A Scandal With Mr. Nightwood

　　How could he do this to me? Weren't we in love?

　　Tonight, on New Year's, where spirits were high, excitement in the air, my world crashed.

　　My trust, my love, my future, my emotions, everything died when I saw my 'forever' being pressed against the headboard, his hands gripping the hips of my best friend, Amie.

　　"E-Edric?"

　　The room went dead silent.

　　Edric sat upright, his hair a mess, his skin flushed with a heat that wasn't meant for me. He was shocked but not guilty or ashamed.

　　Amie didn't hide either, she simply leaned back, a slow, triumphant smirk spreading across her face.

　　"Kristine," Edric panted, wiping sweat from his brow, "You are early."

　　"Early enough to see the man I love fucking the woman I trusted?"

　　My vision was blurred. A single tear escaped, hot and stinging, trailing through my makeup.

　　"How could you…?" I choked out, tears blurring the sight of them.

　　"I thought... I thought we were building a life together, Edric,"

　　Impotent to carry the pain, the resonance of my sobbing echoed in the beautifully decorated suite yet it didn't bulge the asshole before me.

　　"A life? Together? When did I agree to such an absurd idea?"

　　The cruelty of his statement made me flinch.

　　I thought this was the worst my life could get. Boyfriend cheating on me with my friend on New Year's, right?

　　No. Because in my hands lies a fucking pregnancy test that showed the results 'POSITIVE' in digital ink.

　　I had envisioned this moment a thousand times. The candlelight, the champagne, and the look of pure joy on Edric's face when I told him he was going to be a father.

　　The future I dreamed of building shattered in one moment.

　　What could possibly be more painful than this?

　　"Both of you are assholes," I whimpered, steps stumbling due to overwhelming heartbreak and weakness.

　　"How could you betray me? What have I not done for you? I give you all my assets, my money, my love and this is what I get?"

　　Anguish coated my gray eyes. My black hair was in a mess, glaring outrageously through the salty tears at those two who returned a cocky smirk.

　　"So what? You are just a mess in the end. A pathetic woman. What do you have for me to desire you?"

　　Shaking violently, the papers in my hands almost ripped as my chest constricted with inexplicable heartbreak.

　　Praying, they hold a slightest glimpse of regret in those eyes but to no avail. They were enjoying it.

　　"How can you say this? Weren't we friends, Amie? Weren't we lovers, Edric?"

　　"Exactly. We were."

　　"Go home, Kristine. Find someone on your own level."

　　He laughed when Amie mocked me, purposely tightening her grip on him while pressing herself harder into him.

　　They had zero concern about my ache which flared my chest with the need to do the worst to them. They couldn't get away with this so easily.

　　"One day, you will regret betraying me, you will beg me for forgiveness… just watch!"

　　"You wish,"

　　No, I won't let it.

　　My grieve evoked a strong, uncontrollable wrath in me. They won't be forgiven easily.

　　I looked at the crystal vase on the side table. My mind shut down. I swung.

　　CRACK.

　　The vase shattered against Edric's temple. He slumped instantly, blood blooming across the white sheets.

　　Amie screamed, scrambling back, but I was already at the door.

　　"Happy New Year, assholes," I spat, wiping my useless tears before showing my middle finger to them as I slammed the door behind me

　　After getting my heart ruptured and experiencing a nightmarish start to the year, I was expressing my grief to my best friend Rose at a dimly-lit bar.

　　"How could he do this to me, Rose? What is going to happen to my baby now?" I sobbed, tears streaming down my face without any intention of halting, which I tried to hide in my palm.

　　"I always knew he was a dog, but Amie? That's bottom-tier behavior," Rose shrugged, taking a shot of tequila.

　　"I hope both of them suffer in the worst way possible," I muttered, tightening my grip over my drink, losing my composure.

　　The merest thought was my friend and boyfriend deceiving me for Lord knows how long it was breaking my heart beyond repair.

　　"Come on, Kristine, it's New Year. Maybe this is a sign for you to have a new start. He is not the last man on Earth," she suggested.

　　"Or a sign that my life has reached its lowest point and I have to raise this baby alone," I scoffed, wiping my tears roughly, pouring myself another drink.

　　"Come on, you are Kristine Iglesias, you don't need that man to raise a child," she tried to be optimistic, clicking her glass against mine.

　　"Fuck it, enjoy the New Year,"

　　I was utterly displeased, but soon the alcohol started to blur my perception. I mindlessly agreed in order to subdue the overwhelming pain.

　　Maybe denial will reduce it.

　　"Yeah… you are right… Why should I sob? We don't need a pathetic baby daddy, "

　　I pushed my messy hair, shaking my head to discard the anguish, getting pumped for the night and, surprisingly, it worked as I was immersed in the moment.

　　"You shouldn't drink, you know? You're pregnant, Kristine."

　　"I don't fucking care! I am done being the victim, Rose," I said, slamming my empty glass onto the table.

　　The tequila had finally numbed the sharp edges of my heartbreak, replacing it with a reckless heat.

　　"Good," Rose replied, her eyes darting toward the shadows of the VIP lounge.

　　"Because the most dangerous man in the room hasn't taken his eyes off you for the past twenty minutes."

　　"Who?" I followed her gaze.

　　Sitting in a booth that was carved was the irresistible billionaire who dominated his field like a King and discarded enemies like tissues.

　　Zayne Nightwood.

　　The most bewitching, powerful businessman in the states. Owner of Nightwood Corporation, having chains of airlines, shipments.

　　"Zayne… Nightwood?"

　　Our eyes locked, he raised his glass.

　　Surprisingly, tonight, he didn't look like a businessman, he looked like a predator and his target was me.

　　His breathtaking sapphire ones didn't break contact. Increasing the intensity of the moment, which amplified my heartbeats. I was stiff, staring back at him.

　　"Your ex's mortal enemy. How does that sound like ultimate revenge?"

　　I was shocked at her suggestion but then something wicked knocked in my mind. The alcohol fueled a sudden bravery.

　　I didn't just want to move on.

　　I wanted to burn Edric's world to the ground.

　　"How…" I smirked back, raising my glass too, "Perfect,"

　　I stood up, smoothed my black dress, and walked straight toward the man who made the city tremble. I didn't wait for an invitation. I stepped into his space, my fingers grazing the edge of his table.