My Fiance Said Betrayal Was Mutual Revenge Chapter 02

My Fiance Said Betrayal Was Mutual Revenge Chapter 02

My uncle replied almost instantly. [Elowen, you’re always welcome here. There’s always been a place for you and your mom. I’ve already booked the tickets.]

Reading his words, my eyes burned. A bitter ache shot straight through my heart.

After my father died, my mom worked herself to the bone to support me and Kyler. Ten jobs. Sometimes more. Later, when Brynn’s parents kicked her out, my mom took her in too.

Three kids on her shoulders. Until recently. Stage 2 breast cancer. Every single day, she was suffering. Thinking of her lying in that hospital bed, I wiped my eyes and turned to leave.

Just then, a cluster of congratulatory voices rose nearby. “Ky! Look at you, man. Your parents would be so damn proud if they could see this.”

“This your fiancée?”

Kyler let out an easy laugh and gestured toward me, explaining to the crowd. The girls my age standing nearby shot me looks, some envious, some bitter. Brynn bumped my shoulder, grinning.

“See, Elowen? You picked a good one. The guy knows what he’s doing!” I pulled back, cold, putting distance between us.

Then Kyler’s voice drifted over again. “My fiancée’s got a heart of gold. She gave up her Early Admission spot so her best friend could take it. She’s doing the whole college application grind herself instead.”

It hit me like a thunderclap. My throat closed up.

Early Admission. I wasn’t rejected? It went to Brynn?

I stared at him, frozen. Brynn scrambled to cover it up. “Ah—Elowen, no, that’s not—Ky just let it slip—” Her words sealed it. I had gotten in. I had earned it.

All those sleepless nights, the endless studying, the notes I bled over, pushing myself to learn twenty-four hours in a day, just so my mom could rest easy, I passed out in my dorm from exhaustion. I sat in hospital rooms with an IV in my arm, still gripping my textbooks. It had been worth it.

“Kyler!” I was nearly screaming now. “Did you give my Early Admission spot to Brynn?!”

The people around us started murmuring, eyes shifting. Brynn couldn’t take the stares. Face flushed, she bit her lip and ran out. Kyler moved to go after her. I blocked him. “I want an explanation!”

His brow furrowed, but he held his temper. “Yeah. I gave it to Brynn. She struggles in school. I wanted her at the same university as me. You’re the smart one anyway. If you don’t get in, just retake the exams. What’s one more year? Now move. Brynn looked upset.”

I watched him walk away, chasing after her. My heart felt like it had been smashed to pieces with a sledgehammer. The tears came hard and fast. All those days after I thought I’d failed. The self-hatred. The crying myself to sleep.

Terrified my mom would notice, I caked on makeup before every visit. I stopped eating. I started throwing up everything I tried to force down. I was diagnosed with clinical depression. And now he tells me none of it was real.

I couldn’t take any more. I hailed a cab and broke down in the back seat. Then I pulled myself together, put on the palest face I’d ever worn, and went to see my mom.

She lit up when I walked in. “Elowen! How did your exams go? And where’s Kyler? I haven’t seen him in days. Did you two fight again?” I couldn’t look at her. She read my silence and her eyes went red.

“Elowen, I don’t have much time left. My only wish is to see you and Kyler get married. You two—”

The words barely left her mouth before two familiar voices sounded from the doorway. “Mrs. Peterson!” Kyler and Brynn. One holding a bouquet, the other carrying a cake. A perfect picture. A flawless couple.

I saw the fresh marks on their necks. My stomach heaved. My expression turned to stone. “What are you doing here?”

Kyler smiled and reached for my hand. “It’s your mom’s birthday. I brought Brynn to celebrate.” My mom beamed, her face full of warmth, and took both their hands in hers, showering them with affection and words of blessing.

Halfway through, my eyes snagged on something. Matching rings. On their middle fingers.

My breath caught. I lunged to stop what was coming. Too late. My mom’s whole body went rigid. Her voice shook. “Brynn. Why are you and Kyler wearing couple rings?”