Ryan stood frozen, his eyes wide and unblinking, his lips parted in a silent gasp. His face drained of color; I could see his usual confident demeanor had crumbled, replaced by a guilty, hunted look. I felt like a fool, realizing too late. I should have seen this coming. The signs were all there: Ryan's evasive answers, his late nights, and the faint scent of perfume on his clothes that wasn't mine. The perfume thing was new, but I should have known.
As I turned, I caught sight of the girl hastily slipping into her dress, her shoes clutched in her hand. Her face was flushed, and she gasped softly as our eyes met. Her eyes darted to Ryan, then back to me, filled with a mix of guilt and defiance. A strand of hair escaped her hurriedly assembled bun, and her lipstick was smeared. Suddenly, it clicked – she was the new neighbor, Franca, the same one who Ryan said he kissed. The pieces all fell into place now: Ryan's change in behavior, the private calls …. and coming to think of it we didn't make live like we used to it was like we were losing our connection. And I just found out the reason.
Ryan's gaze dropped to the floor, his jaw clenched, and his fists clenched at his sides. Franca tried to leave, but my glare pinned her in place. She stepped back, eyes flashing with defiance.
"But you're a girl like me," I spat, tears streaming down my face. "Why would you do this to me? You knew we were together. Why wouldn't you just leave my man alone?"
Her expression twisted into a sneer. "Maybe he's just tired and wants something new," she snarled, venom dripping from her voice. "Maybe he wants someone who can offer more than just sex – which, by the way, I'm way better at. Do you think he wants to suffer with you on this farm?"
"Well, since he refused to tell you himself i will. We already have plans to leave for Paris next weekend." She paused,letting the words sink in my head. "He's outgrown you, darling. I think It's time you moved on."
He even had already made plans to leave me. Was he really that cruel? I couldn't believe my ears at the moment. And his silence only made me confirm her words.
It cut deep, and I felt a stinging sensation. "He's so good in bed, and still cute," she continued, reaching for his cheeks. "I don't know where he's been all my life." I stood frozen, my heart racing with anger and hurt.
Ryan's gaze dropped to the floor, his jaw clenched. "How could you… i loved you with everything I had in me". I whispered, unable to control my trembling voice, sharing a gaze with her and Ryan. Franca's smirk was solid, and there was no flicker of guilt on her face – just a cold gaze.
"Love?" she scoffed. "You call this love? Clinging to a man who doesn't want you? He deserves better. And so do I."
"But he never He never said I wasn't enough." I cut in unconsciously. Ryan's eyes snapped up, his face reddening. "That's enough Franca". he growled, his voice low and menacing, directed at Franca.
"Fuck you, Ryan!" I screamed, my anger boiling over. "I don't need you to defend me. Just shut the fuck up!" The girl's eyes widened, surprised by my outburst.
Ryan's face darkened, his jaw clenched. Franca continued. "Honestly, I didn't do anything wrong. He wanted this, too." She pressed her hands against her breasts, emphasizing their fullness. "This is what any man wants, not some..." She trailed off, her gaze flicking towards me with a condescending smirk.
I couldn't deny her words. My body bore the scars of hardship – my breasts smaller and sagging from the struggles of farm life. Unlike her, who had everything to make her skin glow beautifully and maintain her attractive shape. But wasn't too ashamed.
I was sure that if I had all she had, I'd be way better than her. Funny enough Ryan sucked these breasts every night and he never complained that they weren't enough for him. So it was fair to say he was just lustful and greedy.
I stepped aside, allowing her to leave. My gaze fell to the ground. "Just leave my house," I said, my voice barely above a whisper.
She sauntered towards the door, then turned back to Ryan, with a seductive voice. "Coming, sweetheart?" Ryan's eyes locked onto hers, for a moment with a plain.
"So, this was the 'important work' that made you leave me at the mart?" I asked calmly, my voice trembling as I tried to hold back tears.
Ryan opened his mouth about to explain, but I raised my hand, silencing him. "Just leave." His pleading eyes only fueled my rage. I grabbed the lamp by the bed and hurled it at him, narrowly missing his head. "Get the fuck out of my house!" I screamed, snatching his clothes and tossing them at his face.
"Get out!" I yelled.
"Okay, fine," Ryan said, quickly dressing before stepping out. He slammed the door behind him, and the tears I'd been holding back flowed freely. I collapsed beside my bed, crying until exhaustion consumed me.
The next morning, I woke up hoping it was all a dream. But reality crushed me, and I began crying again. My head pounded relentlessly. "How could he leave me for money?" I thought, incredulous. "Someone I gave a good time of my life to, and he doesn't even consider me."
After an hour of intense crying and screaming, I passed out from stress. I woke up again at noon, feeling worse. My headache intensified, and my eyes felt dizzy. I wiped away tears and crawled to the kitchen, desperate for water to soothe my sore throat. Finally, I got a bottle from the fridge. The water helped.
"He wants a better life. I want a better life too. Didn't he think about me?" I felt betrayed. "He chose money over our love."