Chapter 1 Happily Never After

Marilyn

“Move out of the way, dumbass. Nobody cares what you’re advertising.” I honked at the stranger blocking traffic and wasting my damn time.

For all I know, Maya with her big mouth would have already spread the news about what she called me to tell me earlier. That she saw my fiancé going into a hotel room with someone who wasn’t me.

What if the news has circulated back to Tom? Maya and Tom were following each other on Instagram after all.

What if he's fled the scene? No fucking way he’s getting away with this. By the time I’m done with him, he’s going to be on his knees begging.

I rolled my window down and stuck my head out. “Move your ass! Your unfortunate self is stopping the green light from displaying.” I barked.

The guy finally moved, but not to get off the road. He simply moved to retrieve more flyers from his bag to advertise.

I turned the key and revved the engine to get his attention. But he only acknowledged me but didn't move because he felt I wouldn't risk a traffic ticket.

Jokes on him. I hit the gas and drove straight toward him. He jumped out of the way, cursing, and I leaned out to shout, “You shouldn’t have moved, dumbass.” before I drove off into the distance.

I didn't care about fines right now, I just needed to get to the hotel Maya had seen Tom.

I got there in no time and it was when I got inside I realized I had no idea which room he was in, and the receptionist was certainly not going to tell me.

“Marilyn… you’re here.” Maya’s voice pulled me from my thoughts.

She came forward, hugging me and kissing both my cheeks. I thought she would pull away after, but she paused and whispered, “I’m lodged here, so come with me. I’ll take you inside and show you the room I saw them enter.”

I nodded and followed her, my steps quick but hesitant, my hands clenched at my sides.

When we reached the third floor, Maya stopped and pointed to a door.

“Thank you,” I told her curtly before knocking on the door. As I waited, I fisted my shaky hands and willed myself not to cry. Crying now would only make me feel even more pathetic.

The door opened, and a familiar face came into view.

“Trisha?” I called in disbelief.

“Who’s at the door, babe?” another familiar voice—one I knew far too well—called from inside.

“Babe? The fuck?!” I shoved my way in.

Tom scrambled off the bed the moment he saw me. Pants on, shirt missing. His eyes widened briefly, then hardened into annoyance.

I looked away from Tom when I noticed Trisha sneaking out.

“Yeah, go ahead and run bitch!” I shouted after her before shutting the door.

“What the hell, Tom? You’re cheating on me… with her?”

Tom grabbed his shirt and put it on not responding to me instantly till I shouted his name.

“Tom!”

“I don’t have anything to say to you,” he said finally, not meeting my eyes.

“What do you mean you don’t have anything to say? We’re practically engaged!”

“About that…” he said finally sparing me a glance. “I'm calling it off. I've been meaning to tell you that for a while.”

I had come here with the intent to humiliate him and make him feel pathetic, yet I was the one feeling humiliated and pathetic.

“You asked me to be your wife in front of everyone I know and respect, Tom…”

“I know,” he said, his gaze briefly softening with pity before he shrugged. “But that was before I actually fell in love. And now… I don’t want to spend the rest of my life with you.”

“Before you fell in love? With who, Trisha?” I asked genuinely disgusted.

“Yes. I love her. She's everything I want in a partner.”

“You want someone who, even with Botox, isn’t half as pretty as I am?” I asked in disbelief.

Tom looked momentarily shocked at that information, but he continued anyway. “All of that doesn’t matter. She can do things you can never do…”

“Like fuck a man who’s engaged to another?” I shot back.

He opened his mouth, realizing he had no words to defend himself, and instead said, “She can cook and take care of me. But the only thing you offer me is good blowjobs.”

“I built my life to not struggle, Tom. Why the fuck would I be cooking in the first place when I pay people for that?

“Even when you’re at my place?”

“I only buy food online because there are people who make that a profession and need the money. Imagine fixing your broken sink every damn time it breaks—when there are people for that.”

“How about how obsessed you are with your social life? We go out and you are taking pictures. We eat, and you are taking pictures. You post and say something cool about us, but I barely even remember things the way you say happens… except when you are ALWAYS TAKING PICTURES.”

“You act like you don't take pictures and post more than I do. But because you've found a hoe, now I'm the one with so many red flags.”

“She’s not a Hoe. She works in a firm and FYI, she's the one who got me the Job that has been paying me well. Something you could have never managed to.”

“Somwthing I can never manage? Tom have you forgotten all that I have done for you? What about the times when you didn't have anything…”

“And here we go.” Tom said throwing his hand mid-air.

“No tell me. What about those times? If you were not in love with me, why ask me to marry you?”

“Look here, Lyn… I know it hurts that I am not longer interested in you, but you have to fucking move on and don't make this a big deal. If you don't mind I need to go after Trish. You can have the hotel room. We’ll get another.”

With that he brushed past me and I couldn't even bring myself to hurl curses as he exited the room.

I fell to the ground and cried tears I haven't cried in a long while.