I fell for Travis the moment I saw him. It was a coincidence that I saved him before. Perhaps it was the reason why he agreed to be with me. Despite knowing he wasn't my fated mate, I pursued him relentlessly for four years, even though I knew his preference for obedient women. I molded myself to his liking, yielding to his every whim. Yet, whenever he was with Solana, he showed a tenderness I never knew he possessed.
Solana could be playful, affectionate, and hold his hand—things I had longed to do but never dared. Once, I tried to imitate her playful demeanor, only for Travis to push me away coldly. "Amari, this doesn’t suit you," he said, humiliating me in front of others.
After that, I never attempted to be playful with him again. He never initiated holding my hand, and I always walked a step behind him. Only Solana could stand beside him, and he never refused her touch.
In the eyes of others, Travis and Solana were a couple. He proudly introduced her to everyone. If it weren't for my mother's dying wish and my desperate pleas, our wedding would never have happened.
I looked at Travis in disappointment. This was the man I loved for nearly a decade. What did I ever see in him?
"Apologize?" I repeated, my voice trembling with a mixture of anger and hurt. "You want me to apologize to her after everything you've done?"
He stepped forward, his eyes blazing as he spoke, "We're not doing anything wrong. I'm just taking care of her. Now, apologize!"
For a moment, I considered doing as he asked, but then I looked at Solana, still smirking despite the red mark on her cheek. I realized that apologizing would mean accepting their betrayal, and I couldn't do that. I straightened my back, meeting Travis's gaze with as much strength as I could muster.
"No," I said firmly, my voice steady. "I won't apologize. Not to her, and not to you."
With that, I turned and walked out the door, my heart breaking with every step. But I knew I had to leave. I couldn't stay in a place where my love and loyalty were met with betrayal.
I was determined to leave, to escape the pain and betrayal that suffocated me. But just as I reached the door, Solana whimpered in pain, a sound so pitiful it made my skin crawl. "Travis," she said, her voice dripping with false innocence, "It hurts... Please don't let her get away with this."