TWISTS OF FATE

CHAPTER THREE

Jacob: Got something. Enough to raise concern. Sending photos.

My hands trembled as I opened the photos. The first one was blurry—Oliver sitting across from Mandy in what looked like a quiet little café. They weren’t touching, but the way he leaned forward, smiling at her, made my throat tighten. The second photo made me feel like the floor fell beneath me.

Mandy’s hand was on Oliver’s. His smile—that smile—was the same one he gives me when he’s trying to make me feel special.

As I opened the third photo, it was CCTV footage. It was the day I saw him buy flowers I thought were for me. The photo shows them holding hands, while Mandy was holding the bouquet in her other hand.

I dropped the phone on the couch and pressed my palms to my eyes, willing the tears not to fall.

I had prayed I was wrong.

I wanted to be wrong.

But deep down, I knew I wasn’t.

Another message popped up.

Jacob: I followed him after he dropped you at your house earlier. He went to the café and met up with Mandy. I followed them to Mandy’s condo. He went inside. Hasn’t left yet.

I let out a sound that was half-sob, half-laugh. What could they have possibly talked about for that long?

No.

I knew.

And knowing that... broke something inside me.

My phone buzzed again.

This time, it was Oliver.

Oliver: Hey babe, did your mom like the food? Can’t wait to see you again. Love you.

I stared at the message for a long time. The same hands that were just on another woman’s, were texting me like nothing happened. Like he hadn’t just broken my heart into a thousand unrecognizable pieces.

I locked my phone and leaned back on the couch.

Tears finally fell.

The truth was here.

And I wasn’t ready for it.

But I couldn’t run from it either.

I tried calming myself. I would call Oliver, but not to confront him, but to ask him to come here to my apartment. I wanted to see what he'd be doing. Is he going to leave Mandy for me? Or stay at Mandy knowing I wanted him to be with me?

As soon as I calmed myself, I called him. It took a few rings before he answered my call.

“Babe?” he answered.

“Mom, didn’t push through. She has to attend a meeting with my brother. I was about to cook when I received her message, so instead of cooking I slept. I fakely chuckled, "Come here, stay the night,” I said in a sweet tone.

He didn’t reply right away, probably thinking of any excuse just to be with Mandy.

“Are you busy?” I asked him again.

“I’ll be there,” he said, and I smiled, thinking I had won against Mandy. But little did they know the game had only just begun.

I fix myself so he won’t notice that I cried. I hid my phone, so he wouldn’t see Jacob’s message.

When he arrived, he immediately lay down on my couch as if he was so tired.

“Why do you seem so tired?” I chuckled, wanting to roll my eyes, but I decided not to.

“Work,” he smiled at me.

“You’re such a hardworking man, you know?” It’s a double meaning. I sat next to him, and held his hands.

An idea popped into my head at the moment, that I knew he’d really hate me for doing this to him.

Before he could speak again, I kissed him and sat on his lap. It was a passionate kiss. I noticed he was shocked by my action, but he continued kissing me, “I love you,” I whispered, and I could feel him smile in between our kisses.

“Shit...” he said, and this time it was me who smiled. He was hard… I can feel it...

I touched him, I kissed him like I had never kissed him before. I made him feel I was hungry for this.

He was kissing my neck, and was about to undress me, but I stopped.

“Why?” he asked confusedly.

“Dinner’s ready…” I smiled.

But he pulled me closer to him, and kissed me harder than before. “This is dinner,” he smiled.

I’d probably give you my first tonight, Oliver. Only if you didn’t cheat on me.

“Our dinner will be burned,” I said, and with that he had no choice but to let me go. I quickly prepared our dinner.

He leaned on the kitchen, watching me prepare dinner for us. As I looked at him, I saw sadness, but that’s bullshit. If he truly loved me, he wouldn’t dare to cheat on me.

“What’s wrong?” I asked him.

“Nothing, can we- can we continue what we started earlier? I mean after dinner?” he smirked at me.

“Let’s eat now,” I smiled, like I didn’t hear him.

We ate peacefully. I acted like I never got to know what he has been doing behind my back.

After washing the dishes, I asked him to stay with me in my room. I saw how excited he was, but no. I have no plan to give Oliver my purity.

We lay down on bed. I opened the television so we could watch something. I wanted to cuddle, thinking this might be the last time I’d be able to do this with him. We were peacefully watching, until he asked me if I was excited about the wedding.

“Very excited,” I said, not looking at him.

Thinking about the wedding makes my heart crash. This wasn’t just about a man cheating on his fiancée. This was seven years of my life. Seven years of dreams, plans, promises. Of growing up with someone I thought I would grow old with. My wedding dress was already being tailored. Our names were engraved on hundreds of invitations. My heart was already halfway down the aisle.

“What about you?” I asked him.

“I am excited as well,” he said.

We were watching television, but my mind was on something else. How can he do this to me? Pretend he really loves and cares for me when, in reality, he was seeing another girl? What am I to him? A toy? And what about our wedding? Are we just playing games here? I don’t mind the expenses that’ll go to waste, but I feel totally embarrassed.