Taking Back My Love

After years of bullying me and even causing my grandmother's death, Jenna Sanders has finally had her life torn apart by Raymond Campbell.

She can no longer hurt me, and I slowly move past my trauma with Raymond's guidance and help.

I think it's finally time for me to be happy when I overhear his conversation with his friend.

"You and Xyla are going to get married soon. When are you going to break things off with Jenna?"

Raymond sounds disdainful. "She's nothing but something for me to pass the time! She's so evil that merely ruining her life isn't enough. I want her to be my filthy plaything and wish she were dead. That's my punishment for her!"

His eyes gleam with anger and hatred toward Jenna, but my hand falls to my side. I no longer want to open the door, and my blood runs cold.

The love I thought was pure turns out to be tainted by filth and cruelty. If that's all it is, I don't want it anymore.

Hans Jarvis, Raymond Campbell's good friend, still seemed uneasy. "Listen, as your friend, I seriously think you should kick Jenna out of Havensport sooner rather than later. You know how much Xyla despises her. If she ever finds out Jenna's still around, she'll never forgive you!"

Raymond gave him a light pat on the shoulder and responded, "Relax. I'll deal with her after our wedding. Once I'm married to Xy, I'll make sure Jenna's gone for good. I don't want her to ruin Xy's mood during our big day."

Hans hesitated for a moment before asking, "You're not… catching feelings for Jenna, are you? Is that why you're keeping her around?"

Raymond's expression twisted with undisguised hatred. His voice was harsh and laced with venom as he said, "Me? Feel something for her? Are you kidding? Jenna almost destroyed Xy; she left her weak and sickly… I hate her! I hate her so much I want to tear her apart!

"I can't bring myself to be rough with Xy, so I can only take out all my desires on Jenna. She deserves every bit of it for what she did to Xy. I want to make her feel the full weight of what happens when she messed with Xy!"

Hans looked like he wanted to say something else, but one glance at Raymond's twisted expression shut him up. He sighed and backed off.

Raymond, still fuming, pulled out his phone and made a call. "You have ten minutes. Get to my office on the top floor. Also, you're only allowed to take the stairs. Don't you dare use the elevator!"

By the time I came back to my senses, I'd clenched my hands so tightly my nail had snapped in half. Blood was slowly seeping from the tear in my skin. But even that pain was nothing compared to the way my chest ached. It was almost as if someone had reached in and ripped my heart apart.

After hanging up, Raymond stepped out of his office. When he saw me, his whole face lit up. "Xy! Did you come to pick me up from work today?"

He strode over and pulled me into his arms. "I've still got a bit to finish up. Let me book you a facial nearby, and I'll be right there with you as soon as you're done! It's perfect timing. Our wedding is just a few days away. You're going to be the most breathtaking woman in the room, Xy!"

He reserved a private suite for me at a luxury spa, took me down in the elevator, and had my favorite pastries brought to me. With him, it always felt like I didn't need to lift a finger; all I had to do was sit pretty and enjoy being his princess.

If I hadn't overheard their conversation with my own ears, I would've still believed I was living in a fairytale.

Raymond planted a soft kiss on my forehead with an apologetic look on his face. After he went back inside, I followed and hid just around the corner of his office.

Right then, Jenna walked into Raymond's office. That face—I'd recognize it even if it were turned to ash.

She stripped off her janitor's uniform, and the arrogance and malice she once wore were now completely gone. Her face was pale, drained, worn down from the stairs she'd been forced to climb.

Back when Raymond avenged me by taking down Sanders Group, he told me that Jenna had been banished from Havensport, left to rot who knows where. And I believed him. I never saw her again… until now.

Turns out she wasn't gone. He'd stashed her away in the lowest rung of his company… as a janitor.

The elevator went straight to his office. But he made her take the stairs. If he wanted, we would've never crossed paths.

Raymond yanked her uniform off and jumped right into it without any foreplay.

Jenna's cries for mercy filled the room. "It hurts!"

He let out a cold, derisive chuckle. The veins on his temple bulged as he grabbed a fistful of her hair and yanked her head back violently. "Oh, now you know what pain feels like? Where was that when you were hurting Xy, you worthless bully? The more you scream, the rougher I'll get with you!"

Jenna fell silent, but her choked sobs still echoed through the room like nails driving into my soul. I squeezed my eyes shut. My knees felt weak, and I couldn't get myself out of there.

Why her? Why did it have to be her?