hookup.
The truth was, Olivia dumped him for being broke, then moved abroad, quickly marrying a rich guy.
Jake saw me getting out of my dad’s car, learned about my dad’s influential position,
and started pursuing me.
Naive and sheltered, I fell for his charm and
ambition. Despite my parents‘ objections, I
married him. That “drunken” night was his
setup.
Faced with a fait accompli, my parents
accepted him into the family. He, eager for
my father’s connections, happily became Mr.
Miller.
After the wedding, something felt off. He was
always distracted.
Then I discovered Olivia was back in the
picture.
A “headache,” a “dark street”
any excuse
to leave me and rush to her.
He was obsessed with her pregnancy more
ᄀ
Suddenly, it hit me.
I grabbed my phone, hiring someone to
investigate Olivia’s pregnancy timeline, to see
whose baby it really was.
The doctor emerged from surgery.
“How’s my mom?”
My nails dug into my palms, praying for good
news.
“The surgery was successful. She’ll be in ICU
for a few days. Another hour, and even the
best doctors couldn’t have saved her.”
He shook his head, wondering about the
delay.
<
Relief flooded me. Kevin visibly relaxed.
“Thank God.”
He was probably thinking about keeping his
job.
Dad, in better shape, was already in a regular
room.
I told him about Mom. He weakly reached out,
comforting me.
“It’s okay, honey. Don’t blame yourself.”
Tears streamed down my face.
If not for my blind pursuit of love, none of this
would have happened. My aging parents
wouldn’t have suffered.
Then, Jake strolled in, supporting Olivia.
He looked at her with such tenderness, his
eyes like pools of affection. Then, he met my
gaze, his expression hardening.
“Melissa, what the hell?! Are you trying to ruin
me?! Get this crap off the internet! If I go
down, you go down with me!”
He hadn’t even glanced at my father in the
hospital bed. He fussed over Olivia.
“Honey, you’re six months pregnant, you can’t
get upset.”
“Olivia’s birthday was ruined by all this online
drama. Luckily, the doctor said the baby’s
fine. Olivia’s so forgiving, she’s telling me not
to blame you.”
<
Olivia, playing the victim, said, “It’s okay,
Jake. Melissa didn’t mean it. Setting your own
house on fire and livestreaming it…that’s not
something a normal person would do. Maybe
she thought it would get your attention.”
“Over my dead body!” Olivia nestled into
Jake’s arms.
“Jake, get out. Don’t ever come near my
family again!”
I stood up, dismissing them.
“Melissa, you think you can talk to me like
that?!”
“Get out!”
く
I hit the call button. Security arrived.
Olivia, seeing the guards, started whimpering.
“Jake, we didn’t even get to cut the cake!”
“The baby’s hungry, he’s kicking!” She patted
her belly.
Jake’s face tightened with concern.
“Let’s go, honey. Don’t let these people ruin
our day.”
He protectively steered her away.
I knew he loved her. I’d hoped I held some
small place in his heart.
He’d been so thoughtful, so attentive, the
く
perfect prince charming.
Until Olivia’s “cousin” showed up, revealing
how much Jake valued his “dear friend.”
He’d wanted my parents to get the cousin a
job. They refused.
He’d argued with them, threatened to quit the
fire department if the cousin wasn’t hired.
I’d argued back. He’d gone on about Olivia’s
struggles, her difficult childhood, how this
was the only thing she’d ever asked of him.
He’d promised me it was the last time he’d
see Olivia, that after this, he’d focus on our
family.
Then he’d painted me as a jealous shrew to
Г
Then he’d painted me as a jealous shrew to
his friends, unable to tolerate even a close
friend.
Watching their blatant disregard for my
family’s pain, even Kevin chimed in, “Jake’s
just worried about Olivia.”
Then, backtracking, “Look, I get it now. I’ll tell
the department Jake warned me about your
fake fire alarm. I believed him, that’s why I
gave you a hard time, and your parents….. I’m
so sorry. I never meant to hurt anyone.”
I ignored the accomplice, focusing on my
parents.
Thankfully, Mom recovered.
I gave the fire department my statement.
Coupled with Kevin’s confession, Jake was
fired.
My livestream went viral. With my public accusations, Jake and Olivia became pariahs.
