Her Enemy, Her Shelter

was a week to my twenty-fifth birthday, and I couldn’t wait to be celebrated by my boyfriend, Dylan. The fact that we had been in a relationship for over four years was enough to convince me that Dylan was the one for me. We had grown together, struggled together, and dreamed together—or at least, that was what I believed. As I shopped in Ixora Fashion Store, I couldn’t stop imagining the possible surprises I might receive. A quiet dinner? A weekend getaway? Or maybe—just maybe—something bigger. “Who knows? He might propose this time around,” I muttered happily, smiling at my reflection in the mirror as I held up a white silk skirt. “Ma’am, your bill is fifteen thousand dollars,” Jenna, the sales attendant, said politely. After making my payment in cash, I waited patiently for Jenna to package my items. That was when I noticed a familiar figure walk into the store with a woman. My heart skipped violently. I gasped. It was Dylan—my Dylan—walking hand in hand with another woman, his fingers laced with hers as though it was the most natural thing in the world. “Am I dreaming right now?” I whispered to myself, frozen in place. Jenna turned around, concerned by my sudden stiffness, and followed my gaze. Her expression changed immediately when she recognized him. “That’s Mr. Dylan,” she said carefully. “Aren’t you both together?” I smiled faintly, forcing myself to breathe as though my heart hadn’t just shattered. I gently collected my package from the counter. “Thank you, Jenna. I’ll see you around some other time,” I said calmly, even though my hands trembled. I didn’t bother calling Dylan. He was too busy laughing and picking clothes with his new catch. Instead, I walked straight out of the store and headed home, my thoughts louder than the traffic around me. At the house, everything reminded me of him—our pictures, the couch we argued over, the kitchen where we cooked late-night meals. The memory of what I had seen replayed endlessly, breaking me down completely. I knew Dylan was cheating; the woman wasn’t his sister. She was Lotus—a customer he once mentioned casually last year. I had suspected something then, especially with how often she called his phone. Now my doubts had a face. Still, I decided to wait until Dylan returned from work. If he was still interested in us, I was going to find out the hard way. I waited patiently and had dinner alone, the food tasteless in my mouth. When Dylan finally returned, it was late at night. I was dressed in new lingerie—one of the items I had bought earlier—hoping, foolishly, that maybe intimacy would draw out the truth. Dylan noticed me, his eyes flickering briefly, but instead of a compliment, he frowned. “Why are you still awake?” he asked. “I was waiting for you,” I answered softly. “Tell me… how do I look?” “Not bad,” he snapped, barely glancing at me. The rejection stung, but I hid it. I walked up to him and helped unbutton his shirt. “You know, we could take a shower together,” I whispered into his ear. “But you’ve already had your bath,” he replied flatly. “It doesn’t matter,” I said, trying to smile. Dylan gently removed my hands from his shirt. His face was heavy with conflict. He ran a hand through his hair, pacing the room as though searching for courage. “Reina, I need to tell you something,” he finally said. My heart began to race. I sat on the bed, already bracing myself. “Is it about Lotus?” I asked quietly. He froze. “What do you know about her?” he asked, staring at me. “I mean, apart from the fact that she’s one of my top customers at the company.” “Dylan,” I said, my voice steady despite the pain, “what is it you want to tell me?” He exhaled sharply. “Fine. Lotus is carrying my baby.” The words hit me like a slap. “What?” I asked aloud, my vision blurring. So he wasn’t just cheating—she was pregnant. I stood up abruptly as tears filled my eyes. “You’ve been cheating on me with her?” “Reina, I—” he stuttered. “How could you do this to me?” I cried. “I thought you loved me.” “I do love you,” he said quickly. “But this is my future we’re talking about, and I don’t see where you fit into it. Lotus is from a wealthy background. My parents will be pleased to hear I’m marrying her, unlike—” “Unlike me, right?” I interrupted bitterly. “So this is about status and money?” He scoffed. “Call it whatever you want, Reina. You and I are from two different worlds.” I smiled sadly as he walked out of the room, his pride trailing behind him like a shadow I had ignored for too long. Dylan spoke of family and fame because he didn’t truly know me. If only he knew how wrong he was—how small his world was compared to mine. I didn’t sleep that night. While Dylan stayed in the guest room, I packed my belongings quietly. “I’ll leave first thing tomorrow morning,” I told myself. “He can marry Lotus for all I care.” That same night, I called one of my elder brothers, Ajax, and told him I was finally returning to Mexico City. His joy was instant. “I’ll come pick you up myself tomorrow morning,” he said. “Just text me the address, baby girl.” After the call, I wandered through the house one last time. As I passed Dylan’s room, I heard his voice through the door. He was on the phone. “You don’t have to explain anything to Reina,” he said confidently. “I already made it clear to her.” My chest tightened as I listened. “Baby, you’re the one for me. We’re perfect for each other. I can’t wait to make you my wife officially.” So it really was Lotus? I walked downstairs to the bar without another thought and poured myself a glass of whiskey. I thought about how deeply I had loved Dylan, how I had ignored every warning from my parents and siblings. The sound of his laughter floated through the house like poison as I drank alone in the dim light. But beneath the heartbreak, something stronger began to rise—resolve. If Dylan wanted to erase me from his future, then I would write my own without him. And it would begin the moment I returned home, surrounded by people who truly knew my worth.