Jenna's POV
“Oh, look, the couple over there,” Felix said, his voice dripping with amusement as he gestured towards something.
I followed his gaze, my stomach tightening the moment I saw them—Aiden and Clara. And they weren’t just standing together—they were kissing, right there, in the middle of the event. My heart sank, and I felt my hands ball into fists.
What the hell, Aiden? My mind raced. He didn’t just bring Clara to this event—he was making sure everyone knew they were together. And right in front of me.
Felix chuckled lowly beside me. "Looks like he's moved on pretty quickly, huh?"
I didn’t respond. I couldn’t. My heart was pounding in my chest, anger swirling inside me, mixing with hurt and disbelief. It felt like everything around me blurred for a moment, except for the image of Aiden with Clara. It was as if they were rubbing it in my face.
I tried to swallow the lump forming in my throat, but it was no use. Every part of me was screaming to storm over there, demand answers, shout at him—How could he do this to me? But I couldn’t. Not here, not in front of everyone. Felix was already watching me closely, his eyes filled with satisfaction at the scene unfolding before us.
I took a deep breath, forcing myself to remain calm, even though my hands were shaking. I wouldn’t give Felix the pleasure of seeing me break down.
"Do you still care about him, Jenna?" Felix's voice was soft, almost taunting, as he studied my reaction. "You shouldn't, after what he's done to you."
I clenched my jaw, refusing to let him provoke me any further. "That’s none of your business."
Felix leaned in closer, lowering his voice. "But it is, Jenna. Aiden gave you to me, remember? He’s shown you exactly where his priorities are."
My nails dug into my palms as I held back the wave of emotions threatening to crash over me. Felix was right in one sense—Aiden had made his choice. And here I was, standing next to Felix, watching the man I thought I loved flaunt his new relationship without a care in the world.
"You’re better off with me," Felix added, his voice smug and confident. "At least I know how to treat you like you deserve."
I shot him a sharp look, anger flickering in my eyes. "You don't own me, Felix. And this," I gestured vaguely at Aiden and Clara, "doesn't change anything."
But the truth was, I wasn’t so sure. Seeing Aiden with someone else hurt more than I wanted to admit. And now, with Felix standing beside me, watching my every move, I felt more trapped than ever.
Felix’s smirk grew, as if sensing my internal struggle. "Just remember, Jenna," he said smoothly, "Aiden walked away. He gave you up. You don’t owe him anything anymore."
His words lingered in the air, and for the first time, a small part of me wondered if he was right. Aiden had betrayed me, thrown me away like I didn’t matter. But Felix—he wasn’t any better. He was just as manipulative, if not worse.
I had to find a way out of this mess. Out of Felix's control, out of the pain Aiden had caused. But right now, standing in this room filled with lies and betrayal, I had no idea where to start.
“Remember? If I hadn't made that bet, Aiden would still be cheating on you without you knowing,” Felix said, his voice dripping with smugness.
I felt the sting of his words cut deeper than I expected. The thought of Aiden lying to me, sneaking around behind my back with Clara, made my chest tighten. But Felix’s twisted justification—that somehow his disgusting bet had saved me from further humiliation—only made the whole situation worse.
I turned to him, narrowing my eyes. “That doesn’t make you the hero here, Felix. You still used me like some kind of prize.”
He chuckled, clearly amused by my anger. “Maybe. But I exposed him for who he really is, didn’t I? You should be thanking me, Jenna. Now, you can stop wasting your time on a man who doesn’t deserve you.”
I clenched my fists at my sides, resisting the urge to scream. As much as I hated to admit it, part of me knew Felix wasn’t entirely wrong. Aiden had betrayed me, and if it weren’t for this twisted game, I might still be blind to it. But that didn’t change the fact that Felix had manipulated the entire situation for his own gain.
“You think this is all about Aiden?” I shot back, my voice low but sharp. “You don’t care about me. You never have. I’m just something for you to control, to show off. You don’t even see me as a person.”
Felix’s expression shifted, his smirk fading for a moment. “Don’t be so sure of that, Jenna,” he said, his voice quieter but no less intense. “You’re more valuable to me than you realize.”
I looked away, refusing to engage any further. The room felt suffocating, the weight of the situation pressing down on me. Aiden had hurt me, yes, but Felix’s possessiveness was starting to feel even more dangerous.
Suddenly, I felt Felix’s hand on my arm, pulling me slightly closer. “Look, I know this isn’t the life you expected,” he said, his voice softening in a way that caught me off guard. “But you’re with me now. You might as well accept it.”
I yanked my arm away, the anger bubbling up again. “I’ll never accept this. I’ll never accept you.”
Felix’s eyes darkened, the brief moment of softness vanishing in an instant. “We’ll see about that,” he muttered, turning his gaze back toward the crowd. His control over me was tightening, and I could feel it. I had to find a way out before it was too late.
But for now, I was stuck. Trapped in this twisted game between two men who didn’t care about anything except their own egos. And all I could do was bade my time and wait for the right moment to make my escape.