Chapter 40 - Sylvia’s POV

The moment the modelesque woman stepped into the room, she had already caught my attention. From her angelic face to her alluring body, everything about her screamed for attention. I could say she’s probably the prettiest woman my eyes have laid on.

My forehead creased when I noticed her sauntered towards Dean. And with the way her eyes looked at him, I knew they knew each other.

I do not know her but something about her told me she is trouble.

I captured all her movements in my mind. I didn’t know why I did it, but a part of me forced me to zone in on her.

Every throw of her hips as she took a step closer to Dean was like knives thrown in my heart.

When her arms wrapped around Dean, my chest constricted, and I found it difficult to breathe.

I could not believe my eyes. A part of me wished this was all a prank. That she would laugh and say, ‘got you.’ But she didn’t.

I wanted to drop dead on the spot. But I did not. I stood there and witnessed how she kissed Dean, and how he received her kiss. He did not flinch nor push her away.

I closed my eyes. Fuck, here I go again.

It was not even 24 hours yet but here I am, getting another slap in the face. I made another mistake.

Fuck. How could I be so stupid to fall in love with Dean? Shit!

I thought their kiss killed me already, but I was wrong. Nothing could be more painful than what happened next.

“Dean and I are expecting. I’m pregnant. Six weeks. Dean, you’re going to be a dad, honey.”

Every word she spoke was like a bomb detonating inside me. I could not believe my ears. How could this happen to me? Am I cursed or something? How do I end up hurting myself whenever I fall in love?

Shit, this pain is even worse than Jared’s. At least Jared has always been honest with me. Brutally honest.

But Dean fucking played me. He made me believe he loved me. And I believed him. Why am I so stupid?

He and that woman are expecting their child. Oh gosh, so what about Jax? My poor Jax loved his dad so much. What will happen to him now?

Fuck, why did he have to enter Jax life? My son’s happy without him. But now, he’s formed an attachment to Dean. Why did he have to drag my son into his mess?

My heart bled for my son. From the moment I conceived him, I’ve come to terms with the fact that I’m on my own.

I showered Jax with all the love I could give. I didn’t want him to feel he’s incomplete because he does not have a father.

We were doing fine. Jax never asked me about his father.

Fuck, why did Dean suddenly show up in Baguio and shake up my son’s quiet life?

When I saw Joey’s name on my smartphone, I took it as my cue to exit. As soon as I stepped out of that room, I let my tears flow from my eyes. My vision blurred from my tears. My feet brought me to the infinity pool area.

After a while, I felt Joey hug me. We didn’t need to speak. Like the time Jared sent me that godforsaken text message, I poured out all my pains on her shoulders. She held me and did not utter a word.

“Joey, how could he do that to me? What did I do to him to deserve this?”

“I don’t know, Via.”

“Do you know that girl?”

“No. This is the first time I saw her but looks like Vince and the guys knows her.”

“Joey, what will I do?”

“I don’t know, Via. But what do you want to happen?”

“I don’t want to see him; Joey and I don’t want him around Jax either.” I cried some more at the thought of my son. “Joey, my son’s so pitiful. He just learned he had a dad, and he loved Dean. And now this. I can’t bear seeing him heartbroken, Joey.”

“Hush, Via. We’ll both work to make that happen.”

I sobbed on her shoulders, and she rubbed my back. “What is wrong with me, Joey? Why do I always end up heartbroken whenever I love?”

“There’s nothing wrong with you, Via.”

“Then why? Why do they do this to me, Joey?”

“I don’t, Via.”

“Joey, I’m so tired of this shit.”

“Sylvia…” Joey and I looked in the voice’s direction.

Daisy stood behind us. “I’m sorry. I didn’t know what that woman showed up. She’s not invited.” Daisy walked towards me and embraced me.

“Daisy, who was that?” asked Joey.

“That’s Thalia. I know she’s Dean’s ex. They broke up years ago and I don’t know why she’s here and she said that she said.”

So she’s Dean’s ex-girlfriend. But with the way Dean reacted, it’s obvious they were not exes. They still have something going on.

“Hey, cheer up, Via. Why don’t we have fun tonight?” Daisy sat beside me and wiped my tears with her fingers. “Forget about Dean. Please, my favorite writer, enjoy this night with me?”

“Daisy is right, Via. This place is so good, let’s enjoy it. Forget about Dean and let’s celebrate with Daisy.”

Both girls pulled me to the poolside bar. Daisy’s friends were there partying their hearts out. They pulled us onto the dance floor as soon as they saw us.

It must be the music or the energy these teenagers have because I felt no inhibitions. I danced with them. The last time I felt this was in Malta, with Dean.

I danced and drunk with these teens like they’re my peers

They made me forget the pain Dean gave me. The alcohol numbed me, and the loud music made me forget. Now I understand why people go to this kind of place when they have problems. It gives you a moment of reprieve from everything that ails you. Like now, I feel numb. So numb, my tears stopped falling.

I don’t know how long we’ve been drinking and dancing but the teens I was with were now in the pool. They continued drinking and dancing there, their clothes stuck to their bodies

Phil has long carried his drunk sister. She’s so wasted she passed out in a lounge chair. I couldn’t see Joey anywhere. Vince must have fetched her too.

I lost count of how many cocktails I had. It must have been a lot because I felt slightly dizzy.

I stood up from the bar stool I was sitting on to go to the washroom. I took a step forward but then everything around me was spinning, then it became dark.