Bound by Spite, Tied by Love - 0003_Chapter_3
Chapter 3
Chapter 3 So I Was Never Worthy
There were so many people and so many cameras around, and some live streams had tens of thousands of viewers watching.
He kissed her with such deep affection and tenderness.
Yolanda was just the background, redundant and ridiculous.
“Now, do you still have any doubts?”
Looking angry, Antwan jabbed his finger at the stalkers and reporters.
“Want to hear our love story? Fine. I’ll give it to you right here, right now!
“I’ve had a crush on Jaslyn since middle school. I confessed my feelings after high school graduation. We’ve been in love for eight years! For eight years, I’ve been devoted to her and only her. In this lifetime, I’ll only ever love her!
“I’m going to give her the wedding of the century. Only Jaslyn is worthy of my love. No one else is.”
This grand love confession was witnessed both online and in person by countless people.
The sound of crisp applause rang out, strangely jarring at that moment.
Everyone turned to see who was clapping.
It was Yolanda, in her white coat, with short hair. She was beautiful, composed, and poised.
She smiled as she clapped, and the paparazzi and bystanders followed
C.00%
suit.
Antwan looked at Yolanda, his eyes flickering with a trace of
nervousness.
“Mr. Navarro, your devotion is truly moving. I wish you both the best,” Yolanda said calmly.
Antwan’s face instantly darkened.
“Keep your blessing. We don’t need it!”
With that, Antwan walked off with Jaslyn in his arms.
Once they were gone, paparazzi and bystanders followed. The office finally quieted down.
Yolanda sat down, holding her waist. The spot she had hit earlier was throbbing painfully. She lifted her shirt and saw two large bruises.
Later in the afternoon, just before her shift ended, her phone buzzed. Yolanda checked her phone and found a WhatsApp friend request.
“I’m Brent Odom.”
Brent Odom?
It took Yolanda a moment to recall who Brent was.
They’d only talked over the phone twice. Since they were about to get married, it made sense to add each other on WhatsApp. With that thought, Yolanda accepted the request.
Faced with a blank chat window, she didn’t know what to say. After a moment’s hesitation, she simply exited WhatsApp and packed up to leave.
Yolanda was on day shift today. After she made rounds at the inpatient
department, it was already dark. Just as she was about to hail a cab outside the hospital, a black Maybach pulled up in front of her.
The window rolled down, and Kieran Wilson waved at her with a smile. “Yolanda, Elvis’s bar opens tonight. He specially asked me to pick you up for the celebration.”
Kieran emphasized the word “specially” with a grin.
Kieran and Elvis were Antwan’s childhood buddies and had always been friendly with Yolanda.
For Elvis’s sake, she felt obligated to show up.
After Yolanda got in the car, Kieran handed her a bottle of water.
“I was there too, on Jaslyn’s birthday,” Kieran said, sounding a bit guilty.
Yolanda twisted the cap open and took a few sips. She had seen the video of Jaslyn’s birthday celebration. When Antwan got on one knee to propose, Kieran pumped his fist and shouted, “Marry him! Marry him!”
“That’s like a tradition for Jaslyn’s birthday. I didn’t think it was serious. I guess Antwan didn’t either. Who knew Jaslyn would actually say yes? She had her reasons, but still, it wasn’t fair to you.”
“Thank you for saying it wasn’t fair.”
“Uh… Antwan really is just trying to help Jaslyn.”
“As a friend, if you had to choose between me and Jaslyn, who would you pick?”
Kieran didn’t hesitate. “I’d pick you, of course!”
Yolanda smiled, “Even if you’re just saying that to comfort me, I’m still happy.”
vouchers
Chapter 3 So i Was Never Worthy
Kieran shook his head. “I’m not just saying it. I may have known Jaslyn longer, but I like you more.”
“Mm, that’s why I got in the car when you came to pick me up. But if we’re going to keep in touch, don’t bring up Antwan again. We’ve broken up.”
Kieran stuck out his tongue. “People say all kinds of things when they’re angry. It doesn’t really count.”
Yolanda frowned. So in his eyes, she was just throwing a tantrum. He didn’t believe she and Antwan were really over.
Elvis’s bar was tucked away at the far end of an alley, inside a courtyard house. It was a quiet place, with a small pond sitting peacefully in the courtyard.
Kieran pointed her toward a room on the far east side before running off to the restroom.
Yolanda walked up to the door and was about to push it open when she heard Antwan snarl inside.
“Elvis, can you shut up already? She’s the one who wants to break up, not
me!”
Elvis sighed, “Still, you’re in the wrong this time.”
“Jaslyn is in trouble. Am I supposed to just not help her?”
“But Yolanda –
“Yolanda’s nothing. How could she possibly compare to Jaslyn?”
“One day, you’re going to regret this!”
“She’s the one who will regret it. Every time Jaslyn needed me, Yolanda
picked a fight and said she wanted to break up, but she always crawled back, begging to make up. This time is no different. She’ll come around.”
“Enough. You’re lucky Yolanda even loves you. But no matter how deep that love is, it’ll run dry one day. I got you a bouquet of roses. You better take them and apologize to Yolanda when she gets here.”
Yolanda took a deep breath and pushed the door open.
Elvis quickly stood up to greet her, “Yolanda! I’m so glad you came.”
Knowing it was Elvis’s bar’s grand opening, she had prepared a lucky cat ornament as a gift.
“I brought you a gift,” she said as she handed it over.
Elvis accepted it. “Thanks.”
He shot a glance toward Antwan before turning back to Yolanda. “Take a seat. I’m going to entertain the guests outside.”
“I can’t stay.” Yolanda followed Elvis out. “I’ll come back another day.”
“Yolanda
–!
“I appreciate your intention to help.”
With that, she gave Elvis an apologetic smile and turned to leave.
But just as she reached the door, Antwan chased after her. “Yolanda, are you done throwing a tantrum?”
Yolanda ignored him and kept walking.
“I already explained everything. Don’t push your luck!”
Antwan blocked her way, looking impatient.
70 71
Yolanda glanced at Antwan and sneered, “I heard every word you just said in that room. All this time, I was the pathetic one who thought I was good enough for you. I was wrong. These past eight years were the price I paid for being blind. But I won’t make that mistake again.”
Yolanda turned to leave, but Antwan grabbed her wrist, staring at her intently.
“Do you really want to do this?”
“Let go of me!”
Antwan held Yolanda’s wrist harder, rage burning in his eyes.
But a moment later, he abruptly started dragging her toward his car.
“Antwan, I’m not getting in your car!”
“We’re going home.”
“No!”
“I must’ve neglected you a lot for you to bring up breaking up with me. Tonight, I’ll make it up to you. Not just tonight, in the next couple of days, you won’t even be able to get out of bed,”