CHAPTER 20: The three stages of Grief: Anger. Regret. Sarcasm

Ho-Seok POV

For the past weeks, my mind had been wheeling from one place to another with anger, feeling betrayed, regrets, and also worries. Worried about how Bella got the mind to charity out our symbols of love.

I gave her that bracelet with the hope that she would cherish it. How on earth did she give it out without a second thought?

Mistakes happened, wickedness spread, and people loved and broke up with each passing day, except in our case, it wasn't just a breakup, it was pure betrayal.

There are stories where people cherished the gifts and things they once shared with their Exes, can't she be among the good? Even if she was a magnet for ruin and bad luck, can't she at least treasure the only precious jewel in the whole wide world, can't she cherish it as a reminder of what we once shared?

Okay, I knew my love wasn't enough for her, but I tried, I fucking tried. I mean I engaged her. I fucking put a beautiful carat ring on those pretty fingers. I treasured her, everything about her.

Even if she said I wasn't enough, I was trying, I was believing, learning, and hoping to make our soon-to-be marital home a bliss. I vowed to give her the best and cherished her. All the fucking things fiance tells their soon-to-be MRS right, I vowed to be ten times better.

Yet, all those efforts went down the drain. I don't know, I just felt like she was just a chameleon. Ready to change to taste any environment she found fit.

Chameleon? That's a fucking understatement. Bella is a succubus; a real-life succubus.I hope the person who called back my presence at the office on the very day I met Bella, I hope you tripped in your bathroom.

From living my dreams to it shattering, back to me rebuilding it again, and then running back Into the very reasons for the ruin.

Am I thankful for the K25 deal? Yes, I'm very thankful; I'm getting recognition in Canada's industry, but I'm also not happy.I...I signed a fucking deal with Kingsley label, which means seeing a certain pretty face was now the norm. And I don't want to have anything to do with her, ever again.

I kept repeating it, but the universe love screwing me for real. Ever since I saw Bella, realizing she now possessed a new name, my mood became darker with each passing day, ridiculously unbelievable, yet the universe still managed to push her my way. Now, I have to work with her. Breathing the same fucking air she breathes. Can my life get any shittier??

Oh, if I should turn back the hand of time, I would do that quickly without a second thought. Removing our first meeting, everything that I once saw in her that attracted me. The very day that weirdo called me back at the office.

I had had good days, bad days, worst days, and then there was something called Bella's days. A bittersweet day.

"Love is amazing but it is also scary. Its outcome is unknown. I should have known, maybe I could have done something about it. Love when it was least deserved, that's when love has meaning."

I should have read between the lines, or maybe she was a damned good actress.

A low growl left my throat before I caught myself. There was no use wasting energy fuming over her. I needed to save every ounce of energy to ensure I wouldn't murder her before the shoot ended. I doubt we could make it past stage A. I'm about to fumble my very first contract with K25. Blame it on Bella.

A mere feel of vibration pulled me out of my thoughts. Reaching into my coat pocket, I took out my phone and groaned at the caller. I swear HwangMin has been annoying these days. Puberty doesn't suit him at all.

"What?" I sounded frustrated and I could literally picture HwangMin's surprised face.

"Someone woke up on the wrong side of bed today." He teased me with his Busan dialect, and I could picture his annoying smirks.

"Fine, I'm coming." I hung up before HwangMin reprimanded me for being late on my first shoots with K25.

I slung towards my walk-in closet, one of the perks of being highly ranked as a globally recognized CEO was having more money than I knew what to do with. Rotating on the spot to find something to wear. A crisp black suit, silk blue tie, Rolex watch, a shiny black Prada shoes. I felt like going for casual wear but after hearing Jason's rambling praises about me all through the practice, I need to save his face.

I was getting ready when my phone beeps again, I swear the universe hates me and it was fucking Kingsley.

"Dude, don't you dare tell me that you've forgotten about today's shoot?" He sounded frustrated, which was totally justified, considering I was already thirty minutes late.

"I'm the CEO," I said coyly, I could picture Kingsleys raised eyebrows.

"You gotta be shitting me." He muttered sulkily, his voice clucked impatiently. "With all due respect, Sir. Get your ass here; Dear uri CEO nim." His voice lanced sardonically that it got me cackling. He hated when someone was late, and because not so many people dared to make him wait, however, there would always be an exception, right?

"Are you getting sentimental on me, Kingsley?"

"Yeah, I guess I am." We laughed together, the conversation moving smoothly as I went about getting dressed.

"Wow, what a remark!"I snorted and then continued "Just give me 20 minutes and I would be there." Without giving him room to make any more petty comments, I ended the call.With that being said, I took a deep breath, rearranging my features into a neutral welcoming appearance turning around to grab my backpack, I was greeted with another unwelcomed sound.Jason fucking Audrey

"Hi, Jassy." I cooed, knowing how much he hated the nickname. I could thank HwangMin and my other staff for such golden information.

"So, what are the excuses? Traffic problem, out of different cars, one favorite broke down, and you loved it so much that not riding it today doesn't sit right with you?"

I clicked my tongue, suppressing the laughter trying to burst free at Jason's condescending statement.

"On my way, you know..."

Yeah, I know, traffic problem, favorite broken car. Dude, at least update your excuses. They are as old as Methuselah." His contemptuous tone deepens, not allowing me to finish.

"Wow, what a reference." I chortled, my shoes pounding a perfectly confident rhythm on the steps as I made my way to the already waiting car outside.