CHAPTER 33: Hurtful Truth

CLAIRE’s P.O.V.

As I rushed through the hallways of the hospital, I can’t help but to feel the guilt because of what happened to Darren. This is all my fault. If only I’ve told him earlier, maybe he wouldn’t be surprised when Kate humiliated me in front of those crazy rich people.

The flashing white lights of the hospital building is making me dizzy, thought I ignored it. I kept looking for someone I know, but I couldn’t see anyone. Until I decided to rushed into the emergency room hoping that Darren is still there. I calmed down as soon as I saw Elijah, standing next to the door of the emergency room.

“Claire! Thank goodness you came!” he exclaimed.

“What happened?” I asked, worried.

“Darren has been in a car accident. It’s not that severe, and he’s still in his consciousness. Though he’s Dad wanted you to come here.”

“I want to see him.”

“He’s inside.”

I took several deep breaths, before entering into the room. There, I saw Darren with his head covered in blood and some bandages. He’s still wearing the same exact white suit that he used at the party earlier, only emphasizing the red, oozing liquid from his head.

“Claire. Thank you for coming,” his Dad stated.

“What the fuck is she doing here?!” Darren asked, obvious to the fact that he didn’t want to see me here.

“D-Darren... I’m s-sorry. This is all my f-fault.” Tears began to stream down on my cheeks again.

“Hell yeah! This is all your fault!” he shouted to my face.

“Darren, that’s enough,” Mr. Herrera stated.

Darren shook his head to his father before glaring at me. I was badly hurt, but I couldn’t complain. Every dead dropping stare that I received from him, it causes my heart to shattered into pieces.

“Please make her leave, Dad. I don’t want to see her face ever again,” he told to his father. “And you...” He look at me. “You heard me, right? Please do me a favor and get out of here. Get out of my fucking life!”

I swallowed a lump in my throat, then nodded. I tried not to let my sobs out, but I couldn’t hold it anymore. I ran outside of the room, only to find out that Elijah wasn’t there anymore. I sat down on the cold floor, feeling every bits of pain in my system. How could he ended us just like that? He didn’t bother to listen to me, and now he doesn’t even want to see my face anymore.

A few minutes passed, the doors swing open and Mr. Herrera stepped out of the room. He looked down at me, before kneeling on the ground.

“Claire... Are you alright? I’m very sorry for what happened.”

I face him, afraid to see a mad person because we lied to him. But he wasn’t. He looked surprisingly worried about me. I’m trembling badly, feeling terrible for what I have done to this man in front of me. I realized that he’s not that bad after all.

“I’m sorry, Mr. Herrera... I’m sorry I lied to you. I just... I didn’t know what to do anymore. My father was sick and I need the money for his operation, that’s why I accepted your son’s offer. I didn’t mean to caused any harm to you...”

“That’s fine, Claire. I understand you. I know Darren will do anything for the company... But after a while, he wasn’t paying any attention to it. He said that he wanted nothing but to be a good husband for you... That moment, I instantly knew that he realized that he loves you so much, and he’s ready to give up everything.”

“But I made a mistake, Mr. Herrera. Now he doesn’t want to believe me anymore.”

“No, Claire. I knew he’s still into you. I wanted you to be here for him because I’m hoping that you’ll forgive each other... But I was wrong. Please, do me a favor, child.”

“What is it?” I asked, wiping my tears away.

“Don’t give up on my son. Please don’t believe anything that he said. I knew he’s just lying. I don’t want to see him as miserable as before after his mother died.”

“But... Mr. Herrera, I’m afraid I can’t do that. I can’t stay here anymore if he keeps on pushing me away like this...”

“Pain makes everything real. Please, Claire. I don’t want to be selfish but I need to ask you this for my son...”

He’s begging, but this time, I have to put myself first. I need to fix everything before loving someone else again.

“I’m sorry, Mr. Herrera. I just... I can’t.”

“Wait! Claire!” he shouted as I stood up and run.

I came back home, not realizing what our Dad’s reaction is going to be. But he didn’t mind me. He just continue watching his favorite show and let me rest into my room. I changed into my normal clothes before laying down on my bed.

Is this how painful love is? That night, I weep and cry endlessly. I promised to myself to never shed even just a single bead of tear from now on. I should be tough. I will be tough.

Weeks passed. Grandma called us again telling that we can already leave the country. Alexa was partially sad though, but I can also see the excitement in her eyes. I also started to fix everything about work and some paper stuffs. Elijah took a leave for apparently no reason that’s why I couldn’t tell him about this. I finally made up my decision. We’ll be leaving this country soon and start a new life abroad.

“So, have you already chose what stuffs are you going to bring?” Dad asked to Alexa.

“I don’t know, Dad. I hope I don’t have to choose between all of these stuffs. Darren gave it to me and I don’t want to leave it here,” she stated as she pouted her lips.

I was frozen, stuck at that thought where Alexa said Darren’s name. I feel anxious and nausea at the same time, wanting to just lay down and take a rest.

“Are you alright, Claire?” Dad asked worried.

“Y-yeah.”

“You look pale. Are you sick?” Alexa walk towards me to give me a hug. It felt nice and warm for a moment.

“I’m fine, promise. And hey, you can bring everything that you want. We won’t be coming back here so it’s better to be safe than sorry, right?”

“We won’t... Come back? How about Darren?” she asked melancholically.

“Uhm...” I trailed off.

“He has some better things to do and he doesn’t need your sister anymore,” Dad told her, his voice was full of authority.

Alexa pouted, looking sad. This is the moment I’ve been scared of since the very beginning. I don’t want Alexa to be affected of what happened to the both of us.

“Aren’t you going to tell him about this, Claire? Or even bid a single goodbye?”

“I don’t know...”

“Please do it. And when you saw him, tell him that I will miss him so much. He’s like a big brother to me, you know.”

I looked at Dad first, and he nodded at me in approval. I smiled to Alexa making her face lit up.

“I’ll wake you up tomorrow morning!” She beamed.

“Sure.”

The night passed by so quickly. The next thing I know, I’m already walking towards Darren’s office inside of the Herrera Corp. I wasn’t save from the awful and judgmental stares of the people looking at me.

I’m nearly at his office when I saw an unexpected person, walking towards the opposite direction causing our eyes to met.

“You’re here,” Kate blankly stated.

“Kate.”

“How dare you show your face inside of this building... You are unbelievable, Claire. I’m so amazed that you still have the courage to step in here after what happened. ”

“I don’t want a fight, Kate. So please, just please. Stop making a scene here.”

She chuckled sarcastically, clapping her hands on the empty air.

“Wow, wow, wow... Jus wow, Claire! So it’s me who’s making a scene here? I think it was probably you, Claire. I wouldn’t have said anything in the first place if you didn’t came here. So logically, it’s your fault. Just seeing your face makes me sick.”

“I didn’t came here for you, Kate. I came here for Darren.”

“Oh. So you’re here to seduce my fiancé again, huh?” she asked, raising one of her brows.

I felt like something hit my chest very hard. Hearing those words coming from her, it’s making my heart sinks in pain.

“F-fiancé?”

“Hmm... Why do you look surprised? So, you didn’t know? Poor thing. Darren decided to marry me so that he could finally get this company. He finally woke up from the nightmare you gave him and realized that he’s better with me instead.”

“T-that’s n-not true...” I trailed off, trying to suppress my tears.

“Why are you crying? Truth hurts, isn’t it?” She leaned on to whisper those words to me. “In the end, he chose a better woman. He chose me over you.”

“He just chose you for the sake of their company, and not because he loves you,” I fired back, trying to look brave.

Her brows furrowed because of my response.

“Who the hell do you think you are?! You are nothing but a rented woman, Claire. Always keep that in mind. And that will never change. Oh, and by the way, Darren will only lead Herrera Corp. after he bear a child with me. So I’m warning you now, old best friend. Stop getting into my way.”

I blinked several times, causing my tears to fall down from my eyes. I promised to myself never to cry again if it was for him. But I failed. I just did, and that is because I love him. That’s the hurtful truth. The truth that would never set me free.

I saw Kate looked at me from head to toe before she started to walk away from my direction. But before she leave, she whispered something into my left ear. Something that caused a guilt to my system.

“Now we’re even.”