Chapter 26 A Joke

Aaron shot a fierce glare in Sabrina's direction. What had started as a routine lunch outing had taken an unexpected and horrifying turn. He had been ambushed, his head covered, and forcefully dragged into a dark alley where his assailants subjected him to a brutal and relentless beating. The violence had been so savage that it had brought him perilously close to death's doorstep. In stark contrast, Sabrina appeared immaculate in her sophisticated business attire, her hair elegantly styled. Aaron, on the other hand, was a stark contrast, covered in filth and dirt. He had transformed from the talented and refined individual he once was into a wretched figure resembling a beggar beneath a bridge. Passersby, upon catching sight of Aaron, couldn't hide their expressions of repulsion, and they deliberately distanced themselves, shunning any connection with him. With every judgmental stare that bore into him, Aaron's fury intensified, his resentment building beneath the weight of those harsh glares. He was utterly convinced that Sabrina had orchestrated the attack as an act of revenge. He bitterly regretted extending any semblance of courtesy to Sabrina during their previous confrontation at the company. Had he foreseen her retaliation would take such a vicious form, he would have shown her no mercy. Now, as Sabrina approached, Aaron raised his arm without hesitation, poised to strike her in a fit of rage. Yet, the moment Sabrina caught sight of Aaron, she swiftly retreated back into the sanctuary of the company building. Aaron's raised arm met nothing but empty air, and the force of his swing nearly sent him stumbling to the ground. "You wretch! If not for you, how could I have ended up like this? You're going to pay for this!" Aaron seethed with anger, his voice filled with venom. Alan's purpose in coming here today was twofold: to completely destroy Sabrina's reputation and to secure substantial compensation from her. Sabrina burst into laughter. "Aaron, are you delusional? Your own actions have led you to this sorry state. If you hadn't recklessly toyed with my emotions and caused trouble at the company, do you think you would be in this state today? I have no idea who attacked you, but if I did, I would definitely thank them. People like you are truly disgusting." "Playing the victim as always, huh? Are you saying you didn’t hire some people to fuck me up like this?" Sabrina scoffed, her gaze unwavering. "Are you joking? If I were the one behind this attack, you wouldn't be standing here before me; you'd be lying in a hospital bed right now!" Only the heavens knew just how much Sabrina loathed Aaron. They had been together for two years, and during that time, Sabrina had taken their relationship seriously. Now, she felt nothing but anger and regret. Sadly, no amount of regret could change the past. The relationship with Aaron had turned into a source of shame for Sabrina. Yet, Aaron kept reappearing in her life. This was certainly testing Sabrina's patience. Although Aaron was furious, he hadn't lost all sense of logic. He knew that he had hurt Sabrina deeply. He thought about what she said and realized the truth of her words. If she decided to take revenge, he would probably be better off dead. But if Sabrina didn't order the attack on him, then who did? Just then, Nina walked out of the office building. Her initial surprise at the sight of Aaron soon gave way to a triumphant smile. Deep within her, she relished the thought, 'Serves him right for deceiving me and ensnaring me in this web of trouble! In fact, I should have insisted they delivered a more severe beating!' "It's you, Nina! You did this to me!" Aaron's accusation rang out in frustration. If Sabrina wasn't responsible for the attack, then the only remaining possibility was Nina. Nina strolled over to Sabrina's side, casting a brief glance at Sabrina before turning her attention to Aaron. Despite the intense anger she felt toward Aaron, his good looks still made her heart flutter. However, the present Nina had seen through Aaron's true nature, which is why she now despised their past together. "Yeah, you're right, I had someone rough you up, but it's a shame they didn't go even harder," Nina retorted with a malicious grin. Aaron seethed with anger, tears welling up in his eyes as he looked at Nina. He was both furious and heartbroken. While Aaron had little emotional attachment to Sabrina, viewing her as a means to an end, his feelings for Nina were genuine. "Why did you do it? I love you so much. I was willing to be with you, to give up everything for you, to give you everything you wanted!" Nina's reply was pointed. "But what does that even mean? You gave up everything and now you have nothing. Are you even sure that what you have now is truly yours?" Aaron considered himself exceptional, a genius even. He believed that his current hardships were just life's tests. If he could pass these tests, he would rise above others, and gain wealth and power beyond imagination. What he failed to grasp was that everything he had now was given to him by others. Sabrina had done him numerous favors, including helping him secure his job. In his arrogance, Aaron had come to believe that he was indispensable to the world. But others saw it differently. To them, Aaron had always been a joke. Nina took a deep breath and tried to soften her expression. "Aaron, have some dignity. Never show up in front of me again!" With that, Nina brushed past Aaron, her departure leaving no room for doubt that she was truly disgusted with him. Nevertheless, her past actions had not been forgotten, and many still regarded her with mocking and contemptuous looks. Aaron grew anxious, and he chased after Nina. Watching them leave, Sabrina stood in silence, overwhelmed by a bitter emptiness. It wasn't because Aaron didn't like her anymore or because she still harbored feelings for him. Rather, it was the stark realization that all her dedication and sacrifice to their two-year relationship had turned into a cruel joke. And despite her tireless efforts, Aaron's feelings for her paled in comparison to those he harbored for Nina. She had been blind to the mess she was entangled in, only realizing its true extent when she finally extricated herself. With each step away from the company, Sabrina felt a suffocating weight, her burdens growing heavier with each stride.