Chapter 4 “You, who had a mother but no father to guide you, don’t think for a moment Ricky will ever truly commit to you because of this. It’s time to let go! You’re going to get what’s coming to you, torn apart by a thousand blades, seared in the depths of scorching oil, and exploited by countless souls. You’re just a piece of trash, a wh*re!”
When physical force failed, Samantha resorted to verbal abuse, her insults as sharp as knives.
I helpfully moved the microphone closer to her mouth, letting her curse to her heart’s content.
When she finally ran out of steam, gasping for breath, I spoke up, “Mrs. Blake, at this stage in your life, and especially on your son’s wedding day with all these guests around, you really ought to keep things dignified. If I didn’t know better, I’d think someone had dropped their pants here. Also, I want to clarify I’m not here to steal your precious son back. I’m just here to seek justice for my ten years of youth that were deceived.”
year.
I subtly and directly mocked Samantha, considering it a small act of revenge for the way she had bullied me back in my senior
Indeed, with most of the guests being from Julia’s side, no one spoke up or intervened, maintaining at least a semblance of decorum.
Only Samantha acted like a shrew, cursing. Her character was plain for all to see.
“Bullsh*t, you’re just a seductress, bewitching my son. My son never loved you; it was you who harassed him! Julia, don’t listen to this wench. Ricky loves you, and you two are meant to be!”
Samantha, regaining some composure, realized that cursing wouldn’t solve anything. Her priority was to salvage her son’s marriage.
Even though their dignity had been thoroughly trampled, she still made an attempt to defend themselves.
“Is that what your son told you? Then what’s this?”
I didn’t argue with her; instead, I pointed to the screen at the perfect moment.
The photos had finished, and now, screenshots of chat logs began to appear.
Ricky: [Emma, I love you, and I will love you for this lifetime and the next!]
Ricky: [Emma, I’ll work on my parents, and when the time is right, we’ll get married and live a happy life together.]
Ricky: [Emma, you’ve worked hard to support me for five years. I’ll never forget your kindness, and I swear that I’ll never betray you!]
These were the messages Ricky had sent me.
The audience murmured, and a wave of disapproval rippled through the room.
Not long ago, Ricky had been pretending to be a pure, innocent man, swearing that Julia was his one true love.
The chat logs continued, revealing Ricky’s double life in stark detail.
Philip: [Ricky, you broke up with Emma Green?]
Ricky: [Nope, we’re still living together.]
Philip: [Then who’s the girl kissing you on your Facebook?]
Ricky: [My new girlfriend, Julia Colbert.]
Philip: [Damn, two girlfriends? You really know how to juggle. Respect, man!]
Ricky: [Well, what guy would say no to having more women?]
Philip: [Don’t they mind? What if they get jealous and it all blows up?]
Ricky: [Don’t worry. Julia’s from out of town; neither knows about the other. In their eyes, I’m still the faithful, innocent Ricky.]
Philip: [Ricky, I see on Facebook you’re tying the knot with Julia. What about Emma?]
Ricky: [Getting married is one thing, but dating is another. With a wife tucked away at home and a girlfriend out on the town, there’s no clash at all.]
Philip: [So, you’re marrying Julia but keeping Emma as your girlfriend?]
Ricky: [You get me, bro. A wife at home, and a girlfriend out there. Jealous much?]
Philip: [This kind of thing can’t be hidden forever. What if Emma finds out?]
Ricky: [Don’t worry, Emma’s been with me for years; I know how she thinks. Without me, she’s nothing. As long as we don’t
break up, she doesn’t care about titles.]
Philip: [And Julia? Can she accept Emma?]
Ricky: [Julia’s gentle. Once we’re married, I’ll work on her mindset. She’ll come around.]
Philip: [Impressive! Planning to live with both of them in the future?]
Ricky: [Basking in the hugs of two beauties. Don’t you want that?]
Philip: [Man, I do, but I ain’t got your game. Two beauties under your wing! Color me impressed!]
These screenshots of the conversation history between Ricky and Philip were the real bombshells.
Everything else had faded into the background; these alone were sufficiently damning.
“This is forged! You’re slandering my son!”
Samantha, having seen the screenshots, slapped her thigh and retorted in a final, desperate attempt.
“Mrs. Blake, I have the original messages. Would you like to verify them? Or should we call the police for an expert opinion?”
I held up my phone, waving it in front of her.
Samantha was speechless.
“Ridiculous!”
A couple in the audience stood up and turned to leave.
Their faces bore a striking resemblance to Julia’s, so they must be her parents.
Despite only speaking a single word, their authoritative tone left no room for argument.
Julia, who had remained silent throughout the ordeal, suddenly removed her floral crown, threw it at Ricky, and rushed after her parents.
My purpose was achieved and perhaps exceeded.
I had planned to crash Ricky’s wedding to stir up some chaos for him, but now, it was evident that the whole affair was already
in ruins.
“Oh my!”
Samantha collapsed onto the stage, slapping her thighs and wailing.
“Emma, why are you doing this? You’ve always been so understanding. Why come here and ruin everything?”
Ricky turned to me, looking like a man who had aged a decade in mere minutes; his eyes were hollow, filled with a mix of shock and despair.
“Why? That’s the question you should be asking yourself. Why did you play me for ten years while planning to marry someone else? Why did you think I couldn’t live without you? Why did you believe you could have cheated on me without any consequences? Why deceive me for ten years without an ounce of guilt? What do I owe you? Ricky, I’m here today to tell you the truth. When I loved you, you were my boyfriend. When I don’t, you’re less than trash. From now on, we’re done. No more ties!”
I couldn’t control the tremble in my voice, but I made sure every word was sharp.
It wasn’t that I lacked a heart; it was Ricky who left me no choice.
He had stolen the best ten years of my life. If I didn’t do this, I might have remained trapped, unable to move forward.
But now, finally, I felt a deep sense of peace.
My words struck Ricky like a physical blow.
He let out a roar.
“Why should I suffer? You are born into such a pitiful life and grow up without powerful parents backing you. You’ve never even met your father, and with a weak, helpless mother like yours, who was supposed to lift me into the life I deserve? Who was supposed to give me wealth, status, and glory? I have dreams and ambitions, Emma. A tiny house and a boring life were never what I wanted. Emma, you can’t blame me for this. If there’s anyone to blame, it’s you! Because you desire nothing. Because you’re the child of a mother who’s powerless and a father who passed away too soon.”
As I looked at him, his features distorted with anger. I felt a cold, unfamiliar wave of detachment wash over me.
In the past ten years, I had been blind.
Ricky’s dream had always been simple: to reap where he had not sown.
What in God’s name had ĺ ever seen in him?
Spat the word like venom as I slapped him hard in my rage. Without another glance, I turned on my heel and stormed out of the hotel.
all.
It was the first time I had ever hit him. And it would be the last.
He wasn’t worth another second of my time.
Q
Aside from the Colbert family, who had left early, none of the guests had gone anywhere. They had come for a wedding, after
What they got was a spectacle far juicier than any vows or celebration.
It wouldn’t take long for this story to spread through the grapevine.
Everyone would be talking, taking sides, and dissecting every word.
History would decide who was right and who was wrong.
Exhausted, I found the nearest hotel. I checked into a random room, collapsed onto the bed, and fell into a deep, dreamless
sleep.
When I woke up, the room was cloaked in darkness. A glance at my phone told me it was already midnight. My head throbbed, and I rubbed my temples, trying to shake off the lingering fog of exhaustion.
The screen blinked with countless missed calls from Ricky’s friends.
My phone buzzed with hundreds of unread messages. Each one was from the same circle. [You’re insane! You don’t even know what’s good for you! You’ve destroyed Ricky’s life!]
I murmured, “Typical. Birds of a feather flock together. None of them cared about right or wrong; they were only angry because
I had cost them a friend who might have made them rich one day.”
The notifications kept buzzing, a constant reminder of their impotent fury.
One by one, I blocked and deleted them, ready to power off my phone when it rang. It was an unknown number.
I hesitated, but my curiosity got the better of me. I answered.
“I am Julia. I’d like to meet you,” a calm, measured voice said.
I agreed without a second thought.
No matter how much I loathed Ricky, Julia was innocent in all of this.
My revenge had unwittingly dragged her into the chaos, and it was only right that I face her, offer an apology, and explain.
I found her at a coffee shop, sitting casually as she idly stirred the last dregs of coffee in her cup with a silver spoon. Her legs swung back and forth under the chair, which gave off an undeniably cute vibe.
Just a few years back, I could see myself in her, who was utterly carefree. My mind was painted with the vibrant colors of future hopes and dreams.
I approached, pulling out a chair to sit across from her. Unsure of how to begin, I waited, my nerves suddenly kicking in. Julia came from a powerful family. Frankly, I was a little scared.
If she truly wanted to make my life hell, I wouldn’t stand a chance.
“What would you like to drink? My treat. Don’t worry, I mean no harm. I just wanted to confirm a few things,” she said politely, showing me the menu.
“Nothing for me, thanks. Ask what you want to know,” I replied, shaking my head. “And I want to say sorry for yesterday. This wasn’t about you. I just needed justice for myself.”
“Did you and Ricky really date for ten years?” Her tone was direct, leaving no room for small talk.
“Yes. We started dating in our freshman year. It was exactly ten years, to the day. I even saw him off at the train station on July 15th. He told me it was for a business trip.”
I gave a serious nod.
“Never broke up during those ten years?” she probed further.
“There was one close call during our senior year. His parents humiliated me, and I wanted to end it. But he begged for forgiveness at the school gate. We stayed together through university, and after graduation, we lived together. For the past five years, he quit his job to prepare for the civil service exam. Until a few months ago when he finally got a position, he was supported by my income. My phone and wallet have the transaction records if you need proof.”
I shared with her a concise tale of my years with Ricky
12:03 PM MI
“I believe you. But you really didn’t know about me all this time?”
Her expression shifted to one of disdain, her eyes narrowing slightly.
I replied, “I trusted him too much. It wasn’t until half a month ago, when I used his computer for work, that I discovered he had another Facebook account. That’s when I found out about you and that you two were about to get married. We were together for ten years, and he was engaged to you for three of them. Here’s the Facebook account he used to contact you. You can take a look.”
I took out my phone, tapped on Ricky’s profile picture on Facebook, and passed it to Julia.
“Alright, I guess there’s no need for more questions. This Ricky really knows how to spin a tale, doesn’t he?” Julia said with a wry smile, handing my phone back after scrutinizing the evidence.
“He’s got a talent for it, otherwise I wouldn’t have been fooled for so many years.”
I sighed, the weight of a decade lost to his lies pressing heavily on my chest.
There was a brief silence before Julia spoke again, “Last night, Ricky and his mom came by my place.”
“Expected,” I replied, not even needing a moment to think about it. “Given your family’s standing, neither Ricky nor his mother would willingly give up. Even with the tiniest sliver of hope, they’d fight to the bitter end.”
I used to merely dislike Ricky’s parents, feeling they looked down on my fatherless background.
I thought Ricky was different from them.
But now, after severing ties with him, the blindfold had been ripped away.
I found he truly was as selfish and overly ambitious as his parents.
Julia shifted in her seat, recounting Ricky’s desperate attempt to salvage the situation.
“Ricky told me yesterday’s fiasco was your doing. He said you’ve had issues since freshman year, relentlessly pursuing him.”
She pointed to her head, mimicking the way Ricky spun his tale.
“He claimed he rejected you countless times, but you lived in your own fantasy, treating him like your boyfriend. He said our wedding announcement triggered you, leading to the scene at the wedding.”
“And what about those photos and screenshots on the screen? How did he explain those?”
I raised an eyebrow, amused at the absurd narrative Ricky had crafted, trying to paint me as some lovesick stalker.
“He said you photoshopped them,” Julia chuckled, shaking her head in disbelief.
“Do you believe him?” I asked, curious about where she stood.
“I’m not that naive! Thankfully, I listened to my dad,” Julia scoffed, a shudder of relief passing through her.
After Ricky proposed, he was eager to marry Julia as soon as possible.
Julia had no objections, but her father did.
Perhaps his years in business had honed his insight into human nature, especially towards men like Ricky, who came from humble beginnings with ambitions to climb higher.
Unable to stop his daughter’s marriage outright, he set a condition: they could proceed with the wedding ceremony, but the official marriage license would only be issued after a year.
Ricky was unhappy but lacked the guts to challenge Julia’s father, so he agreed.
Little did he know, this year was a test period, and thanks to me, he failed on the very first day.
For Julia, this was a stroke of luck amidst misfortune.
Had they gotten the license, she would’ve faced financial loss and the stigma of divorce.
Her family didn’t retaliate; their stature didn’t require them to stoop to squabble with someone like Ricky.
However, with their influence, some things didn’t need their direct intervention.
Ricky had got a job but was still on probation.
Any minor slip could justify his dismissal from the TV station.
While his superiors might overlook laziness, his personal conduct was another matter, especially when it implicated the
Colbert family.
Her parents‘ business associates, who annually spent astronomical sums on advertising with the TV station, wouldn’t act
without a cue.
vere plenty eager to kick Dicke while he was down.
But with Julia’s parents making it clear they wouldn’t accept Ricky, there were plenty eager to kick Ricky while he was down, hoping to curry favor with the Colbert family.
Thus, after some “casual” leaks from these individuals, the TV station promptly dismissed Ricky.
“With thousands of employees at the TV station, it’s not like they can’t get by without him, especially since he’s still on probation. It’s hard to find someone who’ll stand by you in tough times, but it’s all too easy to find people who’ll kick you when you’re down. It’s even easier to just go with the flow,” I exclaimed.
Ricky found himself jobless before he could even process what was happening.
With that black mark on his record, all his grand ambitions slipped through his fingers.
Even if he found a backer wealthier than the Colbert family, the label of “problematic individual” was now tattooed on him, impossible to erase.
“Emma, was it you? Did you report me?”
Ricky’s voice crackled through the phone the day he was fired, laced with accusation.
“Even if it wasn’t me, I really should thank whoever did. Why didn’t I think of that?” I replied, unable to suppress the satisfaction in my voice.
I had been so naive that I only wanted to ruin his wedding, never thinking to destroy his career.
If I had known how easy it would be, I would’ve written ten complaint letters a day.
“What good does this do for you?” he snapped, still not believing that I hadn’t been the one to report him.
“It makes me happy, of course. Seeing a cheater get exactly what he deserves is the ending I’ve always dreamed of,” I said, making no effort to clear up his misunderstanding. Why should I? Let him stew in it.
“You wait!” he snarled before slamming the phone down.
A few days later, edited videos of Ricky and Julia’s wedding surfaced online.
My logical words had been muted, and text overlayed twisted the story, painting me as some crazed woman who had wrecked a beautiful wedding out of jealousy.
It was a transparent attempt by Ricky to get revenge, using his friends‘ recordings to distort the truth and hoping the internet would do his dirty work for him.
Cyberbullying had ruined lives before; he was counting on it doing the same to me.
Ricky thought he could drown me in public scorn, using the outrage of strangers to punish me for ruining his shot at climbing the social ladder and costing him his job.
But the internet wasn’t as easy to manipulate as he thought.
If a few videos could go viral, everyone would be an influencer.
Despite Ricky’s best storytelling efforts, the videos fizzled out, causing barely a ripple.
People had grown wary of jumping to conclusions. They wanted facts before they jumped on any bandwagon.
Frustrated, Ricky resorted to paying a shady influencer to spread the videos far and wide.
For a while, it worked; the videos began to circulate, and soon, a handful of condemning comments started popping up.
But then, just as things were heating up, someone else stepped in.
“I’m an eyewitness, and I was a party to what happened. I’m the bride in the wedding dress in those videos. The truth is, Emma wasn’t causing a scene; she was seeking justice for herself. As for the groom claiming to be the victim? I scoff at him. He’s nothing but a fraud, deceiving people for money, sex, and emotional validation. I’m not some paid defender. To the influencer who spread those videos: Dare to bet with me? Ten million dollars in cash, or face legal consequences. You pick. And to all those mindlessly slandering online, this bet extends to you, too. Dare to take it?”
A video emerged on the internet, rapidly gaining traction. It featured Julia, who was making a public appearance. On this occasion, she made the choice to support me.
Within ten minutes, the influencer had deleted every related post, and the trolls fell silent. Julia’s status wasn’t a secret. While keyboard warriors might try to bully an average person without fear of repercussions, they couldn’t afford to mess with someone of her standing.
Ricky’s revenge plot crumbled in its infancy, backfiring in the most spectacular way. His attempt to paint me as the villain
fizzled out, leaving him even more exposed and humiliated than before.
A couple of months passed and I honestly tried to put Ricky out of my mind But then one day I saw him again Disheveled
unkempt, and looking utterly lost, he approached me on the street like a stray dog who’d been beaten one too many times.
“Emma, where have you been? Why didn’t you tell me you moved? I couldn’t find you. I know I was wrong. Just forgive me, and I promise I will have no more contact with Julia. Let’s get married. My parents agree now; no one can stop us. We’ll buy a small house, just like you always wanted, and spend our lives together.”
Ricky faced me with a flattering smile, speaking in a tone that begged for approval.
Marry him? Too late for that.
“I’ve encountered a madman; he’s harassing me. Come quickly!” I said into the phone, speaking to the police.
They arrived within minutes and took Ricky away. During the interrogation, it came to light that his mental state had
deteriorated significantly. He was sent for a psychiatric evaluation, and that was the last I saw of him.
The psychiatric hospital deemed him unfit for release. Ricky ended up staying there, locked away from the world he once tried to manipulate and control.
But the story didn’t end there.
Soon after, the streets became home to two more wandering souls, lost to madness.
“My son was a promising young man on the verge of marrying into a wealthy family. But then, a wicked woman ruined him. That woman grew up in a fatherless home, raised by a single mother. I could sense trouble the moment she came into his life.”
They repeated this tale to anyone who would listen, spinning their web of lies over and over again, as though saying it enough times would make it true.
And then, fate decided to throw us all back together in the psychiatric hospital.
#Side Story 1#
Julia and I became inseparable, the best of friends. One day, she confided in me that she had a new boyfriend.
My curiosity was piqued; I wanted to meet him. But she shut me down, saying my taste in men was terrible, so I wasn’t allowed anywhere near him.
I was furious. “Are you kidding me right now? You’re jeopardizing our friendship over some guy?” I threatened.
#Side Story 2#
I stood by the window of
a
quaint seaside villa, staring out at the endless ocean.
boss.
This villa wasn’t mine; it belonged to my
I had been transferred to a coastal city to manage a branch office, and he had generously let me stay here temporarily.
He said, “If you ever feel lonely, you could always find a boyfriend. Someone to keep you company.”
He portrayed himself as the quintessential alpha male but then added with a smirk, “I can handle the kitchen and keep the house tidy. I’m always truthful.”
I was evaluating him. Let’s see what he’s really made of.
#Side Story 3 Julia’s story#
My wedding day was ruined by a woman.
Ricky and I had dated for three years. I was spellbound by his sweet words and his attentive care. I truly believed he was my destined soulmate.
But then, I met Emma.
The reality hit me like a punch to the gut. She was Ricky’s girlfriend, too, and they’d been together for ten years.
I called off the wedding, but Ricky and his mother didn’t take it well. They stormed into my house, spewing some wild conspiracy theory about Emma being the real problem.
Did he really think I was that naive?
After exposing his shameless lies, he actually had the nerve to demand compensation, either ten million dollars for his
emotional distress or a significant position in the broadcasting authority.
I called my bodyguards and had them escort Ricky and his mother out.
My parents, given their status, wouldn’t retaliate directly, but our business associates were more than happy to ruin Ricky’s career as a favor to my family.
I thought he’d learn his lesson. But instead, he took to the internet, spreading vicious lies about Emma, who was a wonderful,
OOO
kind woman.
Emma had stood by his side for a decade. How dare he?
I knew I had to stand up for justice. I couldn’t let him destroy her reputation. We had both been deceived by the same man, two kindred spirits in our misfortune.
We became close friends after that. Emma was truly one of the kindest souls I had ever met.
A failed romance turned into a genuine friendship; honestly, I didn’t lose out too much.
I heard Ricky ended up in a mental institution.
He got what he deserved.
#Side Story 4 Ricky’s plan#
There were two women who were crazy about me.
Julia came from old money, and Emma was gentle and caring.
Julia could’ve boosted my career, while Emma would’ve made my everyday life a breeze.
It was so annoying having to choose between them.
Someone like me, with grand ambitions and boundless potential, surely deserved better than being tied down to just one of
them.
“Once I achieve great things,” I thought, “there will be women out there richer than Julia and more caring than Emma flocking to me. It’s only a matter of time.”
Yeah, that was it. I didn’t need either of them right now. They were both too clingy, too demanding. I just needed some peace and quiet to figure things out.
“A few days in the mental hospital should do the trick,” I murmured.
The End
