The next morning at ten, I entered my work building when the lift doors opened. Jared and Aurora White were chuckling but their happiness was short-lived when I entered.

"Ah! Stop doing that, sir! It's annoying! Ms. Amelia! Alpha Jared is being too playful and irritable! Handle him for me!" I heard Aurora's squeaky voice command.

"No. You're on your own." I replied frugally.

"Keep lying about me to everyone and one day, it'll all come back to bite you." Jared said in a tone I hadn't heard in a while. He sounded so soft and vulnerable with her while he always yelled and growled at me.

"The shepherd and tiger story, huh? Well, it won't work for me. Everyone in this building 'loves' me. Im their top supermodel for photoshoots!" Aurora squeaked like a rat.

"Am I right, Amelia? Oh, but you work with clothes. You wouldn't know how a supermodel looks like, right? I can't live a boring life like yours with the beauty I have, haha!" I rolled my eyes. Jared noticed and when we got out of the lift, he grabbed my arm with force and pulled me aside,

"Were you giving attitude just now? Go apologize to Aurora." Said Jared.

"I didn't do anything wrong." I looked over and saw Aurora pouting and refusing to face me. How childish.

"Go apologize. Now." He seethed. The anger dripped out of his teeth.

"She insulted my job. I put the clothes on her skinny body. Remember that." Jared suddenly realized I was in control of the situation and let me go. I walked past them, meeting up with my PA. However, Jared is the chairman of this fashion company and we all work under him. Even Aurora.

"Miss. You've got delivery." My PA knocked and said,

"I didn't order anything." I didn't look up.

"It's from boss." I then lifted my head and saw a small cake box. It sat on my desk for a while until curiosity got the best of me. As I opened it, disappointment flooded me.

'Boss forgot about his fiancée but I like sharing, haha!' There was a note attached inside. The cake was half eaten and I felt myself crumbling.

I decided to throw the cake away and went into the lift. To my dismay, Aurora was there too. Suddenly, the lift started shaking and Aurora clung to me tightly, bringing me down with her! Her fear-stricken actions were shaking the lift even more!

Two minutes of this, and I see a man with rolled up sleeves and a worried face rip the lift doors open. It was Jared,

"Jared, I'm- hurt—" I was about to say, but Jared's attention was fully towards Aurora. I watched her being wheeled away as she kept crying. I was left there to fend for myself when my arm was cut up brutally by Aurora's claws.

I was on the verge of getting another seizure, but who was his priority? Not his fiancee.

In the evening, I was to go back home with Jared, but he never picked up my calls. I got a notification on my social media. The posts were about Aurora in the hospital and everyone who visited her.

'Best employer EVER!'

She captioned. And of course, there was a separate video of Jared holding her hand and caressing it. He was even smiling shamelessly.

Later that night, I was making late dinner when there was a knock at my door.

"Can I ask for a favour?" Jared invited himself in and sat on the couch.

"Make me muffins and pastries. Now." Saying, he switched the TV on and started watching WWE.

"But I'm making my dinner. The counter is occupied." I said rationally.

"Then take my card, go get the necessary groceries and get yourself something too. Don't be stupid." He said and threw his wallet on the TV table. I sighed and did as he barked. Later into midnight, I was damn near exhausted when I stumbled and handed him the muffins and pastries with trembling hands.

"Thanks." He said, but he shot his gaze up and saw my arm covered in bandaids soaked in blood. His gaze softened when he met my eyes.

"You...made them while you were injured? You didn't go to the hospital?"

"I needed a guardian to come with me but no one was there. Everyone went to console Aurora. Is there anything she wants? Ramen, fried dumplings, chocolates? Or my soul?" I said nonchalantly and took over the TV remote.

"That's not nice. I was trying to be empathetic with you." I rolled my eyes.

"I need to sleep. Go deliver them to her."

"How are you so sure they're for her?" He asked. I looked him dead in the eyes and replied,

"In our six years together, I never saw you even touch sweet stuff. You even made my palate shift to sour and spicy even though i suffer from epilepsy." That shut him up real quick and he left.

I was scrolling mindlessly on WhatsApp and tumbled across _MyLove_ chat. I almost forgot that it was Jared's. Even his profile picture boasted Aurora in her new model photoshoot. I quickly changed the contact name to _Loser_ and shut the phone.

[TWO DAYS LATER...]

There was a knock on my cabin which disrupted me.Looking up,I sighed at Jared.He held a box with food in his left hand.

"I visited mom.She made crackers for you because you like them."Jared said.

"Hmm.I'm busy."I said plainly.

"But I texted you.I need your time.We need to discuss about our wedding."Jared was too stupid to take hints.Slamming my pencil to the table,I replied.

"That won't be necessary,"I said coldly.

"Why?"He was confused,which was expected.

"Because the guest list is incomplete.We were too busy for that."I sarcastically said.

"That's fine.We will discuss it over lunch then.Come."Taking my wrist,he dragged me out to an expensive restaurant.

"Give us five oysters,chicken soup with chilli oil and some vanilla ice cream for the lady and an 8oz steak for me.That's it."I sipped on expensive wine as I raised my eyebrow.

"Just steak?For that alpha appetite?"

"I had lunch."He replied,and that shushed me efficiently because I knew who kept him company.

I was scrolling on the phone mindlessly."Who are you talking to?"Jared asked.

"My mom,"I replied monotonously."Okay.Well,I'm going to the bathroom."

"You're not a toddler to inform me."I retorted.He just sighed and went away to do his business.Fifteen minutes turned into half an hour and that turned into an hour.Jared didn't come back.

After paying the bill for our half-eaten food,I got a text from Jared saying,

<Jared:Meet me at the Greenhouse Amusement Park.Right now.Bring tomato-flavoured chips on your way too.>

Jared texted in a commanding tone but I let it go.He must've booked for the evening,forgetting that I had tons of work to do as the chief designer.

"There's your order."I wasn't surprised to see Aurora clinging onto his arm ever so tightly as I got there.Aurora snatched the bag of chips from me and squealed,"Thank you so much!I was out here with my work-husband and thought I'd let you in on the fun too!You've been working your ass off and it pains me to see you—"

"I just came to give the chips.I'm going back to work."Cutting her off abruptly,I turned around to leave.

"If you leave,I'll cut the amount from your paycheck,Amelia."The warning from Jared made me stop in my tracks and I turned around.I knew I was wheeled into a boatload of their drama now.

"Do whatever you want."Giving up never felt so easy.

Jared said he would come back to'teach me a lesson'at my studio apartment.But he will be in for a surprise.Leaving the note and the set of keys on the table,I left the apartment with whatever I could call mine.My luggage fit half of the car trunk and I sped off.

I hope Jared would love his birthday gift the next day.

Hours of drive later,I saw my mom on the porch and ran to her.She embraced me,saying things like,"Oh you've grown so old!I can see you lost weight,my baby!"And so on.She asked me about Jared and I neatly brushed his topic off.

Around late in the night,I was bombarded with texts from the one I'd been expecting.

<Jared:Where the hell are you?Where are all your items?>

<Jared:Don't be a pipsqueak.So what if I gave priority to Aurora,huh?Stop being petty just because she's prettier than you.>

<Jared:Fine.Do whatever you want.But if you're not coming back within two hours I'll track you down.You know me.>

I rolled my eyes.His warning was long in the past.I deleted his contact,switched my phone off and let the slumber take over me.At last,I would sleep peacefully with my tummy full of my mother's homemade food.

The next day was tightly packed in my schedule as I had to look for an apartment and hail a job.My mom sat me down at breakfast and explained,

"Baby,you're my everything.If you need that 47,000$for a down payment,you're taking it from me."

"But that's a lot of money..."I said with tears twirling in my eyes.

"You're my priceless child.My one and old who gave me hope and home after your father left us."She reasoned and I hugged her tightly.

"I'll be the best fashion designer in the country,ma.I love you."I promised her mindfully.

In the evening,I was drained out of life after five interviews and looking at six estates around my neighbourhood.But the smell of cinnamon buns greeted me like a warm hug to the soul.

"Hello,baby!"My mother gently took the bags off of me and hugged me tightly."You're such a big girl now.I'm so proud of...you..."

Her words were fading when she noticed the tears rolling down my cheeks.How long has it been since I've been appreciated?Just told that I'm someone to be proud of...?

Just then,an unexpected message popped up on my screen.

Was it him or her? It was neither of the two I expected.Instead,the stream of messages was from different social media platforms.I clicked on one to get startled at the idiotic collage pictures of Jared and me.

"Ridiculous..."I said under my breath.I excused myself to walk into my bedroom.

I rolled my eyes.It's more like a nightmare than a fantasy in my case.

All the messages were about them extending greetings.I knew who was doing this.This man has stooped so low and messaged everyone personally,inviting them to'our wedding'.However,I kept my cool and quickly went to all these social media platforms.

My status was rather a blow than a gentle breeze to everyone.

Putting the words as my status on all of them,I switched my phone off and made sure Mom didn't view her phone for a day either.

Monday rolled into the calendar sooner than expected.I was called in for three jobs,and I picked the one at my convenience.It was great,they told me to start from the next day and to meanwhile make acquaintances.

My hands were shivering when I opened the door to our CEO's cabin.The manager who stood behind me recalled himself and disappeared.

"G-Good afternoon,sir.I'm the new employee."I introduced myself.I've never seen a man more handsome and well-maintained as Mr.Nicholas Frost.He chuckled my way,"I don't bite,Ms.Amelia.Come and have a seat.Keep me company until your manager remembers about you and comes to pick you up."

His silky voice blew my mind,but I toughened myself up.No more men or dating after what happened with the twisted alpha who was my mate.

Evening came by and the office was closing.Mr Frost was insisting on giving me a ride back home.I politely refused and took the bus home.

As I was entering the apartment,my phone rang and shook me out of my dream world.It was an unknown number.I didn't want to pick it up,but it could be another company trying to offer me a higher stake.

"Hello?"

"Why did you announce to everyone you're single?Bullshit.Take that down.Now."I rolled my eyes.The voice was way too familiar to even contemplate.And no one else dared talk to me like that.

"We're not having the wedding,and I'm saving people's pockets.Get out of my face before I put a restraining order on you.I have enough evidence against you,too."I said,feeling the imaginary sting in my arm.Although it wasn't Jared who did it.

"I don't care,Amelia!You're my mate!You're mine...mine..."he was growling towards the end.I was scared shitless.

"No,Jared.I'm not your mate anymore.I need some time to...to..."The words weren't coming out of my mouth.I was lost in thoughts...

Three years ago,Jared and I were under the stars,just lying on the rooftop.He cupped my fist in the air with his large palm and promised,'You'll always and forever be my mate,Amelia.Any man would be lucky to have you.But I am the luckiest of them all.I can't wait to marry you,traditionally.'

He fed me all those lies,for years.

"Say something,dammit.Hello!?I said we can't break up,you hear me!?I'm coming to track you down and I'll rip the door to shreds-"

"I'm sorry,Jared.

...You hurt me enough.If you love me,please leave me alone."I said and cut the call abruptly.

I took a diversion and ran into an alleyway,wedging myself in the dirty space between two buildings.I've been so strong for my relationship and for myself,but I broke down crying anyway.I felt vulnerable,like a little child without her mother.

That night,I hugged my mother and slept peacefully.

At midnight,the unknown number started bugging me again as the texts read:

Minutes after that text was sent,a picture of Aurora and Jared holding their boarding passes was sent for a one-time view.Aurora was almost sitting on his lap in that pose and she looked so happy.

"So perfect for each other.Losers."

Uttering under my breath,I switched my phone off and turned to cuddle with my mother.