Chapter 16:

ODETTE'S POINT OF VIEW

As I leave Kiel, I never look back, and I didn't notice he wasn't behind me. I saw the security guards running fast and passing away from me. I heard a security officer shouting.

"Make sure Mr. Kiel is safe and does not get crowded by the media!" I got shocked and followed them; I saw Kiel headed down in front of the media.

"I'm Kiel Calvin Lopez, admitting I was cheating with my fiance." It triggers the media's murmuring and all the cameras flashing. While I was watching in the distance.

"So Kiel, you just cheated on your fiance; that's what you're telling; how about your relationship with Sloan?" "Did you also cheat on her?"

"Yes, Kiel, you also cheated on Sloan." Another reporter said he was closer to Kiel's face.

"No, I didn't; I've been faithful to Sloan all the time we've been together." ---"

"So you were faithful with Sloan but not with your fiance? Is this to say you lied about liking her? Is she just your rebound all this time?" What the reporter said hit me: he may say he likes me, but he never says he loves me. That's maybe the reason he cheated.

"Maybe I was too confused to admit the fact that I have feelings for her. Odette was a nice girl; she was easy to get along with. I never intended to hurt her; at first, I admitted that she was just my fiance because of what our fathers wanted. But to escape falling for her, I chose to look for another person to be with. Unfortunately, I was too blind to admit I missed her each time I was with Zafira. The fact that I was with her made me think about Odette. I was thinking about what we had when we were together. Seeing her cold expression earlier when she told me we would cancel the wedding, I felt broken into pieces, shuttered like sand. I knew I had hurt her. I knew I lied to her. But hearing from her that she was canceling the wedding wasn't what I wanted; I just realized I wanted to continue the wedding and build a family with her." I don't know how I will feel after hearing everything he says. Ivan and the executive producer, along with the other security personnel, arrive.

"We will schedule a press conference regarding this."

"Are you happy hearing him say he wants to continue your engagement?" I turned around and saw Zafira behind me smiling like a crazy person while looking at me.

"Z-zafira??" She laughed hard, looking at me.

"This is what you want, right? That's why you said that earlier. So he can marry you. How pathetic you are. Kiel was an actor, and he could act in front of them without noticing he was acting. Don't you dare believe he was like you or that he loved you. "Love me, not you." Zafira pushed me away. The media saw me, and they turned to me, flashing their cameras.

"Odette! Did you hear what Kiel said?"

"What can you say about it?"

"Do you still want to cancel the wedding?"

The security forces surround me and barricade me from the media; someone should carry me out of the crowd of media. It was Aurelius; he carried me towards the parking lot, and I was just looking at him on our way to the parking lot.

"Sorry for what my sister did."

"Huh?" He looked at me and put me down, leaning me on the car.

"I said, sorry for what my sister did to you. This mess happened because of her. I knew from the start that she was head over heels for Kiel. I never imagined she would go crazy just to be with him. If you need help, just tell me, and I will be there in a flash." He kissed my forehead and left me hanging, leaning on my car. I took a deep breath and grabbed my car keys from my bag. When I got into my car, I immediately stepped in and closed the door. I put my head on the steering wheel.

I should be happy to hear he wants to continue our wedding, but why do I still feel empty and in pain? Maybe Zafira was right. Kiel was an actor; he may have been acting while saying those words. I should not fall into those traps again; I should know my value, what I am, and who I am. I wouldn't die if Kiel didn't like me; it wasn't the first time I was broken by a guy.

A knock on my window broke my silence. I saw Kiel standing outside of my car. I rolled down my car window.

"What do you want?"

"Let's talk, my queen, please." I saw, in the distance, Ivan standing in front of the back door.

"We should leave now; my dad wants to talk to us. Stick to the plan and cancel the wedding." I rolled up my car window and started my engine, driving fast, going through my dad's place. I know they will be upset by what happens to us, but they can't force us to like each other. I know Dad wants me to be in good hands and still be wealthy, but I hope after what happened today he changes his mind and agrees to cancel the wedding. I don't want to marry him anymore, and I will be hurt if I let it happen.

I should stop having feelings for him no matter what happens; I should never fall for him again. That's the only solution, so I will not break myself again. I shouldn't trust him; I should hate him.

I got home and saw some media outside of our house. Security opened the gate while some barricaded the media from getting in. I parked my car and went inside the house. I saw Dad sitting on the couch. Together with Kiel's parents and mom, I sit in another chair without speaking to them. Mom went beside me, looking at me with pity.

"Are you okay, darling?" I just nodded instead of answering Mom.

Kiel got into the house, and his dad stood up and punched him in the jaw. We were all taken aback by what had occurred. He fell to the floor, holding his jaw.

"You damn bullshit, did you even think about what you did?" Did you consider her feelings? I never raised you like that; did you see me make your mom cry? Even if Odette were your fiancée, treat her as your wife. You'll fix this mess that you make; I won't help you clean it." Kiel's mom helped her stand up and sit in the chair.

"Sir, I know I hurt your daughter; I'm sorry for doing that, but I will clean this up and make this better for us." He looked at me and kneeled in front of me.

"If she allows me, I still want to continue the wedding, but this time I want it to be real, not just because we dated for the sake of each company. Odette, please give me a second chance." I look at them, and Dad looks away from me.

"If I were my daughter, I would never allow you to have a second chance, but it still depends on her."

Kiel got into the house, and his dad stood up and punched him in the jaw. We were all taken aback by what had occurred. He fell to the floor, holding his jaw.

"You damn bullshit, did you even think about what you did?" Did you consider her feelings? I never raised you like that; did you see me make your mom cry? Even if Odette were your fiancée, treat her as your wife. You'll fix this mess that you make; I won't help you clean it." Kiel's mom helped her stand up and sit in the chair.

"Sir, I know I hurt your daughter; I'm sorry for doing that, but I will clean this up and make this better for us." He looked at me and kneeled in front of me.

"If she allows me, I still want to continue the wedding, but this time I want it to be real, not just because we dated for the sake of each company. Odette, please give me a second chance." I look at them, and Dad looks away from me.

"If I were my daughter, I would never allow you to have a second chance, but it still depends on her." Dad, look at me. I took a deep breath and looked at Kiel.

"I will think about it. Sorry, but I'm not feeling well. I will go to my room now." I bowed and went to my old room. I lay on my bed while looking at the ceiling. My body and mind were tired, not just because I drank too much last night with my friends. Also, in light of what happened today with this issue, I heard a knock on the door.

"Yes?"

"Honey, are you okay, my baby?" I heard my mom's voice behind the door.

"Yes, Mom, don't mind me; I'm fine; I just need to take some rest."

"If you need anything, just tell me, okay?" I turn around and put my face on my pillow. I'm so exhausted that I close my eyes and sleep. I look at my phone. It's three in the morning, I sit on my bed, and I sleep for almost eight hours. I yawned while stretching my arm. I stood up and opened my door. I saw Kiel sitting outside of my room, sleeping. I was about to leave him there when I felt his hand holding my wrist. Slowly, he looked up at me.

"My queen." I saw his sleepy eyes looking at me.

"Hmm?"

"Where are you going?" He stood up and hugged me from behind. I should not fall for his treatment of me right now; I knew he was doing this because of what his father said.

"Nothing you will care about." I let go of his hug and went to the kitchen. I grab a bottle of beer and drink straight from it. I saw him leaning against the kitchen wall.

"I knew I hurt you. I'm sorry, my queen. But still, I will do everything to make this clear for us." I rolled my eyes and went out of the kitchen straight to the garden. A few stars were in the sky as I looked up. Maybe because it's almost morning. The security guard was still in front of our house. A head in my shoulder suddenly popped up.

"Trying to act sweet; no need to do that; it's only the two of us who are awake at this moment. Stop acting like you care about everything, Kiel. I will not fall for your actions. Besides, Zafira was your girlfriend just to remind you; your obsessed girlfriend may freak out when she finds out you're acting that way."

"I will break up with her for you. I want to continue our wedding, please, my queen. This time, let's take it seriously. No more plans." I laughed hard at what he said. Taking it seriously, huh?

"Taking it seriously, Kiel, did you think I was not serious from the start? That's bullshit! You're such an asshole to not understand what I feel; do you think doing those acts will take my anger away? No Kiel! I was hurt to hear you cheat on me! At first, I thought it was a lie in that article, but after hearing what you said in front of the media, I was unable to understand what I did wrong to make you hurt me! You're the one who went after me, suggesting we pretend we are dating so they can call off the wedding. You underestimated me; now I will never fall for your acts, no matter what you do." I pushed his head away from my shoulder and went back to my room, locking myself again.

"I will do anything, my queen, just to prove to you I will not do it again. Even if you will not agree, I will still prove it to you." I put a pillow on my face and went to sleep again. I didn't want to hear a single word from his mouth. I waited for hours, hearing his footstep away from my room. After hearing his footstep away, I slowly went out of bed, opened my door, and went out of my room. I saw him talking to Mom. When he left, I saw Mom liking up. I ignored her and pretend I didn't see they were talking.

"Ignoring her, honey, I know he hurt you, but give him a chance; we will not know if he changes if we take a risk to believe him."

"I don't have time for that, Mom; I have an early meeting with Mr. Chua. I'll go home now so I can still change for the meeting." I heard Mom sigh and tap my shoulder before she left me and went back to the kitchen. I went to my car and drove fast back to my condo; I didn't see his car in the parking lot of the building. I ignored it and just went to my condo.

I immediately took a bath and prepared for the meeting. A light coverage of make-up while my hair is hanging down on my shoulder. I put my bra on and grabbed my bag before I left my condo. I saw Zafira coming out of Kiel's condo. I ignored her and went to the elevator.

"Look who's here?" I chin up, not minding her.

"Can't you believe Kiel asked me to come here because he misses me that much?" I told you, Kiel, "Love me and choose me all over, no matter what happens." I saw her reflection in the elevator panels, smiling from behind me. My phone rings, and I can feel her anger; Kiel is calling me. I have a loudspeaker on my phone.

Kiel: "My queen, where are you?" I went to your condo, but I think you've already left.

I didn't answer and just ignored him.

"Are you still mad at me? My queen Zafira went here and begged me to come back at her, but I didn't. I pushed her away. I will do anything to make things better for us." A smirk flashed on my face. I'm liking what's happening right now. She grabbed my phone from me.

"What did you say, Kiel?"

"You beg me to come back." She slapped me hard. The elevator opened, and the media flashed what we saw when the elevator opened.

"Zafira, can you tell us what is happening?" She was about to answer, but I went first.

"Ask her how she begged for my fiance to come back at her."