I felt like I was walking in a dream, but everything around me was too real. The air felt thick, and every step I took seemed heavier than the last. I was in Mimi's body, trapped in a life that wasn't mine. And today, I had to meet someone important. Mimi's father, Mr. Larkin, was a well-known businessman in the jewelry world, and he expected me—no, he expected Mimi—to meet him at his office.
I stood in front of his large desk, trying to keep my composure. His eyes were sharp, full of pride as he looked at me. "Ah, Mimi, you're here," he said, his voice smooth like honey. "I've been thinking. You need to get married soon. It's important for the business. We can't afford to wait."
I stood there, frozen. Marry? But I wasn't Mimi! My heart beat faster, and I had to force myself to breathe. I didn't know how to respond, so I just nodded like I understood. It felt wrong. This wasn't my life.
"Get married?" I asked, trying to make my voice sound like Mimi's, though every word felt foreign in my mouth.
He nodded, barely noticing the hesitation in my voice. "Yes. The sooner you're married, the sooner we can ensure the development of the business. The family's future depends on it. Once you're married, you can inherit everything."
I barely had time to process his words before the door opened. It was Kelvin, walking into the room with that smug smile he always wore. My heart sank. How was it possible that my own husband could be here, right now, acting like everything was fine?
"Mr. Larkin," Kelvin said as he shook the businessman's hand, his voice full of charm. "I've been thinking. We should cooperate. A business partnership between us would be very beneficial."
I stood there, completely stunned. What was he talking about? What kind of partnership was this? And then, just as the pieces started to fall into place, it hit me like a slap across the face.
Kelvin was using me. He was using the fact that I was in a coma to create alliances, to secure his own future. All of this—this marriage, this life I thought I had—was a lie.
I was nothing but a pawn in his plan to build his business, to make more money, to climb higher and higher. He didn't love me. He never had. He didn't care about me, about us. It was all about profit.
I wanted to scream at him, to expose the truth. I wanted to tell him that it was me—Bella—in Mimi's body. But instead, I just stood there, biting my lip, trying not to show him what I was feeling. I didn't want to ruin the surprise just yet. I wanted him to suffer. I wanted him to feel trapped, just like I did.
The next morning, I couldn't shake the feeling of betrayal. I had to know the truth. I had to find out how long Kelvin and Mimi had been lying to me. How long had this affair been going on? How much of my life had been a lie?
I met with Caleb, a private investigator. He was tall, with sharp eyes that didn't miss a thing. As soon as I walked in, he didn't waste any time. "I've been following them for a while now," Caleb said. "Kelvin and Mimi have been seeing each other for years. It's all part of his plan to get ahead in business."
Years. I couldn't believe it. I had been married to this man, and he had been cheating on me for years. And I never even suspected it.
"Thank you," I said, my voice shaking with emotion. "I needed to know."
Later that day, I met with Kelvin at a hotel. I wasn't sure what I was expecting. Part of me wanted to confront him, to scream at him. But part of me was still holding on, still pretending that maybe, just maybe, he could redeem himself.
When I walked into the hotel room, I felt a cold chill down my spine. This was where they had been meeting—Mimi and Kelvin. I could feel it, like a weight pressing on my chest. I looked around the room and saw the signs: the way it was set up, the way it felt. This wasn't just a meeting. This was a secret hideaway, a place where they had been carrying on their affair for who knows how long.
Kelvin smiled at me when I walked in, his eyes lighting up as if everything was normal. "Mimi, I have something for you," he said, holding out a small box.
My heart raced as I took the box from him, my fingers trembling. I opened it, and inside was an engagement ring. "Will you marry me?" he asked, his voice dripping with false sweetness.
I froze, my mind racing. This wasn't real. It couldn't be. He was proposing to me as if everything was perfect..
Anger burned inside me. I could feel the heat rising, my chest tightening. I couldn't take it anymore. I couldn't stand the lies. I couldn't stand the betrayal.
Without thinking, I bit him. Hard. I sank my teeth into his arm, my anger boiling over. He pulled away, startled, but I didn't stop. I ran out of the hotel room as fast as I could, tears blurring my vision.
I didn't know where I was going, but I needed to get away from him. I needed to escape. I kept running, past the hotel, down the street, until I reached the riverbank.
I stopped at the water's edge, my heart still racing, my body trembling. I looked down at the engagement ring in my hand, It was a symbol of all the lies, all the betrayal, all the things I never wanted.
I didn't want it anymore. I didn't want him. I didn't want this life.
Without another word, I threw the ring into the water, watching as it sank into the dark depths below. It disappeared, and with it, I felt something inside me start to change. It was the start of something new, something I couldn't see yet, but I knew it was coming.
I took a deep breath and stood there for a moment, feeling the cool breeze on my face. A new stage in my life had begun, and I was ready for it.