Chapter 24: The Showdown

As we entered the KTV, some greeted Balley as "Sai," while others recognized him by the same nickname. Those unfamiliar with "Balley" cast curious glances my way, but Balley just shrugged off their inquiries with a wink.

Peering through the glass door of the private room, chaos greeted my eyes. About ten unfamiliar faces surrounded Devon, who sat at the center with Miriam in his arms. Despite being with Devon for over two years, he rarely introduced me to his associates or took me to his workplace.

To them, I was just a name they'd heard, never a face they'd seen.

With a decisive push, I barged into the room, eliciting puzzled looks from the occupants, save for Devon and Miriam, who regarded me with suspicion.

Advancing towards Miriam, I seized her shirt collar and hoisted her to her feet, delivering a resounding slap across her face. Before others could intervene, they caught sight of Balley behind me, hesitated, and deferred to Devon.

Devon's expression froze as he beheld me. My outburst was unprecedented, given my typically placid demeanor.

As Miriam crumpled to the floor, she cried out, appealing to Devon, "Devon, look at this lunatic!"

Devon rose, ignoring Miriam's plea, and approached me with a placating smile. "Aria, what's troubling you today? Still upset about the hotel incident? Miriam has apologized. She's just young and naive. Don't be too hard on her."

In that moment, I realized Devon had discerned Miriam's deceit, yet had chosen to entertain her here.

Once again, Devon sought to soothe the wounds inflicted on my heart.

I met his gaze with icy resolve. "So, you knew she set me up?"

In that instant, Devon comprehended his lapse in honesty and forgave Miriam once more.

Suddenly, I found myself lacking the will to reprimand Miriam, feeling like a dog barking at the moon. Let them revel in their folly, but please, Devon, spare me your presence.

Devon instructed the others to leave, presuming I was meddling out of jealousy or insecurity.

Exhaustion weighed heavily upon me as I sank into the couch, head bowed. "Devon, I'm drained. I don't care about the dynamics between you and her. I'm just grateful for your support during my darkest times. Now that you've found someone new, please, just leave me be."

Raising my gaze, I noticed Devon staring at me in silence, a faint smile playing on his lips. Perplexed by his expression, I could only furrow my brow and continue, "I'll repay the money you've given me over the years, bit by bit, in the future."

"Repay me? Aria, money is the least of my concerns. If you return it all, then what was the point of our relationship all these years? Am I to believe I've been with you merely for financial gain?" His laughter dripped with scorn, each word piercing deeper than the last.

His words wounded me in ways beyond mere insult, but I found myself numb to his jibes. "Yes, I may be for sale, but not at this moment. Is that acceptable to you?"

In an instant, he sat upright, gripping my hair with one hand and my face with the other. "Aria, no woman has ever dared to leave me first. You come and go as I please. What do you take me for?"

With my face contorted by his grip, I spat out my words through clenched teeth, fixing him with a defiant glare. "What do I take you for? A wealthy man who buys my compliance. Isn't that what you've always taught me?"

He abruptly released his grip, his expression a mixture of shock and dismay, his eyes piercing me like daggers.

Amidst the heavy silence, I scornfully eyed the two of them and retrieved a mirror to fix my disheveled hair.

The music from the speakers had been silenced earlier, the music video still flickering on the screen, casting shifting shadows on our faces.

Out of nowhere, Devon broke the silence. "Aria, I misjudged Miriam. I'll cut ties with her completely. If you're still angry, you have my permission to confront her."

Miriam glanced at me with fearful eyes, silently pleading for mercy, too intimidated by Devon to utter a word.

But Devon's sudden change in demeanor caught me off guard. Was he trying to commit to me? It seemed absurd.

Furthermore, every individual, regardless of gender, is entitled to their own autonomy. How could he presume ownership over others?

If I were to reveal more about Miriam's actions beyond the hotel incident, would Devon still stand by his words?

Fueled by frustration, I was ready to unleash my wrath upon Devon. "So without her, there'll always be another Miriam... Is this some kind of joke to you? I can't fathom your attitude towards women."

"That's enough, Aria. It's just you from now on," Devon asserted, his gaze unwavering. For a moment, I almost believed him.

"Devon, do you even believe the words coming out of your mouth?"