Fall Apart
LATTON woke up, her head lying on a bare chest. She slowly lifted her gaze to meet his light brown eyes, only to see a stranger beside her. “Who are you?” she asked in confusion and fright, then grabbed the blanket to cover herself.
The guy beside her just stared at her and didn’t respond.
Shortly she heard a voice from the other side of the room, “Seems like you enjoyed last night too much,” Lucian replied mockingly.
She gasped, “What’s happening?” She inquired in bewilderment.
“We fucked you, and you enjoyed it,” Lucian explains while lighting up a cigarette.
She was dumbfounded. She shook her head vigorously, closed her eyes, and covered her ears. “You’re lying.” She cried out. “You shared me with someone!?"
The man beside her felt pity for her and glanced at Lucian.
Lucian marched towards the bed, grabbed her shirt, and threw it to her, "Get out!" He yelled.
She frowns, "Why? Why are you doing this to me?” She inquired in despair. Her lips were trembling in dismay.
Lucian leaned closer to her, stared at her reddening eyes, then heaved in disdain, "I have already done what you asked, kissed you and even fuck you, but I felt nothing towards you. Leave me alone. Get a life, Latton." He roared menacingly and then pushed her.
The man beside her was stunned and could only look away.
As soon as the words left Lucian’s mouth he wanted to retort them. He could see the pain and disappointment in her eyes.
She pushed him back and shouted, "I know you are not well, but don't you ever push me again." She said slowly, emphasizing every word. She then hastily removed the promised ring he gave to her and threw it at him.
She sniffed. She was about to cry but stopped herself. She slowly walked away, bruises on her ankles and wrists were on display. Her private part throbbing, swollen, stretched to its limits with legs still trembling, she picked up her clothes that were scattered on the floor.
Naked, she proceeds to walk downstairs and wear her clothes there. Her every movement conveys sorrow, defeat, and desperation.
Meanwhile, Lucian stayed in his room. Staring blankly at the ring she left, deeply thinking why she gave it to him.
He was agitated and torn between the emotions he felt. "Why must I do and say that to her? I obviously felt something," he said.
The man then stood up, “Sir, I hope you won’t regret what you did.”
Lucian sneered at him, “Zeke, I didn’t hire you to tell me what’s right or wrong. I’ve already sent the payment to your manager.” He replied.
“Get out!” He added.
Soon Zeke went downstairs after he saw Latton get in the car.
“Shit! What did I get myself into?” He mumbles to himself. He could vividly remember the last-minute text from his manager. He was an aspiring model, but his career hadn't taken off yet, and he badly needed the money. His manager told him that it was an intimate photoshoot with a male and a female model. At first, he wanted to decline as he didn't have any experience with such a photoshoot, but when he heard how much the payment was, he agreed immediately.
“Is the 20 thousand dollars worth it? I hope that lady won’t sue. She looks so violated.” He mumbles to himself.
-
Meanwhile, Latton asks Igor to drive her to a hotel where she submerges herself in a warm bath. She felt filthy and disgusting. She stayed in the bath, vigorously scrubbing her skin till it turned red. She only stopped when she heard Igor coming from the pharmacy with the 'morning after pill'. She got out of the tub, wore a robe, and walked inside the room.
"You don't look good. Just say the words I can send that guy to his parents in a box or in a bag." He said menacingly.
She laughs. "No need to go to that extent. He is not worth it." She mumbles in grief as she drinks the pill.
-
A week had passed and within that week, a lot of things happened. There were no more flowers, cards, or messages from Latton. Meanwhile, Vivian and John start sending their invitations for their engagement party. Aside from Lucian, all the managers and a few clients are invited to the event. To Shirley's dismay, John didn't even think of inviting her, and this made her furious.
She thought that John and Vivian were going to use the event to help Latton to get back with Lucian.
Since she can't stop the engagement party from happening and can't force Lucian not to attend. She hatched a plan to do something to make sure Latton would be forced to hold back from attending the party.
-
MEANWHILE...
For Lucian, he was finally free from the erratic, overbearing Latton. To his astonishment, even with the surrounding tranquility, he felt that something was missing, but he refused to believe it was because of her.
He had just finished a meeting and when he returned to his office, he saw a box of expensive chocolates. He grinned immediately, “Latton,” he mumbled, but his smile turned into a frown when he saw the card was from one of their clients.
He sighs and then calls Jenny to keep the chocolate, which she gladly accepts. Before Jenny got out of his office, “Any calls or messages from Miss Ripley?” He inquired. His heart was pounding in excitement.
Jenny glanced at him, “She didn’t call, Sir. I guess you finally got rid of her.” She replied, giving a faint smile.
His face fell in disappointment. “What do I expect?” He said to himself while smiling bitterly.
–
CONCURRENTLY, Latton was with Xavier shopping in the Imperial Mall. Suddenly, she receives an email from their family lawyer, Magnus Claire. ‘You need to see this.’
She frowns and then opens the attachment. “That son of a bitch!” She yelled. Her voice was so loud that Xavier almost yelled in fright.
“Did I do something wrong?” Xavier asked fearfully. Thinking someone told her about the things he'd done recently.
She glances at him and her gaze softens, “No. You're doing great. It’s about work.” She replied. “Try more clothes, shoes, jewelry. My treat.” She tried hard to divert his attention and it worked. Xavier smiled from ear to ear and started taking all the clothes he could.
Later that day, Lucian was at home when he heard the doorbell. He glanced from the second-floor balcony to see who it was, and to his surprise it was Latton.
He instantly smiled when he saw her, but stupidly shouted, "Why are you here?" in a cold tone.
She lifted her gaze, "I want to speak to you" she yelled.
"Wait in there" he shouted back.
“No need, I don't want to enter your home.” She screamed.
Her lips trembled, and her eyes turned teary, but due to the distance, he couldn't see the look on her face.
"Then don’t. We can speak through the gate." He explains.
She shook her head, "No need. This distance is fine."
She cleared her throat, “I received your restraining order,” she commented.
His gaze narrowed, “Restraining order?” He asked himself.
“Can you postpone it for at least 3 weeks? I want to attend Vivian and John’s engagement party. Vivian is my friend, I want to be there for her.” She added.
Then he smiled forcefully. "Don’t worry, I’m planning to leave California soon, so you won’t see me that much. I just need to finish a few things, then I’ll be gone." She yelled.
"You can do whatever you want. I don't care if you lurk around me or leave permanently!" He screamed. He felt a void in his heart but didn't want to show that he cared.
She giggles mockingly, "You will care when you start to remember me. I hope this is not a goodbye and more of a see you later, but I think that would only be wishful thinking.” She commented.
He stared at her, "Anything else you want to say?" He yelled. His voice was almost cracking.
She shook her head, "No, that's it." She yelled as she tried to get herself together.
Soon, flashes of blurry memories entered his mind.
He felt a lump in his chest pressing his heart hard and there was a part of him that wanted to run to her and apologize.
She entered the car and her tears instantly fell like waterfalls. "The bastard didn't even express regret for what he did to me." She said to herself.
"Where do you want to go?" Igor asks.
"Home." She replied.
The moment Lucian saw Latton's car speed away, he immediately contacted his lawyer, "I spoke to Latton, and she said I filed a restraining order against her. Find out who did it and make sure they pay for it," he exclaimed.
"On it," Alex replied.