Total pages in book: 81
Estimated words: 76390 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 382(@200wpm)___ 306(@250wpm)___ 255(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 76390 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 382(@200wpm)___ 306(@250wpm)___ 255(@300wpm)
Danny was enraged at the way Nik’s voice was devoid of expression. How could he bear to leave when Miranda was so obviously suffering?
“So you’re going to leave, just like that? You’re going back to your mistress like someone didn’t try to kill herself over you?” The desire to avenge Miranda’s heartbreak consuming him, Danny heard himself say, “Go back to her then. Just know that bitch’s the reason behind this. Miranda went to her, you know.” All lies, but Danny couldn’t stop himself. All he knew was that Nik and Daria didn’t deserve to be happy while Miranda suffered. “Miranda told her she wanted you back because she was so depressed, and that bitch laughed at her face. She told her she could go to hell because she already has you following her like a dog!”
“THIS IS SUCH A BAD idea, I don’t even know which word to use to describe how bad it is.”
Ignoring Yanna’s unusual lack of optimism, Daria continued to drag her smallest suitcase out of the closet. “He needs to learn his lesson,” she said stubbornly. “This is the way to do it.”
“If you really wanted to talk to him last night, why didn’t you just call him and not be passive-aggressive with your text?” The iPad, propped next to the TV on the console, showed Alyx rolling her eyes as she spoke.
“Because.” Daria pressed down on the handle to extend its length.
“Well, that explains a lot,” Alyx said sarcastically.
“Shut up.” Daria debated whether or not to put actual clothes inside the suitcase but decided against it. This was all a farce, anyway. Turning to face her friends again, she said determinedly, “This is going to work.”
“No, it’s not,” her friends protested in unison.
“I’m not hearing you.”
“From what you’ve told us about Nik, I’m afraid he’s just going to be furious that you’re playing this kind of game with him,” Yanna revealed worriedly.
“It’s going to work,” Daria insisted. “I just don’t think Miranda’s the type to kill herself out of depression, okay? I think it’s her way to keeping him with her. If you guys ever meet her, I know you’ll think the same thing – she’s too strong to kill herself. This is all just a ploy—-”
“Fine,” Alyx interrupted. “Let’s say you’re right about the other girl. So what? That gives you a reason to do something just as elaborate to deceive Nik into thinking you’re leaving—-”
“I have to do something, okay?” Daria tried not to sound desperate even though that was how she really felt. “I can’t lose him again. I love him—-”
“Then tell him that—-” Yanna’s voice broke off at Daria’s unexpectedly bitter laugh.
“He won’t believe me even if I say that. He thinks I’m a liar and a slut.”
Alyx said gently, “So another lie’s going to convince him he’s wrong?”
She didn’t have an answer to that, and a second later she didn’t have the time either. Her doorbell had rung. Nik was here.
AFTER HIS VISIT AT the hospital last night, Nik had deliberately stayed away from Daria and instead worked the entire night until exhaustion gave way to sleep.
Today had not been much different, only the need to see Daria had become impossible to resist, a burning desire that flamed constantly in the back of his mind.
He had only taken one look at the feverish hope in Miranda’s eyes to know there was no way he could continue with the engagement.
She was a good woman, a strong one. Marriage to her would have been a smart decision – but only if she didn’t love him and, worse, didn’t think that he could eventually love her back.
The knowledge that he would have to break Miranda’s heart again left a bitter taste in his mouth, and he had hoped that Daria would at least provide him with a few hours of mindless bliss.
That was the plan, at least, but the look on Daria’s beautiful face told him he had another fight in his hands. A fight that, in his opinion, he didn’t fucking deserve coming from a liar like her.
“You’re going out?” he asked shortly. She looked like it, with her hair combed back in a sleek, high ponytail, her face perfectly made up, and her black long-sleeved dress hugging every curve of her body.
Daria lifted her chin even as both her mind and heart warned her against what she was about to do. It’s stupid, her mind protested. You’re going to hurt herself, her heart cried out.
“I’m leaving.” She stepped to the side to dramatically reveal the empty suitcase behind her. “You chose to ignore me last night—-”
“Give me a break,” Nik said coldly. “You really think I’d have prioritized you over what happened?”
She could feel her heart starting to stutter and crash at the pain of his words, but she managed to keep her chin up as she answered fiercely, “I expected you to at least text me back—-”