Crazy Ex

Liam cleared his throat and then pasted a nervous smile as he glanced at Emma then back at the blonde.

“She.... she's no one, babe,” Liam said quickly, stepping closer to the bride. “Just… my crazy ex. The one I told you about.”

Emma’s heart stopped at his words. “Your crazy ex?”

He didn't even bat an eyelid lying to the girl he just got married to, neither did he think twice about how he would hurt her own feelings.

The bride tilted her head, her lips curling into a cold smile. “Oh! The crazy ex! She must really be that crazy if she's here like this!”

Ivy who had been equally stunned by Liam's statement scoffed. “I've always known you're a jerk but a cheat? God!”

“And who are you to call my man a cheat? Another of his crazy ex?” the blonde asked looking Ivy over.

“She's not his 'crazy ex' and neither am I. I'm his girlfriend and we've been dating for two years!” Emma yelled, drawing the attention of everyone who hadn't noticed the commotion.

The bride let out a cruel laugh before placing her arms around Liam's shoulder, leaning on her tiptoes, she placed a chaste kiss on his lips before turning to face Emma who was equally looking at her.

“Do you really think you can spoil my big day with your delusions? Two years you say? But we've only been dating for six months and here we are. My Liam wouldn't keep a lady that long if she wasn't as crazy as you. You really are a crazy ex.”

Emma shook her head, pulling out her phone from her purse. “I’m not his ex! Look—these are our texts. Our pictures. We were together two weeks ago on our anniversary!”

Liam’s face darkened, and he stepped forward, lowering his voice. “Stop this, Emma. You’re embarrassing yourself. Those are old pictures. We broke up months ago before I met Fiona. You just couldn’t move on. I had thought you were only bent on getting back with me because I wasn't married but actually coming here? What were you hoping? To make my wife leave me so you can take her place?” he asked in a sympathetic tone.

Emma looked at him, unable to utter any word as she was still struggling to believe she had been dragged to her own boyfriend's wedding.

The murmurs of the guests grew louder and harsher, filling the air with a tension that left Emma feeling utterly exposed. Her heart raced as she realized the weight of the moment, the betrayal hanging thick between them.

“She’s lying.”

“What a desperate girl.”

“Home wrecker.”

She could just hear the harsh whisper of the guests, their judging gaze and voices.

Emma’s vision blurred with tears as she looked at Liam, hoping, praying, for some sign of the man she thought she knew. But he just stood there, arms crossed, his face set in stone.

“I… I can’t believe this,” she whispered, stumbling back. Her chest felt like it was caving in, the weight of the humiliation unbearable. She had never felt this embarrassed and angry at the same time in her entire life.

“Come on,” Ivy snapped, stepping forward and glaring at the couple. “You’re both pathetic. Liam, you’re a lying coward and a little piece of cheat, and you” She jabbed a finger at the bride. “You’re a blind fool if you think marrying him is a good idea.”

Without saying any other thing, she grabbed Emma’s arm and marched her toward the exit.

She blamed herself for not asking for the couples pictures before going maybe she would have saved Emma from the heartache she was feeling at the moment.

Outside, the cold night air hit Emma like a slap. She stumbled to the side, leaning against the stone wall as sobs wracked her body.

Ivy wrapped an arm around her, holding her close. “You’re better than this, Emma. He’s not worth it. None of them are, stop crying Em.”

But She couldn’t stop. Her world had just crumbled in the middle of a crowd, and she wasn’t sure she’d ever recover.

Coming to this party had proved to be the worst decision she had ever made, a moment that would haunt her for a long time to come.

As Ivy drove away from the venue with the weight of what just happened hanging in the air.

She stole a glance at Emma, who had remained silent since they left. Emma had her forehead pressed against the cool glass of the window, her eyes distant, lost in memories of her two-year relationship with Liam.

Memories flooded her thoughts, but they all came with a question that gnawed at her: where had she gone wrong? How couldn't she have noticed he was cheating on her?

Just a two weeks ago, they had enjoyed a lovely date, everything had felt perfect, like a normal couple a stark contrast to the heartache she felt now.

At twenty-eight years old, sitting alone and heartbroken, she couldn’t help but feel lost.

Ivy’s reassuring hand on Emma's shoulder jolted her back to the present. Turning, Emma met her friend's concerned gaze, the warmth in Ivy's eyes momentarily easing the tightness in her chest.

A lump formed in her throat as she fought back the tears that threatened to spill over. Forcing her gaze back outside, she realized they had stopped at a traffic light,the city bustling with activity around them.

“I want to stop here,” Emma finally said, her voice shaky. “I’ll meet you at home later.”

“I can't let you leave like this, you are not in the right frame of mind,” Ivy said, her concern deepening.

“I will be okay. I just need to go to the bar to unwind a little. I can't get through today without a drink, Ivy,” Emma replied, her voice almost breaking as tears spilled over.

“Are you sure you’ll be okay?” Ivy asked softly, her forehead creased with worry and indecision.

“Yeah, I just need some time to clear my head,” Emma insisted, mustering a weak nod of reassurance.

With a gentle, understanding smile from Ivy, she opened the car door and stepped out onto the lively sidewalk, the cool night air mixing with the warmth of her emotions.

As she walked away, she felt an overwhelming sense of uncertainty. She had no specific destination in mind; all she knew was that she didn't want to be haunted by the memory of the person who had tossed her aside as if she were insignificant.

Wandering the streets aimlessly, her feet eventually carried her to the restaurant where she and Liam had enjoyed their last meal together.

Just the sight of the familiar, brick-faced building, with its cheerful awning and buzzing atmosphere, sent a rush of memories flooding back, causing tears to sting her eyes.

Standing outside, she could vividly recall every moment from that day, the way Liam had pulled her chair out, his playful kiss on her lips before they sat down, and the dreamy conversations about their future.

They had exchanged laughter and made grand promises about a life together, what their wedding would be like, where they'd travel, and how many kids they'd want. But now, here she was, cast aside, while he had moved on and married someone else.

The thought that he had given the stupid bitch her dream wedding made her heart ache even more.

“Ma’am, are you going in?” a voice broke through her thought of sorrow. It was the waiter, the same one who had greeted them that day, a look of concern etched on his face.

“No, I’m not,” Emma replied, her voice trembling on the brink of tears. With one last, aching glance at the place she could never bear to visit again, she turned and walked away, the waiter watching her with an empathic expression.

When she finally arrived home, she found Ivy waiting in the living room, her phone in hand and a worried look on her face, as if she had been moments away from calling Emma.

“How are you feeling now?” Ivy asked, springing up from the couch the moment she spotted Emma walking through the door.

“I’m not okay,” Emma sighed, her heart heavy. “I don’t know if I’ll ever be okay, Ivy.” She had worn herself out from the tears, emptying herself emotionally.

Together, they made their way to the soft couch, sinking into the cushions as they sat side by side.

“What do you think you want to do now?” Ivy asked with gentle encouragement.

“I don’t know, but I can’t stay here. Everything around me reminds me of him,” Emma admitted, frustration rising in her voice. “I just want to escape the memories of a life I thought I would have.”

Ivy’s expression morphed from concern to determination. “I have an idea,” she said, turning to Emma with renewed enthusiasm. “Remember the job offer at JB Enterprise in Zeden to work as the CEO's secretary, which I’m supposed to start on Monday? What if you went in my place?”

Emma’s eyes widened in surprise. “What? Are you insane?”