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Chapter 55 – I've Had Enough
Amara's POV
I had just taken a sip of my drink when I saw him.
Ethan.
Storming through the restaurant like he owned the world, eyes blazing, jaw clenched — and headed straight for me.
My heart dropped.
Not because I was nervous or flattered.
Because I was furious.
He didn't stop. Didn't blink. Didn't acknowledge Malik sitting right across from me. He reached out, gripped my arm, and muttered, "We need to talk."
"Ethan, what—"
"Now."
Before I could register what was happening, he dragged me up from my seat and out of the restaurant, ignoring Malik's protests, the stares from diners, and the heat of my rising anger.
By the time we were outside, I yanked my arm free.
"What the hell was that?!"
His chest was heaving. His eyes were wild. "I've had enough."
I let out a bitter laugh. "Oh, you've had enough? That's rich coming from the man who slept with me, vanished, and then paraded a new girl around town every week like it was a damn fashion show."
His lips parted slightly, but I didn't stop.
"You ignored me for months, Ethan. You looked through me like I was invisible. And now that you see me happy with someone else, you have the nerve to come storming into my date like you still have a claim over me?"
"I do—" he started.
"No, you don't!" I snapped, pointing a finger at his chest. "You lost the right to me the moment you decided I was just a one-night stand."
He went quiet, his fists curling at his sides.
"Do you know how many times I watched you flirt with other women?" I asked, my voice trembling with suppressed rage. "Do you know how many times I walked past your office and heard moans from the other side of the door? Do you know what it's like to work every day for a man who took everything from you and acted like it never happened?"
"I didn't know what to do—"
"You did," I cut in. "You chose to do nothing. And now you think you can come back and play hero because your ego's bruised seeing me with someone who actually cares?"
He stepped closer, his voice low. "I care."
"No, you don't," I hissed. "You care that I'm no longer begging for your attention. You care that I'm kissing someone who's not you. You care because you're finally losing control."
His eyes darkened, jaw tight. "So that kiss… was it real?"
"It was revenge," I snapped, fire pouring out of me. "I wanted you to see what it felt like. To be on the outside. To be forgotten."
The silence between us cracked with tension.
"I hate what you do to me," I whispered. "I hate that one night with you still lingers in my body like poison. I hate that for weeks, I kept wondering what I did wrong. What I could've done to make you see me."
He stared at me, silent, helpless.
"You don't love me," I said finally. "You just hate that I'm no longer broken over you."
And with that, I turned around and walked back into the restaurant.
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Malik stood up the moment he saw me.
"Hey," he said softly, worry all over his face. "Are you okay?"
I nodded, forcing a breath. "I'm sorry. That shouldn't have happened."
He didn't ask questions. Didn't pry. Just gently reached for my hand and guided me back to our table.
And in that moment, something clicked.
Ethan was chaos. Fire. A storm I kept chasing even when it destroyed me.
But Malik… Malik was calm. Gentle. Safe.
The kind of man who stayed.
Still, a part of me burned with leftover anger.
Because Ethan thought he could waltz back in and claim me the second he saw me move on. Like I was a possession. A toy he forgot until someone else picked it up.
He needed a taste of his own medicine.
And for once, I wasn't going to be the one left crying.
I was going to make him watch.
Watch me smile with Malik. Watch me kiss him like it meant everything. Watch me fall in love with someone else — even if it meant pretending at first. Even if it hurt.
Because I had had enough.
Enough of being the girl who waited.
Enough of being the girl who broke.
It was his turn now.
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