Her Boyfriend Is My Fiancé

My boyfriend's ex-girlfriend slapped me.

With a sly smile, she taunted, "Do you believe he'll only ask if my hand hurts?"

Then, she pretended to stumble and cried out dramatically.

In that moment, my boyfriend rushed to her side, completely ignoring my disappointment.

If that's how it is, then I don't need to pay any attention to his pleas.

...

After preparing a surprise for my boyfriend's third anniversary, he called to say he couldn't make it that night.

I had taken the day off to cook all night, my hands cut from chopping.

He hesitated, "I'm sorry, babe. I've been working on this project for months, and tonight's the signing. I can't miss it."

"We're together every day; one night doesn't matter, right?"

I'd be lying if I said I wasn't hurt, but he had important work, and how could I stop him?

I never thought he'd choose to see someone else on our anniversary.

After hanging up, I got a message from the restaurant where James and I often booked candlelit dinners, "Good evening! We couldn't reach Mr. Smith, so we're contacting you. How long until you arrive? We need to start preparing."

I sent the screenshot to James. He argued a bit but admitted it.

On the phone, his tone was casual: "A guy college friend came to see me. I couldn't turn him down. I lied so you wouldn't overthink it. I'm sorry, babe."

I wasn't buying it: "So you're having a candlelit dinner with a guy?"

At this point, he was still half-lying.

What friend would make him skip our anniversary? He couldn't wait one night, and he'd prepared a candlelit dinner.

In an instant, my preparations and hopes turned to jokes.

I felt like a joke.

James continued his ridiculous explanations. "He likes steak, so I brought him here."

"It's been years since we graduated; I just said yes. I can't cancel, right?"

"You understand, don't you, babe?"

He laughed, as if I was overreacting.

"I know how generous my girlfriend is. I'll bring you steak when I get back. You love it, right?"

I felt disappointed and started reevaluating our relationship...

I didn't know how much he meant.

Since I had nothing else to do, I decided to check.

As expected, across from James sat a young, beautiful girl.

She was dressed up, laughing with him.

My arrival was awkward yet perfect.

The scene was so shocking I forgot to be sad; I just found it ridiculous.

I pulled up a chair next to James.

"You didn't say your friend likes dressing as a girl."

I couldn't tell James' mindset. He looked nervous, placing his wine glass down and saying, "Emily Johnson, what are you doing here?"

He usually calls me "babe" affectionately, but now he avoided me.

I smiled lightly, "You told me the date and place; how could I not come?"

James suddenly broke into a sweat, his smile awkward. "Why do you have to be so sharp-tongued? Can't you tone it down? It makes everyone uncomfortable."

The girl raised her glass, "Hi, I'm Olivia Brown."

"I'm James' ex..."

She didn't need to tell me.

She smiled knowingly: "Don't get the wrong idea. James and I used to come here; it's just a habit."

I was stunned.

Her emphasis was boasting she planted the seeds in our relationship.

Were all our sweet dates just him reminiscing about someone else?

I didn't dare think about it.

I felt my resolve fading, and instinctively thought arguing further would mean losing.

At that moment, all I wanted was to go home and hide under the covers.

My cold war with James dragged on until Olivia moved in across the hall. James volunteered to help her, and I had no choice but to play the gracious host.

Olivia looked frail and haggard, coughing softly as she sat to the side.

She weakly apologized to me, but I remained silent.

"I know you have a prejudice against me, but I just happened to rent this place. Please don't think too much about it," she said.

I took a deep breath, maintaining a neutral expression as I looked at her, still not saying a word.

She seemed to grow anxious, suppressing her anger, and glanced at me before looking down. "Emily, if you're upset, I can move out right now. I wouldn't want to affect your relationship with James, would I?"

"Even though I haven't been back in years and don't know this city well, if you don't want to see me, I'll leave."

James immediately stood up, positioning himself between us.

He wrapped his arm around my shoulder and said gently, "Emily, what's wrong? Olivia just happened to move across from us; don't overthink it."

I replied coldly, "Did you hear what I said?"

James reassured me, "Emily, I know you too well. The more you bottle things up, the less you talk. This look on your face—how can it not be anger?"

"Can you just stop?"

I realized he knew I had been holding in my anger for days, yet he hadn't said a word to me or tried to cheer me up. But now that Olivia was involved, his attitude had completely shifted.

I tentatively suggested, "A friend of mine has a vacant apartment in the neighboring complex that's the same size and a thousand cheaper in rent. Would you like me to help you contact them?"

James frowned and replied sharply, "The lease is signed; there's no reason to break it!"

He continued lecturing me, "Emily, can you not be like this? I know you might not like Olivia, but she means no harm; it's just a coincidence. Olivia is new here, and as half-hosts, we should help her out a bit, don't you think?"

"We're just ordinary friends; don't misunderstand. Can't we just let Olivia stay here?"

I was unable to remain calm any longer.

"Is there really such a coincidence in the world? Think about it with a clear conscience," I said, struggling to hold back tears of frustration and sorrow.

"James, I don't know what history you have with Olivia, but at this point, I don't care anymore. Let's all just take a breather."

Despite my efforts to calm down, I couldn't swallow my anger. After spending a long time alone at home, I decided I needed to clarify things with both of them.

Whether it was about resolving issues or addressing people, I didn't mind either way.

As I reached the entrance, I heard faint sobbing from outside.

Olivia was crying.

She sniffled, saying, "I only had a meal with you; why does she have to make such assumptions about me?"

"Does everyone in the world have to be as petty as she is? Why should I move? Just because I'm your ex-girlfriend? So what? Do I still have ulterior motives?"

"Our relationship is completely innocent! Does everyone have to think like her? Can you please judge this fairly?"

I had finally calmed down, but now I felt my anger bubbling up again. Was it wrong to maintain distance from an ex?

Did I have to pretend to be blind to be magnanimous?

James sighed, "We really should keep our distance; it's all in the past. It's better for everyone to live well and wish each other well."

"Emily isn't like that. She may have a fiery temper, but that's all there is to it. She's a good person; if you spend more time together, you'll surely become good friends."

James' defense gave me a glimmer of comfort, but Olivia quickly shot it down.

She cried even more audibly, her tone sharp, "You want me to be friends with her?"

"And if you want to keep your distance, why are you helping me rent a place?"

"Right across from you?"

Olivia's words hit me like a thunderbolt, leaving me dizzy and unsteady on my feet.

"What are you talking about? It just happened that there was an available apartment... don't say that..."

I didn't catch what James said next, nor did I care to. I couldn't believe this was happening to me.

It turned out that the so-called coincidence was all part of James' careful planning, and I was just a fool blindly playing along.

"Have you said enough?"

I pushed the door open. Olivia was still softly sobbing, while my boyfriend James stood habitually between us.

James looked awkwardly at me, his expression a mix of shock and fear.

His eyes were red and puffy; he had clearly cried just moments ago.

Suddenly, I didn't know what I wanted to do. I could only stare blankly at them, feeling like an outsider to their sweet yet painful moment.

Olivia's voice trembled, "Why were you eavesdropping on us?"

After saying this, she shot me a fierce glare, covered her face, and retreated to the corner, silently crying.

James rushed over to support Olivia, his tone slightly impatient, "What are you trying to do? Why can't we just wait and talk about this later? Olivia is sick; her health isn't good, and she can't handle this stress."

"Is it wrong for me to help an old classmate? Why do you have to control everything I do?"

Just an old classmate?

Am I controlling anything?

My heart felt like it had been stabbed, and I suddenly felt weak, taking a few steps back before leaning against the wall to steady myself. I realized there was no point in discussing this any further; I should have seen it coming.

I hadn't expected that this farce was far from over.

As I turned, I bumped Olivia's bag, spilling out some onboarding papers.

Picking them up, the bold header jumped out, stinging my eyes.

"Executive Assistant to the General Manager, Olivia Brown."

What an ironic coincidence.

I had been offered that exact position.

But at the time, I happened to be dating James, the son of Smith Corporation's chairman. Even before confirming the relationship, unaware of his identity, I still needed to avoid any impropriety, so I couldn't take the job...

And Olivia?

She appeared and got onboarded in just two days. I could only imagine how many connections James had pulled to get her the position that should have been mine.

Back then, he had grandiosely claimed he couldn't bear for me to face gossip, wanting to marry me off in style, free from slander.

Analyzing it coolly now, those words sound like nothing more than pretty yet absurd platitudes, harmless even repeated.

But I, the fool, had believed them.

When James returned, I had already packed my bags.

I don't know how long he consoled Olivia's tears, or what exactly they said and did, only that his eyes were swollen.

The collision of reason and emotion left me feeling terrible.

Seeing my packed bags, he rushed over, shoes still on, to explain.

"Emily, what's the meaning of this? Wasn't it just a small thing?"

"Olivia and I are not how you think. My feelings for her are purely caring for an old classmate, nothing improper."

"We've been together three years, met my parents, and were about to marry. Surely we can't break up over some classmate? Don't be so heartless."

He hadn't forgotten our impending marriage.

I loved the James who had cherished me.

His anxious eyes were real, as was the irritation when he stood between Olivia and me.

I had given him chances, which he destroyed.

Affectionately holding my hand, "Emily, how about we marry in a few days? I have the ring ready, the style you liked."

I asked calmly, "James, do you still love me?"

He affirmed without hesitation, "Emily, I love you."

"But I don't love you anymore."

After our breakup, I stayed at a hotel. He called daily, and not wanting a big scene, I eventually met him at our usual restaurant.

Taking my hand tenderly, he solemnly put the prepared ring on my finger.

I tried to pull away but he gripped me, forcing me to stay.

Holding my hand firmly, a smile in his eyes, "Emily, your boyfriend has such good taste."