The Instant I Left, He Begged for More

I passed through the grand entrance of our estate, the weight of the day settling on my shoulders. Today was the day I would meet the man I was about to marry.

Not Harold, though I hadn’t called off our wedding yet. No, that would be far too simple. I wanted him to stand at the altar, waiting in humiliation before everyone, only to find out I had already wed someone else. A ruthless end for the man who had deceived me for so long.

As I stepped into the living room, I froze.

There he was—a tall man seated on the couch, one leg casually crossed over the other, exuding an air of ease and authority. His sharp, chiseled face was even more striking than I remembered, his intense eyes studying me with a look I couldn’t read but found oddly familiar.

Gavion Smith.

Harold’s childhood rival turned enemy. The man who had always been his equal, challenging him at every turn. The man I once secretly admired before making the worst choice of my life—choosing Harold instead.

I took a sharp breath, a sly smile tugging at my lips. Perhaps this wasn’t a mistake after all.

My mother cleared her throat, pulling me from my thoughts. “You’ve finally arrived,” she said warmly. “This is Gavion Smith. He’s the man I’ve been hoping you’d marry all along. This union will benefit both families,” she added firmly. “But I won’t force you. Your happiness matters most.”

My happiness. How ironic. I had spent years believing I was happy with Harold, blinded by the illusion of love, only to be used and discarded. Now, I wasn’t chasing happiness—I was seeking justice.

I met Gavion’s gaze steadily. “I’ll do it.”

A faint smirk played on his lips. “No second thoughts?”

I shrugged casually, hiding the storm inside. “It’s a smart move.”

He leaned in, eyes sharp. “And revenge? Is that what this is about? What Harold did to you?”

I didn’t blink. He saw right through me. “If you want to call it that.” I tilted my head. “Does it bother you?”

His eyes darkened, amusement fading into something more serious. “Not at all,” he said after a pause. “I like a woman who knows exactly what she wants.”

There was a silent understanding between us—a flicker of respect, perhaps.

My mother exhaled, relief evident in her voice. “Then it’s settled.” She smiled, though it was cautious. “Just be sure, Pam. If you want to back out—”

“I won’t,” I interrupted firmly. “I know what I’m doing, Mom. Love isn’t what I need. I want revenge. Harold betrayed me. He deserves to feel my wrath.”

Gavion studied me carefully, then smirked. “This will be interesting.”

I returned the smile, cold and calculated. “I’m counting on it.”

I laid out the plan—the wedding, the public humiliation, the final blow to Harold. They listened quietly, then the conversation shifted to wedding details and business. Suddenly, one of the staff entered with a folder and handed it to me.

As I opened it, my breath caught. The documents revealed Harold had erased all footage from the accident. It wasn’t an accident after all. He had planned it.

Worse still, the child Kate carried wasn’t Jason’s—it was Harold’s. They’d been having an affair all along. A secret scandal.

My jaw tightened, the papers crinkling under my grip. They’d been manipulating me the whole time.

A bitter laugh escaped me. Kate—the grieving fiancée—was a liar. And Harold? A killer.

I took a steadying breath. This was beyond betrayal. This was war.

I met Gavion’s eyes again. “Change of plans,” I said quietly, sliding the folder toward him.

He scanned the papers, raising his eyebrows before his face hardened. “Now, this is getting interesting.” His tone was calm but edged with something fierce.

I smirked. “Let’s take him down.”

Later that night, I returned home, masking everything, pretending ignorance.

Then I saw her—Kate—standing before the mirror, twirling in my wedding dress, the delicate lace flowing around her.

Harold stood close, smiling softly at her. A knot of rage twisted inside me—not heartbreak, but cold fury.

Kate spun around, startled. Guilt flushed her cheeks, quickly replaced by a forced smile. “Pam… I—I just wanted to try it on,” she stammered. “I never got to when Jason… died.”

I tilted my head, lips curling into something almost like a smile. “Go ahead. Try it.”

Her eyes widened, surprise flickering. I added, with a fake sweetness, “If you want, you can even have Harold as your groom, since you seem to want him all to yourself.”

The atmosphere shifted. Her smile faltered, crumbling as tears welled in her eyes.

Harold turned sharply to me, his face darkening. “Pam, what’s wrong with you?” he snapped. “Kate’s pregnant. She’s sensitive. Don’t say things like that.”

I scoffed. “Oh, right. Because she’s pregnant.” I crossed my arms, eyes locked on his. “Why don’t you just marry her, then? It sure seems like you’ve been hiding a lot.”

His jaw clenched, anger flashing in his eyes. Without warning, his hand shot out and slapped my face.