Games Unfold - Chapter 3
1118 Words
Soren – POV
Hazel and Raisel were fast asleep in my guest room, an empty tub of ice cream between them. I stood by the window, gazing at the sprawling city skyline, my drink cold in my hand, though my thoughts were anything but. The night outside seemed to mirror the storm brewing inside me. Raisel didn’t deserve this—none of it. Seeing her tonight, so broken, so humiliated, made my blood boil. She was always the strongest person I knew, kind-hearted and loyal. And Alaric had shattered her without a second thought.
I took a long sip, remembering the past. Raisel had been my rock back in college. When I was bullied, when everyone mocked me for being the nerd, she was the one who stood by me. She gave me the strength to push through, to rise above it. We were inseparable. Then, she fell for Alaric, the charming basketball captain, and I lost her to him. I was happy for her, or at least that’s what I told myself. She deserved love. She deserved happiness. But this? This was not what she deserved.
“Soren.” Hazel’s voice broke through my thoughts, and I turned to see her standing in the doorway, arms crossed, eyes sharp as ever. “Why are you here in New York and not in London?”
I raised an eyebrow. “Not happy to see me, Hazel?”
She frowned. Hazel and I never got along. She was fiercely protective of Raisel, and in her eyes, I was just another threat. She never trusted me, never believed my intentions were pure when it came to Raisel.
“Why are you really here?” she pressed, her gaze unwavering.
“For work,” I answered, though I knew she wouldn’t buy it.
“Bullshit,” Hazel snapped. “You’re here for something else.”
I smirked, taking another sip. “What would that be, Hazel?”
“How did you even end up at the charity event? You never attend these things,” she shot back, her eyes narrowing with suspicion.
I leaned against the wall, feigning nonchalance. “Are you keeping tabs on me? I didn’t know you cared so much.”
“Cut the crap, Soren,” she snapped, her voice sharp. “You’re here for Raisel. You’re trying to worm your way into her heart, just like Alaric did. And we both know how that ended. I won’t let her get hurt again.”
I set my glass down, the smirk fading from my face. “I’m not Alaric,” I said, my voice cold. “I’m not here to manipulate her.”
Hazel’s eyes flashed with anger. “Then why were you there tonight, huh? Just a coincidence? Or was it part of some bigger plan?”
I sighed, tired of the accusations. “Alaric invited me. He wanted to discuss a sponsorship for his new project. I didn’t know he was going to pull that stunt with Davina. If I had, I would have never—”
“You should’ve known better,” Hazel interrupted. “He used you to make it worse for Raisel.”
I clenched my jaw. I despised Alaric for what he did. But Hazel didn’t need to know everything. Not yet.
“Maybe Alaric never loved her,” I muttered, my thoughts dark. “Or maybe he’s just so wrapped up in Davina that he’ll do anything to make her happy, even if it means humiliating Raisel.”
Hazel’s expression shifted, her eyes narrowing as she pieced it together. “Warden’s company is thriving because of all the media attention from tonight. Alaric used Raisel as a pawn to fuel the drama.”
I nodded grimly. “Some people will do anything for fame. Create a scandal, ruin someone’s life—it’s all just part of the game.”
Hazel sighed, rubbing her temples. “And now Raisel’s the one suffering. Your little stunt, pretending to be her boyfriend, has only made things worse. People are calling her a gold digger, Soren. They think she’s using you to climb back up after Alaric.”
“I know,” I admitted, the weight of it sinking in. “But I have a plan.”
Hazel crossed her arms, skeptical. “And what’s that? More drama? More headlines?”
I met her gaze, unflinching. “Alaric isn’t done with Raisel. He’ll keep coming after her, trying to tear her down. If I’m by her side, he’ll think twice. He won’t want the heat.”
Hazel’s eyes flared with anger. “You think Raisel needs you to survive this? She’s stronger than you give her credit for.”
“I know she is,” I said softly. “But Alaric knows her weakness—her love for him. He’ll keep exploiting that unless someone stops him.”
Hazel’s posture softened slightly, though the fire in her eyes remained. “You’re right about that,” she muttered, just as Raisel appeared in the doorway. Her eyes were red, her face pale, and she’d heard everything.
“I am weak when it comes to Alaric,” she said, her voice cracking, but she straightened her shoulders, her chin lifting defiantly. “But I have you two. You’re my family now.”
Hazel wrapped her arms around her, and I nodded in silent agreement. I wasn’t the hugging type, but I understood the gravity of the moment. Raisel needed us. And I would be there.
Later, after Hazel left for work, I noticed Raisel in the kitchen, wearing one of my t-shirts. Her vulnerability mixed with an aura of quiet strength. She turned to me, her soft voice cutting through my thoughts.
“Soren,” she said, her gaze questioning. “Are you sure this whole boyfriend thing makes sense? It feels…off.”
I stepped closer, my expression serious. “Trust me, Raisel. I’m doing this for you. To protect you.”
She bit her lip, her hesitation clear. But eventually, she nodded and signed the contract we had drafted—a year of pretending to be together, a year to bring Alaric’s empire crumbling down.
“I trust you,” she said, her voice barely above a whisper. “Don’t break my trust, Soren.”
“I won’t,” I promised, my heart pounding. She had no idea what I had planned. I wasn’t just here to protect her. I was here to win her heart.
Raisel may have friend-zoned me all those years ago, but I wasn’t going to stay there. Not anymore.
Get ready, Raisel, I thought to myself, watching her walk away. I’m going to show you the love you’ve always deserved.
- Writer
