10
453words
Her eyes were desperate for confirmation.
I felt a strange sense of dazed. I'd looked at her exactly like this when I heard about Leo.
Now, the roles were reversed.
"Just made it official. Actually, thanks to your project. It put our company on the map."
Vivian looked like she'd been struck. She staggered.
Her lips trembled. "Impossible… You and her… how?"
"Anything else, Ms. Shaw? I need to get back."
I turned to leave. Vivian grabbed my arm, begging.
"Evan, please… don't do this. Don't be with someone else…"
"I worked so hard… to win you back… not to lose you to another woman!"
Her desperate pleas only reminded me of my past self. It disgusted me.
"Does effort guarantee results?" I asked coldly. "If it did, why did we end?"
"Vivian, stop fooling yourself. You don't love me. You just miss having a live-in servant."
"Like you said yourself – you'd never find another servant as good as me."
I shook her off. "Don't contact me again. Cancel the contract if you want."
I walked away.
Behind me, I heard her break into hysterical sobs.
Back in the banquet room, I'd barely sat down when Sophia stood up and addressed everyone.
"Evan, I like you. I've liked you since your first day."
"We're both single. Let's be together."
Her eyes locked on mine, full of hope.
Vivian's appearance must have spurred her on.
I smiled and nodded. "Okay."
Sophia exhaled, relieved. Colleagues cheered.
She moved fast. Newly official, she started planning the wedding.
I knew she feared Vivian might pull me back.
But that door was closed.
I just marveled. Someone who truly loves you wants to give you everything, not string you along.
Five years with Vivian, I was her dirty secret.
Meeting parents? Not an option.
Sophia? She wanted to shout our relationship from the rooftops.
We planned the wedding together.
Exhausting, but her smile never faded.
Vivian disappeared after that night.
We saw her again at the wedding. She sat with my mom at the head table, silently drinking.
When Sophia and I went to toast them, she stood, swaying slightly, glass raised.
"Evan. Sophia. Wishing you a lifetime of happiness. Many children."
I smiled. "Thank you."
Sophia echoed, "Thank you."
Vivian got blindingly drunk that night. Mom arranged her ride back to the hotel.
After the reception, Sophia straddled me. "You and Vivian… it's really over?"
"Of course."
"Prove it."
"We have marriage certificates. How else?"
Sophia crossed her arms, looking suddenly childlike. "Not good enough."
I flipped us over, pinning her beneath me.
"How about we start a family?"
"I… I haven't agreed yet!"
"Too late."
