After reading those three messages, I felt like my mind had been completely wiped clean.

I squeezed my eyes shut, pinched myself, praying I was caught in the middle of some cruel nightmare. But the panic that surged through me, the way my heart pounded as if it were trying to escape my chest—it was real. And reality was far worse than anything I could have imagined.

Lucas was having an affair with Stella.

But why?

How was this even possible?

Weren’t they always at each other’s throats?

Stella had always told me Lucas didn’t deserve me, that he was nothing more than a spoiled man with money to burn. And Lucas? He’d always referred to her as “annoying,” practically seething every time she came up in conversation. Whenever we argued, she’d tell me to leave him, to walk away from someone who would never be good enough.

Yet, the messages on my phone kept flashing in front of me:

“Don’t worry, I’ll treat you well even after I marry her.”
“Everything Zoe has, you’ll have too.”
“Including me.”

I couldn’t breathe. The words were sharp, cutting through my chest. My world collapsed around me. Tears blurred my vision, but I couldn’t look away from the screen. How had I not seen this? How had they pulled this off?

Then the memories hit—like a punch to the gut. Just weeks ago, the three of us had gone shopping. They bickered, sure, but then they’d laugh it off like it was nothing. And me? I thought they were finally getting along.

I was the fool.

I cried, uncontrollably, my heart in shreds. How had it come to this?

Stella, my best friend, the one who had defended me when I was bullied, who tore down my ex when I found out he was cheating—she was the one who stabbed me in the back. The woman I trusted more than family had now become my betrayer.

And Lucas. He was the man who had chased me for a year, made promises, changed his ways for me. He’d been perfect, in his own way. Until he wasn’t. And now? He had shattered me. All the love he’d shown, all the plans, all the dreams—gone in an instant.

The wedding was still a few days away. We weren’t married yet. There was still time. And I wanted revenge.

I was going to ruin it all.

Lucas had been so proud of the grand wedding he was planning, but I was going to turn it into his worst nightmare. He’d always loved the spotlight, and I was going to make sure it was on him—the clown at his own wedding.

The next day, I walked straight into the rehearsal, pulled the stage coordinator aside, and made some… adjustments. When the day ended, I got into the car with Stella. She looked over at me, her face a mix of guilt and anxiety.

“I know everything, Stella.” I whispered, my voice a cold edge. “You really thought you could get away with this?”

She recoiled, her face going pale as she tried to leave the car. I grabbed her wrist, my grip firm.

“Running away? Why? Isn’t this how you planned it? You’ve got it all, right? Lucas. My life. My place.”

She didn’t respond, just stared at me, biting her lip.

I leaned closer, my voice laced with venom. “You honestly thought you could take my place? How naive.”

Her eyes welled up with tears. I could feel the hurt, the betrayal, but I couldn’t bring myself to comfort her. Not now.

“You gave up over twenty years of friendship for him? For someone who doesn’t even know what love means?” I asked, my chest tight with pain.

And then, the words came, even colder than I intended: “You were nothing more than a pawn to him, just like me.”

She broke down, covering her face with her hands, the weight of her own guilt too much to bear.

And that’s when Lucas climbed into the car, his presence instantly commanding the space. He looked at me, then at Stella, and frowned. “Stella, what did you say to Zoe? Why is she crying?”

I forced a smile, though it trembled on my lips. “Oh, it’s nothing. Just some girl talk. Got emotional, that’s all.”

His tone was sharp, almost annoyed. “She’s crazy. Talking to you like that before the wedding? What if you look ugly tomorrow, huh? You still need to look good for the photos.”

His words were a slap to my face. He was worried about the photos. Not about me.

The day of the wedding arrived.

The castle was magnificent, the lawn pristine and endless. I was dressed in white, surrounded by roses and petals, and I was ready to make the biggest decision of my life.

Lucas stood there, in his tailored suit, looking like a man on top of the world. His eyes were bright with excitement. He started reciting his vows, speaking with so much passion.

And for a moment, I almost believed him. Maybe he really did love me. But then the truth hit me again. He’d betrayed me, and no amount of vows could erase that.

When the officiant asked if I took him as my husband, I met his gaze and said, simply, “I don’t.”

The silence that followed was deafening. The gasps from the guests were like a thousand needles to my skin. Lucas froze, the smile fading from his face.

“What do you mean, Zoe?” he asked, his voice trembling.

I didn’t flinch. I stared at him coldly. “Don’t worry, Lucas. I’ll still treat you well after I get married.” I quoted his own words back at him. “Everything Zoe has, you’ll have too. Including me.”

His face paled, fury flashing in his eyes. “Who told you? Was it Stella? It was her, wasn’t it?”

I smiled, the bitterness not even trying to hide. “I waited until today to tell you, so I could end it on my terms. I’m still walking away, and you’ll just have to deal with it.”

I heard him yell behind me, but I didn’t look back.

A week later, I was at the airport, suitcase in hand, ready to leave it all behind.

That’s when Ryan called. He told me Lucas had been in a car accident, that he’d refused treatment, and that he wanted me to come. He wanted me to talk to him.

I listened in silence, the coldness setting in my bones. “Ryan,” I said, my voice unyielding, “Lucas and I are nothing. I won’t go back. I’ll never forgive what he did.”

“Heartless,” Ryan snapped. “He could die, and this is how you respond?”

“If he truly cared, he wouldn’t have done this,” I said, cutting him off.

I hung up the phone and boarded my flight.

For the next two months, I lived for myself.
I explored new places, met new people, and found something I hadn’t realized I’d lost. Peace.

When I heard about Lucas—his reckless behavior, his self-destruction—I didn’t feel anger. I didn’t feel sad. I felt… free.

And that was enough.