Chapter 1
“Father, I’m ready for the arranged marriage.”
“You sure about this Monica? I’ve never forced you to do this, this is your life.”
I didn’t stutter when I replied, “I don’t care about anything else Father, Romance is dead, all I wan to do is win, I’m Monica Wells after all.”
“That’s my girl, I’ll let you know of the details soon… and yeah, put up a show for me Miss Vells/ He chuckled, his pride in his daughter finally showing.
“I will Father, I will.” I said as I end the call.
”
It was supposed to be Lola, my cousin sister’s birthday, but I ended up running into her making out with Hank, my boyfriend,
She had insisted us to go to Disneyland on her 25th birthday, as a tribute to how me and Hank had met 6 years ago. We had run into each other and caught instant feelings which ended up with us exchanging numbers, Lola herself was the one who pushed me into calling him that night and asked me to ask him out.
The same woman who has been with me through thick and thin was now making out with my boyfriend, who said he’d die for me, that he’d bleed for me.
They were on each other’s body, like animals in the corner of an isolated stall.
But I didn’t scream, instead, I walked past them, and even then, my boyfriend of 6 years didn’t care to call out to me, instead I heard chuckles from both that were clearly directed at me, and that enraged me.
It was then when I decided I’d show up and wipe those smiles from their faces. But if i want revenge, I need power and the only person that holds power is my Father, Bill Wells, a business man who has connections deep into the underworld,
But I shouldn’t directly ask him for help, I wanted to get back at them by myself, by my own efforts.
I walked back to the car in the parking lot and waited for them to show up, but only Lola came, with a piece of red velvet cake that looked like it was sliced up from someone’s chest, maybe mine, it maybe felt that way because I’ve just been betrayed by the two people I trusted the
most.
Lola sauntered up to the car, balancing the slice of cake on a small paper plate. Her smile was too wide, too forced as she tapped on my window.
I rolled it down halfway, not trusting myself to look at her directly.
‘Here’s the cake, Monica. Eat it up! It’s delicious.” She thrust the plate toward the window opening, “Red velvet–your favorite”
I’m not hungry? My voice came out flat, emotionless.
Lola’s smile faltered, “Come on, don’t be like that”
‘Like what? Move, Lola, I want to go home?
Her face hardened, a flash of anger crossing her features before she replaced it with a pout. “Come on, Monica. I’m your lovely cousin and it’s my birthday. It was just my birthday wish that I wanted to make out with Hank.” She laughed, high and false. “It’s not that serious.”
I glared at her, my hands clenching the steering wheel so tightly my knuckles turned white.
Lola chuckled, leaning closer to the window. “At least enjoy this cake if not Hank, because I’ll be busy with him like I have been for the past few years.”
The revelation hit me like a physical blow. Years. Not a moment of weakness. Years of betrayal, years of lies, years of them laughing behind my back.
I swallowed the scream building in my throat. “I’m not in the mood to do all of this. Just move.”
I reached for the door handle, ready to push past her if necessary. Lola suddenly staggered backward, arms pinwheeling dramatically before she “tripped,” sending the cake flying directly onto my chest as I stepped out of the car.
The red frosting smeared across my white blouse like a wound.
Just then, Hank appeared, rushing to Lola’s side while roughly shoving me out of his way. 1 stumbled back against the car.
“What happened?” he demanded, helping Lola to her feet. A small crowd had gathered, watching the scene unfold.
Lola’s eyes filled with crocodile tears. “She pushed me. I just wanted to give her cake.”
“What?” I gasped.
“She did what?” Hank turned to me, his face contorted with rage. “Stop being a bitch, it’s her
birthday.”
People were staring now, murmuring. I felt the humiliation burning through me.
“If this is how you’re gonna treat her, then I’m not marrying you,” Hank spat.
I stood there, cake smeared across my chest, rage building in my veins. Bitch? And me? Lola was being the bitch. And he wasn’t going to marry me because of this? Perfect.
Hank turned, jaw clenched. “You’re going to apologize.”
I blinked. “Excuse me?”
“You heard me,” he said, voice low and furious. “Apologize to Lola. Now.”
“No.” I turned to leave, unable to stand another second in their presence.
Just as I stepped away, I felt Hank’s hand grip my wrist, hard. Before I could react, he shoved me -hard–directly toward the road.
I stumbled, fell, and suddenly found myself sprawled on the asphalt. The blaring horn of an oncoming car pierced my ears. Headlights blinded me. The vehicle was too close, moving too fast.
“Help!” The word escaped my lips as time slowed. I couldn’t believe it–Hank had just pushed me to my death. Through the chaos, I caught Lola’s face, a small smile playing on her lips.
Just when I thought the car had hit me, strong hands grabbed me, pulling me away from the path of the car.
A stranger’s voice, low and steady. “I’ve got you.”
Chapter 1
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2:34 am GDDD
I felt myself being dragged across the rough pavement as the vehicle swerved, missing us by inches.
Gasping, I looked up at the stranger who had saved my life.
A man with intense eyes stared back at me, his breathing as ragged as mine.
