I prepared a birthday surprise for my boyfriend of six years, but he gave me an even bigger surprise...
I prepared a birthday surprise for my boyfriend of six years, but he gave me an even bigger surprise...
For the birthday surprise of Santino Robinson, I reached out to many friends in advance.
We decorated the house beautifully, and then my friends and I hid in a corner, waiting to jump out and surprise him when he returned.
The door opened, and it was Santino.
But he had his arm around a well-built woman, and a friend who couldn't see what was going on rushed up to set off a salute and turned on the lights.
Colorful streamers gently floated down onto them.
The woman hurriedly covered her revealing outfit.
The sudden brightness made it hard for me to open my eyes, as if everything was a surreal dream.
I saw a flash of panic and bewilderment on Santino's face.
My friends looked at me, seemingly waiting for my reaction.
But I felt a wave of dizziness, and then everything went dark. I fainted.
When I opened my eyes again, my friend Betty Larson was by my side.
"You're awake? The doctor said you fainted because of low blood sugar from not eating all day." she said, handing me a glass of water.
I stayed silent.
I hadn't eaten properly all day while preparing for the party, so it was no wonder I had low blood sugar.
"Leanna..." Betty seemed to have something to say.
I closed my eyes, and all I could see was the scene of Santino cheating on me today.
We've been together for six years, and I've always been the one chasing after him.
I catered to his likes and habits.
He enjoyed spicy food, so I ate it too, even when it left my lips swollen. I silently consumed the dishes he offered.
The family has run out of box after box of stomach pills.
Friends often advised me, "Leanna, why do you humble yourself so much?"
I would smile faintly, thinking that perhaps this was love.
One man's treasure is another man's trash.
I should be angry.
I really should.
When Santino came to the hospital to see me, I was surprised.
Betty, beside me, glared at him, "You have the nerve to show up?"
He said nothing, just looked at me silently.
"Are you okay?" he asked.
I nodded.
Santino hesitated and said, "Let's break up."
I had imagined how I would feel if I broke up with Santino, maybe hysterical, overwhelmed with pain like before.
But when it actually happened, I was unexpectedly calm.
I watched the medicine liquid from the bottle trickle down, drop by drop, and then softly said, "Good."
I returned to the home Santino and I shared and took my belongings.
The confetti scattered on the floor reminded me of the absurd events that had just occurred.
Even Betty asked why I was so unusually calm.
I said, "Betty, I don't love him anymore."
I really don't love him anymore.
Six years is incredibly precious to any girl, and during my time with Santino, the constant compromise suffocated me.
Yet, whenever I saw him, I couldn't help but accommodate him, to make him happy.
It was worth all the aggravation I suffered to please him.
Those who are loved have nothing to fear.
Even with my wholehearted devotion, our six-year relationship had its cracks.
Three years ago, I discovered on his phone that he had rekindled his romance with his first love.
For the first time, I lost control and questioned him about his betrayal.
Santino looked at me silently, then sighed deeply, "I'm really sorry."
He said, "Leanna, I love her more."
I no longer want to recall those suffocating memories.
That time was so hard, I pretended to be generous to break up, and then humbled myself like a defeated dog praying for Santino to come back.
I sent countless messages and made numerous calls, but in the end, the cold mechanical voice and the glaring red exclamation mark reminded me that Santino had blocked me.
People say breakups can make you lose weight, and I used to not believe it.
I thought that even after a breakup, one should maintain dignity and respect, and that basic needs like meals wouldn't be neglected.
But I was wrong. I lost both dignity and respect, and meals were completely forgotten.
I found Santino's first love's account on social media.
Her name is Aylin Morley.
In her previous life, Kimberly endured the betrayal of her husband, the cruel machinations of an evil woman, and the endless tyranny of her in-laws. It culminated in the bankruptcy of her family, and ultimately, her death. After being reborn, she resolved to seek retribution against those who had wronged her, and ensure her family's prosperity. To her shock, the most unattainable man from her past suddenly set his sights on her. "You may have overlooked me before, but I shall capture your heart this time around."
She was a world-renowned divine doctor, the CEO of a publicly traded company, the most formidable female mercenary, and a top-tier tech genius. Marissa, a titan with a plethora of secret identities, had hidden her true stature to marry a seemingly impoverished young man. However, on the eve of their wedding, her fiance, who was actually the lost heir to a wealthy dynasty, called off the engagement and subjected her to degradation and mockery. Upon the revelation of her concealed identities, her ex-fiance was left stunned and desperately pleaded for her forgiveness. Standing protectively before Marissa, an incredibly influential and fearsome magnate declared, "This is my wife. Who would dare try to claim her?"
Kallie, a mute who had been ignored by her husband for five years since their wedding, also suffered the loss of her pregnancy due to her cruel mother-in-law. After the divorce, she learned that her ex-husband had quickly gotten engaged to the woman he truly loved. Holding her slightly rounded belly, she realized that he had never really cared for her. Determined, she left him behind, treating him as a stranger. Yet, after she left, he scoured the globe in search of her. When their paths crossed once more, Kallie had already found new happiness. For the first time, he pleaded humbly, "Please don't leave me..." But Kallie's response was firm and dismissive, cutting through any lingering ties. "Get lost!"
Winter Josh is a kind and warmhearted girl who had engaged to Etan Lloyd when she was a child. However, her step-sister, who was jealous of her position, appearance, and personality, wanted to take her place to marry Etan Lloyd when she met the handsome and powerful man. And so that’s what she did. Unexpectedly, Etan Lloyd, who used to be an arrogant, proud, and heartless CEO, was seriously crippled in a car accident and left wheelchair-bound. This made Winter Josh’s stepsister lose her mind,she immediately broke the engagement and forced Winter Josh to marry the disabled CEO instead of her. Winter Josh had no choice but to obey, and she determined to cure her husband as possible as she can. But to her surprise, her husband, who had been confined to a wheelchair for a long time, was never crippled! Instead, he is even healthier, stronger, and more powerful than before. Since then a new love story begins...
For three quiet, patient years, Christina kept house, only to be coldly discarded by the man she once trusted. Instead, he paraded a new lover, making her the punchline of every town joke. Liberated, she honed her long-ignored gifts, astonishing the town with triumph after gleaming triumph. Upon discovering she'd been a treasure all along, her ex-husband's regret drove him to pursue her. "Honey, let's get back together!" With a cold smirk, Christina spat, "Fuck off." A silken-suited mogul slipped an arm around her waist. "She's married to me now. Guards, get him the hell out of here!"
I was four months pregnant, a photographer excited for our future, attending a sophisticated baby brunch. Then I saw him, my husband Michael, with another woman, and a newborn introduced as "his son." My world shattered as a torrent of betrayal washed over me, magnified by Michael's dismissive claim I was "just being emotional." His mistress, Serena, taunted me, revealing Michael had discussed my pregnancy complications with her, then slapped me, causing a terrifying cramp. Michael sided with her, publicly shaming me, demanding I leave "their" party, as a society blog already paraded them as a "picture-perfect family." He fully expected me to return, to accept his double life, telling his friends I was "dramatic" but would "always come back." The audacity, the calculated cruelty of his deception, and Serena's chilling malice, fueled a cold, hard rage I barely recognized. How could I have been so blind, so trusting of the man who gaslighted me for months while building a second family? But on the plush carpet of that lawyer's office, as he turned his back on me, a new, unbreakable resolve solidified. They thought I was broken, disposable, easily manipulated – a "reasonable" wife who would accept a sham separation. They had no idea my calm acceptance was not surrender; it was strategy, a quiet promise to dismantle everything he held dear. I would not be handled; I would not understand; I would end this, and make sure their perfect family charade crumbled into dust.
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