Chapter 25
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At the bachelor party, my fiancé Alexander Montgomery, who’s obsessively clean casually drank from Chloe
Laurent’s glass.
That’s when I knew-Alexander had fallen for his little junior, Chloe.
I watched them chat away, all cozy and shit, going from academic projects to life dreams and whatever the hell else. I didn’t lose my cool and just kept my composure.
But that night? Oh, that night I cornered his ass for a little heart-to-heart.
“It’s simple, Alex,” I said, my voice ice-cold. “Either you call off this engagement, or I make sure her academic career goes down in flames p>
The bastard vanished for an entire night.
He came back the next morning, looking hollow-eyed and pathetic.
“The wedding goes on as planned,” he mumbled.
But on our wedding day? When he saw me in that stunning white gown, looking absolutely fucking magnificent?
He froze. Just… stopped breathing for a second.
Then his voice echoed through the microphone for everyone to hear:
“The bride I wanted to marry… it’s not you. I’ve made a terrible mistake. I shouldn’t have let her go p>
Can you believe this piece of shit? He posted the goddamn divorce papers on his Instagram Story, making me the laughingstock of New York’s elite social circle.
And him? He ran straight to the airport in his tuxedo, kissing Chloe like some romantic hero. Their little makeout
session hit Twitter Trends within the hour.
But here’s the thing about choices-they come with consequences.
Ten minutes later, Montgomery Group’s stock plummeted te points on the NYSE.
If Alexander chose betrayal, then he shouldn’t blame me for dragging his ass straight into hell.
My phone screen was frozen on Alexander’s Instagram post
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You Traded Our Son for Her? Your ‘Hainy’ Ending Just Crashed Asshole!
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Just one line of text:
“This time, I choose love p>
The photo showed him in the designer suit I’d personally picked out, kissing Chloe at the airport like some goddamn romantic movie.
Our mutual friends were having a field day in the comments:
“Holy shit, Alex has balls! Where the hell is Eleanor supposed to show her face now p>
“Ditching his bride at the altar, then making out with his little junior at the airport? Poor Eleanor got played hard p>
“Alex has lost his damn mind. Throwing away both families reputation for some chick p>
I tore my eyes away from the screen and spotted our wedding rings sitting on the desk.
The inside of the bands still had our initials engraved-E&A.
Alexander had designed these rings himself. He’d added magnets to the outer bands, so when the two rings got close,
they’d snap together.
“Because of my severe OCD,” he’d said, “I might not always be able to be physically intimate with you. These rings are proof of my love. Deep down, I’ll never reject your touch I promise I’ll overcome this shit p>
I hadn’t pushed him. I’d been willing to respect his boundaries.
But then at that bachelor party, I watched him grab Chloe’s glass and take a sip like it was nothing. Not even a fucking flinch.
When she noticed me staring at the glass in his hand, Chloe turned to me with this innocent smile:
“Miss.Sterling, don’t read too much into it. Sometimes we’re in meetings for hours, and we all share water bottles. It’s just habit, you know? You don’t mind, right p>
Before I could answer, someone grabbed my arm.
“Come on, this little thing? Miss.Sterling wouldn’t even blink You’re seriously underestimating her p>
Miss.Sterling this, Miss.Sterling that. They kept calling me “Miss.Sterling,” subtly pushing me out of their little circle while putting me on this fucking pedestal. As if I cared, I’d just look like some jealous, untrusting bitch.
But how could I not mind?
That night when I brought it up to Alexander, he looked embarrassed as hell and apologized.
Said he’d be more careful next time.
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Now I realize those were all lies. He wanted the Sterling family’s support AND his little sweetheart.
What a fucking dream.
Evelyn knocked and entered.
“Ms. Sterling, Mr. Richard Montgomery is on line one. Should I put him through p>
I looked down at the flashing name on the phone.
“How much p>
“Seven points down. Nearly forty million in market value p>
Not enough. That money was nothing compared to the humiliation I’d suffered.
“Got it p>
My voice was ice-cold.
“Tell Mr. Montgomery that if he can’t control his son, someone else will do it for him p>
“Should I have PR handle the online situation p>
“No p>
I stared at Alexander’s lovesick expression in that photo.
“If he chose love, let everyone see if his choice was worth a damn p>
Evelyn left. I walked to the floor-to-ceiling windows.
The city lights were just coming on, outlining the cold, glittering skyline,
Evelyn must have spoken to Mr. Montgomery. He didn’t call back.
But I hadn’t expected him to go this hard.
Soon my phone buzzed again. This time it was Alexander.
The name I’d once pinned to the top of my contacts was flashing on the screen.
I didn’t answer. Let it ring its pathetic heart out until it went silent.
A few seconds later, a text popped up:
“Eleanor, you’re fucking shameless! Just ’cause I picked Chlo, you wanna come after me? Are you seriously this
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jealous and petty p>
Then another:
“I know I hurt you, but love can’t be forced. If you really loved me, shouldn’t you let me go? Why use these dirty tricks to make me cave? You’re so fucking disappointing p>
I paused, a small smile curling on my lips.
He could have been honest with me from the start. But for those sweet, sweet benefits, he didn’t.
Who was the one with severe OCD who’d wash his hands a dozen times after I touched him, but didn’t mind Chloe’s
saliva?
And who was the one who gently, firmly said the wedding would go on as planned, then publicly abandoned me at the altar, making me the laughingstock of New York?
He thought he could play his little triangle game, keeping both women on the hook.
He’d humiliated me in the most degrading way possible, nailing me to the cross of shame, making me the biggest joke in our social circle.
And now he had the balls to lecture me about letting go for love?
I texted Evelyn:
“Speed it up. We need to hit ten points down by tonight p>
She replied with a quick “Copy that p>
I swiped away from that airport photo and watched Montgomery Group’s market value evaporate bit by bit.
Mr. Montgomery wouldn’t let me down.
My phone lit up again. Still him. This time his tone was way softer:
“Eleanor, can we talk? This shit isn’t good for anyone. My parents are losing their minds. Give me one more chance, please p>
“You’re pissed because I embarrassed you today, right? I’ll make it up to you. You can punish me however you want, just leave my dad out of this. He didn’t do anything wrong p>
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Chapter 2
Joseph King
Joseph King is an editor and storyteller who ensures every chapter is clear, polished, and engaging for readers.