Chapter 8
Chand took a step back, his eyes fixed on our intertwined fingers. I didn’t acknowledge him, just smiled at the staff and went back to picking out a ring.
We finally made our choice. Chand scoffed. “That’s ugly. Doesn’t suit you at all.”
No one responded. His irritation grew, but we ignored him and finished paying. Just as we were about to leave, he grabbed my wrist.
I pulled away without hesitation. Without even looking at him, I said to the staff, “Check the ring Mr. Kimball smashed and make sure he pays for it.”
We walked out. I wasn’t surprised when I saw his car following us at a distance. When we got home, I turned to Skylar. “Take the bags up first.”
Chand took that as his chance. He pulled over so fast his tires screeched, then jumped out cutting me off before I could go inside.
His hand reached for me, but I stepped back. “Say what you need to say and make it quick. don’t want my mom seeing this and making a scene.”
His face tensed, that last bit of hope draining from his eyes. He swallowed hard. “Jayla… you know now, don’t you?”
I crossed my arms. “Know what?”
“I didn’t have a choice,” he said, his voice tight. “Her family and mine go way back. It was arranged. I couldn’t just walk away. If I left them, I’d have nothing. And if I had nothing, how was supposed to give you a good life?”
I let out a laugh-sharp, bitter.
“A good life?” I wiped at my eyes, my breath shaking from how hard I was laughing. “That’s funny. Because from where I’m standing, I never got anything from your precious family. Not a damn thing.”
His jaw clenched.
“Do you know what it felt like? Watching you take the money I saved and sent to you, thinking I was supporting someone who actually cared about me? While you sat there, letting everyone call me a homewrecker?”
I exhaled slowly. “You wanted out? Fine. You got what you wanted. I’m done.”
Chand just stood there, completely still. Then, without a word, he turned and ran to his car. When he came back, his arms were full.
New designer bags. A diamond necklace. A dress from this season’s collection. Expensive, dazzling. Things I never got when we were together.
Only now, when we were nothing. And then, finally, he pulled out a piece of paper. A contract.
Chand’s voice cracked a bit as he said, “Jayla, I bought that house.”
He had mentioned it before, but the landlord had always been firm about not selling, saying he was holding onto it for retirement.
I had no idea how Chand convinced him, but honestly, I didn’t care. I took the contract from him
and saw that only my name was on it.
Chand’s face softened, “Jayla, I’ll give you everything you want. I’ll get a divorce as soon as I can. Will you wait for me? We’ll get married and have our own place.”
It was almost comical. He had said the same thing to Sandra, asking her to wait for him to leave me and go back to his family.
Now he was asking me to wait while he left his family and started over with me. It was always about waiting in his story. I didn’t blame Sandra, though, she wasn’t completely wrong.
Chand kept going on, promising a perfect future if I just waited. But the catch was, I had to gamble everything on the future he was promising.
I didn’t respond. I just tore the contract up, piece by piece. I could see the spark in his eyes dim as he watched me.
Skylar came downstairs, Chip in his arms and stood by my side. Without saying a word, he reached out his hand.
I didn’t hesitate. I took it, turned and walked away, not giving the pile of gifts a second glance. For the next few days, I hung out with Skylar. We went to the beach, messing around with water and he even took me surfing. It was nice to just forget everything and enjoy the moment.
