He's cheating

Monica had always believed that love was supposed to feel like coming home.

She had grown in a home full of love at least until her father died and her mom had remarried. She had however looked forward to the kind of love her parents once had, in her future husband.

Six months ago, her family had arranged for her to date Martin, the younger son of one of the most powerful families in the city.

At first, Monica had been reluctant until she met Martin. He had been patient, respectful and charming, understanding of her reluctance to ease up to him.

He took her out to expensive restaurants, sent her flowers, and slowly convinced her that perhaps an arranged relationship did not have to be loveless. He was funny, observant to her needs and gentle with her space.

Eventually, Monica fell for him. She fell for the man who had made sure she couldn’t go a night without a certain someone making sure she's okay.

She began to daydream about a future as sweet and successful as her parents had once had. Martin embodied the man her father was, before his death.

When Martin proposed, she said yes without hesitation, because she believed she had found her own person.

They began making wedding plans, and for the first time in her life, Monica allowed herself to imagine a future with the man she loved.

A few weeks after their engagement, Martin told her he had to leave the city for an important business deal.

“It may take a month,” he had told her.

Monica had been disappointed, but she understood. If he was going to inherit a position within his family's business one day, she knew there would be responsibilities he couldn't avoid, especially given the circumstances of his birth in his family. A secret that had made her heart open more to him.

It had only been a week after he left before Monica couldn't bear his absence any longer and for once decided to take initiative. Martin had been the one doing the surprise gifts and visits all these while, she thought it to be a good time to do the same.

So she took a leave from work and along with his favourite wine, she secretly traveled to the city where Martin was staying, imagining the look on his face when he saw her.

She never imagined that she would be the one receiving a surprise.

That evening, Monica stood outside the VIP room of an exclusive nightclub that her intel had led her to find him supposedly hanging out with his friends and acquaintances to unwind.

Monica's fingers slowly tighten around the handle of her handbag.

At first, she was excited and wanted to knock, but then she heard laughter from behind the closed door, which sounded familiar to her. She halted her attempt to knock and listened attentively to confirm her suspicion.

“By the way, how far have things gone with you and that innocent little fiancée of yours?”

One of Martin's friends asked the question teasingly.

Monica froze.

The owner of the familiar laughter among the group had instantly gone silent. Monica wondered why Martin's acquaintance whom she wasn’t even close with, would ask such a private question.

“She still acts so pure and hard to get. It took me six months just to get her to agree to marry me, and she still won't sleep with me. Not that she would have a choice if I had given a damn though.”

Chuckles of disbelief accompanied by scoffs of disdain could be heard, making Monica's face slowly drained of color.

Another voice asked, “Seriously? She's still playing the pretty and innocent act?”

“Of course she is,” Martin scoffed. “My family specifically wanted me to date a good girl, so I had to play along.” he added with a resigned sigh.

Monica's heart pounded.

She pressed herself against the wall beside the door, unable to move.

Then Martin said something that shattered whatever remained of her trust in him.

“If my family hadn't insisted on her, I wouldn't even bother with her. There's nothing interesting about her, except for working and being a smartass.”

A brief silence followed before he said adoringly, “The only woman I've ever loved is Kelly.”

Monica's breath caught. Kelly, as in his cousin??

Monica had met Kelly several times before. She had always known they were close, but she had never imagined that Martin would be in love with his own cousin. The same woman that cheered the loudest for them on the day Martin proposed.

The sound of a chair shifting came from inside. Then Kelly's soft voice floated through the door. “But you're still going to marry her, anyway.”

Monica's fingers went cold. No wonder the sound of laughter sounded familiar earlier. She is indeed there with them.

Kelly giggled before continuing. “I don't want to share you with that old woman.”

Old woman? Monica was only twenty-four. She had never felt so humiliated in her life.

Then she heard Martin laugh.

“Babe, I'm only marrying her for the position and a few other reasons that must remain confidential.”

His voice was filled with confidence, as though what he was saying was the most natural thing in the world.

“Once I become the next CEO, I'll divorce her immediately. No one will force me to be with anyone else aside from you ever again.”

Monica's eyes burned.

“Aww.” Kelly's voice became soft and affectionate. “I love you.”

Monica couldn't listen anymore.

She turned around and walked away with a calm demeanor.

She simply walked through the nightclub with her head held high, even though every step felt as though something inside her was breaking.

By the time she returned to her hotel room, her hands were trembling.

The moment the door closed behind her, she took out her phone and called her mother.

“I want to cancel the engagement.”

Her voice was surprisingly calm.

There was a pause on the other end before her mother asked “Monica? What happened?”

“Martin is seeing Kelly.”