Falling for my Ex-Fiancee’s Best friend

“Who took him, Harriet? What has my father done?” Demelza inquired, terror flashing in her eyes.

“It’s that bastard boy, Hampton. He said he was going to punish him for your sins.” Harriet grabbed Demelza’s hands, her body shaking. “We have to do something to save your father. He didn’t do anything…”

Mr. Thorpes married Harriet after the death of Demelza’s mother when she was seven years old. Since then, Harriet has loved Demelza and taken care of her like her own. They were not a wealthy family, but they could afford bread, shelter, and clothes and were content.

Demelza’s blood boiled in rage, not believing Hampton would dare want to hurt her family after what he did to her. After everything she had done for him. He broke her heart and now he wanted to destroy her family?

“He is an ungrateful wretch, that boy!” Screamed Harriet, falling back on the couch to sob. “I thought he was a good lad, but see what he has done.”

Demelza gritted her teeth, tears piling in her eyes which she tried so hard to hide from her stepmother. She scoured her head for why Hampton would do this to her, but nothing came to mind. She flopped down beside Harriet and took her shoulder, hugging her. “I’m going to sort this, Harriet, I promise you.” She worked hard to keep her voice from breaking down.

“Oh, my poor child, we don’t even have money to go against him.”

“I know, Harriet, but I will find a way around it.” They stayed like that for some time until Harriet quietened down before Demelza stood up and bade her goodnight.

Instead of going to bed, she left the house and went to Hampton’s penthouse- knowing she had to speak to him and know what he wanted.

His butler opened the door, pity gleaming in his eyes when he saw Demelza. She smiled at him and crossed the threshold. “Where’s Hampton?”

“Uhm, in his study, ma’am. Alone.” He stressed the last part as if to tell her it was alright to go up there.

Summoning courage, Demelza climbed the gold-finished spiraling stairs she was familiar with and had come to get used to… until this evening.

“I knew you would come, sweetheart,” Hampton conveyed the minute she walked in. He was sitting behind his desk, nursing a glass of ale, the handsome face she once used to die for altered in a smile that now nauseated her.

“What do you want from me, Hampton? You betrayed me, why are you trying to ruin my family?” She had vowed not to cry for him, but the moment the words were out, a single tear slid down her face. How come she never saw through this monster for five good years?

He took his time appraising her, then stood and trudged to her, dropping his ale on the desk to scoop her face, leaning into her. “You think you can walk away from me just like that?”

“What do you mean, Hampton?” She slapped his hands away. “You betrayed me, remember? I saw you fucking a girl you said was your family friend. I heard everything you said to her, Hampton. You used me. You are getting married to her! why, Hampton? What have I done to deserve this ill-treatment from you?”

“Because I love her, Demelza,” He spat, glaring coldly at her. “Are you satisfied now?”

Her heart lurched in pain at how insensitive he was. “You are a monster.”

“I don’t care what you think, sweetheart. I found the perfect girl for me and I am going to keep her and guess what?” He stalked closer until he was a breath away from Demelza whose chest was heaving in rage. He bent down to her right ear to whisper, “I’m going to keep you too.”

“Never!” She pushed him away, relenting to the flood of tears that gushed down her face.

He scoffed. “Oh, you are going to give in and become my mistress, honey, or else… I will make sure you never see that your wretched father ever again.” The end of his words was animated, making terror grip Demelza.

“Why are you doing this, Hampton?”

His face broke out in a wry grin as he shrugged and went back to his former position. “Because I can, Demelza. Can’t you see it?” He spread his hands egoistically. “The ball is now in your court, baby.”

“You need help!” She sneered. “I am going to hire a lawyer for my father.”

His grin broadened. “Go ahead, princess. Don’t forget my best friend is the best lawyer in this country and he is on my side.”

Demelza gasped, “I will never be your mistress, Hampton. I promise you that.” With that, she turned and marched out of the room.

~~~

Demelza didn’t sleep that night, or the next day. She kept thinking of what to do to help her father. She contemplated going to see Nathan and beg for his help again, but when she recalled what Hampton said, she lost hope and ended up holding back. On the third day after seeing her stepmother dejected and forlorn, she decided she was going to take her chance with Nathan, no matter the cost. She knew what he wanted from her and was willing to trade it for the freedom of her father.

So, she dressed in a red appealing gown and went to his firm. Inside the multimillion-dollars edifice, she made her way to the receptionist. “Hi, my name is Demelza Thorpes and I’m here to see Mr. Nathan Storms,” She stated with a charming smile.

“Do you have an appointment?” The female asked haughtily, apparently not pleased to see Demelza.

Demelza shook her head, her hand beginning to sweat. She kept dragging down her gown uneasily, already starting to regret her act. Of course, it would be impossible to see a prestigious man like Nathan without an appointment. What was she thinking?Nôvel(D)ra/ma.Org exclusive © material.

“I-I forgot to tell you but Nathan and I are… acquaintances and I merely wish to surprise him,” She lied.

“I’m sorry, Miss, Mr. Storms is a very busy man, and even as we speak he is out for a meeting with the prime minister. You will have to leave now if you don’t mind.”

Demelza almost teared up again, but bit down on her tongue. She opened her mouth to plead but the lady had picked up the phone and seemed to be speaking to the security so Demelza hastily made her way out.

Just as she left the building, her face down in melancholy, she didn’t see the car coming in front of her until it honked loudly. She jumped back, snapping her face up to see Nathan coming out of the car, his eyes cold as he scowled at her before walking round to the other side to open the door and a lady stepped out, looking unbelievably gorgeous. The lady smiled elegantly at Nathan as she took his arm and they walked into the building.

He didn’t even spare Demelza a glance.

Demelza watched them in humiliation, ashamed she had ever imagined she would even catch the attention of a man such as Nathan. Look at the kind of women he liked; Elegant, wealthy, and poised. She couldn’t compare. Her father was definitely going to rot in jail because of her.

Someone cleared their throat beside her and Demelza quivered, flipping around to lose her tongue on him when she saw Nathan, standing there, his expression unreadable as he drawled cockily, “I didn’t think you would give in so soon, Miss Thorpes.”

…