After reading those three messages, my mind went completely numb.
I shut my eyes, pinched myself, desperate to wake up from what I hoped was a nightmare.
But with my heart pounding out of my chest, I had to face it—it wasn’t a dream.
Lucas was having an affair with Stella.
But… why?
Weren’t they always at each other’s throats?
Stella had always said Lucas didn’t deserve me—that he had nothing going for him besides money.
And Lucas used to call her annoying. Every time he and I argued, she’d tell me to leave him.
But those messages kept flashing on my screen:
“Don’t worry. I’ll still treat you well after I get married.”
“Whatever Zoe has, you’ll have too.”
“Including me.”
I stared blankly at the screen, a piercing ring in my ears, like my soul had been ripped from my body.
Big, hot tears rolled down my cheeks.
Then I remembered the three of us shopping together not long ago. They bickered in front of me, then laughed and broke the tension like nothing had happened.
And I—stupidly—had smiled, thinking they were getting along.
They were using me. As a cover. As a fool.
I cried until my eyes swelled, my head spinning with disbelief.
Stella and I were like family.
When I got bullied, she stepped up to defend me.
Back in college, when I found out my ex was cheating, she was the first one to confront him and tear him down.
We’d grown up together. I treated her like a sister.
Maybe real family doesn’t always love you unconditionally—but her? I trusted her completely.
So when she betrayed me, I didn’t even have the strength to confront her.
The same woman who once helped me destroy a homewrecker… had now become one herself—with my fiancé.
My absolute trust, shattered by her merciless betrayal.
And Lucas—he was the man who chased after me for a year, changing all his bad habits just to be with me.
Back then, I thought, He’s the one. I want to spend my life with him.
His love had been so intense, so perfect… maybe too perfect.
Which made the betrayal all the more brutal.
The wedding hadn’t happened yet. We weren’t legally married. There was still time.
And I wanted revenge.
Lucas had been so proud, always boasting about the grand wedding he was planning.
I was going to turn that beautiful wedding into a ridiculous farce—with him as the clown in the center of it all.
The next day was the rehearsal. I pulled the stage coordinator aside and made a few changes.
When it was time to leave, Stella and I got into the car together.
I sat beside her and said quietly,
“I know everything, Stella.”
“My dear Stella… my best friend. You really were so good to me.”
She clutched the edge of her dress, her face turning ghostly pale as she tried to get out of the car.
I grabbed her wrist.
“Running away? Why?”
I said coldly, “Isn’t everything going exactly how you planned?”
“I find out about your affair before the wedding, call it off, and you get to take my place.”
“You weren’t even subtle about it. So why should I keep pretending I didn’t see?”
Stella stopped struggling. She turned toward me, biting her lip.
I steadied my breath and said,
“I’m not following your script. I’m still marrying Lucas.”
Her eyes widened.
I smiled mockingly.
“You don’t believe in reformed playboys? I don’t either.”
“Rich guys always keep one at home, a dozen outside. That’s the norm, right?”
“But you… you fell for Lucas, didn’t you?”
“Do you really believe he loves you?”
“Do you actually buy those sweet nothings he whispered?”
Her eyes turned red.
My chest tightened, but I took a deep breath.
“You gave up over twenty years of friendship for him? You betrayed me for that man?”
Stella broke down, holding her head in her hands, covering her ears.
I turned away, tears falling uncontrollably.
It hurt.
It hurt so damn much.
Then Lucas climbed into the car.
He glanced at my face and immediately frowned.
“Stella, what did you say to Zoe? Why is she crying?”
“Get out,” he snapped.
Stella slammed the door behind her.
I forced a trembling smile and said,
“You misunderstood. We were just talking—girl stuff. Got emotional, that’s all.”
Lucas looked annoyed.
“She’s crazy. Talking to you like that the day before the wedding? What if it ruins your mood? What if your eyes are swollen tomorrow? You still need to look good for the photos.”
He said it loudly. The words pierced right through the window.
—
On the day of the wedding.
The castle was grand. The lawn stretched endlessly green.
I wore a pure white gown and arrived on a flower-adorned carriage.
Lucas, sharp in his tailored suit, stood on the grass, eyes bright with excitement.
He was in the middle of a ten-minute declaration of love.
And for a moment, I believed him.
He loved me.
But he also betrayed me.
Both could be true at once.
As he finished his vows, I looked into his hopeful eyes—and said,
“I don’t.”
The officiant froze. The guests gasped.
Lucas’s joy twisted into confusion… then fury.
He stared at me, stunned.
“Zoe… what do you mean?”
I met his gaze with calm coldness.
Then said the very words from his own messages:
“Don’t worry. I’ll still treat you well after I get married.”
“Whatever Zoe has, you’ll have too.”
“Including me.”
His face fell. Anger overtook him.
“Who told you? Was it Stella? It was her, wasn’t it?!”
“You knew everything—and you waited until today just to humiliate me? Wow, Zoe. Well played.”
I smiled faintly.
“I tried on a hundred dresses. Changed shoes more times than I can count.”
“This might be the only wedding I’ll ever have.”
“So I wanted to end it on my terms.”
Lucas’s voice trembled:
“Zoe… if you leave me now, you’ll never find someone better.”
I laughed.
“Who said I’m looking?”
“I have a job, savings, a brain, and a backbone. I can live a damn good life on my own.”
He shouted,
“Stella—don’t you regret this!”
“I don’t.”
I turned around and walked away with my head held high.
But the tears still ran down my chin as I stepped off the path.
—
A week later, I was at the airport with my suitcase in hand.
Suddenly, Ryan—an old mutual friend—called.
He told me Lucas had been in a serious car accident, refused treatment, and begged me to come see him.
He wanted me to talk sense into him.
I frowned and said coldly,
“Ryan, Lucas and I are nothing now. I won’t worry about him. I won’t come back.”
“I’ll never forgive his betrayal.”
“You’re heartless,” Ryan snapped. “He could die, and this is what you say? Do you want him dead?!”
“If he had truly cared about me, he wouldn’t have done what he did.”
I hung up.
And boarded my flight.
For nearly two months, I traveled—visited new places, soaked in new sights.
I embraced freedom. I embraced life.
I rarely thought of Lucas. Occasionally, I’d overhear gossip at bars.
Apparently, he’d gone back to his old ways—burning through cash, drunk every night, changing women like shirts.
He quit showing up to work. Started driving like he didn’t care if he lived or died.
And when I heard those stories?
I didn’t feel hurt.
I didn’t feel satisfied either.
I just felt… peace.
Because I had finally let go.
