“You ran out on our wedding, got an abortion, all so you could shack up with this asshole? Real romantic, Mia. You’re coming with me. NOW!”
With that, Jake grabbed my wrist and started dragging me away.
I yanked free and stepped back several feet.
“Jake, watch your goddamn mouth. We’re done, so who I’m with is none of your business.”
Jake’s face got darker with every word I said.
“Mia, if you come with me right now, I’ll give you one chance to make this right. I’ll forgive you for running out on our wedding. Don’t be a stupid bitch about this.”
I laughed–actually a cold, mocking laugh.
“Jake, you need to get your head checked. What makes you think I’ll always be waiting around for you? What gives you the right to treat me like your personal yo–yo? I never owed you shit, and you sure as hell aren’t doing me any favors. You want to know what the biggest favor you could do me is? Stay the fuck away from me.”
My voice got louder and more vicious as ten years of buried rage came pouring out.
Jake looked genuinely shocked.
He’d never seen this version of me before.
For him, I’d always been this sweet, obedient little girlfriend who’d forgive anything as long as he threw me a few crumbs of attention.
Love doesn’t die from one fatal blow.
It dies from a thousand tiny cuts.
“Baby…”
Jake switched to that soft voice he only used when he was trying to manipulate me.
“Don’t call me that. It makes me sick. We’re done. Forever!”
Then I grabbed Caleb’s hand and walked away without looking back.
Caleb stayed quiet, letting me lead him wherever I wanted to go.
When we got to the front door, Caleb stopped and looked at me seriously.
I suddenly felt scared he was going to judge me, think less of me.
“Mia… I had no idea how much you suffered after I left. I’m sorry I wasn’t there to protect you. But that’s over now–you can go back to being that fearless little queen you used to be, okay?”
I looked up into Caleb’s eyes and shook my head.
“Mia, what’s wrong?”
He stepped closer and took my hands.
“It’s just… this doesn’t feel real. Being loved doesn’t feel real. I’m so afraid wake up and be alone again. That I’ll always be that pathetic woman everyone throws away.”
15:31
He Wanted a Hiking Trip? Honey, His Funeral Was My Comeback Tour!
3.3%
After hearing that, Caleb pulled me into his arms.
“We’re all here. This is real.”
Jake showing up actually brought Caleb and me closer together.
I was walking to meet Caleb for dinner after work, strolling along the peaceful waterfront.
Looking at the gentle waves, all that old pain felt manageable somehow.
“MIA, YOU BITCH!”
Bethany came out of nowhere.
She looked absolutely unhinged, storming toward me with murder in her eyes.
SLAP!
The force of it knocked my head to the side.
“You’re fucking insane!”
Bethany laughed like a complete psychopath.
“Yeah, I’m insane! I’ve lost my goddamn mind! Why won’t he marry me even after you left? I was there FIRST! I knew him before you ever existed!”
I backed away, terrified of what she might do next.
“Whatever’s going on between you two has nothing to do with me anymore. I’m done. I just want to live my life.”
I kept trying to distance myself from their toxic mess.
But Bethany wasn’t hearing any of it.
She grabbed my throat with both hands.
I fought back, shoving her away as hard as I could.
“MIA! Don’t you get it? He should love ME! You were just some cheap knockoff! What did you do to him? WHAT THE FUCK DID YOU DO?”
Bethany’s eyes were bloodshot with rage.
Suddenly I felt sorry for her.
She looked pathetic–screaming and disheveled, destroying herself over a man who didn’t love her enough.
“Bethany, wake up! Is he really worth this? You could have anyone–why are you letting him turn you into this?”
Bethany suddenly started laughing, but it sounded more like crying,
“You don’t understand, Mia. I love him so much it became an addiction. When I got sick and had to leave the country, I thought about him every single day. But when I came back, he had you. You have no idea–but I do. I know exactly how much he loves you.”
Tears streamed down Bethany’s face.
“Mia, I can’t forget him. I can’t let go. If he loves you that much, then you need to fucking die!”
With that, she lunged at me, trying to shove me into the river.
15:31
He Wanted a Hiking Trip? Honey, His Funeral Was My Comeback Tour!
Sara Lili is a daring romance writer who turns icy landscapes into scenes of fiery passion. She loves crafting hot love stories while embracing the chill of Iceland’s breathtaking cold.