And I had stopped falling for it.
I pulled Liam inside.
My parents were ready with a table full of
food.
They were happy to see us. My mom took
Liam’s hand.
“Liam, it’s been too long. You’re so handsome
now.”
My dad said “They’re tired Let them eat!!
My dad said, “They’re tired. Let them eat.”
But they wouldn’t stop asking Liam questions,
happy that he was single.
They were telling Liam all the good things.
about me.
Liam smiled.
“Rainey hasn’t changed. She’s still amazing.”
I looked up at him.
My face was hot.
My parents were glowing.
Liam asked about what had happened.
outside
I sighed and told him about my boyfriend.
Liam frowned.
“Did you go back to the condo?”
I hadn’t.
Chad and Ashley probably still thought I was
too nice to actually do anything.
Liam said, “Be prepared.”
I knew what he meant.
The mood was awkward.
Liam said, “Let’s deal with our stuff later.”
“Our stuff?”
The next day, I went to the condo.
The locks had been changed.
I heard noises.
I called some relatives and told them to meet
me to deliver gifts.
We stood at the door and knocked.
Ashley answered, annoyed.
“Who is it?”
She was wearing a robe that wasn’t hiding
much.
く
My aunts frowned.
Before they could say anything, a man spoke.
“Ashley, who is it?”
It wasn’t Chad.
My aunts burst in.
“You’re getting married and you can’t act
decent!”
“Ah!”
The place was trashed. One of my aunts
screamed.
A naked man was on the floor.
“Ashley, you are so trashy!”
“I’ve never seen anyone like you, bringing a
man home while you’re getting married.”
My aunts started yelling.
Chad showed up.
He saw me and smiled, running over.
“Rainey, did you come back for me? Did you
finally forgive me?”
I stepped away.
He looked hurt.
I said, “You and Ashley had fun in my condo?”
L
Chad turned white.
“I just… I had nowhere else to go…”
He was trying to make an excuse.
Chad wanted me back, but he was still
sleeping with his ex in my condo.
He wanted me and her?
I was done.
I said, “Aunts, this condo is mine. Here’s the
deed.”
I gave it to them.
They were confused.
<
“I thought Chad gave this to Ashley.”
“Chad was my boyfriend. He gave my condo
to Ashley. We broke up, and they never left,
and they’re not alone.”
Ashley tried to run.
My aunts grabbed her.
The man was dragged out.
Chad’s eyes were wide. He was speechless.
Ashley had cheated on him.
I said, “Aunts, help me out. Ashley was
sleeping with a man in here. I want my money
back! $1.3 million!”
My aunts agreed.
“We’ll help you! Her parents can pay!”
When I left, my aunts said, “That man is trash.
He’s borrowing his girlfriend’s condo to sleep
with his ex, and letting another man sleep
with his ex–girlfriend, you can’t trust him.”
“We already broke up.”
“Don’t get back together.”
“I won’t.”
With my aunts‘ help, everyone knew what
Ashley had done.
Ashley couldn’t pay the money back, so her
porento borrowed money and paid me
L
parents borrowed money and paid me.
But they couldn’t live there, so they sold it.
I was officially dating Liam.
I had thought I’d never find love again, but
then I met Liam, and I realized what love was.
Life became great.
Chad showed up again, like a bad omen.
He said, “I know I hurt you. I’m learning to
think about your feelings. I know it’ll take time
to trust me, but I’m going to wait.
“I rented our old apartment. It has our
memories. I’ll wait for you there.”
I was waiting for a text and didn’t even look
- up.
“Wait as long as you want. I have a new life.”
My phone pinged.
“Wife, let’s go out tonight. I have a surprise.”
See?
Someone finally valued me.
And I was valuing myself.
