Chapter 7

Looking up at the blue sky, I felt a weight lift off my shoulders. The tension seemed to dissolve, and with each step, I felt lighter. As I approached the company building, something caught my eye. My heart tightened when I saw Skye. She was on the phone, whispering heatedly. The moment she saw me, her expression froze, icy and full of venom. She hung up, her eyes glaring at me like she wanted to rip me apart.

"Nadia," she spat, her voice sharp with contempt. "You really have no shame."

"All these years, you've been throwing yourself at Lucas, chasing him for seven years. Do you ever stop and think about what you're doing? And now you still won't give up. You even got him to fly overseas to find you!" she sneered, dripping with sarcasm.

I took a deep breath, meeting her cold stare. Today, I wasn't the same woman she used to push around.

"Skye," I said, my voice calm but with a bite, "you really love Lucas, don't you?"

I smiled lightly, the words slipping out effortlessly. "Too bad he came to me willingly. If you really love him, marry him. Be a great wife, take care of him. But don't waste your time coming at me. I'm not the one you need to be angry with."

Her face turned a darker shade, her whole body trembling with fury.

"You bitch!" she hissed. "How dare you speak to me like that! Aren't you afraid Lucas will come after you?"

I raised an eyebrow, taking a step forward. "If you're gonna make a scene, take it up with Lucas. I don't owe you an explanation. He dumped you. You should be waking up to that reality."

Before she could lash out again, I grabbed her wrist and shoved her away. She stumbled a few steps back.

"Say that again?" I challenged.

"What do you think you are?" she yelled, rushing toward me.

I wasn't scared. My eyes were cold, and I barely flinched when she came at me. Then, without a second thought, I slapped her across the face.

"I dumped Lucas," I said, voice steady. "If he insists on being with me, blame him, not me. And don't you dare criticize me. You're nothing but a scheming fraud. Cut the act."

Her face twisted in shock, her lips quivering with rage. For a second, it looked like she might lose control, but just as she stepped forward, ready to attack again, a familiar figure appeared behind her.

It was Lucas.

With one shove, he knocked her away, and she crashed to the ground. His eyes were filled with anger, a stark contrast to the usual indifference he reserved for her. Skye looked up at him, completely stunned.

"Stop making a scene!" he snapped, his voice frigid. Then, he turned to me, his expression softening. "Nadia, are you okay?"

I was frozen for a second, my heart hammering. I scoffed.

"Are you seriously asking me that?" I sneered. "Who do you think you are to ask about me? You've made your choices, Lucas. I'm not your concern anymore."

He hesitated, guilt flashing across his face. But before he could say anything, he spun on Skye, fury in his eyes.

"Skye, this is your last warning. Stay away from Nadia. She's the only one I care about. Stop being delusional."

Skye's eyes were wide, her mouth trembling. "Lucas... how could you do this to me? I came back for you! I gave up everything for you! And now... now you're doing this for her?"

Lucas didn't flinch. "We're done, Skye. I made a mistake choosing you. But now I know what I want. Leave me alone."

I stood there, numb, feeling nothing but disgust for the both of them. Without another word, I turned on my heel.

"Both of you, just leave. Get out of my life," I said, my voice flat. "I'm done. I want to live my own life. So go, entangle with each other as much as you want, but just stay out of my way."

I left without looking back, leaving them both in the dust. Today, I wasn't the woman who would stand by and take it. I didn't need any of them in my life anymore.

Later that night, the streets were lit by neon lights, glowing softly under the dark sky. It was the kind of night that felt both lively and lonely, and as I walked home, a chill breeze brushed past, waking me from the numbness.

Just as I turned into an alley, I heard a voice call my name.

"Nadia!"

I froze. My heart skipped a beat. I turned around, and there she was, Skye. Her face was twisted with fury, her makeup smeared, and she looked nothing like the woman who'd always tried to seem perfect.

"You really are persistent," I muttered, narrowing my eyes.

She was trembling, rage radiating off her, her eyes wild. "It's all your fault! I lost everything because of you! Kneel and apologize!"

I snorted, unfazed. "Apologize to you? Why should I? You came after Lucas. He dumped you, so you're the one who should wake up. You disgust me."

Her face twisted even further, and then, with a crazed scream, she lunged at me, pulling out a knife. The blade gleamed under the dim streetlights.

My heart stopped.

I stepped back instinctively, but she came at me, determined. As she raised the knife, ready to strike, I closed my eyes, bracing for impact.

And then, in an instant, I was yanked out of the way.

It was Lucas.

The blade sank into his shoulder with a sickening thud. Blood poured from the wound, staining his shirt. His face went deathly pale, but he still held onto me, protecting me.

"Lucas!" I gasped, my voice breaking.

Skye looked on in disbelief. "Are you happy now? Is this what you wanted?"

Lucas winced in pain but managed to glare at her. "No, I'm not happy. But I'm done with you. Leave us alone."

He looked at me then, concern flashing in his eyes. "Nadia, are you okay?"

But before I could respond, he collapsed.

My breath caught in my throat. "Lucas!" I screamed, panic flooding me. "Wake up! Please! Don't do this!"

Skye was frozen, tears streaming down her face as she rushed to him. I called for help, urgently dialing emergency services.

The paramedics arrived quickly, and when they tried to get Skye in the ambulance with Lucas, she was pushed away. She wandered aimlessly, her mind shattered, as I took a deep breath and walked away.

I wasn't cold. I just couldn't do it anymore. My heart had been shattered long ago. And I wasn't going to keep clinging to the past.