Biggest Mistake

Ethan's POV

My chest tightens, and a heavyweight settles in my stomach. I should look away. But I can't. Every detail pulls me in—her eyes, her smile, the way she moves. Does she even remember the pain she left behind?

I stand frozen, watching Meliza's face. Seeing her again is a gut punch, a jolt to the heart. Every suppressed emotion floods back—anger, sadness, curiosity. I wanted to erase her. Instead, our memories replay like a cruel film I can't turn off.

Iza was the only girl who ever made my heart race—the one who made me feel alive. The one who made loving her impossible. She shattered me in a way no one else ever had. I had always been the one to leave—the one to break hearts. Then I met Meliza—the girl with the angelic face and the ruthless ability to destroy me. I never understood love until her.

Looking back, I wasn't proud of who I was—the reckless son of Isagani Almendraz—privileged, careless, and uninterested in responsibility. I had wealth, status, and distractions.

But I wasn't a good son. And eventually, my father had enough. His patience snapped. And for the first time, he punished me in a way I never saw coming. Ruby's excited scream pulled me back to the present.

And then Iza smiled.

For one stupid second, I wished that smile was for me.

I clenched my jaw. No. That smile used to be mine, but after what she did, all I wanted was to see her suffer. To watch regret fill her eyes when she realized the heart she broke belonged to the son of Isagani Almendraz.

She'd regret everything once she discovered I was now a billionaire, the CEO of my father's empire.

Then, as if proving nothing had changed, Iza ran toward Ruby—only to trip and fall hard.

I smirked; she was still the same clumsy girl.

But when she didn't get up, my amusement faded. Pain flickered across her face, her ankle clearly injured. Ruby struggled to help her, but she couldn't stand. I had no choice.

I didn't want to step in—I tried to pretend she didn't affect me anymore. But I came with Ruby. And Ruby needed me. So, I walked toward them.

The moment our eyes met, fire flashed in hers. Her anger was evident. But then she blushed. And I hated how much I noticed. Was it because of me? Or is it just pure rage?

For once, I wished that time had been unkind to her and that she had lost the beauty that once captivated me.

But no.

She was even more stunning than before.

Her porcelain skin looked impossibly smooth, and her full lips—naturally red and perfect—still looked too kissable. Her long, wavy brown hair cascaded down her shoulders like something straight out of a shampoo commercial.

And her body?

Damn. Even in just a simple pair of jeans, she looked breathtaking. She had always been beautiful. But now? Now, she was perfect. And that pissed me off more than anything.

I forced myself to snap out of it. What the hell am I thinking?

No matter how beautiful she looked, I wasn't here to admire her—I was here for revenge. I came to San Fernando to teach her a lesson, not to get caught up in old feelings.

Iza was nothing but an ex.

An enemy.

There was no room for pity, no lingering affection. I was over her. The only thing left was hatred.

She tried to stop me from helping her, but I didn't want to cause a scene. Without hesitation, I pulled her up from the ground and lifted her into my arms.

She thrashed, struggling to break free, but I held firm. She was strong-willed, but I was stronger.

Eventually, she stopped fighting, her protests fading into silence. That's when I realized my mistake. The warmth of her body against mine brought a shiver in my frame.

Her intoxicating scent wrapped around me, stirring something familiar—something I had been trying to forget.

I clenched my jaw, forcing myself to focus on my anger. I ignored how her eyes stayed locked on my face, ignoring the tension crackling between us. I walked faster, eager to get rid of her. I never wanted to feel her this close again.

The moment I set her down in the passenger seat and buckled her seatbelt, time seemed to freeze. I couldn't help but stare at her angelic face, the beauty that had always left me in awe.

How could someone who looked so innocent take pleasure in breaking hearts?

Her glare snapped me back to reality.

I slammed the door shut and hurried to the driver's seat. Ruby had already handed me the keys, claiming she had a headache and wasn't feeling well.

I wasn't fooled. She did this on purpose.

Ruby was still rooted in Iza and me and hated my current girlfriend. But no matter what she thought, I wasn't making the same mistake again. Even if Iza begged on her knees, I knew her true colors, and she wouldn't change.

I caught Ruby watching me in the rearview mirror, her expression unreadable. She knew I wasn't buying her excuse, and we would have a conversation about it later.

I kept focusing on the road, refusing to look at Meliza even once as I drove away from the airport. The silence between us was deafening. I should have never agreed to come with Ruby. I should have never let myself get this close to her again.

I carried Meliza up the stairs and took her to her room, but she still didn't even say thank you.

Not for the effort. Not for carrying her from the car, up the staircase, and gently setting her down on the bed.

Ungrateful as ever. Annoyed, I turned on my heels and slammed the door behind me, stalking downstairs to the kitchen for a much-needed coffee.

"Why do you look so pissed?" Vince asked when I crossed paths with him. Before I could answer, he smirked. "Ah. So, you've seen her." I ignored him and went straight for the counter.

"Come on, Ethan. I know that look. You went with Ruby to pick up Meliza, didn't you?" He followed me into the kitchen, clearly enjoying himself.

"I don't want to talk about it," I muttered, pouring coffee into my mug.

Vince leaned against the counter, crossing his arms. "You know what this means, right? You're still affected by her. Which means one thing—you're not over her."

I shot him a glare. "You're wrong. I don't even want to be near her."

"Oh, really?" He chuckled. "You can't fool me, bro. You had no interest in coming to my wedding, no matter how much I begged. But the moment I mentioned Meliza was coming, you suddenly changed your mind and got here at the speed of a bullet."

I clenched my jaw, momentarily speechless.

Vince shrugged. "Look, I don't care why you're here. I'm just glad you came. And honestly? I should thank Iza—she's the reason you finally showed up."

I scoffed. "I came because you're my best friend. You sent the invitation, and I realized I should be here for you on your special day."

He raised a brow.

"I'm not here because of Meliza," I added firmly. "I don't give a damn about her."

Vince sighed, his expression turning serious. "Look, I know you're here for revenge, but this is my wedding, Ethan. I want it to be a celebration, not a battlefield. Be civil. That's all I ask."

I smirked, taking a slow sip of my coffee. "I'm a professional, Vince. Just make sure your friend does the same. Maybe warn her not to flirt with your guests—I'm sure she's already looking for her next victim."

Vince's face fell, and for the first time, he didn't have a comeback.

"I can't believe you just said that, Ethan," Vince muttered, disappointment clear in his voice.

"Why? Am I wrong?" I scoffed. "Iza never settled for just anyone. She always wanted a wealthy boyfriend, and I wouldn't be surprised if she's still collecting them."

Vince exhaled sharply. "Here we go again. You just got here, and we're already arguing. I'm celebrating my wedding, Ethan—I don't want to fight with you."

"I don't want to fight either," I said coolly. "I'm here to celebrate with you. You keep bringing up Iza—drop it, and everything will be fine."

Vince shook his head. "We can't just ignore it. She's here, Ethan. You have to deal with that."

I set my mug down on the counter, my patience wearing thin.

"I have nothing to deal with," I said firmly. "Iza and I are done. I have Sylvia now." Vince's expression darkened. I knew—just like Ruby—he didn't approve of Sylvia.

"Whatever. See you at dinner," he said before walking away.

I was still in the kitchen when Ruby walked in, her presence just as unwelcome. I already knew where her loyalty lay—with Iza.

"Ethan, thanks again for letting us use the farmhouse for the wedding reception. I didn't get a chance to thank you earlier," she said with a smile.

"You're always welcome," I replied, keeping my tone neutral.

Just like Vince, she wanted me to acknowledge that Meliza was back. But I wasn't going to give her the satisfaction of a reaction. Thankfully, she didn't push the topic, turning her attention to preparing snacks for our friends.

"You should have one of the maids do that, Rubs," I said, watching her.

She shook her head. "No, I like doing this. I've always loved being in the kitchen." Silence settled between us as she focused on baking cookies.

I took that as my cue to leave.

Back in my room, I found myself looking forward to dinner.

I normally hated being introduced as Ethan Almendraz. I had spent years using my mother's family name, avoiding the weight of my father's influence.

I didn't want people getting close to me just because of my last name.

But that summer, when I met Meliza—I had wanted her to know. I had tried to tell her who I really was.

Tonight, I would.

I pulled out the best suit from my suitcase. I wanted her to see who I had become. I wanted her to realize she had made the biggest mistake of her life when she left me.