His Poisoned Love, My Shattered Heart

Faith Frazier POV:

Dale's eyes, still hazy with alcohol, widened as they landed on Jetta's bright red, swollen cheek. A furious anger ignited in his gaze. He rushed forward, shielding Jetta behind him, his body a wall of accusation. "What did you do, Faith?!" he roared, his voice thick with rage. "Are you out of your mind? Attacking her like this?!"

The man who had once vowed to love me forever was now defending Jetta, his eyes blazing with a hatred I had never seen directed at me. My lips curled into a bitter smile. "She's a home-wrecker, Dale," I stated, my voice dangerously calm. I lifted my chin, meeting his furious gaze. "Do you love her, Dale? Tell me. Do you love this pathetic excuse for a woman?"

He flinched, his eyes darting away for a split second. The fury in him seemed to deflate slightly. "Don't be ridiculous, Faith," he murmured, his voice strained. "Not here. Let's go home and talk."

"Home?" I scoffed, a humorless laugh escaping my lips. "You can be intimate with her here, but I can't speak the truth? What a joke." My laughter was a bitter, broken sound.

Dale froze, his face paling. He finally understood. I had seen everything. He took a step towards me, his hand outstretched, a flicker of regret in his eyes. "Faith, let me explain," he began, but Jetta, still sniffling behind him, whispered his name. He hesitated, his hand dropping, his gaze torn between us. "Please," he pleaded, "let's just go home. We can work this out."

"There's nothing to work out," I said, my voice hardening. I slapped his hand away, the sting in my palm a welcome distraction from the pain in my heart. "This is over."

I strode out of the bar, the cold night air a stark contrast to the burning rage within me. I heard his frantic footsteps behind me, then Jetta's soft, pleading cry of his name. I didn't look back. The moon cast a long, lonely shadow beside me as I walked, my heart a barren landscape.

I rushed home, my mind made up. My bags were already packed. I was leaving. Now.

Dale screeched to a halt in his car, bursting through the door just as I was about to leave. He was breathless, frantic. He pulled a diamond ring from his pocket, scrambling to put it on my finger. "Marry me, Faith," he panted, his eyes desperate. "Let's just be together. I promise, everything will be fine."

The diamond glittered, the inside band engraved with our initials, a symbol of a love I once believed in. His face was earnest, and for a fleeting moment, I was transported back to a time when his promises meant everything. But the cold metal on my finger brought me back to the present, to the crushing reality of his betrayal.

I took two steps back, pulling my hand away. The ring flew from my grasp, clattering to the floor. "What exactly is Jetta to you, Dale?" I demanded, my voice trembling.

The ring lay shattered on the marble, a crack running through the diamond. Dale stared at it, then at me, his face twisting with anger. "What are you doing, Faith?! How much longer are you going to keep this up?!" he roared, his voice laced with frustration. "You're being irrational! Jetta's just an intern, she's about to become a full-time employee. You're going to make me hate you!" His voice was icy. "You can't live without me, Faith. You know that."

I cut him off, my voice sharp. "Are you so sure?" I asked, my eyes piercing his. "You were the most important person in my life for ten years, Dale. But I have my own education, my own career. I'm not some clinging vine who can't survive without you." My voice was laced with anger. "Why do you think I can't leave you?"

His breath caught in his throat. He stared at me, disbelief etched on his face. He didn't want to believe it.

My phone screen lit up, a reminder of my flight. He narrowed his eyes, reaching for my phone, a possessive glint in his gaze.