You’re a Traitor—There Won’t Be a Wedding!

June 1st

I still cant believe how everything fell apart so suddenly.

My darling, what nonsense are you accusing me of? Andrew barely looked at the photos I showed him. I only love you. No one else matters to me. Thats got to be photoshopped.

Oh, really? And who would bother to do that then? I bristled at the way Andrew dismissed it all. He couldnt even muster the energy to defend himself properly.

The beauty salon Id inherited from my nan never interested me much.

Teaching art to children at the local arts academy always brought me far more joy than running a business. Still, I never considered giving up my inheritance.

The salon brought in a decent income; a reliable manager ran things smoothly. That meant I could do what I loved, never wanting for anything. Except perhaps for a family of my own.

After nan passed away, at 27 Id never felt so aloneuntil I met Andrew, at an art exhibition the following year.

He wasnt exactly dashing, but his shy smile and kindness won me over straightaway. He was attentive in ways that melted my heart.

Two months after we met, Andrew invited me for tea at his house to meet his stepfather, Mr. George Wilkinson.

My dad died when I was four, Andrew explained tenderly. Mum didnt remarry until I was fourteen.

I never called George Dad, but we get on well. When Mum passed away a couple of years ago, I stayed on with him.

I was instantly charmed by Mr. Wilkinsonupright, with a warm, intelligent gaze and impeccable manners, he looked far younger than his 56 years.

It seemed I had made a good impression on him as well.

Lucky fellow, our Andrew, George declared as he gallantly kissed my hand.

Why do you say that, Uncle George? Andrew did a mock sulk.

Because a true man wouldnt be a hobby shop manager, his stepfather chuckled. Anyway, point is, youre a real catch!

At first, I was mortified, but his jokes had me in stitches all eveningAndrew grew a little jealous, I think.

Six months later, Andrew proposed. I was utterly infatuated, lost in dreams of our life together. When the photos arrived in my messages, it didnt even register at first.

But then I stared, dumbstruck at the picturesAndrew, arms around another girl, kissing her, with his typical shy smile. The date stamped below showed these were from just a fortnight ago.

My darling, what nonsense are you accusing me of? Andrew said, barely glancing at the photos. I only love you. Thats all a fake.

Oh, really? Who on earth would go to this effort? My stomach turned at his nonchalant attitude.

No idea, he shrugged. Plenty of weirdos around.

And that snapped something in me. Anyone else would have protested, sworn undying love, threatened to track down whoever was sabotaging us but Andrew? Not only had he betrayed me, but he didnt even care to deny it with conviction.

Youre a traitor! There wont be a wedding! I sobbed, running from his flat under his stunned gaze.

I cried solidly for three days at home, then refused to leave the house for a weekcalled in sick to work. My thoughts ran in circlesAndrew never reached out, never once showed he caredyet eventually I got hold of myself.

But what if the photos were faked? What if someone was simply out to split us up? These days, anyone can generate any kind of image with the right software And Id crumbled so easily.

To my shock, the girl in the photo was real. The internet helped me find hershe had profiles on at least three social networks. Her name was Victoria and she agreed to meet right away.

Those are old pictures, she snorted as I showed her the photos and explained. Theyre over a year old now.

But the date? I stammered.

Oh, thats the easiest thing to fake if you really wanted to, Victoria looked at me with pity.

Was it you, then?

Good lord, why would I bother? Andrew and I broke up ages ago, and it only lasted a couple of monthsdidnt suit one another. Im getting married myself soon.

Really? Didnt see any mention of a fiancé on your page, I eyed her doubtfully.

Happiness loves silence, she said, unbothered. Dont want to jinx it But after the wedding, Ill post the photos, of course.

So someone really did slander Andrew, and I believed them without question, lashing out and hurting him. I had to fix this.

But Andrew didnt reply to my messages or calls. So two days later, I decided to drop by his place in the eveningsurely hed be home.

To my disbelief, I saw him stepping out of a car belonging to my old friend Kate.

Kate and I grew up on the same street, and were close once, but I found her bossy, assertive and loud, with a striking sense of stylehard to keep up with, really.

Later we only exchanged polite greetings. When my nan died last year, Kate suddenly started calling mebadgering me to sell the salon. The location is perfect for massage suites, she said. Kate already owned two, but my spot was prime real estate.

I knew exactly what went on in her places! Besides, I still needed my salon.

I had turned her down more than once, so maybe shed decided to get her revengeby stealing my fiancé?

As these thoughts whirled, the two said their tender goodbyes and Kate drove away.

See what I said? I warned you, Andrew isnt worth it, came Mr. Wilkinsons unexpectedly quiet voice behind me.

Oh! Good evening, Mr. Wilkinson, I blurted, embarrassed.

Hello! Andrew isnt missing you as much as you are him. Why not marry me instead? he joked, with a barely-hidden seriousness.

Sorry, I really have to go, now beet red, I hurried away.

Tracking down Kate was easy. When I got home, she was just parking her car.

So youre after my fiancé now? I demanded, looking her straight in the eye. The thing is, you slipped up with those photos! I know the truth.

What photos? Kate, genuinely puzzled.

Dont pretend you didnt send me those snaps of Andrew with another girl! What, the blackmail didnt work?

Are you feeling alright, Lucy? I didnt send you anything. Andrew himself started flirting with me last week. I thought you two split up?

I searched her faceshe seemed honest. I needed some peace at home to think.

And here I thought youd decided to sell the salon! she called after me, but I didnt even look back.

Back home, once Id caught my breath, I tried Andrew again. This time, shockingly, he answered.

Alright, come round, he replied indifferently when I asked if we could meet. Im a bit under the weather. Not feeling great right now.

I didnt need to be asked twice.

Andrew, I was wrong! Please, forgive me. I just love you so much and got jealous Everything seemed so convincing. Im so, so sorry.

Alright, he shrugged. It happens.

Youre wonderful! I threw myself into his arms. I love you so much!

But Andrew gently set me aside.

Lets just be friends.

What? But we were supposed to get married!

Lucy, he grimaced, Im marrying Kate.

How can you say that? You swore you loved me we were going to

No hysterics, please. Honestly, your over-sensitivity made me change my mind. I dont need all this emotional drama.

Besides, Kates business is more successful, and I have to look out for my own future.

I was speechless. Truly, I couldnt form a single word. What would I even say?

Andrew had simply used me, and now discarded me when something shinier came along.

I rushed from his flat, bolted down the stairs, but outside my legs failedI collapsed onto the bench and sobbed.

After five minutes, Mr. Wilkinson appeared and sat softly beside me.

My poor girl, he said gently, stroking my hair. Dont worry, better to find all this out now

But I just cant understand who set this all in motion! I suddenly wailed.

I did Mr. Wilkinson whispered.

You? Why? I stopped crying in shock.

I fell for you the very night you first came to our home, and I decided youd be my wife one day. But you never noticed meonly Andrew, Andrew. Why him?

But youre older than me, and anyway, I love Andrew or did

Well, there it is. I thought about making him look bad in your eyes, but then overheard him boasting to a friend about snagging a wealthy fiancée. Thats when I knew hed never let you go willingly. So I decided to do the opposite. I had my chance Thats all.

Dont you realise youve ruined my life?!

No. I saved you. Youd have suffered even more in the long run. Marry me, Lucy?

Youre mad! I leapt up and stormed home.

I left the city, but Mr. Wilkinson found me and kept trying to win me over. In the end, we became friends.

A year later, he passed away, leaving everything to me in his will, but I felt no joy. Id grown used to his company.

Andrew, for his part, was furious about losing the flat, but by then, I genuinely didnt care about that man at all.