The Devil's Sweetheart

Chapter 123 - Ripped Apart

Out of frustration, she opened her mobile and began checking some online threads when she got a message from Reese.

[Snoring tractor: Lucy Arnett has invited you to Mia's successful movie party. The party would commence at eight in the evening. You are one of her main guests. It's private and you don't need to worry. No media is going to bother you. Since you are Seattle, just got and show your face for an hour.]

[Crazy Leena: I am tired, Reese. I have to come back to New York tomorrow. Can you call her and decline the invitation]

[Snoring tractor: She has been calling me for five long days just to invite you. Have a word with her and come back. It's only an hour]

[All right. Send the hotel name and a copy of the invitation. I will meet her]

After talking with Reese, Leena rested for a while right after she had her food. She was not fond of weddings, precisely, the crowded areas and luckily she got a chance to flee away from it and slept for a while to attend another event in the evening.

...

Despite Austin was busy greeting the guests on his big day, Devin reached out to him to get answers to his questions. He wanted to know if the person he has met earlier has a connection to her past. Even though he did not want to pry on Leena, he was petrified that something would happen to her if he doesn't know anything about her.

"Bro! Did you come to give me another gift? I am glad to take_

"Cut the crap. Do you know the man sitting over there?" Devin asked pointing his eyes towards the guest line.

"It's Flynn. A relative from mom's side." Austin added scanning the guest's line.

"Which university did he go to?" Devin recalled Leena calling him senior and he was sure he must be from her organization.

"I remember he graduated from Seattle University," Austin remarked. "Why are you curious about him?"

"Enjoy your big day while I consider your proposal." Devin smiled and walked out. Seattle University, it is then.

...

The night sky was aglow with bright city lights. The pale crescent moon shone like a silvery claw into the darkness.

A gorgeous woman entered the hotel in a burgundy high neck tassel sequin evening dress. A greeting was offered along the path before she was escorted to the arena. She was welcomed by a woman right after she entered the party hall, the dainty fairy lights added a surplus amount of color to the caravan of footsteps.

"Leena! Oh, my darling! I am glad to see you here." Leena was greeted by Lucy with a quick hug.

"Pleasure is mine, aunt Lucy." Leena smiled, returning her hug.

"Mia is awaiting your arrival," Lucy stated. "I will call her right away."

When they were engrossed in their talks, Leena's eyes were suddenly sealed by a pair of hands.

"Why bother closing my eyes when you will appear in front of me in seconds." With a smile, Leena unlocked her hands.

"Well, can you give me a chance to win over you, at least for once," Mia pouted starting at Leena angrily.

"Can't happen," Leena added. "So, how is your career now, after all, you got a big hit"

"Hectic! Let's talk about you, Leena! When are you telling goodbye to your single life? You are wasting your beauty,"

"My single life is going very well," Leena added with a chuckle grazing her charming bracelet. Shortly, her single status would be razed.

"You need to spice up your life, madam! I have a cousin and he is very handsome. Since you are single, let me introduce you to him." Mia chimed in eagerly. She begged her cousin to attend the party to introduce Leena solemnly. Despite he has fiance, she doesn't consider that vile woman to be his partner. At least, he deserves better.

"You know that I am not fond of such kind of things right? I am not interested, Mia." Leena whispered. She wanted to tell her that she started liking someone already but until they both are transparent about the relation, Leena wanted to keep it concealed.

"I know you don't like. But I am sure you would change your opinion after talking with him." Mia advised, looking for her cousin eagerly awaiting his arrival.

"There he is." Mia pointed in a certain direction when he saw him and out of novelty, Leena also glanced at the pointed finger.

Panic plastered across her face upon seeing the face after five long years. Right now, Leena felt nothing except numbness. Her senses withdrew into herself, feeling absurd and empty. The person she wanted to avoid has appeared at last after five long years.

Her past, the humiliation she endured on that night surged back, mocking at her. The sound of clothes being ripped apart and the battles of a girl, begging to end was replaying in her mind continuously opening her sealed wounds.

[You are mine, Leena! No one will take you away from me]

A tight slap echoed in the lone room. With a shaky hand, Leena held her cheek as if has transpired now.  Her thoughts continuously drifted to the harsh words he spoke that night.

[Did you believe everything I said when I confessed to you? Making you my girlfriend was a bet I made with my friend. But it's worth to take the risk, after all, you have been regaled as the Diva]

Another taut slap echoed followed by another until she was knocked onto the ground.

[You are a bitch who opens legs for every man. I never knew you are a disgusting woman to start with]

"Am I really disgusting?" Tears were surging from her eyes like infinite gushes. She was frantically scrambling around the hotel searching for a way but she felt was endless until she bumped into someone. She knew who it was and that's all for the hell to break loose. She hugged him tightly.. Right now all she wanted was his hug, no words, just his hug to make her feel, he is there for her.