Marry My Ex's Rival at His Own Wedding

Chapter 7

I logged onto the site and instantly saw Mia Hawkins ranting like a lunatic on a livestream.

"Abigail Foster, now that you've snagged yourself a rich sugar daddy, can you stop eyeing someone else's man? Stay in your lane and stop trying to seduce married men!"

The internet, as always, was quick to explode over scandal. Within minutes, tens of thousands had tuned in.

"Wait, is Abigail Foster that homewrecker who knew they were together and still broke up my OTP Mia and Ryan?!"

"She must have some serious skills to juggle two rich guys at once. Honestly, I don't even think she's that hot. Maybe she's wild in bed?"

"This chick is a disgrace to all women. Two-timing and shameless. Karma's coming for her, just wait."

The hate was relentless. Lucas was furious when he saw it and swore he'd take Ryan Sullivan down.

But I couldn't keep hiding behind him. I had to deal with the mess myself.

So, I posted every photo and message from my eight-year relationship with Ryan, including proof we'd bought a house together.

"Who's the real third party here? Let the facts speak for themselves."

The truth spread fast. Internet sleuths dug up everything on Mia Hawkins in record time.

Turns out Mia had been stringing Ryan along for years, while hooking up with other men the entire time.

"Childhood sweethearts? Please. More like two cheaters finding each other."

"Ryan was about to get engaged to Abigail, but then suddenly turned around and married Mia? Yeah, sounds fishy."

"So now you're crying homewrecker? What, you planning to steal Abigail's husband too?"

The netizens saw right through her act.

The next day, Mia showed up at my door out of nowhere.

"Abigail, please… give Lucas Thornton back to me," she sobbed.

"I was supposed to be Mrs. Thornton. That position is mine."

"I'll give Ryan back to you, okay? Let's just go back to how it was supposed to be."

I stared at her in disbelief, genuinely impressed by her shamelessness.

"You mean the same Lucas you rejected for being blind? The one you ditched so you could chase after Ryan?"

"What happened to your golden love story with your so-called childhood sweetheart? Didn't turn out so great after all?"

Tears welled in her eyes as she rolled up her sleeves, revealing bruises.

"Ryan hits me," she whispered.

"He says he was always meant to marry you… that I ruined it. If I refuse to fix it, he gets violent."

I was honestly speechless. To them, relationships were just some twisted game. Did they think people could be returned like borrowed items?

"I'm sorry," I told her coldly. "But I am Mrs. Thornton now. Lucas is a person, not a trophy. He doesn't belong to you."

When she saw I wasn't budging, Mia dropped to her knees on my doorstep, refusing to leave until I "returned" Lucas.

I didn't waste time. I called Ryan.

"Come get your mess. If she's not gone in five minutes, I'm calling the cops."

He showed up and had someone drag Mia away. Before leaving, he turned to me with a look I couldn't quite read.

"Abigail, I can't just watch you throw your life away on a man like Lucas."

Then he dropped a bomb.

"I just saw Lucas checking into a hotel with some seductive woman."

My heart stopped.

Lucas had texted earlier, saying he had an important meeting and might not make it home tonight.

Ryan pulled me into his car. We parked outside the most luxurious hotel in the city.

We waited… and waited. Then night fell.

Eventually, Lucas walked out of the hotel, laughing and chatting with a beautiful woman.

Ryan jumped out, eager to expose him.

"Abigail, you saw it with your own eyes. He's not the man you think he is."

I stood frozen. My chest felt tight, like I couldn't breathe.

All I could think was, Run.

Run from this ugly, messed-up world.

I turned to flee, but my heel caught, and I fell hard on the pavement.

Lucas rushed over, looking concerned. "Abigail, are you okay? Are you hurt?"

I swatted his hand away, my tears finally spilling over.

Ryan shoved past him. "Back off, you jerk!"

Lucas looked utterly confused, glancing between me and the woman behind him.

Then he smacked his forehead and grabbed my hand.

"Seriously? Abigail, this is all a misunderstanding. Sis, say something!"

Sis?

The woman behind him stepped forward, looking just as awkward as I felt.

Turns out, she was Lucas's half-sister, Sophia Thornton.

She'd missed our wedding due to urgent business overseas and had come to deliver a wedding gift in person.

They'd planned to introduce her to me the next day… but the timing, of course, couldn't have been worse.

I wanted to dig a hole and disappear.

But Lucas just grinned like a total goofball.

"Were you jealous, Abigail?"

Ryan's face went pale as he watched Lucas pull me into his arms, our love radiating loud and clear.

That's when it finally hit him, he'd lost me. For good.

"I'm sorry, Abigail," he said quietly. "I was selfish. I wanted everything and ended up hurting you."

"Do you hate me now?"

I looked at him, calm and steady.

"No. You need love to feel hate. And I don't love you anymore. So, no, I don't hate you."

"We both have our own lives now. Let's not interfere in each other's anymore."

Ryan stood there in silence for a long moment before his shoulders slumped.

"I hope you find happiness, Abigail Foster."

And just like that, eight years of twisted love and tangled regrets finally came to a quiet, final end.

My life with Lucas was peaceful after that. Blissful, even.

But there was always one question he avoided.

Why did he marry me?

He'd always change the subject.

It wasn't until our daughter turned three, playing hide-and-seek and knocking over a box in his study, that I found the answer.

Inside were old photos and a diary.

Turns out, years ago, during a rough patch with his parents, Lucas had run away. He was broke, alone, and someone had stolen his wallet.

I had given him all my pocket money back then. A complete stranger.

He never forgot me.

Later, he lost his eyesight in a car accident and decided he wasn't good enough for me.

But when he heard I was getting engaged, and then that there were corneas available abroad, he couldn't stay away anymore.

He staged the whole thing about marrying Mia just to get close to me again.

There was no "deal," no "trade." Just years of silent love and careful planning.

All… for me.

[The End]