Plotting My Escape Plan

Meliza's POV

I cried a bucket of tears that night after I slapped Ethan. I didn't mean to slap him in front of our friends, but I had to stop him from talking because I knew I would lose it. I can't tell him I love him so much, and it hurt me that I had to say to him the opposite.

Hurting Ethan with my hurtful words is the only way to make him hate me, and that is my plan so that he will accept my rejection. I don't want to look at his face full of love and admiration for me. I want to see him in hatred because I deserve his anger. I don't know why it has to be like this. I didn't even know why my mom knew about us. No matter how I squeezed my head, I couldn't think of someone who would betray me because only Ruby and my manager knew my mom's contact number.

"Are you sure about your decision?" Ruby asked the following morning, and I felt glad she hadn't left my room since last night, and she knew I was hurting.

"I don't have a choice. I have to do this, or else you know my mother, Ruby. She will do everything, and I don't want Ethan to be dragged on this. I am sure he has some issues about his family, too, and why he was here on this farm. I didn't know much about him even if I give myself to him." I responded.

Ruby knew that I had already given up my virginity to Ethan after my eighteenth birthday.

It was magical, and I always remember that day until I died. I didn't have any regrets. I liked him so much that I couldn't stop doing it with him. We were engaged, and I was on cloud nine. And I wanted to spend more time in bed with him, but I didn't know our relationship should end like this.

"I thought you were going to spend another month here. I didn't expect you would leave me alone here," my best friend said pouting her lips.

"I am sorry, Ruby. I wanted to stay here with you, but my mom and her new boyfriend are so eager to take me away from here, and don't worry, I will tell you everything after we settle. I am just hoping this time, everything that my mother said was true because I don't want her to be disappointed again." I responded.

"I guess Fred is loaded with money because he can afford plane tickets, and they are staying in a luxurious hotel in town," I added.

"You are already an adult; she can't dictate what to do, Iza," Ruby replied.

"I can't tell you why I must do this, Ruby, but trust me. I am doing this for Ethan." I stated.

"If you love him, you will not do this to him. He is hurting, you know, and if you could only see his face after you slap him, you would realize what you have done." Ruby declared.

"I can't take back what I have done. I admit I regretted it, but that is the only thing I can do to stop him from bothering me. I don't want to leave with unfinished business. I already made a choice, and that is my family." I responded, and her face fell.

I said goodbye to Ruby after I hugged her tightly. She sent me to the front porch, and I felt glad that it was still early and the rest of our friends were in their respective rooms sleeping.

I hated my mother for coming so early. I looked around one more time before I put on my sunglasses and walked towards the car. And my entire body felt so cold when I heard his voice calling my name.

I don't want to see Ethan before I leave because it will only make me feel worse, and saying goodbye to him is not part of my plan, but since he is here, I have to end our relationship with proper closure. I slowly turn around and wait for him. I tried to keep my face expressionless as I stared at him.

I slowly removed the ring from my finger and handed it to him as he approached me. When he said he loved me, I wanted to close the distance between us and hug him and tell him I felt the same way, but I already made a choice, and I had to be brave in front of him.

I told him I didn't love him with tears in my eyes. As I spun around and walked faster to the car, I felt my tears continue to wet my cheeks. I quickly opened the door and tossed my luggage on the empty seat.

I didn't greet my mother and his fiance. Fred drove away from the farmhouse. I dried my tears with my fingertips, and I closed my eyes since I didn't want to look at Ethan one more time and lose all my resolve. I pretended to be asleep the entire ride until we reached the hotel.

Fred helped me with my luggage as he took it from my hand, and we entered the hotel lobby without talking, no matter how many times my mom asked me if I was OK. I only nodded my head without uttering a single word.

"Meliza, you have to stop this craziness of yours. We are leaving tomorrow morning since I asked Fred to extend our stay since I love this place, and I want to explore another day with him in this paradise." My mom said happily.

"Your sister is sleeping in the adjacent room, and you will share a room with her." My mom added after she opened their room.

They booked a family suite room. I am impressed with her new boyfriend, but I am not in the mood to be happy with my mother because I am dealing with my heartache.

"After this, our life will change forever. You can have as many suitors as you want, and you will forget that boy," my mom continued, and I remained silent.

I got inside the adjacent room, and it was smaller than my mother's room but spacious enough since it had two queen-sized beds with a night table at the center.

"Iza!" My sister shrieked as she got up from her bed and threw herself at me. And I lost my balance and felt glad we stumbled into her bed.

"Easy there, sweetheart!" I said, laughing.

"I missed you," she said without taking her arms around me.

"I missed you too; I heard you got engaged," she replied as she sat on the bed and looked at me. I loved my sister, and I didn't keep any secrets from her, and this was the first time I hadn't shared anything with her.

"I am sorry, things happened so fast. It was like I was riding a roller coaster ride, and in the end, it stopped, and here I am." I replied.

"Hey, you can talk to me; I could see it in your eyes that you were unhappy, Iza. You are now an adult; if you want to be with him, you must go to him." My sister said, and her words took me

off-guard.

"Aren't you going to despise me if I leave and run away with him?" I asked, and she shook her head with a smile.

"Of course not; I am not going to hate you. I will understand if you are happy with him, then go. You have sacrificed a lot already. I know you are too young, but you will never decide out of impulse. I know you too well, Iza; you must love him so much that you agree to marry him." She responded.

"We are not planning to get married yet," I replied with a timid smile, and my heart was crushed as I remembered his handsome face; how am I going to forget him?

I filled her in about my relationship with Ethan, and I could see the excitement all over her face after I told Jessa all about him.

"Oh! I couldn't wait to see this man, the only person who makes my sister fall in love with." Jessa said with excitement.

"It was too late now, Jess," I softly replied.

"It is not too late; you can text and meet him at the train station. You can leave early in the morning; I will help you." My sister responded, and my eyes widened in shock.

"Do you love him?" She asked.

"Of course, so much," I responded.

"Then, go! I mean, not yet since we will have dinner tonight; you can leave tomorrow before Mom and her boyfriend wakes up." My sister said, and my mind was in disarray.

"Meliza, don't lose this chance; I could tell this Ethan guy is for you." My sister added.

My mother was super excited that she bought fancy gowns for Jessa and me for our dinner tonight. My eyes turned so big when I looked at the tag price of my dress, and I gasped as I realized it was worth more than our monthly rental rate in our apartment.

"Do you think Fred wasn't a cone artist like the rest of her boyfriends?" I asked Jessa after Mom left our room.

"I don't think so; I can say finally, Mom hit the jackpot this time. Fred is a good man, and I can feel it; he looked sincere with his intentions, and he was worried about us." My sister replied, and I smiled at my sister as I realized I wouldn't feel guilty if I ran away with Ethan since my sister would have a good life.

My little sister was the reason I changed my heart, and I couldn't believe I hurt Ethan that way. I texted and tried calling him, but he didn't answer me.

The dinner was superb, but no matter how tasty the food was, my appetite was the same. I tried to look enthusiastic the whole time and felt glad it was over.

We returned to our hotel after having dinner at the marina. My sister and I were plotting my escape plan, and I felt excited to meet Ethan again.