Aselia’s POV

From the corner of my eye, I saw Frila descend the stairs. "Frila!!!" I called her. She came over to me.

"Open the door, I want to go back to my room." The colour on her face drained at my request, and I looked at her with questions in my eyes.

"It’s rude to leave the party when guests are still here, don’t you think Aselia." I heard Xiran call out to me, his hand in the air that held the keys. There was a smile on his face that didn’t meet his eyes. His hair that fell in his left eye gave him a menacing look. My heart somersaulted at his action, I wanted to punch something so hard right now. My fists automatically clenched.

He had taken the keys from Frila, so I won’t be able to go back. How much torture had he prepared for me today? Maybe he thinks his actions don’t affect me, he thought me to be the same Aselia he met months ago. Who wasn’t affected when he made out with Treia in front of her?

He had guests over and I didn’t want to create a scene or embarrass him, besides it was his birthday. So I stayed quiet and chose not to say anything to him. I knew all eyes were on me so I put up a smile on my face and nodded, a fake smile.

He finally looked away from me and focused on the girl in his arms. Was he holding her as lovingly as he held me? Today all his smiles, all his touches and all his attention were for her.

"Aselia... Come let’s dance with me." Rivan had walked over and he offered me his hand. I had no strength to even move. I was barely standing, I thought I was tough. This man was about to bring me down to my knees.

"I don’t want to dance, but thank you." I finally said peeling my eyes from Xiran and focusing on his friend, who seemed upset at his friend’s behaviour.

"Believe me, he will stop whatever he is trying to pull over you, once you will dance with me." He offered me a warm smile, and this time I took his hand as he lead me to the center where Xiran was dancing. Rivan faced him and my back was towards Xiran, so I couldn’t see how he was reacting.

Rivan adjusted my hand on his shoulder and slightly held my waist as we began to move to the rhythm of the music.

My mind was preoccupied, while Rivan was looking at Xiran with a grim expression. I turned around to see him and he had a deadly stare focused on both of us. I had hardly ever seen him like that. Rivan pulled me closer while still looking at him. The action made Xiran clutch his fists, I could see the veins becoming prominent in his neck as he gritted his teeth.

"Carios," he thundered. "Shut the music, the party is over." He then turned to Frila and threw the keys at her. "Take Aselia to her room, now." Frila caught the keys and quickly advanced over to my side. Rivan smiled victoriously and let me go.

"Good night, Aselia." But his smile said: ’told you so’.

"Good night Rivan," and I left the hall with Frila, leaving behind a very angry Xiran.

I felt an air of comfort inside my room. This was my safe space, he couldn’t bring anyone here to make me jealous.

"Are you ok?" Frila asked, her eyes holding concern for me, seeing that I was quiet and lost.

"I am, thanks Frila. Can you give this to him? I don’t think I can do that anymore." I handed her the blue box from the dressing table which held his gift. I also took a piece of paper and scribbled a small note on it, folding it neatly, I tugged it inside the box.

"Ok, you need anything else?" She asked again, her eyes holding softness for me.

"No, I want to sleep now. Thank you Frila." Her eyes lingered on me for a few more seconds before leaving and locking the door behind her.

My legs gave way as soon as the door shut and I slumped to the floor. I placed my head and arms on the side of the bed, trying to receive comfort where there was none. The influx of emotions was too much for my brain and heart to handle, they were already in constant battle.

I wished the alcohol would take effect and I would stop thinking about everything that transpired today and was about to happen. Why didn’t I want him to sleep with anyone else? The hurt mere thought of it was causing my heart, irreparable damage. The look of indifference he gave me today was forever etched in my mind.

’Stay strong girl, I had warned you millions of times to stay away from him. You didn’t listen and now you are paying the price, he is playing with your heart now just like you did with his,’ my brain was as brutal as always.

It was my fragile heart that had to pay the ultimate price. It didn’t get what it desired and got stamped all over by the person it wanted to go to. The person who promised not to hurt it, who was supposed to keep it safe. It was all an illusion, a facade, a lie.

I swear I was going to hurt him so bad that he would curse the day he thought of loving me. He hadn’t yet seen how cold I could get. I would freeze him to his bones, he dared to hurt me just because I joked with him. And now he thought he could make me jealous. Well, I will show him more than he would be able to digest.

I heard the door to my room open, and instantly knew he was there...