My Best Friend and My Husband Insisted on Getting Married

r bag to grab a tissue, only to accidentally pu

earing it?" The nosy culprit, oblivious to th

d a friend who designed jewelry to custom-make it, which me

M" engraved prominently, representing

someone chimed in, and a small crowd quickly gathere

the necklace la

hen casually lifted the pendant,

ie, and joined in with the others, praising. "Did some guy give this to you? He'

oot as she pushed past the people in front of her. She roughly snatched

tossed the tissue at the person. She was probabl

flushed bright red. All kinds of emotions, including frustrati

at the time, but my ga

ouldn't even maintain her composure.

, we'd chat online almost daily, venting about coworkers, bosses, o

etween her and Winston. But when my message never came, she must've started to panic. She knew that Winston Ford, my husb

ng. She must be wondering how I could remain so compo

om the video recording couldn't hide the dark c

Winston's shoulder, sobbing as she spoke

was a gift from him, so she ador

t off. It wasn't until she saw me at the restaurant entrance

at someone would dig through

ou knew we were best friends. Why did you have to come after me? Of all the women in the world, why did it have to be me, y

lament and watching her pitiful sobbing, I felt a

licker of guilt in her eyes. After

e since our un

was covered by student loans, and she had to r

thy either, but I was

frugal, so whenever we ate together, I made sure she had enough,

toiletries because

to lend her half of my living expenses for the year. After that, the two o

the same city to work, supporting

iers together. From job hunting to falling in love, getting married, and ha

that one day she'd stab me in the bac

t Winston was the one who started it. He

possible because Zoe ha

sted, Winston wouldn't have dared to make a mov

she had betrayed our sisterhood, but what was the p

rs in her eyes, whispering, "This is so wrong...I've betrayed my best fri

ed her. "That's it? I thought it was something serious. Relax, I didn't tell my wife it was custom-made. She doesn'

e asked, hal

he first person she'd come after would be me, right? But look at me, I'm perfec

e seemed to eas

e. A few days later, I called Zoe

d at her quietly for a long time without saying a word.

ing, smiling as I brought up

irst day of orientation, I tol

ven sit up. I was noisy, chatty, always trying to talk. So they gave me the name Zoe, hoping I'd gro

g, we hit it off so well. We did everything as a pair. The others used to joke,

ving together wouldn't be so

ments from the past, laughing so much that Zoe

ly, my eyes

nuine person, someone I could be great friends with. And time proved me right. Back then, even though I helped you a lot, you gave me emotional support in retur

a sharp blade of judgment, cutting deep into

and tears welled

bracelet was a custom piece, and I

tween Winston and me didn't start yesterday. I don't think it's entirely one person's fault. Nor do

n wondering how I should handle this situation without losing even more. Both marriage and friendship are incredibly precious to me. If one

rs and a pained smile tugging at my lips. "Can I still believe in

down her face. "I... I'm sorry. It's all m

k to you today. That's all I wanted to say. I'll lea

at she didn't want to

focused on material things, finding some

ess. She remembered every single th

ldn't resist Wi

d had grown cold. Sometimes, they'd go days without saying more than a few words to each ot

f sadness and disappointment in her m

man exuding masculinity, someone who could make her heart flutte

st have struggled and suffered when it all began. But how many women trapped

ied he

ving Zoe standing alone in the biting

ver expected that even at this moment, I would sti

d awaken now, if she could cut ti

ealized she couldn't bring herself to give up th

e my words, our relationship could

nce that fateful reunion where I saw the bracelet,

er a lighthearted meme, just like I used to, as i

uch a simple message wo

t the evening, I didn't give Zoe any reason to feel awkward. It was as if nothing u

Zoe, I need your help with something

, agreed without hesitation, "Of cour

n a senior living project. With the bidding process approac

and secretly hint at their lowest acceptable bid, I'd have a guara

eaking bid information was against the rules. If a compe

o pull this off. But to make up for her betrayal, I knew she wo

During the meal, she seemed hesitant to speak. I knew she wanted to ask if

hing, I spoke first, "Zoe