get it. I'm still married. Max-"

"If this man you got married to really matters then why haven't you gone back to him yet? Why hasn't he come looking for you?" Richard interrupted. His eyes flickered with something dark and I froze.

I opened my mouth to respond, but nothing came out. How did he know about Max? I felt my heart race as I thought about my ex-husband, the years I wasted on him. The humiliation. The betrayal. And yet, even after everything Max did, I couldn't stop thinking about him. I hated myself for it. I had been loyal, I loved him, I stayed by his side through everything-and he fucked me over.

"That's not the point," I said, trying to keep my voice steady. "I'm still his wife."

"On paper maybe," Richard said coldly. "But from what I heard, you signed divorce papers in jail."

"I see you did your research on me." He didn't say a word while I took a deep breath, blinking abruptly before adding. "The divorce hasn't been finalized in court. You know what, I can't do this. I won't marry you."

"Tamera-" Richard began, but I cut him off.

"No!" I snapped. "This... this thing we are about to do... it is not right. At all!" Finding this man attractive was one thing. Marriage was another. He was a stranger. I shouldn't be cheating on Max with him like this. I felt worthless. I knew max will still come back to me when he finds out the truth, I can't be married to someone else when he does.

"It is only a matter of time before you realize just what this means to us Tammie," he said. "It is also a matter of time before you stop denying that we are perfect for each other."

I froze, my breath catching in my throat. "Excuse me?" I rose to my feet almost immediately, letting out a scoff as I rolled my eyes. "Don't you think you are getting a little ahead of yourself here?"

He also rose to his feet and stepped closer, his eyes burning into mine. "You will feel it, Tamera. I know you will eventually. It is only a matter of time you understand everything and just how much this means to both of us."

Having him so close like this felt unsettling, him towering over me, his presence overwhelming. He looked down at me, those piercing blue eyes pulling me in, captivating me with every glance.

This man was too perfect, I had to admit. His gaze drifted from my eyes to my lips, and I wasn't sure if I was imagining it, but there was something raw in his stare-something hungry, like he was holding back the urge to kiss me, to pull me into his arms.

What's happening? I got confused as he slowly reached forward, his hand gently cupping my cheek. I knew I should step back, resist, but strangely, it felt comforting-a warmth that stirred something deep inside me.

"Please don't run away from me again, Tamara... not this time." His voice was almost pleading, his thumb brushing softly against my skin.

Not this time? What did he mean?

Suddenly, a strange image flashed in my mind, like a vivid memory I couldn't place. It was Richard's face. I gasped in shock, stumbling back as the image overwhelmed me.

He looked at me, confusion crossing his features, as I blurted out, "Who? Who are you to me?" Why had that image of him just flashed in my mind? What did it mean?

He stared at me, clearly surprised, opening his mouth as if to respond, but no words came out.

I shook my head, not trusting myself to speak. I needed to leave. I needed air.

Without another word, I turned and rushed toward the door, desperate to escape. But as I reached the entrance of the restaurant, something caught my eye.

My heart dropped into my stomach.

There, across the room, was Max. And he wasn't alone. He was sitting at a table, leaning close to a beautiful woman I didn't recognize, his hand on hers, smiling in a way he never did with me. Before I could look away, he leaned in and kissed her-passionately, deeply, right there in front of everyone.

I felt like I had been punched in the chest. He never kissed me like that. Not in public. Not with that kind of love.

I wanted to believe it wasn't Max. Maybe it was someone else, but the more I looked, the more I couldn't deny it. It was him. I took a step forward, the urge to confront him surging through me, my heart pounding painfully in my chest.

And just when I thought I couldn't take any more, Max pulled out an engagement ring. The woman looked so radiant, her smile bright and wide.

He dropped to one knee, in a gesture so romantic it made my stomach filled with both fury and heartbreak. "I can't imagine spending the rest of my life without you. You're the only woman for me. Will you marry me?" he asked, his words loud enough for the entire restaurant to hear. My eyes blurred with tears as my heart clenched in pain.

Her smile was radiant as she said, "Yes, yes, I will marry you." He slipped the ring onto her finger, rising to embrace her, kissing her passionately. The kind of kiss that made bile rise in my throat.

And just like that, Max had moved on. So quickly, so easily.

The entire restaurant erupted in applause and cheers for them.

"And my mother wanted me to give you something..." he said, reaching into his bag and pulling out a piece of jewelry-a necklace. No way. Wasn't this the same necklace he had accused me of stealing? My heart clenched in disbelief.

He fastened the necklace around the woman's neck as she smiled, squeezing him in happiness. But they had said I stole that necklace.

He sent me to jail for it, and now he was putting it on her? That meant the necklace was never stolen. Was I really framed? Did they do all of this just to get rid of me?

I didn't want to believe it. I ran as fast as I could, desperate to get away, trying to control the ache in my chest. The pain was so intense, I thought it might tear me apart. It couldn't be real-none of it could be real.

Richard's voice called after me, but I didn't stop. I couldn't stop. Because in that moment, everything I thought I knew crumbled away, and I was left standing there, broken and lost.

I started running down the street, the heavy rain drenching me, not waiting for my driver to take me home. I needed to feel it-the pain.

The cold rain hit my skin, each drop a reminder of the pain I was feeling in my chest. My breath came in gasps, the pain inside me increasing with every step. It wasn't just heartache; it was as if something had cracked inside me, shattering all at once.

I couldn't contain it anymore. I let out a scream, raw and unrestrained, into the emptiness of the night. The sound echoed, mingling with the thunder, but it couldn't drown the agony I felt. I was broken, and nothing could fix it.

As soon as I walked through the door, my mom's face lit up with excitement, clearly expecting me to share all the details of my date. But her enthusiasm quickly faded when she was met with my cold, lifeless expression.

"Oh my, Tammie, what happened?" she asked, her voice filled with concern.

I didn't answer. I couldn't. Instead, I walked past her, heading straight to my room, shutting the door, and locking myself in.

Collapsing onto the bed, I let out another broken sob, the sound muffled against the pillow. But after a moment, the tears slowed, and I sniffled, sitting up almost instinctively. That's when my eyes caught my reflection in the dressing mirror. I froze, staring at the shattered version of myself staring back.

I looked plain. My hair was styled in a bun and wet. I was dressed in a casual blue dress with flats. There was nothing flattering about me. I felt worthless at that very moment. I couldn't help but blame myself. Maybe if I had just been better, maybe if I had tried harder. Maybe things wouldn't have ended like this.

But Max? Max really was a bad person. A horrible person to say the least. I had thought trying harder would finally make him notice me but how wrong had I been for so long. At that very moment I was tired of feeling sorry for myself, tired of hanging on to a marriage that was clearly over. A love that was clearly one sided. I was tired of being manipulated. I needed to be someone else. Although I don't remember who I was in the past but I knew for sure I wasn't this pathetic and worthless

So I made a decision.

I was going to change myself for the better. I'd make them all regret the things they did to me.