Our Vows Were Fake, Theirs Were Real

Chapter 11

Timothy reached out to grab my hand, but I stepped sideways to avoid him.

"Evie, please don't be so cruel," he pleaded, his voice breaking. "You've been gone for over a month now, and I finally realized what I want. I love you, and I don't want to lose you. Please, give me another chance, just once."

His desperation was palpable, but I didn't feel a thing. No relief, no joy, just annoyance. I slammed the door shut in his face.

It felt like the roles between Timothy and me had completely reversed. Every morning, he'd show up with breakfast and wait for me at the door. At noon, he'd have takeout delivered to my office. When I finished work, he'd be there to drive me home. Before, Timothy had always complained that I was too clingy, that he needed freedom. Now that I'd given him space, he'd turned into the one chasing me, trying to impress me. But I always ignored him, walking right past him without so much as a glance.

Timothy didn't get angry. Instead, he'd silently follow me, lingering until I closed the door behind me. This strange dynamic didn't last long, though, before Mia showed up at my office.

In front of everyone, she stormed in, sweeping everything off my desk, then fell to her knees in a dramatic display, tears streaming down her face.

"Ms. Joe, did you convince Timothy to divorce me?" she sobbed. "I've been diagnosed with a terminal illness, and I don't have much time to live. Can you please leave us alone?"

She kept banging her forehead against the floor, reddening and swelling it in the process. My blood boiled. I rarely discussed my personal life with colleagues, but Mia's words painted me as the unforgivable villain, the one who'd torn apart her "happy family."

Furious, I grabbed my phone with shaking hands and dialed Timothy's number.

"Come and get your wife!" I snapped.

Then, I called the police. With everyone watching, including the officers, I displayed pictures on my phone, showing everything: my relationship with Timothy, the plans for our wedding, the grave digging incident with Mia, and how the police had handled it.

"Mia, stop playing the victim!" I shouted. "You stole my fiancé, made him leave me at the altar, and then you had the audacity to dig up my grandfather's grave. Now you're slandering me? I won't let you get away with it."

The crowd began murmuring, their opinions turning against Mia as they realized the truth. The police were about to take her away when she turned to Timothy, pleading with her eyes.

But Timothy just stared at her coldly.

"I told you not to hurt Evie again," he said, his voice low and firm. "You brought all this on yourself."

Mia's face crumpled, and she looked desperate as she turned to Timothy.

"It doesn't matter if you don't want a divorce," he continued. "I'll file for divorce tomorrow."

Mia's expression shifted into one of pure despair as the reality of her situation sank in.