Hurt in Your Name

Judy Herman scanned the room for Jayden Paul, but Lorelei Voss intercepted her. Lorelei's voice held a barely concealed disdain. "Miss Herman, if you had any self-awareness at all, you wouldn't cling to Jayden. You shouldn't have come back here tonight."

Judy's shoulders stiffened. She turned to face Lorelei, the woman who moments ago had seemed gracious and poised, now revealing a sharp, domineering expression.

"This was my home. Why shouldn't I be here?" Judy retorted, her brow furrowed, tension crackling between them.

Lorelei let out a dismissive laugh, her lips curling with contempt. "This place was never truly yours."

It was pure provocation, dripping with sarcasm.

Judy fought to contain the fury boiling inside her; she felt ready to explode. She wasn't interested in trading petty insults; catfights had never been her style.

"You should know," Lorelei pressed on, clearly not done, her words growing uglier, "you were just a stand-in for me . If it weren't for this face," she gestured dismissively at Judy, "you'd never have had a chance to stay by his side. Miss Herman, clinging shamelessly to him now is utterly pathetic."

 Clinging shamelessly to him? 

So, because he told her to leave, she should just obediently disappear, right?

Sorry, she couldn't do that!

Even if she died, she would die knowing the truth!

Judy trembled with suppressed rage, her whole body tense. "I just want to ask him myself."

She just wanted to ask him: During those five years, had he never loved her at all?

Was she truly just a substitute from the very beginning?

"Miss Herman..."

"Don't touch me!"

Judy was already brimming with fury. When Lorelei reached out to touch her arm, instinctive revulsion surged through her. She flung her hand away – and Lorelei stumbled backward, falling hard.

Judy stared, horrified, frozen in shock. Before she could react, a powerful hand shoved her aside. Caught off guard, she crashed violently into the corner of a table!

Sharp pain shot through her. She gripped the table edge, barely managing to stay upright. What filled her vision next was the raw, blistering anger in Jayden Paul's eyes...

Agony lanced through Judy's chest, making her voice weak. "I didn't mean to..."

Jayden helped Lorelei to her feet, his own fury palpable as he moved towards Judy. But Lorelei caught his arm, holding him back. She seemed distressed, yet still managed to plead for Judy. "It's alright... I understand. She's upset, it's natural. I'm fine."

Judy stood dumbfounded. What was she playing at? 

It took a moment for the realization to hit her: this woman was far more cunning than she appeared. That facade of false concern was sickening!

"Jayden Paul..." Judy began, trying to explain.

" Get out! "

Jayden's icy command cut her off. The single word "Out!" was delivered with brutal force. Seeing the undisguised disgust and impatience on his face, Judy felt her heart turn to ice. The room might have been warm as spring, but she felt plunged into an arctic wasteland.

In the past, even mentioning Lorelei Voss could anger him. Now, with Lorelei actually here , Judy wasn't even allowed near her.

 Hah. He only cared if Lorelei was hurt. He hadn't even noticed Judy's pain, the pallor of her face.

The Jayden Paul standing before her now held no trace of her in his eyes.

While Judy was still reeling in her desolation, Jayden was already on the phone. "Get over here. Take Judy Herman to the airport."

He was calling Ethan Hale. He was sending her away.

"No!" Judy suddenly yelled. "I won't leave Luminaire! Jayden Paul, I'd rather die here in Luminaire than leave! You have no right to control me!"

Jayden's brow furrowed deeper, his displeasure mounting. "I thought you were sensible. I didn't expect you to resort to acting so unreasonably?"

His cold, cruel sarcasm felt like a knife plunging into Judy's heart. She stared numbly at his dark, furious expression, a bitter laugh escaping her lips.

Outside, rain had begun to fall, growing heavier by the second. The clamor of the downpour swallowed her hollow laughter as a deep chill enveloped her.

She had spent five years waiting for him, devoted and unquestioning, enabling his profound love story with someone else – only to be left with nothing.

"Acting unreasonably?" Judy laughed, the sound thick with bitterness. "Jayden Paul, why should I enable your happiness with someone else?"

Her eyes burned. "I gave you five years of my life, and you think you can just end it? For my happiness, my father endured humiliation without a word, only to die alone and forgotten! How can I just end this with you?"

Jayden's expression tightened, anticipating something shocking.

"Jayden Paul," Judy declared, her voice ringing with conviction, "even if it means mutual torment, I will never set you free in this lifetime. Why should I make way for you? Why should I be the one to suffer?"

Tears streamed silently down her face. She didn't know how much of this was sheer defiance, but right now, she felt utterly broken.

"Judy," Jayden breathed, his voice laced with disbelief and profound disappointment as he looked at her. "I thought you were sensible. You know how I feel about Lorelei Voss. If you truly loved me, you'd be happy for my happiness. You'd let go! Not cling on desperately and make things impossible for me!"

" Enough! "

A clap of thunder punctuated Judy's raw scream. Her eyes were bloodshot as she stared at the man. She had never spoken to Jayden Paul like this before.

The force of it stunned even him.

Judy Herman let out a desolate laugh, one bitter chuckle after another. This was the man she had loved so deeply for five years. She must have been blind!

"Please, stop arguing," Lorelei interjected smoothly, playing the role of the peacemaker. She placed a calming hand on Jayden's arm, her tone understanding. "I'm fine, really. Just a little dizzy. I'll be okay after some rest. Don't be angry with Judy because of me. She was with you for five years... it's natural she's hurting..."

She pressed her fingers to her temples, swaying slightly as if unsteady. "Jayden... maybe I shouldn't have come back?"

Her voice was carefully modulated, her expression etched with self-reproach, perfectly portraying the image of the wronged woman.

Jayden instantly moved to support her, his voice thick with concern. "Are you hurt? Where does it hurt?"

Lorelei shook her head silently, but her entire demeanor screamed, 'I'm in pain.' 

Watching the performance, Judy felt utterly helpless, like she'd been forced to swallow a bitter pill. "Jayden Paul, I didn't push her on purpose! She fell—"

" Enough! " Jayden snapped, a dangerous glint in his eyes as he shot her a sidelong glare. "Judy, I can understand your pain. But I won't tolerate this spitefulness. Acting like this won't bring me back to you. It only makes me despise you more!"

Thunder crashed repeatedly outside, the rain lashing down with frenzied intensity.

Judy clutched her abdomen, waves of pain making her break out in a cold sweat. It hadn't been long since the abortion. Had the procedure damaged her? She'd felt unwell for days, and this collision sent agony shuddering through her entire body.

Ethan Hale hurried in through the front door, looking flustered. "President Paul."

Jayden didn't spare Judy another glance, his expression stony. "Take her away."

Judy's eyes widened, empty and desolate. Her lips trembled, but no sound emerged.

 He could be this cruel? In this storm? 

"Miss Herman..." Ethan approached hesitantly, prompting her.

Unaware she'd bitten her lip until it bled, Judy's voice, strained but clear, cut through the noise of the storm and the room: "Jayden Paul, I just want to ask you one thing. Did you ever love me? At all?"

Her five years deserved some answer. If there had been even a shred of feeling for her, he couldn't be this utterly heartless now.