Pain In My Heart

Meliza's POV

The alarm blared, dragging a groan out of me as I blindly groped for my phone on the bed. My fingers brushed against it, but it slipped from my grasp and hit the floor with a dull thud. Disoriented, I blinked into the darkness, momentarily forgetting I was at Adriana's farm.

Rolling onto my side, I stretched out my arm, fumbling for the phone. When I finally picked it up and saw the time on the screen, I shot up in a panic—it was almost dinner time. Even if I moved at triple speed and took the fastest bath of my life, there was no way I'd make it on time.

I got up and stepped into the shower, shivering as the freezing water hit my skin. I finished my bath in record time, knowing I was already late. The last thing I wanted was to be the center of attention, but showing up late would guarantee just that—and I hated it. I couldn't disappoint my best friend. If enduring this dinner would make her happy, I had to do it.

I grabbed the first dress I could find in my suitcase, sighing as I realized how few clothes I'd packed—and none of them were remotely presentable. The thought of their elite guests, dressed to perfection, sent a pang of dread through me.

Worst of all, I didn't want to look pathetic in front of Ethan. No, I needed to be the best version of myself tonight, if only to prove I wasn't the same girl he once knew.

"How on earth did he become the son of Isagani Almendraz?" I muttered to myself, shaking my head in disbelief.

I never meant to hurt him. I had loved him so much, but one mistake after another had ruined everything. The memories clung to me, relentless and unforgiving, but I forced myself to snap back to the present.

Taking a deep breath, I reached for my favorite knee-length, off-the-shoulder sky-blue dress. The subtle side slit highlighted my long legs, giving me a quiet confidence. I didn't care what Ethan thought of me, but I refused to embarrass Ruby tonight.

As I made my way to the dining hall, I crossed paths with a woman in a maid's uniform. I offered her a polite smile, but her weak attempt at returning it only added to my nerves. Something about the evening felt heavier than I expected.

"Are you Miss Iza?" she softly asked, shyly looking at me.

"Yes, it's me," I responded as I ceased walking.

"Miss Ruby, Señorito Ethan, and your friends are waiting for you in the backyard for dinner," she said politely. I bit back the urge to raise an eyebrow.

Why was she calling Ethan that? It didn't take long for the answer to hit me; he must have revealed his elevated status to ensure everyone treated him like royalty. Typical. But no matter how the world bowed to him now, I never would. He didn't deserve that kind of admiration from me.

I would never forget what he did to me.

"Okay, thank you," I replied, following her as she led the way to the backyard. I didn't really need a guide since I could navigate this house with my eyes closed. I'd spent many summers here, and the memories clung to every corner, memories I tried hard not to revisit.

The maid seemed new, and I silently thanked the universe for that. The thought of running into the old staff made my stomach twist; I didn't want their whispers following me. I wasn't exactly proud of the reputation I'd left behind back then.

Just thinking about those days made me want to turn around, retreat to my room, and hide from it all. But I couldn't. I didn't want to upset Ruby or add to her stress. For her, I'd face the ghosts of this house, even if they still had a hold on me.

The evening breeze brushed gently against my skin as I made my way along the pathway to the backyard. Ahead, the mansion's Olympic-sized outdoor swimming pool came into view, surrounded by a stunning garden that, no matter how many times I saw it, always managed to take my breath away.

Ornamental light poles lined the pathway, casting a soft glow that transported me back to the times Ethan and I used to linger in this very garden, laughing and whispering sweet nothings. The memory felt like a bittersweet thorn in my chest.

Soft music and bursts of laughter drifted toward me from the pool area. The glowing lights wrapped the space in a dreamy, almost magical ambiance. But as my eyes fell on the group gathered in the pavilion, seated on elegant patio chairs around a long white table, talking and laughing as if nothing in the world could touch them. I felt a wave of nausea. The sight of their carefree joy hit me like a reminder of all the things I had lost.

"Are you okay, Miss?" The maid asked.

"Yes, I am fine; thank you for taking me here," I replied.

"You are welcome; enjoy your dinner, Miss Iza," she responded before turning her heels and walking away from me.

I slowed my steps, careful not to make a sound. My heart pounded harder with every step as I neared the group. The moment Ruby turned her head, her face lit up with a radiant smile, and suddenly, all eyes were on me.

"Iza! I thought you were still sleeping," Ruby said, her voice full of warmth and excitement.

"I asked one of the staff to fetch you. And look at you in that gorgeous dress! You're stunning!" She added and stood up and kissed my cheeks, her enthusiasm making me cringe internally. Did she really have to point out the dress?

Before I could respond, Vince stood up and wrapped me in a tight embrace, his arms briefly pulling me into a world of familiarity. Guilt twisted in my stomach as I remembered the pain I had caused him, but seeing him now, smiling and so obviously happy with Ruby, eased some of the weight on my chest.

"Iza, these are my parents, Dad and Mom; this is Meliza, my fiancee's best friend." Vince introduced me to his parents after he released me from his hold, and I smiled at them, but Vince's mom stood up and warmly took me into her arms, and his father shook my hand.

I quickly turned my head away, catching the faint click of a camera. Someone was snapping a picture, and the thought sent a chill through me. The last thing I needed was for Eli to discover where I was.

Self-conscious, I forced a polite smile as everyone around the table greeted me warmly. But there was one person who clearly didn't share their enthusiasm, no other than Ethan. When our eyes met, his glare was ice-cold, sharp enough to slice through the air between us. If looks could kill, I was certain I wouldn't have made it to my seat.

His expression was etched with disgust, and it took everything in me not to roll my eyes or let my irritation show. I wasn't about to spend the evening fantasizing about pulling every strand of hair off his head. Unfortunately, fate had a cruel sense of humor—the only available seat was directly across from him. Jonathan, ever the gentleman, pulled out the chair for me, and I sat down, bracing myself for the tension that was sure to follow.

"Thank you, Jonathan," I said as I sat down.

"You are welcome, Iza," he responded, blushing as he offered me the vegetable platter, and I smiled at him.

"You remember I love veggies," I said.

"Of course, no one could forget what you like to eat, Iza," he said as he handed me the platter. I took a portion of vegetables, trying to ignore the warmth of his tone, and then he helped me with the rest of the dishes without waiting for me to ask.

I ate in silence, my focus on the plate in front of me while the others chatted and enjoyed their dessert. Keeping my head down, I hoped to avoid any conversation and finish my meal in peace.

"As always, you like being the center of attention, Ms. Lizondra," Ethan drawled, his tone dripping with mockery. His words hit like a slap, and the girls around the table, except for Ruby, burst into laughter. My jaw tightened as I forced myself to stay calm. I wasn't about to give him the satisfaction of a reaction, even if my fists clenched under the table.

"I was tired from my flight," I murmured, my voice barely above a whisper as I kept my head down. I refused to look at him, knowing too well what I'd feel if I met his gaze.

I wanted to tell him the truth, that I hadn't slept since finishing my shift, rushing straight to the airport, but I stopped myself. He was no longer someone I could confide in. We were enemies now, and he didn't deserve to know about my life.

"You're not the only one who had a long flight today," Ethan shot back, his tone laced with cold indifference.

The blood in my veins felt like it was boiling. I slowly raised my head, despite my better judgment, and when our eyes met, the intensity in his gaze hit me like a brick wall. I wanted nothing more than to vanish, to escape the way his stare made me feel vulnerable and exposed.

I refused to give him the satisfaction of winning. Instead of responding with the bitterness of the past, I offered a calm, sweet smile and held his gaze, refusing to blink. It felt like we were in a silent staring contest, and I couldn't help but acknowledge that he still had those same eyes, the ones that had captivated and haunted me for years. When he finally looked away first, I felt a fleeting sense of triumph. But my victory was short-lived when my gaze shifted to the beautiful woman seated next to him.

I hadn't noticed her before, she was the one face I didn't recognize, and I was certain she wasn't Ruby's friend. When Ethan took her hand across the table and whispered something into her ear, a sharp pain pierced my heart. He had come with a date, while I was still alone, dateless and penniless, as always.

The ache in my chest grew as I watched her smile, her gaze full of affection as she looked at him. It seemed like they were on the verge of kissing, and I quickly lowered my eyes to my plate, struggling to hold back the tears. It would be a disaster if I broke down now, in front of everyone.

It suddenly hit me, Ethan had come with a girlfriend, and it felt like a deliberate act of humiliation. A painful truth settled in: he was showing me, in the cruelest way, that we could never be together. It was clear now that he had finally moved on from me.

"Hey, are you okay?" Jonathan asked, and I nodded my head as I looked at him sideways. I smiled at him, and I could tell he was the only single person in this room who cared about how I felt at the moment since Ruby was busy talking with her future in-laws.

Ruby and Vince were talking, and I tried my best to listen to their funny stories, but my mind and heart were having a big fight. My heart was asking me to get up and walk away while my mind told me to stay since I came for Ruby and not Ethan.

My mind won, but whenever someone took a picture, I tried my best to look down or turn my head on the other side. They were drinking wine, and how many times I said no to Jonathan as he offered me a drink, but when I saw Ethan kissing the head of his date, I picked up the glass in front of me and drank the red wine in one gulp.

I asked the server to pour some, and from one shot, I don't remember how many more glasses I drank. Then, I started laughing with them and talking with our friends.

I didn't ask Ruby, not even Vince or Jonathan, who the woman Ethan was flirting with, but obviously, they were a couple since the girl was holding Ethan's arm the entire night after dinner.

She was like a leech, and when Ethan put his arms around her waist, and the woman leaned her head on his chest, I had to stand up and excuse myself. I had had enough. I don't need this kind of scenario. I felt like dying inside. I hated Ethan, but it doesn't mean I had forgotten about him, and I admit I never stopped loving him.

"I hate you, Ethan!!!!" I screamed in my mind as I stood up from my seat with composure, even if my world was spinning.

It felt like I was being stabbed in the chest. I was torn between two contrasting emotions. On one hand, there's anger and a deep desire to move on. On the other, a lingering attachment pulls me, making it hard for me to let go.

Seeing Ethan happy with someone else reopens my old wound, reminding me of what I had lost and what I wish I could forget. It's confusing, and I never thought I would feel this way if I saw him again since I always thought I could confront and curse him for what he did.

I can't bear to see him with another woman. I could feel the pain that enfolded my heart as I walked away from them, trying to fight back my tears.