Lily’s Pov

Immediately Nadine saw them standing by the door. She ran toward them and clutched Jacob’s hands.

“She hurt baby Angel!” she cried, “I just brought her soup to cheer her up and she threw it away.”

“You wanted to poison me. You know I’m allergic to seafood!” I snapped.

“I swear I had no idea, Jacob,” Nadine said and started sobbing pitifully again.

I scoffed, the fact they fell for her fake tears was pathetic.

Jacob and Peter marched toward me like soldiers defending their queen’s honor.

“How could you be so vicious, huh?” Peter sneered at me.

“A night in jail hasn't done much to reform you, huh? Do you want more punishment?” Jacob snarled.

I stared at them blankly, “What more do you want to do, huh? You've done everything you could ever possibly do to hurt me.”

Jacob’s eyes softened for a bit before the baby’s cries sounded again and they hardened.

“I’ll let you off the hook just this time!” he snapped as he left with Nadine and the baby.

“Let me off the hook?” I scoffed, laughing like a crazy person, “Do you even know what I've been going through all these days? Do you even know that I lost —”

“We need to take Angel to the doctor,” Nadine's teary voice interrupted me.

And just like that she managed to silence me once again as the boys rallied around her and left with the baby while she gave me a smug smirk before leaving.

I stayed in the hospital for a few more hours and they didn't return.

When the doctor discharged me he gave me a strict warning.

“If you don't rest, you will die and I’m not joking here,” he said.

I nodded, “I understand, doctor.”

When I got back to the apartment they weren't back yet. I went into the room I had shared with Jacob for four years and I brought out a big box.

I carried the box outside and I lit a fire in the big metal drum in the courtyard. Then I opened the box and was assaulted with years of memories.

Inside the box was filled with wedding pictures, gifts Jacob and Peter had gifted me over the years whenever I celebrated my wedding anniversary.

As I tossed them into the flame it felt like I was liberating a piece of myself. How naive I was—to love two people who hated me this cruelly.

Every piece of paper, jewelry, picture, dress, everything I burnt had a story behind it but I realized it wasn't a true story, everything was just a reminder that I had been lied to over the years.

As I picked up the last item in the box I stared at it a bit longer. It was a friendship bracelet that I made with the boys six years ago.

“I promise to never ever let anyone hurt you. I'll die before I let someone lay a finger on you,” Peter had promised.

“You already know I love you, Lily. I'll love you forever and never let anyone hurt you,” Jacob had promised, kissing me.

Now as I held the bracelets and their voices sounded in my mind I smiled bitterly and tossed it into the flames.

That was the exact moment the boys arrived and saw the bracelet. They ran toward me.

“Have you lost your mind? That's our friendship bracelet!” Peter snapped as he tried to retrieve it but ended up getting burned.

“Why are you burning up our things and throwing a tantrum, Lily?” Jacob asked.

I scoffed, “They’re old and need to be discarded. They don't matter again.”

Then I walked away and went upstairs ignoring them.

As I entered my bedroom my phone rang. It was my mom.

I picked up the call immediately and her worried voice sounded through the phone.

“What happened, Lily? Where have you been? I've been worried sick!”

I chuckled softly, feeling lighter now that I've erased all memories I had with the boys.

“I’m sorry, Mom, I didn't mean to worry you but I assure you, I’m fine,” I said.

My mom sighed, relieved to hear my voice.

“Your father is still a bit upset with you because you ran off fifteen years ago and didn't come or call home.”

I always knew my dad was the difficult one.

“I’ll make it up to him when I’m back,” I said.

My mom giggled cheerfully, “He’s happy that you've finally agreed to the wedding though. The reason I was calling was because I wanted you to pick out your wedding dress. I sent a couple of pictures.”

“Mom, don't worry. I'll come back soon so we can go shopping for wedding dresses instead, how does that sound?” I asked.

She chuckled happily, “Oh that sounds wonderful, Lily. I'll be waiting.”

“Alright then, Mom, I’ll be back in time for the wedding dress shopping,” I said and hung up.

Just then the door was pushed open and the two boys stood before me, their eyes wide with horror.

“Wedding? What wedding?” Jacob asked.

Lily’s Pov

The boys stared at me, folding their arms across their chests.

“What do you want?” I asked, rolling my eyes.

“Who were you talking to and what wedding dress shopping?” Jacob queried.

“My wedding and you both aren't invited,” I answered nonchalantly.

The boys stared at each other and then burst into laughter.

“Oh stop, Lily, you're already married to Jacob,” Peter said.

“Yes, babe, if you're doing this to get my attention then don't bother,” Jacob added.

I stared at them, and I should have felt insulted by their audacity in assuming that I was married to him and wouldn’t marry anyone, but I kept calm.

“I was talking to my friend about her wedding,” I said instead.

Peter frowned, “You don't have any friends besides Nadine.”

I glared at him, “I have a lot of friends.”

Jacob sighed, “So about earlier, we’re sorry we've not been paying you any attention. It’s just with Nadine and the baby, everything is so sudden —”

“How did Nadine become pregnant and I didn't know? Who owns her pregnancy?” I asked, interrupting him.

I wanted to know what lie he would tell just to keep his secret.

Jacob exchanged a nervous glance with Peter and Peter spoke up immediately.

“The baby is mine!”

Jacob agreed immediately and nodded as I raised an eyebrow.

“Yes, is Peters’. We just didn't know how to tell you ‘cause Peter and Nadine hooked up once and then she got pregnant and you know, she’s your best friend and all,” Jacob rambled on.

“Yeah,” Peter nodded.

I stared at them half-amused. They must think that I’m such an idiot and I haven't figured out the truth yet.

“Listen, maybe I've been a bit harsh on you, especially with the immigration thing. It’s just you've been making things hard for us too,” Jacob said.

“Also what did you go to do at the immigration?” Peter asked.

“I was trying to get my passport, I lost mine,” I lied smoothly.

They nodded and Jacob started speaking again.

“So uh… how about we take you to lunch tomorrow afternoon. It’d be like old times just the three of us,” Jacob said.

I frowned, “What about Nadine and the baby?”

“It’s just one afternoon I’m sure they'll be fine,” Jacob said.

I nodded, “Alright, that's fine.”

They squealed excitedly as they hugged me even though it made my skin crawl.

When they left I locked the door and grabbed my suitcase and started shoving the rest of my things inside it.

When I was done, I hid it under the bed and I brought out the tickets my mom had sent along with my passport which I had grabbed from the mailbox earlier.

My flight was at noon the same time I was supposed to be at lunch with the boys. Imagine their surprise when they wait and I never arrive.

Filled with excitement for my trip tomorrow, I decided to get an early sleep and rest my aching body.

—

By morning, the boys were knocking furiously on my door. I opened it and was instantly blinded by a slap that sent me reeling to the floor.

I saw stars as I saw Jacob standing over me, his eyes bloodshot with anger.

“W…what is going on?” I managed to croak out.

“What did you do to my baby? Something is wrong and she's not breathing properly, you vile creature!” Jacob yelled at me.

“I… I didn't do anything, I've been sleeping —”

Nadine's loud sobs interrupted me as she ran toward me and knelt.

“If you were upset why didn't you hurt me instead, huh? Why offer to feed my baby last night and poison her?” Nadine cried.

I was stunned, “Poison? Feed? I haven't even left —”

“And to think we were trying to be nice to you. Witch!” Peter spat on me, interrupting me.

“If anything happens to Angel, I will make sure you beg for death, Lily!” Jacob swore.

I watched with swollen eyes as they all left in a hurry. I slowly stood up from the floor, my ribs aching in pain.

Wincing slightly I stared at the calendar and a bitter smile crossed my lips. Today was the four-year anniversary of me and Jacob’s fake wedding.

I took off my clothes and stood in front of the mirror naked and I couldn’t recognize the woman staring back at me.

She seemed to have aged faster than her age. She was covered in bruises—the price she paid trying to make love work.

I shook my head. This isn't the woman I want to keep being. I walked into the bathroom and took a long hot shower as I massaged my swollen eyes with an ice pack.

Then I did a little makeup and dressed up in a beautiful short red dress. The next time I looked into the mirror again with my dark sunglasses, I saw a different woman filled with confidence.

I spent the next hour curating an anniversary package for Jacob. I wrapped up three boxes and wrote a small note and pinned it to those boxes as I gave them to the mailman.

“Make sure they're delivered and opened immediately to Jacob Reynolds,” I instructed.

After the mailman left, I grabbed my box and ordered a ride. As I stood inside the mansion, a cruel laugh escaped my lips.

“Wait for my revenge, sweet Reynolds family,” I giggled.

Then I turned on the gas and walked to the front door. I lit the match and threw it into the house and walked out of the house.

As my Uber drove me to the airport, I watched as the house exploded in flames and I felt a strange sense of satisfaction.

But this was only the beginning of what I had planned for them.

They just wait and see.