The Marriage Deal

“What are you doing here, Abigail? Don't you know you have to knock at the door before coming in?” Liam, her boyfriend, was a fireball.

Her eyes were on stalks, unable to believe the scene running before her. Earth shook under the feet of Abigail when she discovered her cousin Zoey cheating on her with her boyfriend. 

Abby took a long wavered breath trying her best not to present herself shaken. “Until a moment ago, I thought I did not have to practice formality around you. But I was wrong.” 

“Psst! Shattered is what I would describe seeing the dilation in your eyes.” Zoey mocked pity. Liam immediately covered himself with the duvet and got up from the bed before throwing a jacket on Zoey to cover herself. Guilt was evident in his eyes.

“Abby, I love you. Please do not misunderstand me. I'm sorry that I hurt you. It's a mistake that accidentally happened, carried away by the moment.” Liam pleaded.

“What? Is this a mistake Liam? We have been sleeping together for the past six months, throwing dust in her eyes. You promised me that you will marry me and now you call it a mistake?” Zoey took over Liam about to blow the roof away with her anger before Abigail even had a chance to react.

So he had been cheating on her for the past six months. She was too stupid to trust him on everything. Abigail’s heart broke to several pieces with dismay after learning the news from Zoey. 

She learnt a new lesson on that day. The worst hits are from the person’s own kith and kin. Liam was still an outsider. But what happened to her blood relation? Abigail always saw Zoey like her own sister though the latter never had reciprocated it. Today's scene was a devastating eye opener for understanding the true color of Zoey. 

The tears which till then were locked in her eyes began a free flow like a river. “Do not pay heed to her nonsense. I'm yours and you are mine. She is just a pastime.” Liam requested taking a step forward to hold her hand.

But Abigail took two behind, still under the shock. She blinked her eyes twice…thrice to restrict her tears. There was no use of crying over spilt milk. Liam was not worth her tears. He is a taken man and she is not dying for a guy in her life. Abby gathered her last ounce of energy to speak though she was in a sea of sorrow. “A pastime? Love implies sacrifice, Liam. Just because I couldn't sleep with you in the last six months you wanted another woman. Though I am not as rich as you, I do not use second hand stuff. We are done.” She spat the words with venom while looking at Zoey giving her an indirect message about her self esteem.

Zoey could easily read her and stamped the door on her face, throwing a deaf ear to Liam’s pleas from behind.

***

“Where were you all this while?” William yells at Abigail once she returns home.