Amber's P.O.V.:

"Chris, just tell me that everything that happened a few moment ago was just a prank. It wasn't anything serious. Please tell me that you didn't get engaged with that girl. Please Chris, I need to hear it from your mouth. I don't trust my eyes anymore. I trust you. Please tell me." I said almost in the begging tone as it was getting difficult for me to let anything sink in.

He kept quiet and didn't utter a word.

"Don't be silent, Chris. Your silence is killing me. Please say something." I said. The tears didn't seem to stop and flowed down my cheeks continuously.

His silence was telling me that everything that happened in the party was the reality and he had no problem with that.

"Chris...what has happened to you so suddenly? We were happy with each other, we had just started our relationship then why did you do this to me? Answer me for god sake, Chris." I cried, as I clutched on his tuxedo's collar.

Slowly he held my hands and then freed his collar from my clutch by jerking my hands away.

I looked at him in shock.

Why is he behaving like this?

I couldn't understand anything.

"Chris?" I looked at him with wide eyes.

"This is what you deserve. These fake tears are of no use so save them for some other occasion." He said as he smirked bitterly.

"What are you saying, Chris?" I asked as I slowly tried to process his words.

"I said what you heard, Ms. Milburn." he said bitterly.

Ms. Milburn?

Why is he suddenly calling me by my last name?

"I don't understand what you're saying." I said, frustrated.

"I don't think you're that dumb, Ms. Milburn. You are one of the cleverest women I have met so far." he said. Every word that he was saying was like a sword on my heart.

"Chris, can you please not talk to me like this? You're hurting my feelings." I said, as I looked at him with tear filled eyes.

"You're such a brilliant actress, Ms. Milburn. I must say, I am amazed." he said.

"Chris, I really don't understand what you're saying. Please tell me clearly...you're making me scared." I said, as I tried to hold his hand when he jerked away my hands rudely.

I looked at him in shock.

"Don't touch me with that filthy hands of yours. You disgust me." he said the words with so much of disgust in his voice. I was trying my hard not to cry. I knew something was not right. I wanted to know what had happened to him and me crying would have only ruined the situation.

"What do you mean?" I asked, looking at him in confusion.

"What I mean? Fine, if you want to hear it from my mouth then listen to me say what kind of woman you are, Ms. Milburn." he said as he slid his hands inside his pockets.

"You are the kind of woman who run after rich guys to scrape as much money as they can from those guys. You belong to those who can do anything for money and they can't be loyal to a single man as they want everything in life. You're an opportunist." his words cut through my heart like a sharp sword.

I didn't seem to balance my body any longer and I held the railing of the balcony tightly to give support to my shaking body.

I tried to speak but no words seem to come out of my mouth.

How could he think so low of me? What have I done to deserve this?

I looked up at him who was looking directly towards me with red blood-shot eyes. His eyes were no longer looking at me the way they used to before. His eyes used to look at me with love and adoration, but right now...the only emotion his eyes held were of hatred and disgust.

It was difficult for me to sink in everything that was happening and every words that he was speaking, as I still thought that maybe it was all a nightmare and after I will wake up, everything will go back to normal. But who was I kidding to, it wasn't my dream at all. I was wide awake and was in front of him, had nothing but hatred for me in his heart.

His look he was giving me was piercing through my heart. And it was really painful.

"Why...do you think that I am the kind...of woman that yo...you mentioned just now?" I managed to ask, stuttering.

"Wow! You really want to listen to everything from my mouth." he said, looking at me in disgust.

I nodded my head slowly. I really wanted to listen to everything. If I was to get humiliated then I must know the reason behind it. I wanted to know everything that was in his heart so that I could leave him and this place without any burden on my chest. I know that I haven't done anything wrong so if I am to leave this man, I should do that after knowing everything so that I don't regret it later. I don't like incomplete conversations. I wanted to leave the whole thing with a proper finish.

"I caught your little secret, Ms. Milburn." he said. I didn't speak anything and let him continue.

"I saw your "Childhood Sweetheart", Elvis proposing to you for marriage." he said, air quoting Childhood sweetheart.

I wasn't shocked at all. After hearing all the words coming out of his mouth tonight, I was no longer affected or shocked hearing him say this. But I kept listening.

"And guess what, he didn't just propose to you, you accepted his proposal as well." he said with a bitter smile.

"You know, when I saw you and Elvis at the store, I thought maybe you guys were buying ring for gifting someone. But, when I saw him proposing to you and you accepting his request, I wanted to go and kill him and punish you for cheating on me."

"Finally, I was letting go of all my fears and insecurities. But you gave me yet another betrayal like my mother did. I thought that I had found the right woman for me but I guess every woman in this world is just like my mother. I can't trust any woman even again in my life and thanks to you for that." he said, bitterly.

Hearing his words, I was numb, both mentally and emotionally. I couldn't utter any word. The level of pain that I was in was indescribable. Chris was hurt but more than him, I was hurt. He might have lost his trust in women again but after this, I wouldn't be able to trust anyone in my life ever again.

I looked up at him and realized that his eyes were firmly focused on me as if they were waiting for me to say something or maybe deny all his allegations to prove myself innocent but it didn't matter any longer. Why would it matter now when he has got engaged to another woman already? I am not the kind of woman who would ruin another woman's reputation. I am surely the kind of woman who would do anything to protect the love of my life but now the things have changed.

If he had come to me first and discussed about it with me and tried to clear the misunderstanding, I would have gladly listened to everything he had to say and then cleared his misunderstanding...but, he didn't try to solve it and instead took this measure decision all by himself. He no longer deserve to know the truth.

"What? You aren't even denying it? Don't have anything to say?" he asked, with a hint of taunt in his tone.

I looked at him, trying to figure out if the Chris I fell in love with was really him or he was just in my imagination.

"Say something." he said.

"There's nothing left to say. You have already decided on your own and have passed the judgement so it doesn't matter any longer about what I have to say about it." I continued speaking.

He looked at me...waiting for me to continue.

"I wish you nothing but happiness. Have a great life with your fiance, Mr. Collins. Goodnight and goodbye!" I said and turned around making sure that now not a single tear would fall down my cheeks. And without even letting him reply or even process my words, I walked away from there.

I ran out of the mansion when I bumped into someone. I looked up with my teary eyes and saw Harper looking at me with pity and confusion.

"Amber, what is all this? Why did Chris got engaged with some other girl when he loved you?" I knew she would have these questions. Anyone who knew about Chris and I would have the same question.

"Harper, don't say anything to anyone about Chris and me. Please?" I requested.

She wanted to disagree but when she saw my condition, she agreed to my request and nodded her head in understanding.

With that, I left the mansion to never return again.

Third person's P.O.V.:

Chris was in his office, thinking about what he saw at the jewellery shop today. He wasn't angry because he trusted Amber. He knew that she wouldn't betray him. He has seen her since the university days. She has always been a trustworthy person. He knew that just because now she is his girlfriend, he cannot link everything to betrayal.

Not every woman is like my mother. He thought.

He wanted to call her ASAP and clear the misunderstanding but he had so many pending works that he thought he would meet her tonight and ask her about it.

He went to attend meetings and lost track of time and also forgot to take his phone with him. He worked the whole night and the things that happened at the jewellery store slip out of his mind. He also forgot to send Amber the pendant that he had bought for her at the store.

The next day he was caught up in work as well. He was attending meetings back to back without any break.

He hadn't got his phone with him the whole time. He even forgot to call Amber and tell her about his tight schedule at work.

"Mr. Collins, you have a meeting with Mr. Edwards at 5 at the Park Radison's." Jenna informed him.

"Okay. Ask Anthony to get the car ready." he said as he checked his phone and saw 'n' number of missed calls from Amber. He knew he was in great trouble because he can imagine how mad she would be at him.

What kind of boyfriend am I when I can't even make time for my girlfriend? he thought to himself and opened the drawer of his desk where he had put the pendant.

He ran his hand over it and smiled imagining how pretty it would look on his girlfriend.

Just the thought of her brought a smile on his face and he realized that since the time she has become his girlfriend, he has been smiling more often. He was happier and enjoyed his life more. He liked this version of himself.

He dialed her number and waited for her to answer the call.

But her number was busy. He tried few more times.

"Sir, the car is ready." Jenna informed.

"I am coming." he said as he put his phone inside his pocket and stood up to attend his next meeting.

*****

"I hope our collaboration brings us more success, Mr. Collins." Mr. Edwards said with a smile as he stood up to shake hands with Chris.

The meeting was finally over and it was a successful one.

"Looking forward to our collaboration." Chris said as he accepted the handshake and smiled.

"This calls for a glass of champagne. Please join us, Mr. Collins. It's a request." Mr. Edwards requested.

"Sure." he said as they both walked towards the bar followed by their managers and few other employees when they heard some hoots.

They all turned their heads and saw a group of people surrounding a couple.

"This hotel is really popular among couples. They propose and get proposed here almost everyday." Chris heard one of the employees saying to the other employee.

He couldn't stop himself but imagine if he ever proposed Amber how would he propose to her. This thought brought a smile on his face.

"Let's proceed, Mr. Collins." Mr. Edwards said with a smile. Chris nodded his head and was about to walk towards the bar when he thought that he saw a familiar face. He turned to look at the couple again when he realized that the girl standing in front of Elvis was none other than Amber. Elvis was on his knees holding a velvety box with a diamond ring in it.

"Yes, I will marry you." he heard her saying with a smile.

He clutched his fist. He was fuming. He walked towards them taking long strides but stopped when he got a call. He furiously took out the phone from his pocket and saw a familiar name flashing on the screen. He clutched around the phone tightly.

His first instinct was to cut the call immediately but for some reason, he picked up the call.

"Hello." he said in his emotionless cold voice.

"Chris, is that you? Thanks for answering the call, son." he heard the familiar female voice which he was used to of hearing when he was a kid but started hating it after her betrayal.

His knuckles were getting whiter every passing second.

"Why did you call me?" he asked, in an irritated tone.

"Son..." before she could finish her sentence, he spoke.

"Stop calling me 'son'. I am not your son. We are not related in anyway." he said.

There was silence for a few moments.

"Okay. I called you because...I need your help, Chris. It's urgent." she said in her weak voice.

****

Few hours later in Bristol...

"How is she doing now, doctor?" Chris asked the doctor who was looking after his mother's case.

"She is fine now. But her condition is still critical. She might have to go through lungs transplant soon." the doctor replied.

"Please do whatever it takes to treat her. Don't worry about money. I will bear all the expenses." Chris said.

"Sure, Mr. Collins!" the doctor replied and excused himself and walked away.

Chris turned towards the room where his mother was admitted into. He slowly opened the door and entered the room.

He saw his mother lying on the bed unconsciously. She looked weak and had lost a lot of weight. She used to be a fit woman as far as he remembered his mother.

He sat on the chair by the bed and looked at his mother. He had just met her husband outside the room. He seemed like a good man but he hates him no matter what. After all, it was because of him that his mother left him and his dad.

"Chris...is that you?" he heard his mother asking in her weak voice.

He didn't know what to say. He kept thinking whether he should even say anything or not.

"Uh...yes." he said, hesitantly.

"Thanks for coming, Chris." she said with eyes filled with tears. She tried to sit upstraight. Chris helped her.

"Uhh...umm...I have asked the doctor about your health. He said you need to have a lung transplant. Don't...worry about it. I will pay for it." he said.

"I should leave now." he added.

"Chris...please stay. Let me see your face clearly. It's been ages since the last time I saw my son." she said.

"You have lost your rights to call me 'son'. And you don't need to care about how I look." he said, bitterly.

"Don't say that, Chris. I am your mother." she said, crying.

"Mother? Where were you when your son needed you?" he asked, loudly.

"I am sorry that I left you but I had no other option." she said, guiltily.

"Why? Because of that man who is your husband now?" he asked.

"He is your step-dad, Chris. Please give him some respect." she said.

"Respect? I won't. Because none of you deserve my respect."

"Chris, I was in love with Mathew. I never loved your dad. I had to leave." she said, frustrated.

"I always loved Mathew. I could never love your dad. I just couldn't." she added.

Chris didn't speak anything.

"If you never loved dad then why did you marry him?" he asked after a long silence.

"Because of my parents' insistence. They didn't want me to marry Mathew because he came from a middle-class family. I thought, eventually I will learn to love your dad but I could never forget my first love." she explained, crying.

Chris put himself, Amber and Elvis in his parents' places and started relating. He couldn't think straight any longer.

My mother betrayed my father for some other man and so did Amber. He thought.

****

"Grandma...I have taken my decision." he said on the call.

"Really, my child? So, what did you decide?" his grandma asked, slightly excited.

"I am ready to get married to Deniz." he said after a long pause.