"I said I never slept with anyone except Ryan." she screamed, frustration dripping from her voice.

I retreated some steps, blinking hard at her sitting figure. It took my drunken mind some time to understand her words and when I did, I chuckled humorlessly.

"You are lying." I claimed.

"I am not a liar." she defended herself, standing up from the bench.

"You are lying Clara." I said again, afraid of admitting the possibility of her being correct. It would mean everything I ever believed was a lie.

"I won't say it again Aaron. I never slept with anyone except Ryan." she said, her voice thickened with grief. She looked like she was trying so hard to control her tears.

"No." I heaved. "Ryan said you cheated on him." I said, running my fingers through my hair. It felt like someone had slapped me hard on my face.

"Ryan said? What do you mean Ryan said? Is he back?" she asked and her face contorted at his name.

I ignored her question, my mind still stuck on her words. "You didn't cheat on him with his friend?"

"Did he tell you that?" she mumbled, a lone tear streamed down her left cheek. "Of course he did. And you believed him. Why won't you?"

"I.. I.." I didn't know what to say.

"You forgave him for the same mistake I did. You forgave him while I have been suffering here day and night, drowning in guilt." there was a hint of accusation in her voice.

"I didn't forgive him." I told her. "I just... I believed him. Because when he told us that you cheated again.... It was easy to digest."

On hearing my words, grief filled her face and I regretted my choice of words. It hurt me to see her cry and as much as I wanted, I couldn't do anything at that moment.

"Of course. Once a cheater, always a cheater." she whispered, putting a fake smile on her face. Before I could say anything, she turned around.

"Clara, listen to me." I ran behind her and gripped her wrist.

"Don't." she said and pulled her hand away. "Just don't. Leave me alone." This time, I didn't stop her because first, I needed to do something.

...

"Why do you need his address?" Dad asked from the other side of the phone.

"Just tell me where he is staying. I need to talk to him." I said in an exhausted voice.

"Green Valley Hotel." he told me and I memorized the name. "Just don't do anything rash."

"Don't worry. I just want to talk to my brother." I clenched my teeth and cut the call. The drive back to the city was almost two hours and even though the cab driver refused at first, I offered him a decent sum if he could drive me back there.

I had already texted Amber that I won't be traveling back with them, because of an emergency. Thankfully, she didn't ask further.

The veins in my head were throbbing by now. The realisation that leaving me for Ryan was Clara's only mistake and everything else was a misunderstanding, it messed up my mind.

For the last six years, I have been dying every day, knowing that Clara was out there with someone, kissing the person and letting him touch her freely. My imagination always hurt me in the worst way possible, causing sharp pain through my chest.

In a way, I was happy that it was just a fabricated story and nothing happened in reality. But another part of me was worried for her. If she was not with any other man, where was she? What happened to her that changed her so much?

Once the driver stopped in front of the said hotel, I gave him the money and entered inside. After a long argument with the receptionist, she finally told me his room number.

With determined steps, I waked towards the elevator and once I was on his floor, I walked out and looked for his room. At last, I found myself standing in front of a mahogany door. My fist thumped again the hard door and few minutes later, it opened to reveal my brother.

"Aaron?" his eyes were filled with confusion.

"Yes. Didn't you want to have a heart to heart with me? I'm here for that Ryan." I smiled. Doubt etched on his face but he let me in nevertheless. He was shirtless and his eyes were sleepy. Here he was, sleeping comfortably after stripping me of my every last ounce of peace.

"What do you want to say?" he asked once I was inside.

"Remember you told us how Clara cheated on you with a friend. What was the name of that friend?" I asked, crossing my arms in front of my chest.

"Um.. I don't remember exactly. It could have been Kevin. Or maybe Sean. Probably both." he smirked and my blood boiled at the hideous sight.

"Both? Possible." I nodded.

"After all, it was her nature to cheat and nature never change." he added.

"Of course. Once a cheater, always a cheater. Once a liar, always a liar." I commented and he gulped a little. "Remember when we were little, how you used to lie all the time, just so for once, Dad would prefer you over me."

"What.. What do you mean?" he asked.

"I mean, if a cheater never changes, how can I liar change?" I said and with that, punched him with all my might.

Blood seeped out of his lip at the sudden attack and he yelped.

"What really happened Ryan? Tell me the truth." I stepped forwards.

"I have already told you. She cheated-" another blow on his face stopped his mid-sentence.

Gripping his collars, I gave him a hard jerk. "I don't need your lies. Just tell me what really happened." I seethed.

"I already told you. She screwed my friend behind my-" I punched him again and this time he landed on the floor.

"The truth Ryan." I squatted and glared at him.

At first, he blinked at me, assessing the anger on my face. Then his frowm changed into a smirk. "I got bored." he said. "I got tired of her so I left."

My insides clenched in disgust for my own blood. "What do you mean you left?" I asked.

"We were staying at one of my friend's house. We had no money and she... she was not worth leaving everything behind." he lowered his head and said in one breath.

"But she trusted you enough to leave everything behind." I whispered.

He stood up and a wince escaped his mouth. It took everything in me to stop myself from hitting him again.

"She was a stupid, whiny and immature girl. I was attracted to her only because she was yours. Throughout my life, you got the best of things and all I received were leftovers. Be it Dad's love, the business, grandparent's property." he admitted, his voice empty of any guilt. "I realised soon that I didn't feel anything for her and then, staying with her became a hell for me."

Tears appeared in my eyes at hearing his words. He hated me so much and I never even realised it. His hatred for me was the reason he manipulates Clara into leaving me. I believed him when he said shit about Clara, even though he also betrayed me. I didn't even give my wife the benefit of doubt.

"What happened to her after you left?" I asked, controlling my rage.

"I didn't try to find out." he answered.

"Fuck. How can you be so cruel Ryan?" I whispered, running my hands through my hair in exasperation. He just shrugged nonchalantly instead of replying.

A young girl alone in a place where she knew nobody, with no money or belonging with her and nowhere to return. How did she survive?

Shit. What else do I not know?

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