Troy’s face turned defensive. “I already told you, it’s just a one-night thing. Why are you making such a big deal out of it?”
“Because it’s not just a one-night thing,” I replied. “I found your texts, Troy. I know there’s more to this.”
He looked taken aback. “What are you talking about?”
“The texts from the unknown number. The ones about the plan. What plan, Troy? Who are you working with?”
Troy’s expression shifted from surprise to anger. “You went through my phone?”
“I had to,” I said, standing my ground. “Because you’re lying to me, and I deserve to know the truth.”
Troy sighed, running a hand through his hair. “Fine. You want the truth? The truth is, I’m desperate. I need this to work. I need to show everyone that I’m not a failure.”
“And you think lying to me and using my sister is the way to do that?” I asked, my voice shaking with disbelief.
“It’s not like that,” he said, his voice breaking. “I just… I don’t know how else to fix things.”
“By lying and manipulating the people you love?” I pressed. “That’s not a solution, Troy. That’s a recipe for disaster.”
Troy’s eyes filled with tears. “I know. I’m sorry. I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean for it to go this far.”
I took a deep breath, trying to find the right words. “We can fix this, but we need to do it together. No more lies, no more secrets. We need to be honest with each other.”
Troy nodded, his face a mix of guilt and determination. “I’ll call off the plan. I’ll tell the truth. I promise.”
“Thank you,” I said, feeling a weight lift from my shoulders. “We can get through this, but we have to be in this together.”
Just as I was about to leave the room, my phone buzzed with another message. It was from the same unknown number: “Too late. The plan is already in motion.”
My heart raced. What did they mean by "too late"?
Chapter 5: The Twist
The next day, I arrived at the reunion venue early, determined to stop the plan before it could go any further. I found Kelsey and Troy already there, both looking nervous.
“What’s going on?” I asked, my eyes darting between them.
Troy took a deep breath. “I tried to call it off, but they won’t listen. They said it’s too late.”
“Who won’t listen?” I demanded.
Before he could answer, a group of Troy’s old classmates approached. Among them was a woman I recognized from the vague texts—Troy’s former high school sweetheart, Emily.
“Troy!” she exclaimed, hugging him. “It’s been so long. And you brought Kelsey, just like you said. She looks beautiful.”
Kelsey’s face turned red, and she glanced at me, clearly uncomfortable. I stepped forward, determined to set the record straight.
“Actually, Emily, there’s something you need to know,” I said, my voice steady. “Kelsey isn’t Troy’s wife. I am.”
The room fell silent. Emily’s eyes widened in surprise. “What do you mean?”
Troy stepped in, his voice firm. “I’m sorry, Emily. I should have told you the truth a long time ago. I’m married to her, not Kelsey. I’ve been lying to everyone, and I need to make it right.”
Emily looked taken aback, but then her expression softened. “Why didn’t you just tell us? We’re your friends. We would have understood.”
Troy hung his head. “I was scared. I felt like a failure, and I thought lying would make things better. But it only made things worse.”
Emily placed a hand on his shoulder. “We all make mistakes. The important thing is that you’re here now, and you’re being honest.”
The tension in the room began to dissipate. Troy’s classmates, once judgmental, now offered their support and understanding. They even thanked me for my strength and honesty.
As the night went on, I realized that the truth, though painful, had brought us closer together. Troy and I had a long road ahead, but we were committed to rebuilding our trust and honesty.
Newlywed Shocked by Mother-in-Law’s Cruel Demand and Husband’s Betrayal
