Crash and Burn: A Love Story

With my car parked on the side of the road, I was just about to send my boyfriend, Harrison Leach, a text when I got rear-ended.

"Harry, my mom's flying in late. I'm waiting for her outside the airport. I know you're working overtime, so you don't have to worry about us. Just focus on your work."

I didn't even get to press send before a loud bang rang out. The force from the collision bumped my car several yards forward. Even my phone flew out of my hands.

The pain from banging my head against the steering wheel made me wince. Still reeling from the shock, I stuck my head out of the window—only to realize that the car that bumped into mine was the Maybach I bought and had fully paid for already three months ago.

Although the car was registered to my name, Harrison was the one who used it. He'd told me he had to work late today and refused to accompany me while I received my mother at the airport, who'd made the trip just to meet him.

But seeing as how he'd shown up here at the airport, I figured he must've seen the news about the flight delay online and rushed over to surprise me.

Touched by his gesture, I got out of the car. Approaching the Maybach, I was just about to call out to him when my voice got stuck in my throat.

A young woman I didn't recognize was sitting in the driver's seat, looking extremely panicked—and my boyfriend had his arm out protectively in front of her as he consoled her gently.

"Does it hurt anywhere, babe? I can't stand to see you hurt."

I'd never seen such a warm and gentle side of Harrison before.

The young woman looked moved too. She threw herself at him, and he didn't reject her. In fact, as if dissatisfied with the level of intimacy they were already displaying, he even cupped her face and kissed her tears dry for her.

Soon, they were both so caught up in their kiss that they didn't notice that I was standing outside the car.

I was rooted to the spot, too dumbstruck to do anything. Helplessness and despair washed over me, and my eyes turned red with sorrow.

Three full minutes passed before Harrison and the woman finally separated with much reluctance.

Smiling faintly, Harrison got out of the car, but his smile stiffened as soon as he looked up and met my furious gaze. His eyes flickered with panic, but he quickly regained his composure.

Acting like he didn't know who I was, he shoved me aside and carried the young woman down from the car.

She sensed my anger and grew so terrified that she buried her pale face in Harrison's arms and sobbed.

"Harrison, that woman must be very angry. I'm scared."

Harrison glanced at me with a hostile expression before looking at the secondhand car nearby.

Smirking, he declared, "It's just a rusty old Volkswagen Beetle! It's not like I can't afford to pay for the damages."

He tossed a business card at me with a flourish of his hand and continued, "Just let me know when you get the bill for the repairs."

Stunned, I didn't bend down to retrieve the card.

Harrison and I had been dating for four years. I knew his number by heart.

Right now, I felt like a laughingstock. I now knew just how humiliating it was to be in an entirely one-sided relationship. I wanted to leave, but the comments from the spectating crowd made me so upset that I couldn't move.

"That young man over there seems like a responsible guy. He even agreed to pay for the damages without trying to drag his feet about it! I guess that's to be expected when you're rich."

"The young woman is so lucky too! She found herself a rich and handsome man who loves her so much. This Maybach must've cost a bomb, and look how damaged it is now, but her boyfriend didn't even say a single harsh word to her. What a loving couple they are."

Taking in the praise from the crowd, Harrison became even smugger. Still holding onto the young woman, he declared nonchalantly, "It's just a car. It's nowhere near as important as my darling here."

I bit my lip, doing my best not to let my tears fall.

I was the one who paid for the Maybach.