Chapter 3 Cecilia's Pov.

Cecilia's Pov.

"Isn't that your ex-husband?"

The words came out of nowhere, jarring me from the quiet haze I had been walking in. I turned slowly, the question hanging in the air like an uninvited guest. The voice had come from a stranger, but there was something all too familiar in the way they spoke. I knew it wasn't a coincidence.

The mall was bustling with people, shoppers hurrying past, the hum of conversation and the clatter of shoes against tile filling the space. I had come here to clear my mind, to escape the constant thoughts of Xander and his betrayal, to try and focus on something-anything-that didn't remind me of how he had moved on so quickly. I needed to do something for myself. I needed a fresh start.

I had been living with my parents since the divorce, and I hated the way I felt-like a burden. They didn't say anything, of course, but I knew they were struggling. My mother had started working more hours to make ends meet, and my father, well, he was always quiet about it, but I could see the stress written across his face.

I had decided to take matters into my own hands, and after much thought, I figured I might start looking for a job. It wasn't much, but it was a way to contribute, to lift some of the weight off their shoulders. So, here I was at the mall, hoping to find something that would allow me to stand on my own two feet again.

But then I saw them.

Xander. And Amelia.

They were standing in the middle of the mall, as if the universe had decided to throw my pain right in front of me. I felt my stomach twist at the sight of them, but it wasn't just that. It was the way Xander looked. The same confident, self-assured expression I had once adored, now a mockery of the man I had known. He was wearing a suit, sharp and perfectly tailored, and Amelia stood next to him, practically glowing in her designer dress, her hand draped possessively over his arm.

For a moment, I stood frozen, trying to make sense of it all. The hurt, the confusion, the memories of what had once been mine, and now, it felt like everything had slipped through my fingers. I had tried to move on, but seeing them together, so effortlessly happy, felt like a slap in the face.

I started to turn away, hoping to disappear into the crowd, but then I heard Amelia's voice-sharp and taunting.

"Oh, look," she said loudly, her tone dripping with mockery. "Isn't that the heartbroken ex-wife?"

My stomach churned, but I couldn't let her see how much her words affected me. I had to be stronger than this. I couldn't let her have the satisfaction of seeing me crumble.

I forced a smile, though it didn't reach my eyes, and I turned back to face her. "Amelia," I said flatly, trying to keep the venom out of my voice. "How lovely to see you."

She smirked, her eyes narrowing. "Oh, I bet you didn't expect this, huh? Seeing us together after all the drama you caused." She glanced at Xander, who stood there silently, his expression unreadable. "But then again, what did you expect? A man like Xander deserves better than someone like you."

I clenched my fists at my sides, struggling to keep my composure. "You don't know anything about me," I replied, my voice barely a whisper of the confidence I once had. "You don't know what I've been through."

"Oh, I know more than you think," she sneered, stepping closer. "You were never enough for him. You were just a little distraction. It's cute that you still think you matter."

Her words stung, more than I cared to admit, but I refused to let her see that. Xander's silence was the worst part. He just stood there, like he was enjoying the show. He wasn't defending me, wasn't saying anything to stop her.

It wasn't even about Amelia. It was about him. He was the one who had abandoned me, the one who had let me go so easily. And now here he was, watching me get humiliated in front of the very woman he had chosen over me.

I tried to hold my ground, but it was hard. Every time I opened my mouth to say something, Amelia cut me off, throwing insult after insult my way. "You know, it's funny," she said, her eyes gleaming with something between amusement and disdain. "I thought you'd be in tears by now. Crying over the man you lost. But instead, here you are, standing all stiff and proud. It's pathetic, really."

I couldn't take it anymore. I was tired of her taunts, tired of being the punching bag for her bitterness. I opened my mouth to speak, but before I could get a word out, she continued, her voice louder now, like she was trying to provoke me.

"You know," she continued with a wicked grin, "I always wondered how long it would take for you to realize you were never enough for him. But look at you, still hanging on, still pretending like you matter."

I felt a surge of anger rise up in me, a fire that I hadn't felt in a long time. "Enough," I said, my voice steady, but my heart racing. "You don't know anything about me. You have no idea what I've been through. And you sure as hell don't know anything about what I meant to Xander."

Her smirk faltered for a split second, but it quickly returned. She glanced over at Xander, who was still standing there, utterly motionless. She seemed to take it as some sort of silent approval.

"Poor Cecilia," she mocked, stepping closer. "Still trying to act like she's got some control. You never had control over him, sweetheart. He was always mine."

I took a deep breath, holding onto the words I had to say. I wasn't going to let her get away with this. Not again. "You think Xander belongs to you?" I asked, my voice cold. "You think you're the one who's going to make him happy? That's rich. The truth is, you'll never have what we had. No matter how much you try to make it seem like it's all perfect, it's not."

I saw her face twitch with anger, and for a brief moment, I thought she might actually take a swing at me. But I didn't care. If she wanted to fight, let her. I was done being the quiet, broken woman who let everything slide.

Then, to my surprise, Xander stepped forward, his voice low and tense. "Amelia, that's enough."

The words were simple, but they hit me like a cold wave. I turned to look at him, and for the first time in what felt like forever, I saw something in his eyes. It wasn't warmth, but it wasn't the indifference I had gotten used to either. There was a flicker of something-something like regret or guilt-but it was gone almost immediately.

Amelia, however, didn't seem to notice. She was too caught up in the idea of winning, of proving that she had control over everything. But Xander's words-his command-caught her off guard. She froze for a moment, her lips parted in surprise.

But she wasn't ready to back down. Not yet.

"I'll decide when it's enough," she hissed, taking another step toward me.

And that's when I realized I was done. I was done with Xander, done with Amelia, done with all of it. I wasn't going to let her tear me down anymore.

"You'll never be me," I spat, my voice sharp and cutting. "No matter how hard you try, you'll never be the woman I was. So keep pretending all you want, but know this-you're never going to win."

Amelia's hand shot up, her palm raised as though she were about to strike me. I braced myself, but before she could make contact, Xander stepped in front of her, his body blocking the blow.

"That's enough," he said firmly, his voice low but commanding.

For a brief moment, everything hung in the air. The tension was thick, like something was about to snap. But it didn't.

Amelia's hand fell to her side, her eyes burning with frustration, but she didn't say another word.

I stood there, breathless, my heart racing.

The world seemed to shift around me, and all I could think was one thing: I was done with this.