Fated to the Ruthless CEO

Fate seemed to have other plans for them that night. Something unexpected happened while they both reached the pinnacle of their desires.

Amber stiffened when Devlin just blurted out with his slurred voice… “I love you… Raven.”

It kept replaying in her head over and over again. It shattered her into pieces. It shattered the fragile bond that they were both trying to form. Or were they trying to do that? On her part, she was doing that to make their marriage work. But what of Devlin? He just said the one single word that deeply left a mark in her heart.

Devlin’s momentary lapse of control made him regretful. In his intoxicated haze, his lips betrayed him. He realized his huge mistake and immediately wrapped her arms around Amber’s trembling body.

He cupped her face to look at her. He wanted to explain. He never meant to say Raven’s name. He saw the hurt look on her face but she was not crying at all. Her mind must be somewhere else, digesting what he just said. And he just wanted to shoot himself for his carelessness.

“Amber, listen to me please. Baby…I am so sorry. I can explain please.” He tried to force her to look at his eyes but they were only staring blankly at him.

“Baby, please…” He started kissing her cheeks.. her lips. But there was no response from her. It is like she is dead.

Those persisting kisses from Devlin got her back to reality.

“Please…don’t touch me. I want to be alone.” She said each word with emphasis. She has no strength to listen to whatever web of lies he has to say to her.

“Baby… please. It is not what you think it is.” Devlin explained further. But Amber only shook her head.

“I love you so much, baby.” He said out of the blue. But Amber only smirked at him.

‘Love? The only word that she has longed to hear but does not mean anything to her anymore. How could he loosely use such a word when he just called someone else’ name? And in the heat of their lovemaking.

“Just go. I want to be alone.” She wondered where she gets the strength to stay calm despite the turmoil inside her.

Devlin hugged her one last time before he sat down. He kissed her forehead, too.

“I would like us to talk when you are ready.” He said with a regretful voice. Amber didn’t say anything until he closed the door to her bedroom.

That’s when she broke down. She tried to cover her face with the pillow so no sounds could escape. The weight of his careless words just broke her. She felt hurt and betrayed. Suddenly, she lost confidence in herself as a woman.

‘Why? What did I do for you to hurt me so badly?’ She continued crying until exhaustion consumed her.

She woke up the next morning with a heavy heart. Her head hurts so bad. She did not sleep well. She just wanted to sleep but she needed to get up. She needed to do what she should have done a long time ago.

She went to the bathroom. She saw herself in the mirror. She is a big mess. Her eyes are too swollen that not even makeup could hide her puffy eyes. She took a hot bath. She took her time thinking about what to do next.

By now, Devlin must be awake. She doesn’t want to face him at all but she could not avoid him for now since they live in the same house. She needs to quickly devise her plan to stay away from him. After what happened last night, she will never trust him again. What she feels for him right now is hatred. And she has to focus on that emotion so she will not break down in front of him.

She finished her bath after an hour. She felt much better. Her eyes were also less puffy. She tried to put on concealer and eyeliner to hide their puffiness. She puts on her casual shorts and a t-shirt.

When she got out of the bathroom, Devlin was waiting for her on her bed. He was quiet but looking intently at her face. She did not say anything to him. Her hands were shaking while holding her hairbrush. She took a deep breath so she could calm down.

“Good morning, baby.” She was lost in her own thoughts that she did not realize that Devlin was behind, hugging her tightly. She immediately recoiled from his touch.

But Devlin only hugged her more tightly. “Baby, can we please talk now?” She did not say anything but only gave her stoic face at him. He went down on his knees so they could be at eye level. Amber is still brushing her hair absent-mindedly while facing the mirror. Devlin was by her side.

“Baby, I am so sorry that I said what I said last night. I never meant it that way. Yes, I was tipsy when I got home. I drank with some of the guests at the party. And the last person I spoke to was Raven.” He paused trying to see her reaction, but nothing. So, he continued hoping that she would believe him.

“We had a friendly talk. And we had that unspoken words between us that we are happy for each other. I am happy for her that she is going to marry my brother despite my differences with him.” Still, no reaction from her. She was just staring at the mirror, not really looking at herself.

“Baby, it is you that I love. And I deeply regret why I said her name. But the alcohol may have just taken its effect on me.” He saw her smirking but still she remained quiet.

“Baby, please speak up. I want to hear your thoughts and feelings. You can lash out at me. Scream at me. I can take your anger but not your silence. You are scaring me, baby.” He said with his pleading voice.

“I am tired. I wanted to go back to sleep.” She simply said. She stood up and went to lay down on her bed. She gave her back from Devlin, then covered herself with the blanket.

“Aren’t you going to have some breakfast? I cooked for you.” He said after a while. He wanted to lay down with her and hug her. To give her comfort. But how? When he is the source of her pain and anger. No matter how much she tried to hide her emotions, he could see the pain in her eyes.

“I am not really hungry. I am just tired.” Again, her nonchalant reply made him sad. But what can he do? It was his mistake in the first place. He was so stupid for mentioning his ex-girlfriend’s name while they shared their most intimate moment together.

After his talk with Raven, it made him feel relieved. It freed his mind and heart that he had finally moved on from Raven. Now, he could readily tell Amber that he truly loves her. But he screwed it up.

He left her room quietly when he knew that she was not yet ready to face him. He will give her time. But he will woo her again. He knew that she had special feelings for him. And if he is not mistaken, he saw that love from her eyes for a long time now. But earlier, she was dead to the world.

After Devlin left, Amber quietly cried on her bed. When he was talking to her, she lost all her tender feelings for him. It was replaced with nothing. An empty feeling. Yes, she is angry and sad but the emptiness in her prevailed. She could not even understand what he was telling her earlier. She did not pay attention to him nor even her surroundings.

She could not wait to get out of this penthouse. Out of his life. She still has some money with her in the bank. She wanted to start fresh somewhere. She will figure out what she will do once she gets out of here.

She made her plans. And she knows for sure that she meant nothing to him. She is just a pawn in his game that he can decide whenever he wants to discard her. She would not let that ever happen again. He may have broken her now but she promised to herself that he will never break her again…