Chapter 4
My phone wouldn’t stop buzzing.
Jayson Over and over again.
Calls. Messages. Voicemails. His name flashed on my screen like a warning I didn’t need. But I ignored it, just like I’d ignored every red flag, every sign that screamed he was never truly mine
I sat quietly in the backseat of the cab, my hands trembling as I clutched my purse. I’d left the bar hours ago, not bothering to go home. There was nothing there for me anymore. Id already arranged for my luggage to be packed and sent to the airport
I was leaving. For good
The cab pulled up to the terminal. I paid the driver, my fingers cold as ice despite the warm night air. My phone buzzed again just as I stepped inside the airport–another call from Jayson. I silenced it without even glancing
The airport was buzzing with life. I found an empty seat near my gate, staring blankly at the glowing screen ahead
That’s when I saw it
“BREAKING NEWS Jayson Gray and Fiona Romano Announce Their Engagement.
My heart stopped
The photo flashed across the screen–Jayson and Fiona standing side by side, their smiles bright, perfect, and painfully familiar. His arm wrapped around her waist like it belonged there. Her hand resting on his chest, an engagement ring glinting like it was mocking me.
A sharp pain gripped my chest, and before I could stop it, a tear slid down my cheek.
I wiped it away quickly, glancing around to see if anyone noticed. No one did. Because why would they? To them, it was just another love story. To me, it was the final nail in the coffin
How dare he? How dare he call me, text me, act like I was the one at fault while flaunting his engagement for the world to see? Perhaps, he just couldn’t accept that I could ignore him–and date someone else!!!
I pulled out my phone, my fingers moving before I could think. I dialed my mother. She answered on the second ring &
“Anastacia? Where are you? Jayson’s been looking for you all day,” she said, her voice filled with warmth and concern.X
I closed my eyes, steadying my breath, “I’m leaving
There was a pause “Leaving? Wait, is it today? You didn’t tell us.“||
“I’m going away. I don’t want anyone to know where I’m going. Especially not Jayson “I
Silence. Then, softly, “is everything okay with you and Jayson?”
“No,” I whispered. “I’ve been hurt, Mom. By Jayson.” My voice broke, and I swallowed the lump in my throat. “I just need to forget. I need peace. We’re step–siblings now. It was wrong from the start, Mom, It was wrong to love him.”
She sighed heavily. “Oh, god I’m so sorry. Anastacia I didn’t know. But are you sure about this? We can still talk about this and-”
“Yes” My voice was firm this time, cutting her. “Please, just respect my decision. I’ll see you in three years when I come back,”
Just as I was about to hang up, I heard his voice in the background–Jayson’s voice!!
“Where is she? Mom, where’s Anastacia?“}
Panic surged through me.
“She already left,” my mother replied softly, her words cutting deeper than she knew. “And she’s not coming back.”
“What do you mean she’s not coming back? To where? Is she with that asshole Johan? Why didn’t she tell me?” Jayson’s voice through the phone, loud and frantic.
burst
I ended the call but then my screen lit up again, his name flashing. My thumb hovered over the decline button, but something inside me snapped. This time, I answered.
His voice was sharp. “Where the hell are you?“)]
I closed my eyes, letting the anger wash over me. Then, in perfect Italian, I spoke the words I’d been holding back:
“Stop it already know the truth. You said you were going to dispose of me? Well, I’ll do it first.”
Then, I hung up and blocked him without hesitation
