Chapter 4: A CALLOUS REJECTION

Stella woke up, momentarily forgetting the pledge she made the previous night—not to break down because of the heartbreak Richard had caused her. But as reality settled in, she felt the familiar heaviness in her chest. Sadness engulfed her again, and tears began streaming down her face.

"Richard, what did I ever do to you? Where did I go wrong?" she asked herself repeatedly, her voice breaking as she wept. Desperate for answers, she walked to the mirror and stared at her reflection. Could it be my looks? she wondered. But then, she remembered how Richard had once professed to love her regardless of her appearance.

Her thoughts drifted to Patricia and the words her best friend had spoken the previous night: "Stella, I was as surprised as you when Richard announced me as his wife-to-be. I’m sorry I never got to tell you. Please don’t hate me, Stella."

The betrayal from Patricia cut just as deeply as Richard’s. Stella felt a surge of anger rise within her. She had been betrayed by not one, but two of the people she trusted most in the world. She cried uncontrollably, lost in her grief. Time seemed to slip away, and before she realized it, the day was nearly gone. It was Monday, a workday, but Stella couldn’t bring herself to care. How could she focus on work when her entire world was crumbling around her?

As evening fell, Stella summoned the courage to pick up her phone and dial Richard’s number. To her surprise, this time, the call went through.

"What do you want?" Richard’s voice came through the receiver, cold and emotionless.

A tear slid down Stella’s cheek as she struggled to form words. "Richard, I… I’m sorry, if… I don’t know… but what happened to us?" she stuttered. The words were jumbled, her emotions too overwhelming to organize her thoughts. Why would Richard do this to me? she thought. She had called hoping for closure, but now she wasn’t sure what she expected anymore.

There was no response from Richard.

"Richard," she continued, her voice breaking. "Why did you invite me to the party if you only wanted to humiliate me? I loved you. Where did I go wrong in loving you?"

"Point of correction," Richard finally replied, his tone dripping with disdain. "I never invited you. You just weren’t smart enough to read the handwriting on the wall."

His words hit Stella like a blow to the chest. Her heart shattered into a million pieces all over again.

"Why, Richard? Am I that bad? Why are you treating me like this? You’ve kept on hurting me, over and over. I never wished you harm, but you keep tearing me apart," Stella said, her voice now drowned in sobs.

"Look, lady," Richard said dismissively. "I’m really busy. I have nothing more to say to you. Just move on, because I have."

Stella clung to her last shred of hope. "Richard, after all I did for you, after all the sacrifices I made—even after all your promises--"

"Your sacrifices?" Richard interrupted, mocking her. "Alright, how much? I’ll pay you. There’s nothing good money can’t fix. Madam, I’m quite busy at the moment. Send me your bank details, and I’ll transfer the worth of your sacrifices." Without waiting for her response, he hung up.

Stella stood frozen, her phone slipping from her hand. Her mind reeled, her heart breaking all over again. Tears streamed down her face as she let out a scream, a primal cry of pain and betrayal. Why couldn’t he have just broken up with me while he was abroad? she thought. Why did he have to give me the silent treatment, only to return and treat me like trash?

Exhausted from crying and overwhelmed by her thoughts, Stella eventually drifted into a restless sleep. She was woken up by the sound of loud banging on her door. Startled, she quickly got up and opened it.

Standing there was Patricia.