The Betrayal

Maria insisted they stop at a restaurant.

"Come on, let's treat ourselves," she said, forcing a smile. "You need a break before looking for another job."

Jane hesitated but eventually agreed. She didn't have the energy to argue.

They chose a high-end restaurant, the kind Nick used to take her to. The kind that now felt distant—like another lifetime.

They settled into their seats, ordered their food, and Maria tried to lift Jane's spirits. She cracked jokes, spoke about movies, and even brought up their hiking memories.

But nothing worked.

Jane stared blankly at the table, stirring her drink absentmindedly.

Then, just as Maria was mid-sentence, Jane's body froze.

Her heart stopped.

She saw him.

Nick.

He walked in, smiling—laughing—his hand intertwined with another woman's.

The world blurred around Jane. Her vision tunneled.

For a moment, she thought she was imagining things.

She smiled weakly at Maria. "I feel like I'm seeing Nick everywhere. That's crazy, right?"

Maria tensed.

She didn't respond.

Jane's breath hitched.

Something was wrong.

Slowly, she turned to take another look.

It was him.

It was Nick.

He was sitting in the far corner, leaning in close to the woman across from him. His gaze—so full of affection—was fixed on her.

Not Jane.

Jane shot to her feet.

Maria grabbed her wrist. "Jane, I don't think this is a good idea."

Jane's heart pounded. "What are you talking about? It's Nick! He must be worried sick! Maybe he just got back today. I need to talk to him!"

Maria held her back. "Does he look like he's waiting for you?"

Jane's breath shuddered as she looked again.

His world revolved around the woman in front of him.

Jane felt her stomach drop.

But she had to talk to him.

She wrenched free from Maria's grip and rushed forward.

"Nick."

He looked up.

For a split second, Jane expected relief, joy—anything.

But his expression didn't change.

No warmth. No recognition.

Just… indifference.

"Nick," she said again, her voice breaking.

He blinked, staring at her like she was a stranger.

"Nick, it's me," she pleaded.

The woman beside him frowned and turned to Jane.

"Do you know her?" she asked.

Nick hesitated.

Then, in a voice colder than ice, he said, "Just an old acquaintance."

Jane felt like the ground had been ripped from under her.

Acquaintance?

"Who is she, Nick?" Jane's voice cracked.

The woman stood up, her posture confident. "I'm his fiancée. Miss, why are you bothering him?"

Fiancée?

The word felt like a blade to Jane's chest.

"Nick… what's happening?"

The woman crossed her arms. "Miss, whoever you are, he's not interested in speaking to you. You should leave."

Jane's body trembled.

Then, something snapped.

"Shut the hell up," she roared, anger overtaking her pain.

"I'm talking to him. So just shut up!"

Nick sighed, visibly annoyed. He stood, placing a comforting hand on the woman's shoulder.

"I'll handle this, love. Wait here," he said gently.

She nodded, sitting back down.

Then, without another word, Nick grabbed Jane's arm and dragged her outside.

The moment they were alone, he let go.

His eyes, once filled with love, now held nothing but frustration.

"What do you want?" His voice was sharp.

Jane could barely breathe. "Nick…"

"Listen," he cut her off. "It's over between us. I don't want to see you again."

The words slammed into her like a wrecking ball.

Her entire body turned cold.

"What?" she whispered, barely able to speak.

Nick looked away. "Move on, Jane."

Jane's hands shook. "Nick, why are you doing this?"

Her voice broke.

"It's me, Jane."

But Nick didn't flinch.

He didn't soften.

He didn't care.

And for the first time, Jane realized—

She had lost him.

Nick's words stung like a thousand needles piercing her skin. Jane felt the walls close in on her, the weight of his indifference suffocating her.

"I know who you are. I said it's over between us. Don't show up in front of me again," Nick's voice was cold, like the finality of an ice-cold wall crashing down between them.

Jane's heart shattered, but she couldn't just stand there. Not like this. Not with him walking away without an explanation.

She grabbed his shoulder, stopping him in his tracks. "I want you to explain to me clearly," she pleaded, her voice trembling.

Nick sighed, rubbing his face in frustration. "Do you really want to hear it from me?" His voice was strained, like he was already exhausted by this conversation, by her.

Jane nodded, desperation clawing at her chest.

Nick's expression hardened. "You ran away a month ago. I looked for you everywhere. When I called your office, they said they didn't know. I tried to reach out, but you were just gone."

Jane's eyes welled up with tears, her throat tightening. "So what? You could have made a complaint to the police, or looked harder for me. You could have done something!"

Nick turned his head, his frustration boiling over. "I couldn't," he whispered, almost to himself, before adding in a voice that barely held control, "I couldn't do anything. It was like you disappeared off the face of the earth."

"Why?" Jane's voice cracked. "Why didn't you do anything?"

Tears welled in her eyes. "Didn't you suspect something had happened to me? Did you know that Paul kidnapped me? That he kept me at his house all this time?"

Nick froze, his eyes flickering with disbelief, then anger. "Oh, so now you're telling me you were kidnapped? Why didn't you just escape? Why didn't you do something to get out?"

"Do you hear yourself?" Jane gasped, her breath shallow with the weight of his accusations. "I was abducted, Nick! There was no way to escape. I couldn't just run away."

"Then how are you here now?" Nick sneered, his eyes narrowing.

"He let me go," Jane said softly, each word breaking her into pieces.

Nick scoffed, rolling his eyes. "He let you go?" His voice was laced with sarcasm, disbelief thick in the air. "Yeah, sure. Whatever."

He turned to walk away, the finality of his dismissal burning Jane like a flame.

"Nick," Jane choked out, stumbling in her own agony. "Why are you doing this to me? Why won't you believe me? How can you just let me go like this?" She grabbed his arm, desperation thick in her voice.

Nick stopped, fury flashing across his face. "Will you just let go? I can't take this anymore!" He screamed, pulling away roughly from her grasp.

As he pushed her away, Jane lost her footing, tripping backward down the stairs. Her body slammed against the ground with a sickening thud, a pain shooting through her chest.

But Nick didn't move. He didn't try to catch her. He just stood there, his face devoid of any concern.

And then, like a shadow in the distance, Paul appeared. His voice was filled with panic. "Jane!" He yelled, rushing to her side.

He gently helped her to her feet, his hands warm and steady. "Are you okay? What's going on?"

Jane's tear-filled eyes met Paul's. "Paul… Please. Tell him. Please, tell him the truth. He doesn't believe me." Her voice was a fragile whisper. "Please… help me. Please make him see."

Paul looked at Nick, his jaw clenching. "Nick, what the hell is wrong with you? Why are you treating her like this?"

Nick's voice was like ice. "Isn't that what you wanted, Paul? You wanted her, now you can have her. I don't care anymore."

Jane's chest tightened, and she shook her head frantically. "No, please! Don't say that! Don't say that, Nick. I can't lose my mind over this."

Nick turned away, his voice barely a whisper as he spoke through gritted teeth. "I'm done with this. I don't have time for your drama. Leave."

Paul stepped forward, his anger rising. "Nick, don't do this—"

Before Paul could say another word, Nick's fist collided with his face, sending him stumbling backward.

"Don't stay here for another second," Nick growled, his face twisted in anger. "You stayed with him for a month, and now you come back throwing tantrums? Wasn't he good enough to please you?"

Jane gasped. The words felt like they had been carved into her soul. She couldn't breathe. The pain was unbearable.

Without thinking, she slapped him—hard. Her hand stung as it met his cheek.

"You don't get to talk to me like that, Nick," she said through gritted teeth, her voice trembling with fury and pain.

Maria, who had been watching in silence, rushed to Jane's side. "Jane," she said softly, placing a hand on her shoulder.

"Let's go," Jane whispered, her voice hoarse with unshed tears. She turned and began walking away, her body shaking.

Maria followed quietly, her heart breaking for her friend.

Paul follows her. Jane, Jane. Please don't go. I will talk to him. Please. He begs. 

Paul. I am not in a righ mind to talk. Please let us go. She says and walks away.