Broken Strings

C H A P T E R T W E L V E

But still she was always aware of his true feelings. Because he always loved Anisha. He was good at hiding how he really felt. He was good at lying about how much pain he really was in.

And when she looked closely at him, she could often see the things that were tearing him apart inside. She could see how each day was a constant struggle for him, for him to decide what he wanted and didn't want.

But still, she had really thought that maybe he would give her chance. A chance to be his first choice.

"Fuck. I don't fucking love you. I told you before that all I wanted was someone to be there when my wife wasn't." And his voice was cold and hard. Because he had made a mess of things. And he had no idea how to even start to fix the many mistakes he had made.

"Anisha this. Anisha that. What does she have that I don't?" She was screaming now. And she hated him. She also hated herself, for falling in love with him. "What does Anisha fucking have that I don't?"

Amanda wanted him to love her, just once.

She just wanted to be his first choice. His only choice.

"What about me? What about us?" Her voice still held a hint of hope to it. Because maybe, just maybe he would still agree to be with her.

That he'd still be willing to keep her around. But then again, she didn't want to his second choice anymore.

She wanted to be his first choice.

"I don't think it's worth it anymore. I'm sorry." He awkwardly stuffed his hands into his pockets and stared at the stars.

He loved Anisha. He always had. And it was damn time, he start showing it.

Because he had already lost enough. Because he had already suffered enough. Because his mistakes had already cost him enough. But not anymore.

"We're done Amanda." He shook his head and looked at her.

But he had made it clear from the start that he wasn't looking for love. He already had someone he loved.

He felt bad, kind of. But he wasn't dumb. He knew the exact reason why Amanda had even pursued him in the first place. He knew the reason why Amanda had been interested in him, despite the fact he was already promised to another woman.

Because at first, it had been about the money in his bank account. It had been about his last name. But he hadn't ever expected her to fall in love with him. And he didn't want her to love him.

Because he never could love her back.

He waited for her to say something but the hope in her eyes was destroying him.

Because he couldn't help but remember the many days Anisha had looked at him with that kind of hope. With a shimmer of hope and he had hurt her.

And now, Amanda was hurting just as much.

For some reason, she wanted to hurt Andrew. Because Anisha didn't deserve him. He could do far better than someone like Anisha.

And Amanda, she just wanted to be loved.

She was resentful now. Because he didn't love her. Even after everything she had done to tear him apart from his wife.

She gave him a cunning smile, suppressing her feelings and rebuilding the bitchy and rude facade. Because he couldn't get rid of her just yet. Because he was supposed to hate his wife. Because he was supposed to pick her over his wife.

And Amanda never ever did regret lying to Andrew about what really happened to his sister.

And she wasn't going to let him walk away so easily now. Because the last thing she wanted was a broken heart.