MY BEST FRIEND BECAME MY HUSBAND 💗

THE PERFECT ANGEL

Vanessa Sterling stepped out of the black car wearing a soft cream dress, her long hair resting neatly over one shoulder.

She looked calm.

Too calm.

If you had never met Vanessa, you would probably think she was kind. Gentle. Harmless.

You would never guess how easily she could turn a lie into a story everyone believed.

“Amari,” she said, smiling as she walked toward us.

Her eyes moved to me.

The smile disappeared.

Only for a second.

Then it returned.

“Ayana,” she said warmly. “It’s been a long time.”

“Not long enough,” I replied.

Amari glanced at me.

Vanessa’s smile weakened.

“I know you still dislike me,” she said quietly. “But I came because I was worried about Amari.”

“I’m fine,” Amari said.

“I know.” She nodded. “Your mother told me you were upset, and then I heard you came here.”

Her gaze moved to the contract on the table.

“What is that?”

Amari picked it up.

“Ayana and I are getting married.”

Silence.

Vanessa stared at him.

Then she laughed.

It was a small, nervous laugh.

“You’re joking.”

“No.”

Her eyes moved from Amari to me.

“You’re marrying her?”

“Yes.”

The sweetness vanished.

“You came here and decided to marry her?” Vanessa snapped. “After everything our families have discussed?”

“Vanessa,” Amari warned.

“No.” She shook her head. “I deserve an explanation.”

“You do not.”

Her eyes widened.

For a moment, anger flashed across her face.

Then she looked at me.

“This was your idea, wasn’t it?”

I folded my arms.

“Why would I need to force someone to marry me?”

“You’ve always wanted to compete with me.”

Amari stepped forward.

“That’s enough.”

Vanessa turned to him.

“You’re defending her?”

“Because you’re accusing her without knowing anything.”

Her eyes filled with tears.

Just like that.

The anger disappeared.

The perfect little angel returned.

“I’m sorry,” she whispered. “I didn’t mean to react like this.”

She lowered her gaze and wiped beneath one eye.

“I was just surprised.”

Amari’s expression softened slightly.

Vanessa noticed.

Of course she did.

“I know everyone thinks I’m supposed to marry you,” she continued. “But I never asked for that.”

I stared at her.

That was a lie.

Vanessa had spent years reminding everyone that she and Amari were “meant to be.”

She looked toward me.

“If you and Amari are happy, then I’ll accept it.”

“Vanessa,” Amari said.

She shook her head.

“No. It’s fine.”

Her voice became quieter.

“I don’t even want the marriage.”

I almost laughed.

Almost.

“I only agreed because our families wanted it. I thought it would make everyone happy.”

She pressed a hand against her chest.

“But if Amari wants Ayana, then I’ll endure it.”

My eyes narrowed.

Endure it?

She made it sound as though she was giving up something precious for us.

“But what will people say about me?” Vanessa continued.

“Vanessa,” Amari said.

“They’ll think you rejected me.” Her voice trembled. “They’ll ask what I did wrong. They’ll say I wasn’t good enough.”

She looked down.

“And I’ll have to smile through all of it.”

The room became quiet.

Even the housekeeper standing near the doorway looked sympathetic.

Vanessa had done it again.

She had turned herself into the victim without directly blaming anyone.

Then she looked at me.

“I hope you’ll take care of him, Ayana.”

Her smile was soft.

But her eyes were cold.

“I would hate for him to regret choosing you.”

I smiled back.

“I’ll make sure he doesn’t.”

For a second, her expression tightened.

Then she turned to Amari.

“I wish you both happiness.”

She walked toward the door slowly, as though leaving broke her heart.

But before stepping outside, she stopped.

“I’ll tell our families,” she said. “They’ll probably be disappointed, but I’ll handle it.”

Then she looked over her shoulder.

“After all, if this makes you happy, I’ll endure whatever people say about me.”

The door closed behind her.

Amari exhaled.

“I didn’t expect her to take it that badly.”

I looked at the closed door.

“You don’t know Vanessa.”

“What does that mean?”

I picked up the marriage contract.

“It means she isn’t leaving because she accepts this.”

Amari frowned.

“Then why did she leave?”

I looked toward the window.

Outside, Vanessa stood beside her car.

She wasn’t crying anymore.

She was smiling.

And I knew that smile.

Vanessa had just started her next move.