A Plunge Into Betrayal

I woke up in the hospital to a nurse telling me that I had suffered a miscarriage. Ignoring the pain radiating through my body, I grabbed my phone and scrolled through the messages from the police.Beck Wilder hadn't drowned. His location tracker confirmed that he was at Rosehill Villa. The tension in my chest finally eased.I didn't wait for the IV drip to run its course. I ripped out the needle and rushed out to hail a taxi.By the time I reached the villa's entrance, I could hear Beck inside, laughing with a group of young elites."Maren had a child with Emmett Olson. Who knows if she's really over him?"My hand froze in mid-air.I stepped quietly to the window and watched Beck slowly swirl his wine. He let out a weary sigh. "I had my pick of decent women to marry, but I chose to be engaged to her. I gave too much of myself, and now all I carry is a bitterness I can't let go of."Someone asked, "So, Mr. Wilder, did you pretend to drown just to see how much Maren cares about y

While I was in the hospital for those few days, my best friend, Tonya Lindstrom, came to see me. When she found out that Beck had deliberately set me up and caused my miscarriage, her fury blazed like wildfire. She unleashed a torrent of oaths, cursing his entire family.She asked, "Do you want me to rough him up before you walk away for good?" "No," I replied. "Bruises fade. I want him to live with this!""The worst punishment is to take everything from a man the moment he thinks he's untouchable," Tonya advised. She continued, "You'll return the day after tomorrow and reveal your scars. Make sure he feels every bit of guilt and regret. Help him choose his suits, plan the wedding, and send out the invitations."In short, give him the perfect wedding he's been hoping for. Then, on the day itself, walk away and throw the recording in his face. I guarantee that it will destroy him."I followed Tonya's advice and agreed to Beck's sudden request to move the wedding up. I spent the wh

Still, I hadn't anticipated a hitch in my plan.Ten days before the wedding, Emmett called. "Beck's cheating on you," he said flatly.Worried he'd make a scene and derail everything, I agreed to meet him at a café. The moment I sat down, Emmett shoved a thick stack of photos toward me.However, I didn't even look at them. "So? What's your point?" I asked.He blinked in surprise, clearly caught off guard. Suddenly, his shock gave way to rage. "You knew he was cheating all along, yet you still chose to marry that worthless loser! Maren, have you lost your mind?"I remained calm as I took a sip of my coffee. "If I don't marry him, are you suggesting I should remarry a mama's boy like you? I've already lost my daughter. Why should I lose everything else, too?"Emmett's confidence crumbled in an instant. "No, please don't say that… Maren, I love you. I haven't been with anyone else in the four years you've been gone. I—"I let out a low, bitter laugh. "Do you guys have some secret sc

Beck had known me for ten years. He understood better than anyone how deeply I hated betrayal.Tears instantly filled his eyes. Without hesitation, he dropped to his knees before me. He took my hand and pressed it against his cheek."Maren, I lost my way for a moment. You can yell at me, hit me—do whatever you need—but please believe me when I say you're the only one I've ever truly loved…"When I remained silent, he swallowed his pain and started slapping himself repeatedly. His face soon became swollen and bruised.Blood dripped slowly from the corner of his mouth, his hair tangled and unruly. Finally, he stopped and lifted his head, meeting my eyes with a desperate, pleading gaze."Maren, I'll give you everything I have. Please come back to me. Life without you is worse than hell…"I stared at him with cold, steady eyes, unmoved by his desperate pleas. As he fell silent, I popped the lid off my coffee and splashed it right on his face."Get lost. This is on you. You don't des

The sudden scolding from Beck hit me like a slap, and a wave of injustice rose in my chest.Just as I was about to protest with a frustrated pout, Henry stepped in, steadying me. "If I'm not mistaken, Maren ended things with you. So what right do you have to boss her around now?""Maren?" Beck snarled. "Who the hell gave you the right to address her so casually?"His fists clenched, ready to strike, but Henry stepped in, blocking him without a flinch."Maren's single, and I'm the one who's pursuing her."It's pathetic how you've twisted our relationship into a cheap ploy for attention. If you can diminish the person you claim to love to nothing, it's no surprise that Maren walked away from you."Those final words had lingered in Beck's mind like a relentless curse, tormenting him without mercy for four long years.They dragged him back to that doomed wedding day—the bride who vanished, the torn wedding dress, and the blood-stained miscarriage report...Back then, he kept tellin