My boyfriend’s other woman

Pain and anger wrestled for dominance, each threatening to consume me. Yet, despite my turmoil, I couldn't abandon Glenn, not in his inebriated state. I shut the car door firmly, drowning out Adalynn's mocking laughter.

The image of Glenn proposing to her – on bended knee, vows of forever in his eyes – haunted me. It was a stark contrast to the gentle whispers of "Addie" that once warmed my heart.

Seven years of memories, once cherished, now taunted me like a cruel joke. A wave of nausea washed over me, as if reality itself had turned against me.

It made me wonder for all those seven years he has touched me, was he imagining her as well?

I couldn’t erase the memory of his proposing from my mind. Six months ago before we left our pack and came to the human world. We met with an accident on our way, in a desperate attempt to save his life, I had shed his body with mine, causing me to be injured badly and unconscious for days.

Luckily, the rescue team came on time to save my life just in time and I survived. On the day I was discharged from the hospital, Glenn kneeled in front of the hospital with a non quiet of flowers in his hands.

“Addie”. He called, kneeling on one leg.

“I know I said I don’t want our relationship to be determined by a mate bond and I don’t believe in it but today, you made me believe in love and in our bond as well. You have saved my life and using this life you gave me, I want to take care of you for the rest of it”.

“Will you be my girlfriend?”. I covered my mouth in disbelief, overwhelmed by excitement. Everyone around cheered for us as I collected the flowers and accepted his request.

Throughout our years of being together, Glenn has always been so kind and considerate. If it wasn’t for what I had witnessed today, I would have bet my life he loves me more than anything.

But now, watching him with a distant look in his eyes, that certainty was long gone. I drove in silence, thinking of how to end a relationship of seven years. My heart squeezed in pain, seven years!! Seven good years only to find out I was just a distraction.

Seven years might seem long but it’s nothing compared to a lifetime. The idea of me getting married to him without knowing the truth was even worse. It got me wondering where and how I had gone wrong? Wasn’t I lovable at all? Seven years and he just gave it up for one night?

The vibration of Glenn’s phone pushed me out of my thoughts, I stared at it, unsure of checking it. But it won’t stop vibrating, reluctantly I decided to check who was messaging. And surely when I try to unlock it, there was no password.

In all this years we have been together, I have never checked his phone and trusted him blindly not to do anything that would hurt me. But now, curiosity and the need for an answer drove me to check it.

It was a message from Adalynn; “Text me when you get home. Glenn will have a headache tomorrow, he’s too drunk. Make him a bowl of hangover soup and let it cook down before feeding it to him. And also make sure to wipe his body, i always do that when he’s drunk so he can sleep properly”.

It was as if she knew I would check his phone, of course, she keeps sending messages which will force me into checking it. It’s funny how I’m preparing for our 7th year anniversary and in hope Glenn will propose but instead I’m getting instructions on how to take care of my boyfriend from another woman.

I packed the car by the roadside, taking a deep breath as I scroll deeper into their chats history. There were so many messages between them.

As I scrolled through the countless messages between Glenn and Adalynn, I felt overwhelmed by the sheer volume of their conversations. The screen was flooded with Glenn's complaints, punctuated by occasional responses from Adalynn. But one particular message caught my eye.

"Honestly, I don't really want to get married, but how can I not appreciate her for saving my life?". he confessed to Adalynn.

He then compared me to her, his words stinging: "She has a name similar to yours, but she's nowhere near your level. She just doesn't get me at all."

My heart sank further as I read on.

"If I proposed to you, would you say yes?" Glenn asked Adalynn, his tone uncertain.

Silence followed, no response from her until Glenn broke the silence with a self-deprecating comment: "Just kidding. Don't ignore me. I won't say it."

The conversation lulled, but this morning, Glenn had sent Adalynn an electronic wedding invitation. Her response was cryptic: "If I asked you to marry me, would you come?"

Glenn's reply was instantaneous: "Are you serious?"

Adalynn quickly deflected: "I'm just joking." If Adalynn hadn’t responded with that, I was also sure Glenn would leave me without thinking twice.

I raised my head up, biting my lips trying to stop the tears from falling but still, they still fall. A mixture of anger and betrayal filled me, making me realize I was better off without this relationship.

I got out of the car and still helped him inside, while he was asleep, I booked a flight to Hudson for the same day as our anniversary.

I lay there on the bed, ignoring Glenn's unconscious body on the ground, thinking about everything. The next morning I woke up to the sound of his voice, even though he was trying to speak softly, the door was slightly open and I could hear him.

“Don’t cry Addie”. He said, his voice filled with guilt.

“You know the only person I love is you, and I would do anything to hear it back from you. But I really have to marry Adriana, my parents won’t like it if I don’t. I had promised them to propose to her on our 7th anniversary and marry her in a week”. I wasn’t sure what she said to him on the other side that caused him to burst into laughter.

“You naughty girl, fine I will do as you say. Once the time comes, I will put our wedding photos behind Adriana’s, because to me you’re my only mate”. He said with so much proudness, like he was doing the right thing.

Even though I have decided to part ways with him, the thought of him taking wedding photos with Adalynn and putting them behind mine felt like I was stabbed in the heart again.

Just as my anger boiled over, Glenn ended the call and cautiously peeked into the room. Our eyes met, and his startled expression faltered, replaced by a mixture of confusion and guilt.

"Addie, why did you get up?" he asked, his voice laced with unease.