The Ex-wife's little revenge

Lila's POV

The soft harm of the restaurant's sweet music filled my ears, but it didn't reach my heart. My hands trembled slightly as I adjusted the napkin on the table, a nervous habit I hadn't noticed until now. It was our fifth anniversary. Five years of love, laughter and promises.. I had prepared everything to perfection, picked out the flowers-his favorite of course. The candles were arranged just right, making the intimate setting I have chosen so beautiful and lively.

The candles were sweet scented and very expensive but they were worth it for this special occasion.

We had made a special reservation in the most expensive restaurants in the city. La Momento was a restaurant for the rich only.

I checked the time again. 8:30 p.m. he had said he would be there by now. Seth never broke his promises and I believed in him, tonight I had news and it wasn't just our anniversary, but I knew this beautiful life changing news would make him happy.

I swallowed down the excitement that bubbled up inside of me. The doctor confirmed it this morning. We were going to be parents! Our first child, after five years of waiting. I couldn't wait to see Seth's face when I told him. He had been so busy lately with work but I knew he had been overjoyed. He was going to be a wonderful father and I had already pictured our little family. The thought made me smile, my heart swelling with love.

But my thoughts were caught short when I glanced at my phone. This was so unlike Seth. No messages. No missed calls. Maybe he was just caught up in something at work.

I texted him again:

Where are you? I have good news.

I pressed send and watched the screen for a moment, willing it to light up with a reply but nothing.

I felt the butterflies in my stomach turning into something darker, feeling like something was actually wrong.

The weight was becoming unbearable and some of the couples who had come to the restaurant at the same time with me were beginning to leave.

Calm down Lila. He will be here soon.

Maybe I was being unreasonable or maybe I was too excited because I couldn't wait to tell him the good news.

I stared at the flowers and the beautiful handwritten anniversary cards a delivery guy had brought to the restaurant.

Just as I made to pick up the card, the door suddenly opened and my heart immediately lept. I stood up, hoping to run into his arms when I stopped.

But Seth was not alone, he walked casually like today meant nothing to him, but the surprising part was that he was with Chloe, my cousin.

And they were holding hands!

My stomach immediately dropped. It felt like the world had tilted beneath me, everything spinning out of control.. I froze, the flowers in my hands suddenly felt like bricks , weighing me down. My eyes bulged in surprise

What was happening? Why were they together?

Seth looked at me and then at Chloe who was smiling at him as if she had just won a lottery. Chloe held him so close and then I saw it, the lipstick on his cheeks.

My chest tightened making it difficult for me to breathe.

"Lila," Seth's voice was soft and hesitant. "I-"

"Seth, my voice cracked before I could stop it. "Chloe?" I said trying to smile but my lips shook at the sides.

It's been 6 months since I last saw my cousin Chloe and the last time we both spoke on the phone she told me she was getting married this week.

So why was she with Seth?

I couldn't breathe.

"What's going on?" I whispered, my voice barely audible. My eyes darted between Seth and Chloe searching for any sign that this was a kind of misunderstanding or maybe even a prank. But there was none. The way Chloe's eyes avoided mine, the way Seth stood there, too still like a man guilty of something he couldn't undo-it all hit me like a brick.

"Lila, I have been meaning to say this to you for a long time." Seth began and it felt like he was hiding something from me but I didn't know what it was.

"I don't understand," I whispered , shaking my head. "Why are you two together, it's our fifth anniversary-"

"I already know it's our anniversary young woman." Seth yelled, not even allowing me to finish and I was so surprised. He had never yelled at me before.

"I'm tired Lila, I'm tired of this sham we call a marriage. I want out."

My heart immediately sank and my eyes spun in their socket and I stumbled back as if I had been hit by a tidal wave.

"What do you mean by that?" I stuttered. "Seth, we have been married for 5 years. What is going on please?"

As if that was the answer to my question, Chloe tightened her grip on Seth's hand and gave me a small sardonic smile like she was enjoying my pain.

"I have been pretending for so long and I didn't want to. Look Lila." Seth began. " I don't love you."

My heart stopped.

" I'm in love with Chloe, your cousin. I love her so much and I'm ready to spend the rest of my life with her."

If someone had told me that this was the biggest prank ever I could have believed them but as I looked at Chloe and then at Seth, the seriousness on their faces told me otherwise- this wasn't a prank.

"Seth you can't do this to me. What will happen to me?"

I turned to Chloe.

" Why are you with my husband? You are supposed to be my cousin."

"Yes," she said and smirked. "I like him and he's mine now."

I wanted to do something, either to scream or slap her but I was motionless.

I'm still there staring at both of them.

As if it had been rehearsed, Seth pulled something out of his pocket and threw it at me.

"Sign them he said and be fast about it."

My eyes went to the small piece of project paper and my fingers shook as I lifted it and flipped it open.

I looked up at Seth and my heart broke.

The papers I was holding were nothing but divorce papers.

Lila's POV

This wasn't happening. No, Seth wouldn't do this to me. This was a nightmare,one that I would soon wake up from but then the look on his face didn't show that it was a nightmare. It was reality.

My fingers shook as I finished signing the divorce papers. I didn't want to do it but the look of pure hatred on his face told me this was a lost battle.

I was having trouble breathing. My legs gave out under me and I staggered back barely catching myself on the chair's edge.

The room was spinning and despite how cold it was, I felt so hot and felt like fainting.

As Chloe clung to Seth, her cool, strange laugh echoed in my ears.

"Seth, why?" I croaked.

I tried to steady my breathing as my heart thumped in my chest but nothing felt right.

This was supposed to be our anniversary, this was supposed to be the happiest day of our lives, how am I supposed to tell him that we would finally become parents?

"Seth." My voice was shaky as I whispered." What's going on? What is this?"

He didn't even recoil. Rather his eyes met mine with a detached expression that I hadn't seen in years.

" I think it's time we were honest with each other, Lila ."Seth said nonchalantly as though we were talking about a business transaction rather than a nearly five-year marriage.

As if they weren't shattering my world

" I'm in love with Chloe." He continued and I stopped. My face was numb from the blood draining from it.

My body would not move even though I wanted to. Tears rolled down my cheeks, hot and painful.

"My cousin..Chloe is my cousin, Seth."

I said my voice was breaking.

I turned to Chloe again but it seems like she doesn't care and it then made sense, the text she had sent me days ago.

I'm getting married this week, Coz.

So it was my Seth, my husband!

The betrayal was sharp, coming from a woman who has been in my life for as long as I can remember.

Chloe moved closer and placed a possessive hand on Seth's chest. My face felt like it was slapped by her touch.

"You're the one who's been blind to it, Lila."

Seth continued his tone so coldly detached. "I've been making an effort to keep this marriage going but I'm at my breaking point. " I don't love you and I feel caged in this sham called marriage." He said. "It's over!."

His tone was so unconcerned as though the words were merely that-words.

They were harsh and broke me in two.

But every syllable was a blade that sliced deeper into my heart with each second that went by.

I wanted to scream. I wanted to hurl the bottle of wine at the wall.

I wanted to hold his hand and beg him to consider, to remember the promises we made to each other but the pain held me back.

My vision became blur due to the tears that filled my eyes.

"Please Seth" I pleaded, my voice hardly audible above a whisper. "It's been five years, five years of sweet memories and promises we made to each other."

From the corner of my eyes, I saw Chloe scoff.

At first he didn't reply. I briefly thought I caught a glimpse of something when his gaze shifted to Chloe.

Any remaining hope I had was dashed when he turned back to face me.

He tossed the divorce papers onto the coffee table between us.

"I'm done Lila, we have both signed."

He said as though they were merely a last-minute idea. "I want you to also leave my house."

Did he really just say that? I asked, grabbing the papers with shaking hands. It was unbelievable what I was holding, divorce papers.

As I skimmed the words my fingers went numb but the truth struck me like a ton of bricks.

There was another document, stating that I had to leave the house within 24 hours.

Emotions tight in my throat and my voice hardly audible I whispered.

" You're really doing this?. After everything we've been through? You're just going to throw it all away?"

Seth ignored me entirely. His hand was cupping Chloe's cheek as he whispered something to her, his face softening as he stared at her.

My heart broke into thousands of irreplaceable pieces over and over again, they kissed like I didn't exist, like I wasn't here.

"Baby." Chloe purred as she rested her head on his shoulder. " Can we lodge in a hotel tonight, I can't wait to be wet for you."

Such rhyming scheme.

I almost threw up my intestines. Chloe saw how uncomfortable I was and smiled, her eyes filled with victory.

With that same icy smile, she remarked.

" I knew it was only a matter of time Lila. . You've always been the backup plan. Its unfortunate that you were unable to see it earlier."

I wanted to run. This place was a nightmare that had turned into my reality and I wanted to get away from both of them as soon as possible.

But my body resisted.

I was paralyzed by the web of heartache and betrayal. Then as if something broke inside of me. I became angry about it. It was useless for me to stand there and beg for a love that had long faded.

I picked up my purse, my head swarming with thought and the sharp pain of being betrayed by the two people I trusted the most.

I hastily wiped my face with the back of my hand and sniffed.

I had given them enough satisfaction to see me cry.

I had to be strong for myself and my unborn child.

My world had crumbled and if anyone had told me this was the way I would lose it all, I wouldn't have believed.

Chloe was still staring at me and she rested her head on Seth' shoulder.

I made to leave when I heard her voice again, that same voice that has been my anchor since childhood now seems to mock me.

"Did Seth tell you we have been married for a year."

I said nothing and wasn't too surprised, I met Seth through her in college and now the betrayal was making sense.

But that wasn't all.

Seth spoke when I thought that my heart ached enough.

" You can manage $300 can't you? to take care of yourself."

Was he insulting me?

Fresh tears poured out and that was when I heard it, the final words that broke me into pieces.

"Chloe is carrying my child."

Lila's POV

Maybe I didn't hear right. But the smile still plastered on Chloe's lips told me that I just did. My heart just shattered and my world crumbled before me in minutes into thousands of irreplaceable pieces.

This wasn't happening.

I refuse to believe it.

I could have wanted anything, would want them to get married to each other if they wished but this, this was cruel, this was betrayal.

Chloe was pregnant with Seth's child, it was hard for me to understand. What have I ever done to her? I had loved her as a sister ever since we were little, a knot tightened in my stomach and breathing was difficult.

I shouldn't stand here and listen to them mock me.

As I left that restaurant away from him, my hands were shaking and my legs were trembling.

Leaving the man I thought would be my forever . But should i say i was stupid or blind and didn't see it all?

And he broke everything I thought to be true about happiness, love and trust.

I quickly hailed a cab and the drive home felt like a blur, the pain and betrayal all in one night was difficult for me.

The clink of glass and the whispers of the waiters vanished behind me as my heart began to race.

Everything I had imagined tonight to be the joy , the laughter and telling him that I was pregnant was now a mirage.

The image was still there, I saw him standing there in my cousin's arms, her lips on his hands encircling him as if she had every right to be there. The image was mocking me, allowing the tears to flow down freely.

I went to my room after the cab left and packed everything I owned. There was no need begging him, he had made his choice.

Although it felt like miles away, my car was only few blocks away. The more I moved, the more my chest hurts as I dragged my luggage to the car.

And with a sharp sound in the still night, I slammed the door behind me when I eventually got into my car.

I put my foot on the pedal and sped out of the parking lot as the engine roared to life. I was leaving the memories and the promises behind. Forever.

Tears rolled down my face and I couldn't stop crying.

The pain was deep and I felt so cold.

I didn't know where to go but I just wanted to leave.

I was heading towards the train station to lodge in a motel when I got to where I thought was safe.

I wondered how I would survive with my unborn child. I had nothing but this old rickety car.

I gripped the steering wheel tighter as my mind whispered that everything would be fine but I didn't want to believe it.

How could my cousin marry him? How could he do this? She was the one who had always admired everything about me.

Even though my heart hurt and my wounds were deep and raw, I didn't want to slow down.

For a brief moment, the burden of everything was lifted when I eventually turned to the road that led outside the city.

But I didn't notice the other car approaching me with speed until it was too late .

I tried to gain control of my car but it was useless, I hit the brake and tried moving to the other side of the road. The other car came for me as it swerved uncontrollably, everything happened so quickly that it barely registered on my mind. It hit my car so hard that my face slammed on the dashboard

I was thrown forward by my car's abrupt jerk and the impact of the other car and then-nothing.

My car somersaulted and for a moment I really wished to die, to end this suffering.

I heard nothing but the scrape of metal on the pavement as the world shook.

For what seemed like an eternity, my body was weightless and suspended in mid-air.

And then everything came to a sickening crunch. The vehicle suddenly stopped at the bridge's edge.

It had began to rain or maybe it didn't but I was too focused on problems to know if it had.

It was so cold and freezing in the car and I felt blood dripping by the side of my head

I blinked rapidly trying to push out the mental haze.

I realized that my seat belt had kept me locked in place when I reached for it.

My body felt heavy from exhaustion and my legs were stuck under the dashboard. I had trouble moving and I saw my life flashed before me.

I thought of everything I had endured, the love I and Seth had shared, the memories and his promises of forever.

At that moment I didn't know what to think or feel, maybe I should forgive them both, as this was the end of the road for me.

But I was human, still me and the thought of death scared me. Maybe I should give life a chance and change myself, maybe I should just stay here this way and let fate decide

I didn't want to die.

Then my attention was drawn to a sudden movement . A car .

Someone was approaching my car but I couldn't make out who it was because everywhere was hazy.

I shakily exhaled, wishing for anything or anyone to save me from this gloom.

The world seemed to spin as the footsteps approached but my vision became blur

I just wanted to scream, to let whoever was approaching me know that I needed help. But I didn't make a sound.

I tried to speak and more blood flooded out, my cracked lips became painful.

"Hold on." the voice said to me.

"I have got you. You're going to be alright."

But I couldn't say anything.

Not with the bewilderment, the pain and the overwhelming hurt that made me feel like a rock and remain stuck in place.

I was beginning to feel so dizzy, the world spinning around me and I was crying.

"Please." I finally managed to croak. " Please, help me."

At first I thought it was all a dream, that I was still at home, that everything happening was a bad dream but then the door was forcefully opened and I felt someone pulling me, talking softly to me but my mind was far away and I couldn't hear him.

Then he lifted me, pulled off the seat belt and took me out like he had done this a thousand times before , he gently but firmly pulled me from the wreckage.

And I almost allowed myself to think I might be safe for a single fleeting moment.