Dirty affair

Jenny

My wedding dress arrived the same morning my fiancé told me he could never marry me…

I stared at my dress which sat on a mannequin, admiring the ivory silk and hand-stitched pearls that caught the morning light. I had spent two months designing it and Nate had spent a fortune to ensure it was the only one of its kind in the world.

A big smile lined my cheeks as I ran my fingers through the dress with joy radiating through my heart. Ever since I was a little girl, I’ve wanted this but I never thought it would happen. I never thought I would find my Prince Charming and enjoy my happy ending with him.

"Oh my goodness, it’s perfect, Jen," Hannah exclaimed from the doorway.

I turned around and saw her beaming with smiles as she hurried towards me. She was dressed in a sleek designer suit, looking every bit the high-society wife she had become.

"You’re going to be the most beautiful bride the city has ever seen. Nate won’t be able to breathe." She exclaimed, scanning the dress with so much excitement while I blushed.

“I know right, I’m so happy, Han. I really am.” I chimed in and smiled at her, my best friend.

We had met at the model academy when we were nineteen. It was our first day and there was over fifty girls, hoping to be picked. We were grouped into twos and we ended up together. We were both picked and made it into the academy, and that’s how our friendship started.

Hannah had big dreams, and so did I. It was rough at the start though but we promised each other that we’d make it. Hannah found her billionaire first, a tech mogul named Marcus, who is madly in love with her. They are happily married with a beautiful daughter now.

"I just wish Lena could see it," I muttered, and I felt my smile slowly fade off.

Hannah’s expression also changed for a second before she smoothed it into a comforting smile and pulled me into a hug.

“She’s watching, Jenny and she’s happy for you.” She whispered…

The day went by in a haste, as I was busy with planning and logistics. My bridesmaids arrived for the final fitting, and I had to run through that before running to pick up some stuff for the rehearsal dinner.

The dinner was set for that evening at one of Nate’s private estates, and I wanted everything perfect.

Two hours before the rehearsal, I was all set to see my man. During the drive, I couldn’t help but smile. Everything was finally falling into place. My life, which had been a series of tragedies and survival, was finally turning into a fairy tale, and I couldn’t be happier.

I arrived at Nate’s penthouse and could already see the beautiful lights at the venue. It’s just a close distance from here and I couldn’t wait to get my package and hurry there.

I got into the room and was shocked to see Nate standing at the window, staring at the beautiful sunset.

He turned once I entered but didn't rush to kiss me like he usually did, and his face which was always full of warmth and admiration for me, was now cold. I immediately knew something was wrong so I quickly moved closer but he stopped me with a wave of his hand.

"Baby? I thought we were meeting at the venue," I said, dropping my clutch on the dressing table.

"Is there something you forgot to tell me, Jenny?" He asked with a low cold voice that made my heart beat really fast.

“What are you talking about?” I quizzed while he then revealed an envelope he had been hiding behind his back.

"I mean something about how you funded your sister’s medical bills?" He added and my heart stopped while the room suddenly felt like it was tilting.

"Nate, I told you Lena was sick. I told you I did everything I could…"

"You didn't tell me you were a stripper, Jenny." He cut in sharply and threw the envelope onto the table.

"You didn't tell me you spent your nights in dirty rooms, letting strangers put their hands on you for money!" He yelled at me.

I couldn’t say a word as my eyes had caught the photos which spilled out of the envelope. They were photos of me from five years ago. My hair was longer then and I looked tired, wearing almost nothing as I stood on a stage, ready to jump on the pole.

It was a part of me that I had worked so hard to bury in the deepest parts of my memory.

"Lena was dying," I whispered, finally finding my voice.

"The insurance wouldn't cover the surgery. I was twenty years old, Nate. I had no parents, no money, and my sister was vomiting blood every morning. I couldn’t just let her die in pain. She was all I had.” I explained but he wasn’t moved at all.

"You lied to me, damn it! Every time I told you how pure and perfect you were, you let me believe it. I’m a public figure, Jenny. My family’s reputation is everything. How can I stand at an altar and swear my life to a woman who has… this… in her past?" He slammed at me.

"I’m the same woman you met and fell in love with!” I cried out, reaching for him, but he flinched away and warned me off.

"No," he said, his voice cracking.

"The woman I loved didn't have secrets like this. I can't do this, Jenny. I’m… I’m calling this off. I can't marry you." He blurted and walked out of the room.

The door let out a heavy sound, piercing through me really hard. I couldn’t even ssy a word or move. I just stood there and stared into the air. I thought I was dreaming. I wanted to believe so badly that it was all in my head.

Nate didn’t just break up with me, and shattered the perfect life I thought I had.

But then, it wasn’t a dream. My dream wedding was really gone!

I didn't cry.

Despite the deep pain I felt, not a single tear came, because I knew exactly who did this to me.

There’s only one person in this world who knows that part of my life and that’s Hannah.

I grabbed my clutch, hurried out of the house and made straight for her house. She was sitting on her velvet sofa, scrolling through her phone, a glass of red wine on the table. She didn't look surprised to see me and I wasn’t either. If she didn’t know anything, she would be dressing up for my rehearsal dinner now. But she already knew there wouldn’t be one because she already ruined it.

“Why?” I went straight to the point while she chuckled.

"He called it off, didn't he?" she asked, not even looking up.

“So you really did it? My goodness! I’ve kept your secrets so dearly, Hannah. I’ve covered for you and lied to your husband many times so you could keep your perfect life. But you couldn't keep just one secret that I shared with you out of trust? How could you do this to me? Why would you ruin my life?" I retorted and the tears I had kept in started flowing down my face.

She finally looked at me but there was no guilt in her eyes. Instead, she had a satisfying grin on her face and that hurt me more.

"You always get everything, Jenny. You were always the 'it' girl at the academy. The scouts looked at me but they stared at you. And then Nate? A billionaire who actually loves you? You already have the face and the body, why do you get the fairy tale too?" She blurted.

“For crying out loud, you also have a billionaire husband who worships the ground you walk on!” I yelled.

"Ohh please! Marcus is never at home with me! It’s all work and money for him. I’m bored, Jenny and I’m tired of watching you ascend while I’m stuck. I just leveled the playing field." She replied while I stepped closer to her, not wanting to believe she actually said that.

"You destroyed my life because you were bored? Lena died, Hannah. I lost my sister despite everything. You know that part of my life is a scar I carry every day, and you dare do this." I chimed in and she shrugged.

“Stop bitching about it please. You’ll find another man. You have many admirers after all.” She said with no remorse while looking at me with a satisfied smirk.

"Fine, thank you." I said, wiping my face dry and then walked out.

She wanted me to break down so bad and go back to being the broken orphan girl she could pity. But I wasn’t going to give her that satisfaction. Not anymore.

I got home and standing in front of my wedding dress, I thought about Lena. She worked three jobs to feed and keep me in school after we lost our parents. It was while working those jobs that she got sick and I had no other choice than to become a stripper. I couldn’t let the only family I had left die.

My money couldn’t save her in the end and I thought I was going to die from the pain, but I survived and worked hard to change my story.

Hannah thinks she knows me, but she only knows the version of me that’s kind. She’s about to see the other side.

I picked up my phone, scrolled through my contacts until I reached Marcus’ number and then opened a new message. I attached the photos I had of Hannah and her ex when they had their dirty affair.

For a second there, I paused when her daughter’s face flashed in my mind. She’s my goddaughter and I love her so much but then I remembered Nate’s face when he looked at me with disgust. And then the smirk on Hannah’s face when she admitted to ruining my life.

Without a second thought, I sent it and once I saw the delivered check, I knew the war had just begun!