My Fiancé Chose His Mistress Over Ninety-Nine Proposals

The bedsheets were covered with incriminating stains. Most noticeably, there lay a pair of men's boxer briefs. I instantly recognized them as Jaxson's.

"Lilah, don't get the wrong idea," Ariyah said, her voice dripping with feigned innocence. "We had a company hiking event today, and both Jaxson and I got really sweaty, so we rented a room to shower."

"But Jaxson's so careless, he left his watch here. Should I bring it over to you, or..."

This scene was all too familiar. The last time there was an issue, she had a medical emergency, and Jaxson, in rushing her to the hospital, ended up missing our wedding. Even though the excuse seemed solid, it left me furious. We had a huge argument.

Later, he showed up with a hospital discharge paper, metaphorically hitting me with it.

"Lilah Gardner, do you really think I'd lie about something as serious as life and death? All you care about is the wedding. Doesn't Ariyah's life matter to you?"

"If you throw another tantrum, don't bother talking about marriage with me. I don’t want to be with someone so heartless!"

Feeling cornered, I feared Jaxson might indeed call off the engagement. I ended up on the floor, writing a ten-thousand-word apology, which Jaxson then recorded on his phone. That put the matter to rest, at least for the moment.

Yet, a week later, I saw Ariyah post her discharge summary on Instagram. It was just a routine appendicitis case, nothing like what Jaxson had claimed. That diagnosis paper was clearly a doctored fake.

Fueled by anger, I confronted Jaxson for an explanation. Instead of apologizing for his blatant deceit, he taunted me with the video recording:

"Ariyah was sick. When did I ever lie to you?"

"Go ahead, make a scene, spread the story, I dare you. They'll just see your groveling apology and think you're the irrational one!"

It wasn't until my rage led to hyperventilation and an emergency hospital visit that he realized he'd crossed a line.

When I recovered, he sat by my bedside, eyes red with remorse, repeatedly apologizing. He promised to make up for the missed wedding in a week's time.

Seeing his sincere regret, I forgave him once more. Only now do I realize how foolish I was.

If Jaxson truly loved me, how could he hurt and deceive me over and over? Seven years of dating, ninety-nine proposals—humiliated ten times.

I no longer had the energy for this exhausting relationship. The only option left was to cut it off myself. Going forward, Jaxson and I would have no contact.

Seeing the message Ariyah sent, I didn’t react with anger or shame like I used to. I silently deleted the chat and let it go.

In the days that followed, Jaxson indulged in drinking and partying. His Facebook updates showed him at various bars and clubs, always with Ariyah by his side. It seemed he'd already moved on, enjoying the single life before we'd even officially ended things.

Perhaps it was for the best. I had no interest in seeing Jaxson's face again. After packing up all my things, I called Aunt Camilla to apologize once more for the wedding disaster.

I knew she had always cared for me deeply and was only upset because I didn't take her advice to avoid getting involved with Jaxson.

"Aunt Camilla, you once suggested I go abroad to work with Cousin Augustine. I want to know if that offer still stands."

Hearing my words, Aunt Camilla was both surprised and pleased. After all, she had been adamantly against my relationship with Jaxson and had encouraged me to study abroad many times, advice which I had ignored.

"Of course! As long as you cut ties with that scoundrel Jaxson, I will support you completely."

Once I decided to leave at the end of this month, I reached out to Saige, the real estate agent, to put my house up for sale. I bought it outright five years ago, intending it to be our marital home. Clearly, that was no longer necessary.

While sorting through my things, my friend Marisol suddenly sent me a video. Her voice was shaky with excitement:

"Lilah, look quickly! Isn't that necklace around that witch's neck yours?"