Someone texted me halfway through the wedding. The message read, "I had sex with your husband. Doesn't matter if you don't believe it."

The message hit me like a hammer, and I stood petrified. Then, the texter sent another message, "Second pocket on the inside of his coat. There's a used condom there from last night. Strawberry. We were setting up the room, and one thing led to another.

"We did it everywhere. Balcony, kitchen, and even in your car. He's not allergic to women. He'd gladly sleep with someone before marriage. He lied to you."

Everything began to spin. I walked ahead, but my movements felt stiff. I felt as if someone was yanking me forward. I approached the aloof, abstinent man I called my husband. The same man who had to think twice before holding my hand.

Sure enough, I found a pink condom in his pocket. Gasps and shouts rippled across the hall, while flashes of camera blazed and blinded the scene.

I spun on my heel. That was when I saw my best friend Zoe holding up her phone beneath the stage, a gentle smile hanging on her lips. Something bitter and sad filled my heart.

It took me standing here, utterly humiliated, to realize that the very thing I spent my whole life fighting for was nothing but a joke.

Betrayal

The crowd exploded into heated discussions.

"I thought Mr. Gray was the celibate kind of guy. I guess he's actually kinky."

"Whoa, his mistress is here somewhere, I bet. What a scandal!"

Timothy Gray did not look happy at all. He hissed quietly, "Don't make a fuss. We can deal with this later!"

I remained in my spot; my brain might as well be mush. I didn't hear him. Zoe had been with me last night, testing out my bridal gown. She was on the verge of tears as she wished me happiness.

Timothy held me and lost sleep the whole night, counting the literal stars as he waited for daylight.

Every second was torture for him, he said. He wanted nothing more than to marry me right away. His promise still rang around my ears, but things were different now.

The crowd had died down into silence. I pulled my gown up just a little and practically fled out of the hall like a bat out of hell, much to the crowd's shock.

It was pouring outside. The rain and tears muddied my makeup, and the zooming cars splashed up enough mud to soil my gown. Passersby stopped and gossiped about me.

A red sports car came onto the scene and screeched to a stop in front of me. Zoe stood in front of me, holding an umbrella.

"I'm sorry, Melanie. We promised no secrets between us, and I couldn't pretend everything's fine. I couldn't pretend to be your friend when I'd betrayed you. Still, I promise that there's no love between him and me. It's only passion."

Her bitten lips and the hickeys that lined her neck reminded me of all the secrets she once told me. She had a friend with benefits and would do it every time they met, no matter where, no matter when, and no matter how little time they had.

Later, she told me that her FWB was getting married, so they cut ties. Stupid little me comforted her for a long, long time. I always brought her along on my dates with Timothy. She knew everything about him.

She knew his stomach was killing him, his coat's style, the size of his sleeves, and even the fact that he hated sweet stuff and only had his americano at a specific temperature.

Not even I knew that much about him, and I was his fiancée.

"Whoa, your fiancé's size is about my FWB's, and they love the same thing. What a coincidence!"

Now that I knew what I knew, I realized that she'd been very obvious whenever she decided to drop hints. Alas, I never doubted her. I thought she was just teasing me and was being friendly with Timothy for my sake.

I saw the hurt in her eyes. I could tell that she wasn't insincere when she said, "I thought I could hold it in, Melanie. I thought he was just my FWB, and I would never catch feelings for him.

"But when I saw you two standing up there like a couple… It felt like I was losing both of you at the same time. It's probably my jealousy talking."

The rain was coming down heavier and faster now. Each splatter against my skin felt like icy needles while the wind's freezing bite dug into my flesh and settled between my bones. My body began to shiver, and I couldn't stop once I started.

Zoe quickly took her coat off and draped it around my shoulders to shield me from the elements. I noticed the scent that was lingering around her. Timothy's scent.

My stomach churned, and nausea swept across my body. I was going to double over in revulsion. It took me everything I had to shove her away. "Bugger off!"

A New Choice

"Zoe!" Someone crashed into me from behind and wrapped Zoe tightly in his protective arms.

Timothy's eyes were red with fury. "Come at me! Zoe's innocent!"

I crawled back out of the mud and slammed my phone right in front of Timothy.

My hand was screaming in pain from getting slashed by the rocks, but I didn't care. "So, that makes mocking me at my wedding okay? You've been playing me like a fool, the both of you! Has it been fun to play me for a fool?"

Timothy froze up. "It's not what you think. You know I have PTSD."

Yes, that was the convenient excuse he'd come up with. He was gynophobic, or so he claimed. Timothy and Zoe would go on trips together and had night runs at the park all the time.

I never once worried when they disappeared for three whole days and had spent their time together, all because of Timothy's supposed PTSD. Now that I was combing through the memories, I realized every single detail I'd brushed off already held the proof of this betrayal.

I saw the vague lipstick mark on his white shirt. I'd noticed him talking on the phone through the night, and I had seen the scrunchies peeking out of his coat's pocket. For ten whole years, they'd been going at it right under my nose for God knew how many times.

Silly me thought they were the closest and most important people in my life. What a joke.

Zoe thrashed and struggled and leaped out of Timothy's arms. She tried to pull me up, but I responded with a slap that carried all the strength I had left. "You disgust me, Zoe!"

Then, a harder slap landed on my face. "Do you have any idea how much she's suffered for you? She did what she had to do just to cure me! She wanted our marriage to be happy! She gave me her first time all for us!"

"Timothy, stop!" Zoe covered Timothy's mouth immediately.

And now these two were playing the part of a couple that was forced to separate by society. The big screen behind them was playing the wedding scandal. Something ominous filled my mind.

The hospital's staff called me. "Ms. Green, your mother got worse. We're saving her right now."

I scrambled back up like a madwoman and leaped into an oncoming cab just to stop it. Then I went straight to the hospital.

The surgery was done by the time I arrived. The doctor took his mask off. "She's stable for now, but make sure she doesn't get agitated again."

I sat beside my mother's bed the whole night and had her hand in mine. I cried my heart out throughout the night. "I'm sorry, but I'm not marrying Timothy, Mom! I'll take care of you. Of both of us."

In my daze, I was taken back to the night before the wedding. Timothy sat by my mother's side and swore he'd take care of me as long as he breathed. He promised a wedding I would never forget.

He delivered on that last part, though it was definitely a different sort of unforgettable. He taught me that I could never rely on someone else to make me happy. I had to fight for it and earn it myself, or it would only be an illusion.

I logged into my email and opened up an offer letter from Amestria. I accepted it without hesitation!

Twisted Man

The employer was very generous. I was offered handsome pay, and they even contacted a team of pro medics for me. I booked a flight that was set to leave in three days, then I went back and packed up.

The new house barely had anything big, save for the gigantic, very conspicuous 'Just Married' hanging from the wall. Zoe had burned the midnight oil to cut out the exquisite window decorations, while Timothy and I filled the space with other, smaller decorations.

We had built the place decor piece by piece.

Driven by excitement, Timothy even made the bassinet himself. His eyes shone with anticipation for married life. Sadly, all that happiness was gone now.

I pulled the door open.

Timothy was leaning on the wall, smoking. He glanced at my suitcase and blew out a stream of smoke. "How long is it going to be this time? Three days? A week? A month?"

I said nothing. He tried to coax me again. "Stop throwing a tantrum. You know I only care about you." Then, he leaned in for a kiss, prying my lips open with his tongue like a pro. At the same time, he tried to unbutton my shirt.

"I was going to wait until we're married, but I changed my mind." He moved like he'd practiced this a thousand times. Zoe must've taught him how to do this.

A wave of disgust rose from the depths of my belly. This time, I actually bent over to gag.

My reaction infuriated him. "Don't you turn your nose up at me! Men hate it when sex gets interrupted! Zoe would never be a buzzki—"

He froze before he could finish, then he hastily backpedaled, "Melanie, that's not what I meant. Zoe's been sleeping with me. I've never considered making things official between us. She's a pitiful woman. Can't you stand in her shoes?"

I swatted Timothy's hand away. "I don't run a recycling business, Timothy. Go back to Zoe if you want her so much!" I pulled up my suitcase and strode ahead.

My chest was burning with pain, and tears slid down my cheeks. I couldn't bid a calm farewell after all. I spent 10 of the best years of my life on him. I'd fallen in love with him when I was in high school, and I stayed loyal to him in college.

When he first started his business, we only had enough money for cheap bread every day. When success finally came for him, he proposed to me in front of the whole world. Just when I thought my work would finally bear fruit, life decided to teach me a painful lesson.

Timothy didn't come after me, but Zoe herself begged me to stay. "Please, you can't leave him! He can't live without you! If anyone should leave, it's me! If you stay, I promise I'll never show up again! You can be happy!"

I stared into the empty space ahead, my face deadpan. "Get lost!"

Zoe's hands were wrapped around my legs. She refused to let go. All I did was softly pull her hand away. Yet, she crashed to the ground, her forehead knocking against the hard floor. Blood was spilled.

"What will it take for you to stay? My death?" Before I could do anything, Zoe clenched her teeth and charged right into a wall, only to slam into Timothy's chest.

Timothy felt for her.

He wiped her blood off with his perfectly white shirt. When he looked at me, there was only hatred left in his eyes.

"That's going too far, Melanie! She's been keeping her chin up for you, but she had to take sleeping pills just so she could sleep whenever she sees us together!

"She spent nights making window decor, setting up our room, picking your shoes, and testing out your makeup. She did all that while her heart was screaming in protest!"

The twisted couple was huddled together like a grotesque statue. I was shaking with rage, and my emotions spilled over. "Look at you two justifying your betrayal. You're just a slut, Zoe! Don't try to cover it up!

"And you, Timothy! You're not allergic to women! You're just impotent! Only a slut can make you feel like a man! You're made for each other!"

He slapped me again. "I'm not impotent. I just can't get hard for you. I was thinking about Zoe whenever I'm with you. We were fucking like rabbits in the room next door when you were trying out your wedding gown.

"When we went to the movies, she rode me on my seat. When you were picking your ring, we were going at it in the restroom. We shagged for the whole night when we were supposed to set up the room. If your mother hadn't seen us…"

"Shut up, Timothy!" Zoe went white and covered up Timothy's mouth. "Don't listen to him! He's out of his mind! He's trying to rile you up!"

I was petrified, and my mind was filled with white noise. My mother's worsening condition was no accident. That scandal going live was just one of the catalysts.

Once again, I was taken back to the moment Timothy proposed to me. My mother couldn't say anything, but her eyes were full of tears. She hadn't been happy for me, then. No, she was heartbroken because I had no idea the bastard was lying to my face.