My Love is Getting Married to Somebody Else

The Robinson family's stock price had plummeted, leaving Dave and Mary too absorbed in their turmoil to pay me any attention. For the first time in ages, I relished a few days of peace—an unusual luxury amidst the chaos.

But trouble lurked just around the corner. A message from Dave flashed on my phone, jolting me back to reality. It was a photo of my mother, grinning as she played poker with a street aunt, casually using the alimony money she had received from me just days ago.

"Kimberly, you’re a smart person. Your careless comments a few days ago have cost the Robinson family dearly. You know what you need to do."

My mother and I had always been each other's lifelines. She was fiercely proud, having raised me alone after my father abandoned her for someone else. Each time someone laughed at her, she took her anger out on me, shaping me into the person I was today.

Now, facing scorn online, I had morphed into the very embodiment of everything she despised. She was doing her best to distance herself from me, and while I couldn’t blame her, the thought of her facing trouble alone twisted my insides.

In the end, I knew I had to find a way to compromise. As soon as the livestream began, millions of viewers tuned in, their eager eyes fixed on the screen. Another message from Dave pinged on my phone: "You know what to say and what not to say."

I shot back a single word: "Get lost."

The comment section exploded with a torrent of question marks and a whirlwind of reactions. Some fiercely defended me, while others rallied behind Dave and Mary.

“How many good men are out there? This isn’t the first time we’ve seen someone cheat!”

“Hey, we believe in you! Hang in there!”

“Is she really like that? The Robinson family is rich and powerful. They could have anyone they want. Why would they cheat? I think she’s just trying to blackmail Dave.”

“Dave has money, but he’s not blind. If I were him, I’d choose Mary too.”

“Hey girl, take my advice. Being a wealthy family’s wife isn’t easy. It’s better to be with someone like me.”

Amid the cacophony of comments, I took a deep breath, my heart pounding in my chest. This was my moment to reclaim my narrative.

“I started this livestream to apologize to everyone. I deceived you all.”

The comments momentarily froze, an uneasy silence enveloping the livestream as viewers processed my words. My heart raced as I pressed on, determined to clarify the truth.

“Mr. Dave and I were in a relationship for a few years, but that was in the past. Ms. Mary and Mr. Dave are well-suited for each other. I was unwilling to accept that, which is why this farce unfolded.”

“I want to take responsibility for my actions. Once again, I apologize to anyone who was hurt because of me. I’m truly sorry.”

In an instant, the mood in the comment section shifted, and a barrage of insults flooded my screen. Words like daggers, they cut deep, but after so much vilification, I had grown numb. The livestream ended abruptly, leaving a void in its wake.

A sharp knock echoed through the silence. I curled up on the sofa, indifferent to who might be on the other side. Was it him? Or had someone simply walked into the wrong apartment? I could hear the unmistakable sound of the fingerprint lock being disengaged, sending a shiver down my spine.

A tall figure stepped inside and sat down across from me. I didn’t need to guess; I knew it was Dave.

He looked at me and said, "You’re being very sensible. I’ve transferred the villa in the east of the city into your name as compensation for all this."

"As long as you want, I can pretend nothing happened," he said, knowing just how to provoke me. When I didn’t respond, he added, "After everything that’s happened, who else would dare to want you except me?"

I sat up from the sofa and quietly walked over to him. The crisp sound of a slap broke the silence of the night. He smirked, touching the spot where I hit him, as if he enjoyed it.

"You’re shameless," I spat.

He grabbed my wrist and smiled, "You’ve known that for a while."

I shouted, "Get out!"

He picked up his suit jacket and placed a card on the table. "There’s five million on the card. You can use it however you want."

Maybe my emotions had been too erratic in the past few days, but suddenly, I felt a sharp pain in my stomach, followed by a warm trickle running down my legs. Just before I lost consciousness, I dialed the emergency number. At least this way, Dave and I would be completely severed.