Chapter 675
After a moment of silence, Sarah reached for a pack of cigarettes, rose from the sofa, and turned away to smoke.
Even just observing her back, one could sense the frustration emanating from her.
After what felt like an eternity, Sarah delicately flicked off the ash from her cigarette, her voice hoarse as she uttered, “Anyway, I think it’s time we end things.
We’re just not right for each other.
Consider me heartless, if you will.
And if any disputes arise in the future, simply claim it’s my personal problems and don’t involve him.
”
Ariana absorbed these words, a peculiar unease washing over her.
Once she managed to collect herself, she couldn’t help but notice that something was amiss.
Normally, even in her impulsive moments, Sarah was never the type to play recklessly with someone else’s emotions.
Ariana revisited their past conversations, her eyes coming to rest on the apology message Aziel had sent Sarah.
The timestamp indicated it was the day they were discharged from the hospital following the accident.
It was after receiving that unexpected apology message from Aziel that everything took a wrong turn.
Ariana couldn’t help but recall the events of that fateful day.
The vulgar words, the violent actions, the unsettling DVD, and the horrifying ordeal Sarah had almost endured.
The memory sent shivers down Ariana’s spine.
Looking up at Sarah, Ariana mustered her courage and cautiously inquired, “Sarah, is it because of that night?”
Sarah’s body immediately tensed up, her silence speaking volumes.
Even her smoking came to an abrupt halt, while the falling ashes from her hand danced their way to the ground.
The once-quiet room now seemed suffocatingly still, infused with the lingering scent of tobacco.
Sarah’s fragile figure appeared on the verge of shattering with the slightest touch.
Overwhelmed by Sarah’s vulnerable state, Ariana’s heart ached, and she instinctively wrapped her arms around her from behind.
The moment Ariana’s embrace enveloped Sarah, she felt a solitary tear cascade down her arm.
Then, Sarah’s body trembled ever so slightly, tears streaming down her face as she let out a sob-filled voice, “Ariana, I can’t help but feel that I’m not worthy…”
Ariana’s heart bled for Sarah, consumed by a feeling of overwhelming sorrow.
She firmly turned Sarah’s face, cradling it gently with both hands and spoke with utmost seriousness.
“I will not tolerate your self-deprecation, my dear.
You are a force to be reckoned with, and admired by many.
What distorts your perception of yourself? Is it the haunting memories of that fateful night?”
At the mere mention of that night, Ariana felt Sarah’s tremors, and without hesitation, she enfolded her in a tight embrace, offering solace.
“Don’t worry, it is all in the past.
Those responsible should face the consequences, not you.
You are blameless.
That night holds no power over you.
Theodore has obliterated the damning video.
Everything will be fine.
”
Sarah couldn’t hold back her sobs, burying her face in her hands.
“But I cannot simply move on.
Paranoia grips me relentlessly.
I confine myself indoors, afraid to venture beyond my doorstep, even for a simple takeout or interactions with men.
”
Sarah’s meltdown revealed the agonizing toll her existence had taken.
She lived in constant fear, plagued by sleepless nights and an inability to concentrate.
Though she attempted to lose herself in composing music, the images of that dreadful night played on an endless loop in her mind.
Seeing Sarah’s anguish, Ariana gently patted her back, her eyes glistening with tears.
“I even unconsciously shy away from Aziel’s closeness.
I am terrified of him as well!”
Sarah’s voice trembled as she confessed her deepest fears.
The pain in Aziel’s eyes weighed heavily on her heart, but she found herself unable to bear his physical proximity.
Nestled against Ariana’s chest, Sarah despaired, her voice laced with hopelessness.
“I don’t know how to face him.
It feels helpless.
Perhaps the only choice left is to sever ties with him!”
Ariana, at a loss for words, held Sarah tightly, regret coursing through her veins for not staying with Sarah after that fateful day.
Although she failed to see Sarah in person after Sarah’s hospital treatment, Sarah sounded normal on the phone, leading Ariana to believe that she had recovered.
As such, she failed to notice the lingering trauma Sarah endured.
But dwelling on the past served no purpose.
After Sarah had calmed down, Ariana spoke softly, seeking understanding.
“Does Aziel know the extent of what you’ve been through?”
Sarah shook her head, her voice barely above a whisper.
“I dared not reveal it to him.
I feared he would view me as tainted if he knew.
”
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“How could he!” Ariana’s anger surged, her grip on Sarah’s arm tightening as she spoke with unwavering resolve.
“Moreover, you are not tainted; it is those two criminals who committed that heinous act against you.
”
Sarah acknowledged that, but she could not let go of the damage that had been done to her.
She sat in a haze, her words tinged with sadness.
“I am a single mother in my thirties, burdened by the knowledge of being deceived by a man!”
She took a deep breath, her hands covering her face.
“To make matters worse…
Compromising images of me were once released online!”
Yet, what of Aziel?
Sarah’s heart constricted at the thought of him, her gaze filled with despair.
She continued, her voice laced with anguish, “But Aziel is in his twenties, full of potential, an accomplished entrepreneur with a promising future, blessed with charm and good looks that can get him any girl he desires.
Why would he desire a broken woman like me?”