Laura's vision blurred, the weight of exhaustion and suppressed anger clouding her thoughts. She leaned back against the soft car seat, her hand gripping her phone tightly as it vibrated against her palm. The unexpected noise shattered the heavy silence, pulling her from the fog of her mind.
Her phone screen lit up with Olivia's name. Accompanying it was a file—a scanned pregnancy report. Beneath it, a series of messages began to flood in, each one more venomous than the last.
[He said you're obsessed with your research. You've bored him. After all this time, he's lost all interest.]
[He doesn't like using protection. He told me that if I got pregnant, I should just keep the baby. After all, he can afford it.]
[Laura, you're nothing. What's the point of holding onto the idea of being his fiancée?]
The words seared into Laura's mind like acid. For a moment, her grip on the phone faltered, her knuckles whitening as a flood of emotions—rage, disbelief, despair—threatened to consume her. Yet, as quickly as they came, she forced them back down.
She couldn't let Olivia win.
Laura inhaled deeply, letting the air fill her lungs before exhaling in a slow, measured breath. Her brows furrowed slightly, but she carefully composed herself, her lips curving into a faint, almost amused smile.
'Such blatant provocation,' she thought, her heart cold. 'Olivia must be growing desperate.'
"What's making you smile so happily, Laura?"
Hector's voice startled her, soft and brimming with faux concern as he drove the car. His sharp eyes scanned her expression, trying to decipher her mood.
Laura shook her head lightly, masking her emotions beneath a calm facade. "Oh, it's nothing. I completely forgot I promised to treat Amber to dinner. She's not too happy with me now."
Hector's body visibly relaxed at her explanation, his lips curling into a small, indulgent smile. His left hand reached out to take her hand gently in his.
"Will you be going now? Should I come with you?" His tone carried a touch of eagerness, though his eyes betrayed his impatience.
Laura tilted her head, her expression serene. "Of course, I have to go. Amber won't let me off the hook otherwise. You should focus on your work—no need to accompany me."
Feigning a pout, Hector's voice dropped to a lower register. "I'm getting seriously jealous of Amber. You always give her so much attention. I was hoping we could have a little time to ourselves tonight."
A soft chuckle escaped Laura's lips, her tone light. "There'll be time later."
"Exactly," Hector said with a boyish grin. "We're in this for life. I'll let Amber have this round."
Laura watched as Hector turned the car toward the café, his demeanor as easygoing and affectionate as ever. She smiled faintly, but her gaze was distant, her thoughts a whirlwind of bitterness and resolve.
When Hector finally dropped her off and sped away, Laura's mask slipped. Her calm demeanor shattered as she stepped into the café, her hands trembling as she ordered a coffee and found a quiet corner to sit in.
Half an hour later, her phone buzzed again.
[Did he ditch you again? Hector always said he couldn't bear to see me cry. He'd drop everything just to be with me.]
[Such a pity that the doctor said no sex during my first trimester. Hector spoiled me with the most beautiful lingerie. It's a shame no one's getting to appreciate it.]
[You know how he is... always so... insatiable. I bet he's absolutely miserable without... my touch.]
Laura stared at the messages, her fingers trembling as she captured screenshots of every word. She didn't reply, didn't dignify Olivia's taunts with a response. Her heart ached, not from the betrayal but from the clarity that came with it.
'So, this is the truth,' she thought bitterly. 'All this time, I thought restraint was love. But it was nothing more than a facade—a leash Hector used to keep me in check.'
Laura spent the afternoon in the café, sipping her coffee slowly as she watched the world move on around her. For the first time in a long while, she savored the peace of an ordinary day. No lies, no games, no exhausting charades.
But her phone buzzed again, this time with a notification that made her stomach drop.
It was an announcement from the university.
Her heart pounded as she read the headline: [Olivia Reynolds Promoted to Associate Professor Ahead of Schedule.]
Laura's breath hitched as she scrolled down. Her paper—the one she had poured months of meticulous research into—was listed under Olivia's name as part of her academic achievements.
Shock and fury surged through her like a tidal wave. Her hands shook violently as she dialed Hector's number. The line rang once, twice, then clicked to voicemail. She tried again, but each attempt ended with the same cold, automated tone.
Frustration clawed at her chest, her vision blurring as she stumbled out of the café, her legs carrying her toward the villa in a daze.
When she arrived, another message from Olivia awaited her.
This time, it was a photo.
The image showed a lively research group dinner, the students gathered around Hector and Olivia. Hector had his arm casually draped over Olivia's shoulder, the two looking disturbingly intimate, their smiles bright under the banner that hung above them.
[Happy Birthday to Our Beloved Professor Olivia from the Computer Science Department.]
Tears burned at the corners of Laura's eyes as she stared at the picture. Then came a voice recording.
Hector's voice rang out clearly, smooth and warm as he praised Olivia's paper. "It's brilliant work. The reviewers were incredibly impressed. It's no wonder they're calling it groundbreaking."
For a moment, Laura stood there, frozen, her chest heaving with a storm of emotions she could no longer contain. Tears fell silently as her fists clenched at her sides. In that moment, standing alone in the quiet villa, she knew one thing for certain: there was no turning back now.
