Chapter 2 (Painful Surprise)

CHAPTER 2

ANGIE’s POV

I spent the next three hours burying myself in work, trying to drown out Lesly’s accusations against my boyfriend. Her words were still ringing in my ears, and I couldn't stop overthinking—especially since Mark still hadn't reached out to me.

It’s a difficult situation to be in: being at work physically while your mind is spiraling elsewhere.

When our break time finally arrived, I immediately approached Lesly to clear the air. I knew I wouldn't find peace until she explained exactly what she meant earlier.

"Lesly, can we talk?" I asked, finding her sipping juice.

"You want to talk? About what?" she asked bluntly.

"About what you said earlier. About my boyfriend," I replied softly.

She avoided my gaze and shifted her attention to her food. She had traded her juice for a piece of bread, acting as if she were suddenly very busy.

"Lesly, I’m asking you... what do you know about my boyfriend? How could you say Mark is secretly seeing someone else? D-do you have any proof?" I stammered.

"If your boyfriend is cheating, Angie... would you even be able to leave him? No, right? Because you’re deeply in love with that cheater. So, what’s the point of me telling you that your boyfriend is 'watering' someone else’s garden?" Her words made my heart hammer against my chest.

"Wait, what exactly are you saying?" I asked, my mind clouded with confusion.

I didn't want to judge Mark without solid evidence. I refused to believe mere rumors, fearing they might be the very thing that ruins our relationship.

"You really are a fool, Angie. Where do you keep your brain? Is it buried in your fat so you can’t use it properly?" Her words were incredibly cruel.

"Lesly, please. Just say it directly. I’m not in the mood for jokes. I want to know what you know about Mark. Is he seeing another woman?" I lightly slammed my hand on the table to force the truth out of her.

"Don't force me to confess, Angie, because I’m certain that if I tell you who your boyfriend’s woman is, your world will come crashing down," she said, standing up. The conviction in her voice told me she was a hundred percent sure.

As she turned to head back to work, I quickly grabbed her arm. I couldn't let it go until I had the whole story.

"Who? Who is she?" I demanded. She just looked at me with a look of pure pity, as if she were mourning my situation.

"I feel so sorry for you, my dear Angelie. You trust your boyfriend too much. But you haven't noticed that someone is slowly stealing him away — like a snake," she sneered.

"Lesly..." I could only whisper her name. I was lost for words, desperate for her to just lay out the truth.

"Tomorrow is your first anniversary, right? So why don’t you ask your boyfriend who he’s obsessed with lately? Or better yet, ask your cousin who she’s been seeing in secret. Actually, why not just ask your Aunt Marisa? Maybe she knows about it." Lesly said, dropping the final clue.

I stood there, mouth agape, completely stunned by her words.

If Lesly’s allegations were true, I didn't think my heart could take it—especially if he had replaced me with my own cousin.

Andrea... she was gorgeous and sexy. I was nothing compared to her. My "propane tank" of a body was a joke next to hers. That’s probably why they were always ashamed to be related to my mother and me.

I felt weak as I processed Lesly’s words. I wasn't ready to face the truth. I didn't want to believe it because I loved Mark—I loved him so much. He was the only man who had ever accepted me for who I was. He made me feel worthy of love. It was so hard to believe he would betray that.

"Oh—where are you going, Angie? Your shift isn't over yet! Look, there are so many customers. You're just going to leave me alone here at the milk tea shop?" Lesly called out as I ripped off my apron.

The milk tea shop was our livelihood; it was how I supported my mother and me.

"I have to go somewhere, Lesly... I’m going to Mark’s condo. I want to confront him about this cheating issue," I replied tonelessly.

"Good grief, Angie! You’re really prioritizing that cheater over your job? You’re wasting your time. You won't find him at the condo—he’s too busy with his new girl," she grumbled, but I ignored her and walked straight out the door.

Since I couldn't reach him by phone, I would go to his place myself. I couldn't wait until tomorrow; my head felt like it was going to explode from all the doubt.

I hailed a taxi and gave the driver Mark's address. When I arrived, the door was locked from the outside. He wasn't there. Usually, at this hour, I’d find him fast asleep in bed. But today was different. He was gone, and I had no idea where.

A sinking feeling settled in my gut as Lesly’s clues about Mark and my cousin began to connect.

Even though the last place I wanted to be was Aunt Marisa’s house, something pulled me there. I ended up at my cousin’s doorstep. I hated setting foot on their property, but I needed answers.

As I approached, I heard the sounds of celebration. People were cheering. Aunt Marisa’s voice boomed above the rest, followed by Aunt Marieta—my mother’s eldest sister. Everyone inside sounded incredibly happy. My legs trembled as I neared the door. I wanted to know what they were celebrating. I wanted to see if my boyfriend was there.

I peered cautiously inside. First, I saw Aunt Marisa and Aunt Marieta chatting on the sofa. On the other sofa sat Andrea, sitting next to Celine, the cousin who had just gotten married yesterday. They were all enjoying themselves. I felt a brief moment of relief when I didn't see Mark’s face. My chest lightened—until I heard what they were talking about.

They were talking about me. I was the reason they were laughing; they were making fun of my body.

"It’s a good thing Angie’s boyfriend finally came to his senses, right? What man in his right mind would stay with a woman shaped like a gas tank? She probably can't even get pregnant because her uterus is buried in fat," Marisa sneered. Even now, my weight was her favorite target.

"Mom, stop... it’s better if she doesn't get pregnant. We don't need more of their kind. If she and her mother had another one like them, we’d have another relative with a 'disability.' It’s embarrassing for us. We get dragged down because of them," Andrea added. They were mocking my mother now, too.

My vision blurred with rage. I could feel my temper rising. I couldn't believe even my mother’s eldest sister was backstabbing us. I had thought she was different from Aunt Marisa, but they were both the same. Despite the poison I was hearing, I forced myself to stay calm. I didn't want to cause a scene yet.

"You’re right, Andrea. Their line should stop there. If I were you, you should be the one to carry on our family line with Mark," my aunt said.

Hearing his name made me stumble. I wasn't prepared for my boyfriend’s name to be dropped so casually into their conversation.

"Speaking of Mark, I just got a text from him, Mom. He’s on his way here," Andrea squealed.

I instinctively looked behind me, terrified he would see me. I scrambled to hide near the left side of the house where they kept their laundry piles.

Moments later, a car pulled up. It was the exact same car I had seen last night. When the man stepped out, my heart felt like it was being pierced by a dozen knives. It was Mark. My boyfriend was the man my cousin was crazy about.

They were having a secret affair while he was still with me. He had made a fool out of me. He had played me for a fool.

"Hi sweetie, I’m glad you’re finally here. Mom and Auntie have been waiting for you inside," Andrea said as she met him. She gave my man a quick kiss and immediately wrapped her arm around his waist.

"I’m sorry I’m late, sweetie. I had to stop by the flower shop to get you these," Mark replied tenderly, handing her a bouquet of roses.

"Oh, how sweet... thank you, sweetie. You didn't have to go through the trouble of surprising me," Andrea giggled as they walked into the house together.

The flowers I had been dreaming of for our anniversary weren't for me. They were for my cousin.

Seeing it with my own eyes was devastating. I was consumed by envy, jealousy, and a sharp, stabbing pain in my heart. Everything Lesly said was true.

My boyfriend cheated on me. And the worst part? My own relatives knew. They were all in on it together, playing with my feelings. I had been a fool, completely oblivious while they laughed behind my back.

I had been blind to the truth, resting easy on Mark’s promises that he would never leave me for anyone else. In the end, he threw every promise away.