Kiss of Vengence

On the wedding day, I exposed a video of my husband Samuel Riley cheating to the public.

My mother-in-law accused me of exposing family secrets and even tried to hit me.

In response, I turned and kissed my childhood friend passionately.

The next day, he came with a stack of property deeds to propose: "Pick one for our marital home."

1

I never had the habit of checking Samuel's phone. If it weren't for needing to transfer money for wedding candy boxes, I might never have discovered his affair.

"Sweetheart, meet me at our secret spot at 7 PM."

The message was from Annie, Samuel's boss, a socially powerful widow nearing forty.

At first, I thought she might have sent it to the wrong person. But when I opened their chat history, there were more messages like it.

Trembling, I clicked through the conversation, each line more shameless than the last.

"Don't be mad, my dear. Once we're married, I'll have her stay home with the kids, and her company will be ours."

"Sweetheart, I've already showered and smell nice, waiting for you~"

These were messages Samuel sent to Annie, who called him "Sweetheart."

"I love how you always listen to me."

"You did well last night; I'll reward you soon!"

Then another message popped up- a disturbing photo from Annie.

The woman in the photo was not gracefully aging but rather repulsive. She wore a black lace nightgown, her sagging belly nearly covering her thighs, holding a small whip, standing at the bathroom door.

Overwhelmed with nausea, I quickly closed the chat and ran to the bathroom to vomit.

Perhaps hearing the noise, Samuel rushed out from the kitchen: "Marie, are you okay?"

Seeing Samuel's concerned face made me feel even more nauseous. I wanted to ask if he was tired of pretending in front of me.

But now wasn't the time.

I couldn't ignore his interest in my company; I needed to uncover the truth.

I waved my hand dismissively: "It's nothing, probably just a stomach bug."

Samuel looked even more worried: "Tomorrow is our wedding day, you can't look so unwell. How about I make some soup to nourish you?"

Just then, Samuel's phone buzzed again.

He wiped his hands on his apron and checked the message.

Moments later, he returned to me with an apologetic look: "Marie, I have to work overtime, so I can't make you soup tonight. But don't worry, I'll make it up to you!"

He said, kissing my forehead.

I laughed coldly inside. Overtime? More like a rendezvous at a love hotel.

But outwardly, I maintained a gentle and understanding demeanor: "Go ahead, don't let work wait."

After Samuel left, I immediately messaged Ashley: "Come with me to catch a cheater."

2

I bought the surveillance footage from the receptionist for two thousand dollars.

I must say, today's pinhole cameras capture quite clearly.

"Even Samuel cheated. Are there any good men left in this world?" Ashley lamented while editing the video.

"There's no way to tell a good man. Only when you marry him can you know the answer."

I returned home at 2 AM, while Samuel came back at 4 AM, looking exhausted.

On the day of wedding, he hugged me and said, "Marie, I'm so lucky to marry you."

Soon, the makeup artist and the emcee arrived.

Ashley, who came along, gave me a thumbs-up.

The wedding ceremony began, and the emcee was about to play a vlog of Samuel and me.

Unexpectedly, the big screen showed last night's explicit footage of Samuel and Annie.

They were so engrossed in each other, oblivious to the world.

Annie's black lace nightgown was still hanging from Samuel's belt.

The guests murmured, and Samuel's image as a model husband was utterly shattered.

His parents looked furious, especially his mother, Skylar Riley, who glared at me as if she wanted to devour me.

Moments later, she ran onto the stage, grabbed the microphone, and shouted, "Marie, have you no shame? What man doesn't stray? How dare you expose my son's disgrace!"

I decided to stop pretending.

"Mrs. Riley, the true disgrace is cheating, and it's your son who's shameful."

Unexpectedly, Skylar sat on the ground, crying and cursing, claiming her son was fooled to marry an ungrateful woman who would take half of my company's assets.

I waved the USB drive in my hand, filled with evidence of her son's infidelity: "Skylar, your son is at fault. Besides, Samuel and I haven't registered our marriage, and my company is my premarital asset."

Just then, the heavy doors of the venue swung open, and a beam of light pierced the dim room.

Jason Harris, my childhood friend, had returned.

3

I lifted my skirt and dashed forward, wrapping my arms around his neck and kissing him for a full ten seconds.

During those ten seconds, I smelled a cheap perfume mixed with a greasy stench getting closer.

I didn't need to think to know it was Samuel's mother who was getting close.

As soon as I let go of Jason, I saw her panting heavily in front of me, raising her hand as if to slap me.

Jason quickly intercepted her, speaking calmly: "Madam, if I were you, I'd leave quietly."

She pointed at me in anger, calling me unfaithful and saying I was raised without proper guidance.

I raised an eyebrow, slowly opened my phone's recording, and played it in front of her.

Samuel's voice came through: "Baby, I swear, if you get pregnant first, my family will definitely agree to our marriage."

I sneered: "Skylar, it seems being raised with your guidance doesn't guarantee anything good."

I left her speechless. And she stomped her feet in frustration.

Jason silently took my hand, turned to Samuel, and said, "Samuel, I wish you and her a long and happy life. I'm taking my Marie away now."

With that, he pulled me towards the door.

Our fingers intertwined, a surge of warmth spreading through me.

I glanced at Jason, meeting his gaze, his intense eyes making my heart race.

"Long time no see, Jason, " I spoke first.

The last time I saw Jason was a year ago, and it didn't end well.

Jason, Ashley, Samuel, and I were close college friends.

Jason and I had known each other since childhood.

Samuel was just an unexpected intruder in my life, and somehow, I foolishly fell for him.

I had a crush on Samuel for four years in college but never had the courage to confess.

During college, I often vented my frustrations about my secret crush to Jason.

I intended to end this unrequited love on graduation day.

However, the night before graduation, Jason, in a drunken stupor, beat up Samuel.

When I confronted Jason, he, with two black eyes, said, "Marie, if you marry Samuel, remember to invite me to the main table."

Hearing this, my mind went blank with anger.

My secret crush of four years was laid bare.

I felt like a cornered animal, growing more aggrieved the more I thought about it.

I left without hesitation.

I even refused his invitation to the airport the next day.

I even refused when Ashely asked me to see Jason off at the airport the next day.

I actually regretted this decision a little.

But he didn't reach out to me, and I couldn't bring myself to contact him.

I thought our argument would blow over like before, and we'd reconcile after a few days.

But in the following year, I initially kept messaging Jason, but his responses were clearly perfunctory.

Eventually, I stopped reaching out.

Our friendship paused with my lack of initiative.