Episode 1
Lana’s Pov
What do you do when, after four years of expecting your man to pop the question and he refuses. You finally summon the courage to propose to him, only to catch him cheating on you with your stepsister?
Well, in my case, I did the stupidest thing ever!
It all started after I saw a commercial from my favourite TV show one evening, talking about proposing to your special one with a flashy diamond ring. A ring that, according to them, will make anyone say yes. My eyes widened as I stared at how beautiful it was, and I knew maybe, just maybe, I could do it.
I've given four years of my life being the perfect girlfriend to Ethan. I had been his support system, invested years into him, and even did the housewife duties for him countless times, and even as he has gotten his footing, he still won't ask me to be his wife. So, I summoned courage, bought the diamond ring to pay in installments, and headed for his apartment that fateful afternoon.
“Ethan, baby, would you be my husband?” I said with one knee on the floor as I practiced outside his door. I imagined him saying yes, and I giggled.
Attempting to ring the bell, I noticed the door was creaked open. I squinted in confusion. The first thing that came to mind was that he probably just stepped out to get something. Shrugging, I opened the door and entered inside.
“Babe…” I sang as I locked the door. “Ba…” I cut myself short, noticing the red heels that were beside Ethan's shoes. It wasn't mine and I was sure of it.
Whose is it?
I took slow steps into the apartment, where I saw his clothes littered around the sitting room and also a feminine bra. My breath hitch in recognition of whose it is. I didn't want to believe it, and I just stood there, fighting off the realization that was dawning on me until…
“Stop it, babe. You've had enough already,” her all too familiar voice rang in my ears, followed by their chuckles. The voice was coming from the bedroom.
A part of me insisted I make a run for it, pretend I didn't see anything, forgive him and still be with him, but the inquisitive part of me begged to differ. As I stood there contemplating my next line of action, Ethan's next words made me decide on what to do swiftly.
“Gosh! I'm so glad I got you. Lana doesn't even stand a chance where you are.”
I stomped towards the bedroom and pushed the door open angrily to see them naked, their faces displayed shock but was shortly replaced with irritation.
“Why are you here?” Ethan asked, wearing his pants and my step-sister, Cassandra, wearing a robe.
Scoffing, I answered, “Really? I catch you cheating on me, and all you can ask is that? Waw!”
They burst into a feat of laughter, and Cassandra went to pour herself a glass of wine, relaxed back on the bed, sipping it. I wasn't really surprised it was her because right from high school, Cassandra had taken everything from me, including all my crushes and boyfriends. However, I was pained because I trusted Ethan with every fiber in me; I thought he was different.
“I thought I told you to always inform me before coming?” He looked at me coldly, but I knew that beneath that cold exterior was an anger brewing slowly. “You should leave. I don't want you disturbing our moment,” he added, waving me off.
I felt nothing, just pure emptiness and sadness. I never saw this side of him. I never expected him to betray me this bad, and worse, he feels no remorse?
“How…” my voice came out hoarse, and I cleared my throat. “Why? How could you cheat on me?! Four years, I gave you four years of my life, being an obedient girlfriend, doing your laundry, house chores, helping you search for jobs when you had nothing, but this is how you repay me? Why?!”
“Because I found something better!” He exclaimed, matching my energy as Cassandra giggled. “You are just a nobody, cast aside and even disowned by your dearest father, and you expect me to bank on you? I found someone better, and yes, she might be your sister, but she's the heir to your family, and I'd rather go with the rare gem than a filth.”
If anyone knows what I had gone through in the hands of my supposed family, it would be Ethan, but here he was, calling me the nickname my evil stepmother and her daughter calls me: filth. I watched on, fighting back the tears that threatened to fall off as he went over to the bed and placed a peck on Cassandra's cheek, further breaking my heart.
He grabbed her, then went on with their business, and I turned, not willing to watch them anymore. So, I made to leave, but his voice made me stop.
“Wait, isn't that a gift for me?” Ethan walked towards me and grabbed it from my hand, shuffling through it to see what it was until I dragged it back. “Is that a ring?” He asked, his face revealing amusement.
“Were you going to propose?” Cassandra asked, and went on to throw insults at me while he laughed.
This was not the man I knew. This was a total jerk, and I wish I could hurt him back. I wish I could hurt them both, but I felt powerless, pathetic, and sad. I was broken, but I couldn't give them, especially Cassandra, the joy of watching me break. Instantly, a thought came to my mind. I didn't know what I was thinking, but I decided to go with it.
“Yes, I'm proposing to my other boyfriend,” I said, and his face morphed into shock and then anger. “Two can play the game, jerk.” With that, I walked out of his apartment, my head held high as I felt his glaring gaze on me.
I knew I shouldn't break down, especially since I noticed them gazing down at me through the balcony. Instantly, I felt like I needed to prove to him that I wasn't bluffing, and luckily, a man with a well-dressed suit was passing through, and I stopped him.
“Marry me," I said, handing him the ring.
Wait, what the hell was I doing? Was I really asking a random stranger to marry me?
The man looked confused, like he was wondering who this crazy woman was, standing in the middle of nowhere, proposing to him. Or maybe I was just imagining things.
I gazed at him, practically begging with my eyes. Just take it and argue later. "Marry me," I repeated, glancing down at the ring before looking back at him, my desperation clear.
He was ridiculously attractive, and I swallowed hard as he stared at me in a daze. Then, to my surprise, he smiled, took the ring, and slid it onto his finger like it was all just a game to him. I let out a breath I hadn’t realized I was holding.
I looked up and saw that Ethan was still there, glaring at me, so I did the only thing I thought would make him believe me in the bid to annoy him.
“I'm sorry,” I said.
I tiptoed and kissed the stranger.
