I Married My Husband’s Rival

The day I received the invitation to the centennial reunion, I ran into Travis Jordan, my first love. After delivering his speech as the alumni representative, he took everyone by surprise by pulling out a diamond ring.

"You once said you'd make me a wedding ring from thorny roses. Now it's my turn to propose.

"Lucia, will you marry me?"

The auditorium went wild. Everyone expected me to tearfully nod in agreement. After all, back then I had pursued him so eagerly, it shocked the entire campus.

But everyone seemed to have forgotten.

My graduation project was accused of copying Sarahi Medina's work. Travis Jordan knew the truth but branded me as the plagiarist. At the press conference, as the brand ambassador, he announced the severance of our collaboration and led an industry-wide boycott against me.

On the day my reputation was shattered, I left town.

Now, as I return, his friends urge me:

"Travis has waited for you all these years, despite how you embarrassed him back then. You're still the one in his heart. He even stormed the dean's office to get your diploma. Lucia, he really loves you."

...

"Stop checking your phone and give me a response!"

Noticing that I was ignoring his words, Cade Moore looked annoyed. Calmly setting down my phone, I faced him with indifference.

"Travis may come from a wealthy background, but he hates it when people cozy up to him because of his status. Even though his father is on the board, he’s never used that to gain favor. Yet, he went to great lengths with the dean for your diploma, nearly getting in serious trouble for it!"

"Lucia Rivera, do you even have a heart? Don’t you feel anything?"

Cade rattled off the past events like my lack of emotion was some sort of crime. I surveyed the room, slightly furrowing my brow.

The curious alumni watching the scene quickly averted their eyes, pretending not to notice, though they were clearly eavesdropping.

The plagiarism scandal years ago caused quite the stir. Even now, seven years later, I can still recognize disdain and judgment on their faces.

Today is no different. I was simply heading backstage to get ready for the reunion when Cade intercepted me to relay this barrage of words.

I couldn't discern whether he acted out of loyalty to his friend, resented my abrupt departure seven years ago, or was simply sent to pass on the message upon hearing I’d be here.

But for me, none of it mattered anymore.

I sighed. "What am I supposed to feel? It's all ancient history."

Perhaps my response wasn’t what Cade had expected. His brow furrowed, looking at me with bewilderment.

I understood his confusion. After all, during my freshman year, I had pursued Travis Jordan for three unforgettable months, astounding the entire campus.

Upon discovering Travis's passion for astronomy at the observatory, I went to great lengths to find meteorite fragments and crafted a star necklace for him.

Just to spend more time with him, I risked getting into trouble for missing curfew, devoting three months to late-night law library visits to bump into him during his study sessions.

On stormy nights, when I heard he had a fever, I braved the weather to bring him medicine, resulting in a fractured right hand.

When he asked about it, I just smiled and said it was an experiment for testing pressure resistance.

Travis knew why I truly got injured, listening quietly to my fib.

The day of my fracture was the day he agreed to be my boyfriend.

Once we were together, he gifted me a crescent moon bracelet, saying we were a perfect match.

To save me from having to concoct reasons to see him during late-night study sessions, he quit the habit.

And to ensure I could have my favorite pulled pork despite my injury, the young heir who hated the dining hall endured the greasy lines to get me food.

These small gestures buried themselves deep in my heart, growing into an overwhelming love.

I thought it would flourish.

But Sarahi Medina's arrival turned it all upside down.

Initially, Travis assured me that Sarahi was merely someone his father arranged as a business partner, not his chosen companion. His heart was with me.

As the sole heir of the Jordan family, he claimed he could reject what he detested, urging me not to worry.

I believed him.

And so, I never saw Sarahi as a threat.

But then, I noticed he was constantly late for our dates, forgot our anniversaries.

When he took on more responsibilities at the Jordan enterprise, he frequently attended events with Sarahi, ignoring the scandalous news stories.

When I objected, he seemed to make adjustments.

But later, I saw news coverage of him behind the scenes at a jewelry exhibition, adjusting Sarahi's pearl earrings.

On Valentine's Day, he promised he'd make it up to me, but a sudden meeting left me in the lurch.

I waited until closing time at the revolving restaurant only to see Sarahi's social media post—a photo from first class.

She and Travis were seated closely, smiling at the camera.

Reading the flood of congratulatory comments below, I lost all nerve to confront him.

The next day, Travis brought my favorite spiced honey cake to the design department to see me.

Noticing my swollen eyes, he showed no empathy but instead impatiently tossed the box on the ground.

"Lucia Rivera, how many times have I told you? You're the one I care about. Sarahi and I are merely compatible partners. Do you need to cry constantly?"

"Do you have any idea how suffocating it is when you’re like this?"

Tears welled up as I lowered my gaze and asked, "I never even mentioned why I was crying. Are you admitting that you’ve grown close to Sarahi?"

Travis hesitated, frowned, and stared at me.

"You’re simply being irrational!"