The recording continued to play in Laura’s trembling hands, each word slicing deeper into her heart.
"Hector and Olivia together... it just seems right, doesn't it?" a colleague said, with a knowing look. "It's like they're picking up where they left off. They really are a perfect match."
The room in the recording erupted with laughter, the kind of easy camaraderie that left Laura feeling like an outsider in her own life.
Hector’s voice rang out next, firm and encouraging. “Everyone, put your heart into your research, just as Olivia has. I guarantee that when our robotics project launches, your contributions will be recognized—your names will be featured prominently. With my family's network, we'll attract top-tier investment. This is your opportunity to shape your future!”
Laura’s hand clutched her phone so tightly that her knuckles turned white. The bitterness in her chest swelled until it felt too large to contain. She let out a strangled laugh, bitter tears streaming down her face.
Her project—her sleepless nights, her meticulous work—had become a stepping stone for their careers. She had been discarded, her contributions erased like they were inconsequential. Was she so irrelevant that even her team had excluded her? Did they all know about Hector and Olivia?
The betrayal was suffocating.
Late that night, Hector returned home, reeking of alcohol. The sound of his footsteps echoed in the stillness of the villa as he stumbled through the front door. He flicked on the lights, pausing when he saw Laura curled up on the couch.
“Laura?” His tone softened, laced with concern as he staggered closer. “Why are you sitting here alone in the dark? Aren’t you cold?”
His voice, the false tenderness of it, was the last straw.
Laura’s lips parted, and her words spilled out, trembling with emotion. “Don’t pretend to care, Hector.” Her voice cracked, but she pressed on, the storm inside her finally breaking free. “Why did my paper become hers? Do you have any idea how much I sacrificed for that paper? Do you know it’s the last requirement for my Ph.D. application abroad? What right do you have to make decisions for me, to dictate my life?”
Her voice grew louder with each sentence, rising into a shout by the time she finished. Her chest heaved and her face was streaked with tears, her raw anguish laid bare.
Hector froze, visibly taken aback. This was a side of Laura he had never seen before. For the first time, an uneasy sense of guilt flickered in his expression.
“Laura,” he began cautiously, his tone low and placating. “Olivia has been in a bad place emotionally. The school counselor said she’s showing signs of early depression. The administration asked me to look after her mental health. She came to my office the other day, crying, begging me for help.”
Laura stared at him in disbelief, her arms crossed tightly as if trying to hold herself together.
“She’s about to hit her five-year mark at the school,” Hector continued, his voice growing defensive. “If she doesn’t get promoted to associate professor, she’ll lose her position. She was my classmate, Laura. I couldn’t just stand by and watch her career end.”
“And what about me?” Laura’s voice was sharp, trembling with rage. “What about my career? My future? Or do those mean nothing to you?”
“You’re exceptional,” Hector said, trying to placate her. “And still young. With your ability, I’m sure you can write another paper of the same quality in no time. Besides...”
He hesitated for a moment before continuing, his tone softening. “Munich is so far away. I can’t bear to let you go. We’re about to get married. Wouldn’t it be better for you to pursue your Ph.D. here, at our school?”
The room fell silent except for Laura’s ragged breathing. Hector’s voice, once comforting, now felt like nails scraping against her soul.
She didn’t respond. Her tears dried as the numbness set in. Her heart was a hollow shell, shattered beyond repair.
***
A week before their wedding, Hector threw an extravagant bachelor party. He spared no expense, personally overseeing every detail of the event as if to prove his commitment to their future.
Laura, however, felt like a puppet, her strings pulled by Hector’s meticulous plans. The party was suffocating, a gilded cage disguised as celebration.
“Laura, you look stunning today,” Hector whispered as he stood behind her in the dressing room.
His arms wrapped around her waist gently, as though she were made of glass. He gazed at her reflection in the mirror, his eyes trailing over her pale but ethereal beauty. Laura’s makeup was flawless, her gown draped elegantly over her figure, yet her eyes were lifeless.
Hector’s voice softened, carrying a note of hesitation. “You know I love you, right?”
