Four Circles

I had the servants throw all of Tiffany’s belongings straight into the recycling bins, then contacted an agent to list the villa for sale. With Maddie in tow, I rushed to the engagement party.

On the way, Tiffany called.

“Hubby, why are people from the Attorney General’s Office at the company? Hurry over and sort this out!

“I’m busy! Stop causing trouble!”

What, busy cuckolding me?

I sneered coldly and immediately blocked her number.

Arriving at the hotel Fabian mentioned, I saw the entrance filled with luxury cars.

I left my daughter in the car and walked in alone.

It was only an engagement party, yet the decor was extravagant.

Dressed to the nines, my childhood friend Fabian was greeting the guests.

Behind him was a display of greetings and wedding photos of him and Tiffany.

Revealing clothes and frivolous expressions, each one was pushing at the limits of my tolerance.

I clenched my fists, desperate to tear them all apart.

For the five years that we had been married, she had always acted like a pure maiden, granting me only a handful of intimate sessions.

Yet in Fabian’s arms, she acted like a bitch desperately trying to please her owner!

Perhaps five years ago, I shouldn’t have acted as a human shield between her and the money lender’s knife. Neither should I have cleared her debts and let her stand in a position that was never hers to have!

“Hey, isn’t this my good buddy Matthew Hunt?

“What’re you doing standing around like that? Never been to such a fancy place before and scared stiff now?”

A teasing voice cut through the air with the approaching Fabian, who was fawned over and orbited by a group of childhood friends.

“Buddy, you should’ve come to me for a loan! How are the cars coming along? I’ve been bragging about you everywhere, so don’t let me embarrass myself now!”

Standing beside him was Chester Byrd, casually raising his wrist adorned with an imitation of a green Rolex Submariner.

He said to Fabian, “Hey bro, let’s not make things hard for our Professor Mattie. He’s just a lowly teacher at a cram school. Probably took a cab here himself. Him gifting a car? I bet he can’t even afford a single tire even if he died trying!”

Everyone burst into laughter.

“Our Professor here is a man of letters. Why not write a poem for Fab here and his bride? Save those few hundred bucks for a cab ride home!

“Mattie, enjoy the meal later, but don’t ask for takeout in a plastic bag. Our Fab here is marrying the daughter of the top family in Cirrus, the Jeffersons. Don’t embarrass him…”

Watching my old playmates' bootlicking expressions, my heart only grew colder.

“Matthew, they’re just joking. Don’t take it to heart!”

Fabian patted me on the back, his eyes betraying undisguised smugness.

“But take it from me, your good buddy. Money makes the world go round. What good is your academic prowess? If I hadn’t gotten married, then you wouldn’t even be allowed in this hotel!

“Those girls you looked down on back then? You can’t even lick their boots now. This is where I’m better than you because I’m marrying a good wife, and I can walk sideways in Cirrus.

“But hey, don’t get discouraged. When you see my wife later, I’ll get you a job as a security guard at Jefferson Corp.”

I stared at him coldly.

The higher he preened, the harder he’d crash.

Just then, my phone rang.

The funeral wreaths had arrived.