I Married My Husband’s Rival

That day ended in a bitter argument, with classmates who doubted us jumping at the chance to hurl insults my way. Words like "gold digger," "materialistic," and "schemer" were thrown around, completely smearing my reputation.

For a week, I didn’t bother reaching out to Travis Jordan. Eventually, it was Cade Moore who stepped in to play mediator, tricking us into a meet-up.

The moment I saw Travis, my instinct was to leave. Maybe he'd had time to cool off over the past week, as he greeted me with a broad smile and blocked my exit. Despite my mixed emotions, he pulled me into a hug right in front of all his friends.

“Don’t be upset, I know I messed up.”

I tried to pull away, but the next thing I knew, a cool necklace was being fastened around my neck.

“A late Valentine’s gift, handmade by me. It matches the star necklace you gave me.”

His gentle tone and the exquisite gift melted away some of my anger. As my annoyance faded, I found myself more open to conversation.

I pulled up news articles and Sarahi Medina’s Facebook posts and confronted him.

“You said you two were just business partners. Since when do business partners get so cozy?”

Travis wrapped his arms around me from behind and glanced at the phone.

“It’s a huge misunderstanding. She was worried that her pearl earrings were uneven before facing reporters and asked me to check them. I didn’t even touch her! You know I’m nearsighted; I only leaned in slightly to take a look.”

I couldn't help but smile, but I pressed on: “What about that Facebook post? You said you had a last-minute meeting, only to be seen having dinner with her instead. What’s your story?”

Travis turned me to face him, cradling my face, and delivered a genuine kiss.

“Honey, honestly, the meeting time was changed by the client. Sarahi said she hadn’t eaten all day and had a stomach ache, so she insisted I accompany her to get some food.”

I flicked his hand away, unable to suppress my smile. Just as I was about to deliver a warning, Sarahi Medina walked in.

Her eyes were red as she approached me directly:

“Cade told me you argued because of me, so I rushed over. Lucia, even though Travis and I have a marriage arrangement, we’re just friends. If it bothers you, I can ask my dad and his uncle to call it off, and I’ll leave the country to stop being a problem.”

The heavy rain outside had left her drenched. After saying this, she shed a few tears and prepared to leave.

I clearly saw the look of reluctance in Travis’s eyes as he released me and hurriedly followed Sarahi. Right in front of me, he gently wiped the rain from her face, not hesitating at all.

His friends saw me standing there, looking unhappy, and began whispering among themselves, criticizing me for being a bully.

Even Sarahi glanced at me timidly. At that moment, I truly felt like I was the one who should leave.

That evening, I barely touched my dinner rolls before making an excuse to leave, claiming I was feeling unwell.

I expected Travis to stay behind, taking care of the fragile Sarahi, but he dashed into the rain after me.

He led me to a nearby café, ordered a hot coffee to warm my hands, and ran back out into the rain to buy a towel to wrap me up.

“Lucia, don’t be mad at me. Sarahi’s family is very strict. If she actually goes home and talks about ending the arrangement, she might face serious consequences. I only see her as a sister; that’s why I care for her a bit more. Please don’t worry; my eyes and heart belong solely to you.”

Seeing me shiver, he sat close, held me tightly, and rubbed my hands to warm me up.

Despite my inner turmoil, his steadfast care convinced me to lay aside my resentment and trust him.

But he ultimately broke that trust.

After that day, Sarahi shamelessly remained glued to Travis’s side. They talked about company growth and jewelry exhibitions, pairing so perfectly that they seemed like a couple.

Not only our classmates but even I believed they were in a relationship.

Sarahi eventually approached me, brimming with confidence:

“Lucia Rivera, Travis might see me as a sister now, but one day, he’ll see me as his lover. Just wait and see.”

I couldn’t muster a response, watching her leave with the smile of a victor.