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Ten years. Ten years we’d been together, and finally, my boyfriend had proposed.
I had envisioned a future filled with joy, a future shattered the moment I saw him– my Antonio Kaufman — embracing Stella Parrish, his first lolve, in the very home we were to share.
“I’ll always love you. If you say yes, I’ll marry you right away,” Antonio whispered to Stella.
The agony was a physical blow.
His betrayal wasn’t a recent event; it stretched back years.
Despair, raw and suffocating, consumed me.
I had to end this.
Inside, their fervent kiss echoed, each sound a chilling hammer blow to my heart.
I flung Antonio’s engagement ring into the trash and dialed my mother’s international number.
“Mom,” I choked out, biting my lip to stifle the tremor in my voice, “Antonio cheated on me. I’m not marrying him.”
My mother’s voice was bright with something that sounded suspiciously like relief. “I’ll book your ticket right away. You know I’ve always wanted you close.”
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I managed a strangled response.
She continued, her voice soothing, “There’s no need to rush into marriage and children.Focus on your career. Whatever you decide, I’m here for you.”
Just hours ago, I’d believed Antonio was a good man.
He kept his distance from other women, and despite his success, he’d remained scandal–free until tonight, until Stella appeared at out engagement party..
We hadn’t invite her.
I had no idea why she’d suddenly showed up.
The moment he saw her, Antonio had panicked, dropping a wine, glass.
He’d then abandoned me at the party.
But why Stella? She’d been cruel, taking everything from me for over two decades.
She was the last person I’d ever forgive.
Seeing him bring her home, his face alight with joy, extinguished any remaining affection I held for him.
Driven by a morbid curiosity, I’d activated the home surveillance system.
On the screen, Stella, wearing my pajamas, lay in our bed, clearly intoxicated.
Antonio was warming milk for her.
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Clutching his back, Stella said, “She’s just a comfort for your loneliness. Do you really intend to marry her?”
Antonio didn’t answer, but bent to massage her feet.
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“Why did you upset me on purpose? You know I hate Grace the most.” Stella continued, kissing his neck.
Antonio remained silent, then pulled her close, their lips meeting in a fervent kiss.
Tears blurred my vision, streaming down my face.
Why was I crying?
I believed it was for the wasted decade.
Every time I’d tried to initiate intimacy, Antonio had coldly turned
away:
I’d attributed it to shyness.
Now I saw the truth: his passion was reserved for Stella.
For ten years, I’d been nothing more than a convenient outlet for his physical needs and a balm for his loneliness.
I took a deep breath and left.
Reaching the bottom of the stairs, I heard my name.
I turned to see Antonio and Stella descending.
Antonio instinctively dropped Stella’s hand.
“Your sister had too much to drink. It wasn’t be safe for her to
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go home alone this late, so I brought her here,” Antonio explained.
I stared coldly at Stella, who cowered behind Antonio.
Antonio glared at me and said, “Stella wanted to leave. She didn’t want you to misunderstand. Don’t overreact.”
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Chapter37
