Page 12 of Broken Destiny

Were they all lies? Were all her words tainted with deceit?

The questions orbited endlessly in my mind as I recalled every moment of subterfuge in our relationship.

Nothing could make me forget her.

And truthfully, I didn’t want to.

As the months passed, the pain in my chest never lessened. Time moved forward, yet my heart remained stuck in the same place.

I couldn’t move on.

Her pictures were still saved on my phone, her gifts remained in my closet, and her final letter stayed tucked inside my wallet, folded neatly, carried with me everywhere as though it were a lifeline I couldn’t bring myself to release.

I had tried to drown the pain.

Alcohol didn’t help.

Drugs didn’t help.

Nothing helped.

Memories of her returned in flashes—her scent, her smile, her eyes, her lips… and her lies.

I walked back into the bedroom where Tatiana had already laid out my suit on the bed, every detail perfectly arranged—jacket pressed, tie aligned, cufflinks placed precisely where they belonged.

Everything looked flawless, controlled, and predictable.

Just like the life I was supposed to walk into.

I stepped into the bathroom, and after a quick shower and brushing my teeth, I stood in front of the mirror in my walk-in closet and began to get ready.

As I buttoned my shirt, my thoughts drifted backward, to the first time I had met Tatiana.

Entering the bar at the Lexington Hotel in mid-June of 2014—the same hotel where I had worked with Nyah—she had caught my attention immediately.

A stunning woman with bold red lips and a hot pink dress stood near the counter. Confidence radiated from her like heat from an open flame.

“Can I buy you another drink?” I had asked, walking up to her.

“Thought you would come up with something better than that,” she replied, fluttering her lashes as she took a slow sip from her glass, amusement dancing in her eyes.

I knew I was going to have to work to win her over. Was she even worth the effort?

As I debated whether I wanted to pursue her or walk away, she twirled a strand of her blonde hair around her finger, watching me.

“Gosh!” she teased. “If it takes you that long to come up with something new, I think I’ll take that drink after all.”

That had been the beginning of my scandalous relationship with Tatiana Myers—the daughter of Richard Myers, a powerful business tycoon in the import-export market. Spending nights together had filled the empty spaces in my life, dulling the loneliness.

At first, it had been nothing more than physical attraction… a distraction… a temporary escape. But over time, what started behind closed doors gradually turned into something more complicated—something that looked like a relationship, even if it lacked the depth I once believed love required.

Now, standing in front of the mirror after putting on my jacket, I studied my reflection carefully, adjusting the collar as though perfection on the outside might quiet the chaos inside.

Tatiana stepped up behind me, her heels clicking softly against the floor.

“God! You smell amazing,” she murmured, wrapping her arms around my waist and pressing her face against my neck.

The scent of her perfume drifted into my senses.