Chapter 3 THE OTHER MAN

CHAPTER 3

"Someone better than you." Vanessa said.

Michael stood watching Vanessa stepping away toward the entryway. Her arms were folded tightly across her chest, her eyes fixed firmly on the worn floorboards,..The front door wasn't fully locked, and before either of them could speak another word, heavy, unhurried footsteps echoed up the concrete stairs outside. A second later, the door swung wide open without a knock.

​Damien stepped into the apartment with two security men, he couldn't wait for ten minutes for Vanessa to come meet him, he had to come in on his own. He didn't look like a visitor or a guest who had dropped by unannounced, he moved with the easy, absolute ownership of a man who already considered the room, and the woman his own. Dressed in a sharply tailored charcoal coat that smelled faintly of cologne. With his intimidating height and physique.

He went straight to where Vanessa was, hugged her and held her waist, Vanessa kissed him on his forehead, while Michael stared at them in shock, he couldn't believe his eyes, he couldn't believe it was Vanessa who he had loved more than his very own life was kissing another man in front of him.

Damien looked back, and saw Michael, he didn't know his name, because Vanessa hadn't told him his name, he only knew he was Vanessa's poor boyfriend.

He moved straight to where Michael was and introduced himself

"I'm Damien, Vanessa's new and rich boyfriend." "What about you?" Damien asked.

"It took Michael sometime before he replied." I'm... Michael, he said.

I see, just by looking at you, I already know you're Vanessa's poor boyfriend, just look at the Way you dressed. Oh poor boy.

​"You're still disturbing Vanessa? Damien asked Michael, his voice dripping with casual, unbothered amusement. He didn't bother taking off his coat or acknowledging the tension in the doorway. He walked straight toward the small kitchen, his eyes scanning the modest furnishings "Honestly, I thought you'd have the self-respect to clear out before now." Leave Vanessa for me, she can't settle with a poor man." He said. ​Michael didn't move an inch. He kept his posture tight.

"You have no place here." Michael said to Damien.

​"It is whatever she wants it to be," Damien replied smoothly. He reached out, casually grabbing the open bottle of red wine. with an arrogant look, he poured a cup into a clean glass for himself, then grabbed another glass from the drying rack and filled it right up to the brim. Red liquid sloshed heavily over the rim,staining the cheap surface like fresh blood. ​"Drink up, Michael," Damien said, leaning back against the edge of the island. "Vanessa is done playing nursemaid to a guy whose unfortunate and cursed in all areas of his life, just look yourself, you were picked up from the streets. You're dragging her down into the gutter with you. It's getting painful to watch."

​The insult landed with brutal precision. The humiliation from his father's dining room earlier that evening flared up once more, merging instantly with the searing betrayal in this cramped apartment. Without thinking, Michael slammed his hand down onto the counter and lunged forward, his fingers reaching out to grab Damien by the collar of his expensive coat. ​"Say that again," Michael growled, his voice trembling with a dark, dangerous rage.

​Before his fingers could even make contact, the shadows near the open doorway snapped into violent motion. The security guards charged. The larger guard slammed a heavy forearm hard against Michael's chest, driving the air from his lungs with a sharp, violent gasp. Michael stumbled backward, his boots squeaking helplessly, but he swung blindly, trying to fight back, desperate to land at least one solid blow against the smug bastard called Damien standing just inches away.

​It was an entirely hopeless fight. The second guard caught Michael's arm mid-swing, twisting it behind his back with practiced, mechanical brutality, while the first guard pinned his other side, shoving him hard against the hallway wall and locking him in a tight, unyielding grip that rendered any further movement impossible.

​"Get your hands off me!" Michael choked out, straining against the crushing weight pressing into his shoulder blades, but his strength meant nothing against two hundred and fifty pounds of trained professional muscle.

​Damien casually picked up his glass and took a slow, deliberate sip of the red wine, looking down at Michael as if he were nothing more than a minor,inconvenience

​Michael stood pinned flat against the cold plaster wall, his chest heaving as a sharp sting spread across his lower lip. A small drop of dark blood welled up, he strained against the heavy grip holding him, but the guards kept him immobile, forcing him to stand in a state of absolute powerlessness. He had no choice but to remain quiet.

Twenty-five years old, with no money in his bank account, no family standing behind him, and no leverage left to fight back against the total destruction of his world. Every single door in his life had been shut in his face, one after another, until he was trapped in this tiny hallway, forced to watch everything he cared about get ripped away in real time. He stared across the narrow gap at Damien, whose expression remained entirely calm, unbothered. The deep red wine in Damien's glass glistened under the weak overhead bulb, serving as a mocking reminder of the intimidation lack of money causes. The apartment felt deathly quiet, he forced his body into a rigid stillness, letting go of the useless struggle, though every single nerve in his system burned with a cold, unyielding fury.

He looked at Damien whose pride and ego has already gotten to his nerves. Vanessa quietly moved towards them, she's fully aware that she will end her relationship with Michael tonight and face her rich boyfriend Damien. On sighting her moving close, Damien looked at Michael and delivered the final crushing command; "Vanessa, come here and finish this."