Love Buried in Lies

A New Choice

"Zoe!" Someone crashed into me from behind and wrapped Zoe tightly in his protective arms.

Timothy's eyes were red with fury. "Come at me! Zoe's innocent!"

I crawled back out of the mud and slammed my phone right in front of Timothy.

My hand was screaming in pain from getting slashed by the rocks, but I didn't care. "So, that makes mocking me at my wedding okay? You've been playing me like a fool, the both of you! Has it been fun to play me for a fool?"

Timothy froze up. "It's not what you think. You know I have PTSD."

Yes, that was the convenient excuse he'd come up with. He was gynophobic, or so he claimed. Timothy and Zoe would go on trips together and had night runs at the park all the time.

I never once worried when they disappeared for three whole days and had spent their time together, all because of Timothy's supposed PTSD. Now that I was combing through the memories, I realized every single detail I'd brushed off already held the proof of this betrayal.

I saw the vague lipstick mark on his white shirt. I'd noticed him talking on the phone through the night, and I had seen the scrunchies peeking out of his coat's pocket. For ten whole years, they'd been going at it right under my nose for God knew how many times.

Silly me thought they were the closest and most important people in my life. What a joke.

Zoe thrashed and struggled and leaped out of Timothy's arms. She tried to pull me up, but I responded with a slap that carried all the strength I had left. "You disgust me, Zoe!"

Then, a harder slap landed on my face. "Do you have any idea how much she's suffered for you? She did what she had to do just to cure me! She wanted our marriage to be happy! She gave me her first time all for us!"

"Timothy, stop!" Zoe covered Timothy's mouth immediately.

And now these two were playing the part of a couple that was forced to separate by society. The big screen behind them was playing the wedding scandal. Something ominous filled my mind.

The hospital's staff called me. "Ms. Green, your mother got worse. We're saving her right now."

I scrambled back up like a madwoman and leaped into an oncoming cab just to stop it. Then I went straight to the hospital.

The surgery was done by the time I arrived. The doctor took his mask off. "She's stable for now, but make sure she doesn't get agitated again."

I sat beside my mother's bed the whole night and had her hand in mine. I cried my heart out throughout the night. "I'm sorry, but I'm not marrying Timothy, Mom! I'll take care of you. Of both of us."

In my daze, I was taken back to the night before the wedding. Timothy sat by my mother's side and swore he'd take care of me as long as he breathed. He promised a wedding I would never forget.

He delivered on that last part, though it was definitely a different sort of unforgettable. He taught me that I could never rely on someone else to make me happy. I had to fight for it and earn it myself, or it would only be an illusion.

I logged into my email and opened up an offer letter from Amestria. I accepted it without hesitation!