Justice Served By My True Love

, the ghostwriter of his success. I sacrificed everything for him, only to

from the ashes, fi

-year-old daughter, Mia, and a terrifying obsession ignited i

apped her, luring me to an abandone

u want to see our

carry our last child alone in a hospit

ur 'family' back together, in e

e one fata

to find out who

pte

life was a distorted echo of that belief, stretched thin across Ethan Richardson' s ambitions. I was his secret,

around like a shadow, always ready to lend an ear, offer a suggestion, or simply be there. They saw the public Ethan-the charismatic, brilliant founder of 'Innov

t see the

e believe that our secret was a testament to our unique, unbreakable bond, a sacred trust that set us apart from the shallow world of public display. He t

our success. I was the architect of his early campaigns, the ghostwriter of his eloquent speeches, the quiet force behind his meteor

ck with nostalgia and a hint of surprise,

ck dress and modest pearl earrings. I knew what she was looking for. The glow. The con

ee you," I said, my vo

hen quickly tried to recover. "I mean, still bea

was one word for it. Broken might ha

champagne from a passing tray. The bubbles tickled my n

piratorial whisper. "He's here, you know. Still single, I hear. You t

s. Still single. The irony wa

n, overhearing. "Billion-dollar company. Just bought that estate

owed it. Reclaim my man. They had no idea. He was

rance. The conversations died down, replace

rk, impeccably tailored suit that hugged his broad shoulders, his dark hair artfully disheveled. He was taller, broader, more refined

mile faltered. His eyes, once so familiar, now held a flicker of som

ike the Red Sea. My throat tightened. This wasn't how this was supposed to go. I h

hat sent shivers down my spine, not of pleasure, but

ng to my chest. "Don't," I warned, my voic

aw. His perfectly composed facade cracked, just for

ed to the floor, spraying golden liquid and crystal shards ever

young waitress stammered, frantica

acing the fleeting hurt. "Still so dramatic, Alize," he sneered, his voice barely

th clenched. I took a deliberate step back, putting distance between

his eyes dark pools of something unreadable. He seemed to shrink, just infinitesimally,

eading. "It's getting late. And it looks like it might rain." He gestured vagu

mind flashed to all the times he'd used similar flimsy pretexts to manip

robably sticking to me, was unappealing. But the thought o

" I said flatly

ll holding a grudge about the settlement? We can discuss it. I could still

e think a few paltry dollars could compensate for the pain of five forced abortions? For the countless nights I

ky, had splattered across the hem when the tray fell. A minor ann

nything that wasn't about him. I remembered the perfectly polished cars he used to drive-a different model ever

options now, remember?" I forced a smile, o

Alize," he said, his voice laced with a strange mixture of concer

ost childish voice tr

No, it couldn't be

e a sleek, form-fitting business dress in a vibrant sapphire blue, accentuating her figure. Her heels clicked confidently on the polished floor. She

om. "Who is that?" "Isn't that

ume, the high-pitched giggle, the way she moved with an almost deliberate grace. I rec

d in picking at it. My stomach was growling, a pathetic protest. I hadn't eaten pr

aggerated enthusiasm that grated on my nerves. She rushed forward, grabbing my arm.

r lips. "I didn't expect to see you here, Alize. I thought you'd...

m free from her grasp. "I did," I sa

nosy classmate, piped up,

g her closer. His smile returned, wide and radiant. "Everyone," he announce

cée. He was finally making it public. The woman he'd chosen over me, the woman he'd

and old acquaintances. My heart, which I thought had long since turned to stone, felt a fresh, agonizing crack. All my sacrifices, all

s. Everyone swarmed around Ethan and Jenna, offering their well wishes, their faces beaming. Jenna giggled, pressing herself agai

I are so thrilled. We're going to have a small, intimate wedding very soon, just family and

an's reflected glory. She spun tales of their whirlwind romance, their shared vision, their undeni

umphant smirk on her face. "You know, Alize," she said, her voice dropping to a theatrical whisper, but loud enough

e stain, my throat raw. The world seemed to t

ew my history with Ethan, or at least, the public version of it. The

d to be shy. It's a long time ago, right? And look at us now!" She gestur

n. "Oh, Jenna, don't be silly! Alize was always such

lder, then quickly retreated to Ethan's side. "Anyway, Alize, I'm sure you're thrilled for us." She

ter seven years of my life, my career, my body. After being hi

eyes locking onto Ethan's. His face was a mask of placid indifference, but I saw

tatement, aren't you?" I took a slow, deliberate sip of my champagne, savoring the bitter bubbles. My gaze swept across the bewildered faces of my form