Prologue

As much as I tried to hold it in, the pain of betrayal came out like an uproar in the form of a silent scream. Tears began to prick at my eyes and a painful realisation hit me like a stab in the back. It was all a game. All of it.

"Nicole..." was the last thing I heard him say before I ran away from the dreadful scene.

My feet, aching from running in stiletto heels for what felt like hours, came to a stop in front of a large french door window, covering most of the wall. Outside of the window I could see a great garden; The topiary trees lined the perfect lawn in their wooden boxes, numerous, colourful flowers among them. In the centre was a large fountain in the form of three rose-marble mermaids. A place of serenity and peace, a contrast to how I really felt.

Le Grand Chateau had always been my favourite venue; it was a place I'd visited a lot with my father. He too loved the place, he was a co-founder of it after all, an attachment was expected.

The reminder of the events that occurred only a few moments ago brought me back to reality and made me give up on any chance I had of holding my tears in for much longer. As soon as I opened the door and inhaled, the rich smell of fresh roses engulfed me and nudged me further towards the edge of the hill in the wake of which my demise awaited.

After a few minutes, the hideous smell wore off and tears streamed down my cheeks. Burying my face in my hands, I let myself feel grief. You are allowed to be weak sometimes, I chanted in my head as more and more tears rolled down. How could the person I trusted the most betray me in such an excruciating way?

My heart felt shattered in disarray of pieces that I knew could never be put back together. I tried my best to stop the tears from falling but I was miserably failing. I was vulnerable against them.

After a few moments, I decided to go straight to mamá; to tell her about the betrayal and the great loss our company could be facing because of my foolish and selfish mistake of trusting someone- when I knew that I couldn't afford to trust anyone.

"Don't trust everything you see. Even salt looks like sugar." My father's wise words echoed in my head, reminding me of what a failure I was to my family.

Just as I opened the glass door, a familiar silhouette halted at the sight of me. I froze in my tracks as he paced towards me; his hazel eyes, in which I'd once found my safety and hope were now peculiarly unfamiliar- as if they were from a distant dream I could no longer place- or maybe I just, simply, didn't want to.

As he kept advancing forward, his expression seemed to turn more and more concerned; I guess he thought his game wasn't over yet. You will not let him play you anymore.

"Nicky! Where were you? I looked for you every-" he said, before I cut him off.

"Do not call me that, and what's it to you? You got what you wanted, can't you just leave me alone?" I snapped as tears formed in my eyes once more.

"I can't." he whispered as he wrapped his fingers around my wrists. As much as I struggled in his grip, he was much stronger, resulting in me eventually giving up; looking away, I hid my tears. Do not show him your weakness.

He gently lifted my chin, his hazel eyes locking with mine. His eyes widened and his grip tightened, as if he knew I would walk away from him, if given the chance.

"Why would you do this to me? Knowing that everything I felt about you was real. How could you?" I asked, as each drop fell from my eyes. He will pay for each and every one of my tears, I promise.

He looked away, avoiding my gaze. I abruptly grabbed the collar of his shirt, forcing him to look at me. His sharp gaze met mine and all I could see was a void lacking feeling. Only my gaunt expression stared back.

Or maybe he never had feelings for you. Maybe this was all a game to him.

"Was this all a game to you?" I asked, my voice barely audible. My eyes pleaded for an answer. Nothing. Absolutely nothing.

"I hate you." I felt no remorse for the words that left my mouth.

His lips parted as his eyes bore into mine with indescribable pain. As much as I wanted to believe him, the voice in my head kept telling me that trusting him again would be a mistake, and my life had no room for such mistakes.

Effortlessly, I broke his now weak grip on me and turned on my heel.

"I don't deserve you, I really don't." He whispered.

Don't look back. Keep walking. Don't look back... I repeatedly told myself, leaving him in the mercy of his own menacing thoughts.