I stood alone on the balcony of the event, lost in thought as I sipped my whiskey. The cool night air was a welcome contrast to the warmth of the crowded room inside, but my mind was racing with conflicting emotions. Just then, Nikolai approached, a glass of whiskey in hand, and leaned against the railing beside me.
“Are you thinking about Aira?” he asked, his voice low, as if he didn’t want anyone else to hear.
I glanced back inside, ensuring Jenna was out of earshot. “Yeah, I can’t shake her from my mind,” I admitted, feeling a wave of frustration wash over me. “It’s not fair how she got hurt.”
Nikolai took a sip of his drink, contemplating my words. “What are you planning to do about it?”
I scanned the surroundings before answering. “Revenge. I want them to feel the pain,” I said, my voice steady but filled with an undercurrent of rage.
“So, are you seducing Jenna to get close to you because Aiden hurt Aira?” he asked seriously, raising an eyebrow.
I took a swig of my drink, letting the burn of the whiskey fill my throat. “Exactly,” I replied, my resolve hardening.
“But Jenna didn’t do anything wrong,” he countered, his tone cautious.
I couldn't help but laugh bitterly. “It’s impossible that Jenna’s innocent. She got into a relationship with Aiden even though he was with Aira. She’s just as much a part of this mess as he is.”
Nikolai shook his head slightly. “That’s a harsh way to look at it. Jenna’s just caught in the crossfire.”
“Maybe. But I can’t ignore the fact that she made choices that hurt Aira,” I insisted, my voice lowering.
“I want to show Jenna what it’s like to be with someone who actually cares. To make her realize that she deserves better than Aiden.”
Nikolai studied me for a moment. “And what happens when you get what you want? Are you going to just drop her once you’ve settled the score?”
I took another sip of my drink, letting the whiskey burn down my throat as I pondered his words.
“Once Jenna falls into my trap, Aiden is next,” I said darkly, my voice steady and full of conviction.
“I want them to pay.” Nikolai sighed, clearly not approving of my approach.
“Felix, revenge like this—you're playing with fire. You might end up burning yourself in the process.”
I turned to him, my expression hard. “Maybe. But it's a risk I'm willing to take. Aiden hurt Aira, and Jenna stood by while it happened. They don’t get to walk away without consequences.”
Nikolai shook his head again, clearly unconvinced. “Just remember, man, not everyone deserves to be collateral damage. Jenna might not be as guilty as you think.”
I stayed silent, unwilling to entertain his doubts. In my mind, Jenna was part of the reason Aira had suffered, and I couldn’t let her go unscathed. She had to see the consequences of her choices. And as for Aiden, his day was coming, too.
“Thanks for the advice, but I know what I’m doing,” I said firmly. “I’m not stopping until they both feel the weight of what they’ve done.”
Nikolai took one last glance at me, his expression unreadable, before heading back inside. I remained on the balcony, staring out at the night. My thoughts were a mix of anger and determination. Aira had suffered enough.
This time, I wasn’t going to let anyone get away with it. Not Jenna. Not Aiden. Not anyone.
The plan was set. And now, it was only a matter of time before they realized just how far I was willing to go.
JENNA’S POV
We were sitting at the table, chatting casually, when Sara suddenly leaned in with a curious expression. “I heard Aiden went to Felix’s house? What happened there?”
Her question caught me off guard, and I momentarily froze, my fork halfway to my mouth. I hadn’t expected word about that confrontation to spread so quickly. Trying to keep my voice steady, I answered, “Yeah, he did... but nothing really happened. Felix handled it.”
Sara raised an eyebrow, clearly not convinced. “Handled it? Knowing Aiden, that doesn’t sound like it was an easy conversation.”
I forced a smile, though the memory of that encounter between Felix and Aiden made my stomach churn. The tension between them had been palpable, like two forces ready to collide. Felix had been calm, but there was an undercurrent of anger simmering beneath the surface. And Aiden… he looked desperate.
“It was intense, but Felix told him to leave. Aiden didn’t really have a choice but to go.” I kept my explanation brief, not wanting to go into too many details. The truth was, I still hadn’t fully processed what had happened myself.
Sara studied me for a moment before nodding. “Well, I guess it’s good that Felix didn’t let it escalate. But still… doesn’t it feel weird? You’re in the middle of all this, Jenna. Two guys basically fighting over you.”
I glanced down at my plate, uncomfortable with the reality she was pointing out. “It’s not about that, Sara. It’s more complicated than just… me being stuck between them. There’s a lot of history, and it’s not just about Aiden or Felix. It’s about everything that’s happened.”
Sara sighed, leaning back in her chair. “I get it. But be careful, okay? Felix seems like he’s all in, but Aiden—he’s not the type to let go easily.”
I bit my lip, unsure of how to respond. Sara didn’t know the full story, not even close. Felix had been kind to me, but there was always something more to his actions that I couldn’t quite figure out. And Aiden… well, I wasn’t sure where he stood anymore.
“I’ll be fine,” I finally said, hoping to end the conversation. “I just need to figure things out for myself.”
Sara gave me a small smile, though I could see the concern in her eyes. “Just don’t lose yourself in all of this, Jenna. You deserve to be happy, with or without either of them.”
Her words lingered in the air as the conversation shifted to lighter topics, but my mind stayed on the uneasy tension I felt. What was I even doing? And where did this road with Felix lead?
As I sat there, the weight of everything felt heavier by the minute. How long could I keep avoiding the truth? How long before everything between Aiden, Felix, and me came crashing down?
“But it seems like Felix is serious about you. He likes you, so why don’t you give him a chance?” Sara’s voice broke through my thoughts.
I blinked and looked at her, surprised. Sara was always direct, but this felt different—like she was pushing me to really consider what Felix meant to me.
“He’s been good to me, I won’t deny that,” I said softly, trying to gather my thoughts. “But it’s just… complicated. It’s not that simple.”
Sara leaned forward, her eyes searching mine. “It is simple, Jenna. Aiden hurt you. Felix hasn’t. You deserve someone who makes you feel safe, who chooses you. Isn’t Felix that guy?”
I shifted uncomfortably in my seat, her words cutting through me. I knew she was right in a way, but things weren’t as black-and-white as she made them seem. “It’s not about safety, Sara. It’s about trust. I don’t know if I can trust Felix fully. There’s something about him that feels… off.”
Sara frowned, clearly confused. “Off? In what way?”
I sighed, running a hand through my hair. “I don’t know how to explain it. He’s sweet, and I do like him. But sometimes, it feels like he’s hiding something from me. Like there’s more going on in his head than he’s letting on.”
Sara stared at me for a moment before nodding slowly. “Okay, I get that. But what if he’s just being cautious? Maybe he’s afraid of getting hurt too.”
I bit my lip, considering her point. Felix had been hurt before—by Aira, by people he cared about. Maybe that was why he kept certain things hidden. But I couldn’t shake the feeling that it was more than just past wounds.
“I just… I don’t want to rush into something and end up hurt again,” I admitted, my voice barely above a whisper.
Sara reached across the table and squeezed my hand gently. “I get it, Jenna. But you can’t keep holding back because of what Aiden did. Not every guy is going to break your heart.”
I nodded, but my heart wasn’t entirely convinced. I wanted to believe that Felix was different, that he was someone I could trust. But with everything swirling around us—the past, Aiden, Felix’s secretive nature—I didn’t know how to take that leap without fear of falling.
“I’ll figure it out,” I said, giving Sara a small smile. “Thanks for listening.”
She smiled back. “Always. Just promise me you’ll be careful, okay? And remember, it’s okay to put yourself first.”
As the conversation shifted to lighter topics again, I tried to push the heavy thoughts aside. But deep down, I knew I had a decision to make. And whatever I chose, it would change everything between Felix, Aiden, and me.