Seven Years of Love, All for Nothing

Chapter 3

News spread like wildfire, and #HeiressProposalRejectedandDumped shot to the top of local trending topics.

Olivia, ever the drama queen, bit her lip and faked a few sobs, playing the victim perfectly. That was enough for my father to storm in, eyes blazing with anger.

"How can you be so heartless, letting your cancer-stricken sister get cyberbullied like that? Go clear things up online. NOW!"

I couldn't help but let out a cold laugh and shake my head. I wasn't going to do it.

Furious, my father slapped me hard across the face.

This was the story of my life. Ever since Olivia came into the picture, I'd been pushed aside.

After her mother died, my father poured even more love onto Olivia, practically worshiping her.

Back in the day, Andrew would've fought beside me, taking my side, standing up to my father. But now? Even he had turned on me.

The insults rained down, but I just stared out the window at the rain, letting it wash over me.

It wasn't until Mrs. Johnson showed up that things finally took a turn. Behind her was Andrew, his face battered and bruised.

When he saw me glaring at him, he muttered with annoyance,

"You're just hiding behind my mom now, aren't you?"

Without hesitation, Mrs. Johnson slapped him across the face.

"Apologize to Rachel. NOW."

Andrew, looking more like a petulant child than the man I thought I knew, shot me a glare and mumbled an insincere "Sorry."

Mrs. Johnson, using her position as my mom's best friend, gave my father a verbal lashing he wouldn't soon forget.

Then she turned to me, her eyes softening. "Can we talk for a minute, sweetie?"

I sighed, leading her to my bedroom.

As soon as the door clicked shut, Mrs. Johnson's eyes filled with tears.

"I get it, honey. You've got your mother's strength—you don't look back once you've decided to walk away. That boy doesn't deserve you."

She paused, squeezing my hands gently.

"I can't ask you to forgive Andrew, but if you need anything, anything at all, I'm here for you."

After a beat, I nodded.

"Let Andrew go ahead and fulfill Olivia's ‘dying wish.'"

Mrs. Johnson blinked, surprised at first, but quickly forced a light smile.

"Fine. I don't believe that little fox can keep up the act forever. Andrew will regret this, mark my words."

We both chuckled softly, the mood lifting slightly as we tacitly agreed not to bring Andrew up again.

With the blessing of both families, Andrew dove into the wedding planning with all the enthusiasm of someone about to seal their fate.

He still wouldn't accept that we were done. Texts poured in daily, begging me to wait for him, claiming he'd come back to me once Olivia's "wish" was fulfilled.

I didn't respond. I wasn't going to feed his delusion of devotion.

Meanwhile, Olivia didn't miss a chance to rub it in. Photos of the custom wedding rings Andrew had flown abroad to order, the million-dollar dress, the lavish venue—all of it—showed up in my inbox, taunting me.

She even sent a picture of Andrew, looking utterly engrossed, trimming her toenails with such care.

"Andrew's really such a gentle, attentive man. No wonder you loved him so much, sis. You even went so far as to propose to him in a wedding dress!"

I couldn't believe it. All those times Andrew had said he wasn't ready for marriage? Just excuses.

When you truly love someone, you don't waste time making excuses. You want to marry them right away.

The grand wedding Andrew had promised me a thousand times—the one that should've been mine—had been handed off to Olivia without a second thought.

Since cutting ties with Andrew, I spent hours digging through the evidence of his betrayal.

After Olivia's mother had come into our lives, my mom had made sure I saved the security footage from our house.

Alone in front of the screen, I watched countless scenes of Olivia, shamelessly making her move on Andrew.