Betrayal In White Roses

few years back. For seven years, I had poured my heart into our relationship, believing every promise he made. Tonight

reflected his success. Everything was perfect, from the white roses cascading from the ceiling to the string quartet playing

journey through our seven years together. My best friend, Olivia, gave me a knowing smile from her

st photo together, awkward and young. Laughter rippled through the room. It showed our trips, Chris

went black for

playing. It wasn't

on the screen, his face filled with a kind of tender joy I hadn't s

ightly, and my breat

ns, his assistant. She was smiling at him, a loving, intimate smile. And o

dentical

silence was deafening. My world tilted on its axis, the floor seemi

ng at the baby and Sarah watching him with adoration, before the scr

in the roo

ed at a staff table

derstanding! It's no

his hand on my arm. His

, his voice a low, urgent w

e stunned crowd and

and practiced. "Sarah is a single mother, a dedicated member of my team. I've

ghting me in front of two hundred people. The anger that rose in me was cold and sharp

, and I saw a stranger. I saw the casual way he dismiss

stage. I took the other microphone, my hand not even tremb

ear and even. "It seems there's been a happy surprise.

ne pale. I held up my left hand, th

nued, a small, humorless smile on my lips. "So genero

walked over to the table where our champagne glasses stood, ready for a toast that w

" I said, my voice echoing in the silen

age, away from him, leaving a room full of shat

steering me toward a side door. As we reached the h

s that, Chloe? Yo

said, my voice dangerously low. "A

ink!" he insisted. "S

celet you gave me for our anniversary? I saw it on her wrist last week. Y

, his eyes

he stammered. "You're foc

. A pattern of lies." I looked him stra

of the hall, her face streaked with

ople are saying terrible thin

ipulator, playing he

nger at me was replaced by a protective concern for

You're being cruel to

glance, putting his arm around Sar

way, leaving me standing alone in the empty hallway, the sound of thei

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