After her boyfriend’s hasty proposal, Roxanne Holbrook secretly compiled clips from her home surveillance camera, planning to turn them into a sweet engagement vlog.
She never expected to uncover the truth instead.
“You’re really keeping it zipped even after the wedding? Man, you’ve got a drop-dead gorgeous woman like Roxanne in your bed and you haven’t laid a finger on her? Damn, that’s some next-level discipline—I gotta respect that.”
Roxanne’s hand froze on the mouse as one of Vincent’s buddies laughed on the recording.
Vincent’s voice drifted in, smooth and unbothered. “I made a promise to Courtney. She told me not to touch Roxanne. So I did.”
His voice was as soft and tender as ever, but the words hit Roxanne like a punch to the gut.
In over seven years of dating, Vincent Strauss had always been... reserved. No boundaries crossed, no heat—barely any kisses, unless she initiated it. She’d thought he was just being respectful. Turns out, he was saving himself for someone else.
The video continued with a chorus of chuckles from the guys.
“You know, I think Roxanne should thank Courtney. If she hadn’t demanded you get married in two weeks, there’s no way you’d have proposed this fast.”
“The power of true love, man. I told you it’s a real thing. See? Vincent’s sacrificing his life to get rid of Courtney’s love rival.”
Vincent didn’t even try to fight back. If anything, there was a flicker of helplessness in his eyes as he said, “I’d do anything if it meant making Courtney happy.”
And then he said the one thing that shattered her completely.
“I’ve come to terms with the fact that I won’t end up with Courtney in this life. But Roxanne... she kind of looks like her. That’s enough to soothe the ache.”
Another guy chimed in with a laugh, “Just make sure Roxanne never finds out you staged that whole knight-in-shining-armor act.”
“Man, she was just supposed to get a scare that night. Who knew Courtney would call right when it started? Vincent answering that call gave those punks too much time. The whole thing almost got out of hand.”
“And then when her dad tried to press charges, you swooped in and hired a top-tier lawyer for those bastards. If it wasn’t for you, they’d still be rotting in jail.”
Vincent frowned slightly. “Let’s never bring that up again. You don’t talk, I don’t talk—she’ll never know.”
The others agreed quickly, throwing out half-assed promises to stay silent.
Roxanne bit down hard on her lip, tears stinging her eyes but refusing to fall.
Seven years ago, she’d confessed to her longtime crush and been cruelly rejected.
Heartbroken, she’d gone out drinking. Alone.
A group of lowlifes spotted her by herself and dragged her into a dark alley. She’d fought back with everything she had, but that only made things worse. They hit her. Ripped at her clothes. Hands—disgusting, dirty hands—roamed all over her body.
Her screams and pleas got swallowed by the night, no one came.
Until Vincent showed up. He’d fought them off and taken her home. He was her hero.
Or so she thought.
Now she knew—he had orchestrated the entire nightmare.
If she hadn’t randomly decided to check those camera recordings, she would’ve lived her whole life believing that lie.
Her fingers clenched into fists. Then she laughed bitterly.
The man who had promised to make her attackers pay had also secretly worked to set them free. He probably felt real smug watching her fall deeper and deeper, believing she’d found the love of her life.
A love that was nothing more than a carefully crafted trap.
His tenderness, his protectiveness… How much of it was ever real?
Once the seed of doubt takes root, the entire foundation crumbles.
Everything she once thought was beautiful was now laced with poison.
The contrast between her memories and the ugly truth playing out on screen nearly drove her mad.
She shut her eyes and took a deep breath.
Their whole relationship had been a mistake. There was never going to be a happy ending.
At least she still had time to walk away.
But not before giving him a taste of his own betrayal.
She wouldn’t call him out. Not yet.
You don’t betray someone like that and walk away clean.
Ten days from now, on their wedding day—the one she would never show up to—she’d give him her final gift.
Her silence.
And her revenge.
