The Last to Know

The day my girlfriend and I were supposed to get our marriage license, she suddenly disappeared. That night, I accidentally came across a social media post she had forgotten to hide from me. "From twenty to twenty-eight. We finally made it." Attached was a photo of two marriage certificates. In the wedding photo, she leaned against a man I had never seen before, smiling with effortless joy. Furious, I opened the comments, ready to confront her. Then, I saw a message from my best friend. "Congratulations to the lovebirds. After everything you've been through, you finally made it." My chest tightened. With shaking hands, I called him. After a long silence, he finally confessed. "Yeah. They've been together for eight years. Everyone in our circle knew. We weren't trying to hurt you. We just thought you'd take it badly and make a scene. "Oliver and Fiona belong together. It wasn't easy for them to make it this far. We're all friends here. Just be the bigger person." Tears hit the floor like ice, yet they burned a hole straight through my heart. Only then did I realize that during the twelve years Fiona Frost and I had been together, she had spent eight of them loving another man. Everyone knew. Everyone except me. Chapter 1 The Truth I Was Never Meant to See I kept scrolling through the comments, punishing myself with every word. Besides my best friend, Sean Torres, plenty of our mutual friends had left their congratulations. "Oliver is the best man I've ever met. If you ever treat him badly, I'll be the first to call you out." It was Fiona's best friend. Just last week, she had greeted me warmly with, "Gavin." "I'm so happy for Fiona. She's finally married the man she loves. Tonight, we're celebrating until we drop." That was my old college roommate. "Have fun, but for Fiona and Oliver's sake, keep this quiet. Don't let a certain someone find out." That was Fiona's younger brother. Years ago, he had borrowed eighty thousand from me to start his business and told me I was the only brother-in-law he would ever recognize. "Don't worry, we've got this covered. For the prince and princess' happily ever after, we'll make sure the dragon never finds out." That was the new assistant at Fiona's company. He was a little slow and had nearly been fired several times. I was the one who spoke up for him and patiently taught him everything he needed to survive in the workplace. Thanks to that, he made it through his internship. I tilted my head back, stubbornly forcing my tears to stay where they were. Everyone knew Fiona had been with another man for the past eight years. Everyone except me. To them, I was "a certain someone" in their private conversations. I was the dragon standing in the way of the prince and princess' happiness. I was the joke. The page refreshed, and Fiona's post suddenly disappeared. A second later, my phone rang. It was Fiona, who had been unreachable all day. "I'm sorry, Gavin. Our company's system had a major outage today, and I've been swamped. I haven't even looked at my phone. We've both been so busy lately. Let's put off getting our marriage license for now. She paused for a moment before adding, "Oh, by the way… did you happen to see anything interesting on social media today?" Her voice was tense. The clumsy probing was impossible to miss. I forced myself to sound normal. "I couldn't get through when I called you today, and I was at the hospital taking care of my mother. I haven't had time to check social media. "Go take care of work. As for the marriage license, we'll do it whenever you're free." My mother had never been healthy. Last year, she was diagnosed with late-stage stomach cancer. The doctor said that, even under the best circumstances, she had maybe three years left. Her only wish was to see Fiona and me get our marriage license before I turned thirty. Today was my thirtieth birthday. She was still lying in her hospital room, waiting to see our marriage license. But I could never make her final wish come true. Because Fiona had already become someone else's wife. I sank into a corner of the hallway and ran a hand through my hair. Tears splashed onto my phone, blurring the bold black letters on the screen. After wiping it clean, I silently memorized the location of their celebration—Gilded Dining Room, Suite 302. Chapter 2 I Chose to Walk Away The moment I pushed open the private room door, shimmering confetti rained down over me. As the glittering ribbon confetti drifted down, I caught sight of Fiona in another man's arms. She was leaning into his kiss, her knees nearly giving way. The friends I knew so well stood around them with their phones raised, capturing every sweet moment. The perfect scene shattered the instant I walked in. Everyone froze. One after another, they sucked in a sharp breath. No one dared meet my eyes. The man glanced at Fiona, confused. "Honey, is he your friend too? Why does everyone look so uncomfortable now that he's here?" "Oliver, he—" I did not give Fiona the chance to finish. I stared straight at Oliver Hayes. "I'm Fiona's boyfriend. I know you've been together for eight years. But we've been together for twelve. If you don't believe me, I can show you the videos on my phone." I opened my photo album. Twelve years of memories unfolded in front of everyone. At a school assembly before the SAT, Fiona gave a speech as the student representative. When she finished, she confessed her feelings for me in front of the entire school. "My dream isn't just getting into Kingsley University. It's building a future with Gavin too." In college, we were walking hand in hand across the campus lawn when she suddenly pulled a car key from behind her back and shyly placed it in my palm. "You take the bus to the hospital every day to see your mom. It isn't easy. From now on, drive instead. I could only afford a used car for now, but one day, I'll buy you a better one." The used car had only cost 30,000, but it was every penny she had managed to save growing up. In our tiny apartment, a drunken Fiona clung to me and refused to let go. She made me start recording before speaking to the camera. "One day, Gavin and I are going to have the life we've always dreamed of. I'll never marry anyone but him." At the celebration for our company's IPO, our friends surrounded us, cheering louder and louder. "Fiona, you've been dating forever. When are you finally marrying Gavin?" She never looked at the camera. Her eyes never left mine. "Our house is almost finished. When Gavin turns thirty, we'll get our marriage license." Today was my thirtieth birthday. The day we had promised to get married, but she had disappeared for the entire day to marry someone else. When the final video ended, silence swallowed the room. Even breathing sounded unbearably loud. The people standing in this room were my friends. Some of them had once been close to me. They had witnessed every step of our relationship. And in the end, every one of them had betrayed me. Oliver's eyes reddened as he clenched his fists. Fiona hurried in front of him, shielding him as if she were ready to sacrifice herself. "Gavin, that's enough. This is all my fault. I couldn't let go of what I had with you, but I also fell hopelessly in love with Oliver. You're innocent. And so is he. "If you're angry, take it out on me. Don't blame Oliver." Oliver stepped out from behind her. He casually turned his wedding band, looking every bit like the rightful husband. "Anyone would lose it after something like this. Believe me, I understand how you feel. But Fiona and I are legally married now. She's my wife, and I'm her husband. Whatever happens, we'll face it together. "Fiona is kind and has a good heart. If you have any demands, just name them. We'll do our best to compensate you financially." Financial compensation? Did they really think twelve years together could be bought off with money? I was about to speak when Sean cleared his throat and cut me off. "Gavin, that's enough. Honestly, neither Fiona nor Oliver did anything wrong. Love doesn't play by the rules. Nobody cares who came first. "I'm your best friend, so I'm giving you honest advice. Walk away now while everyone can still keep their dignity. You'll even get a breakup settlement. If you make this ugly, who'll ever want to marry you?" I stared at Sean in disbelief, but the words caught in my throat. I could not force out a single one. Then, Fiona's younger brother spoke up, followed by the rest of our mutual friends. "Gavin, you're a good man. But Oliver's a good man too. Honestly, I wish Fiona could marry both of you, but she could only choose the one she loved more. I'm sorry." "Gavin, it's obvious Fiona loves Oliver with all her heart. Otherwise, she would've married you instead of him. It's over. You should let her go." Fiona and Oliver stood pressed tightly together. Everyone else gathered behind them, forming an impenetrable wall. All of them united against the one person standing outside it. Me. It was as if every ounce of strength had drained out of me. I did not have the energy to fight anymore. I reached into my pocket and took out the faded key to that old used car. I had driven it for ten years. Even after I could easily afford something better, I had never replaced it. I set the faded key on the table. It was not just the car I was leaving behind. It was twelve years of my youth, my love, and the friendships I had once treasured. "All right. I'll walk away." Chapter 3 The One Thing I Couldn't Let Go "Gavin!" Fiona called after me, her voice tight with panic. But I did not stop, nor did I look back. I took a cab to the hospital. Mom looked much better today, with a healthy flush in her cheeks. She handed me a peeled apple and asked brightly, "Gavin, how did the wedding photos turn out? Let me see them." My throat tightened, and my nose stung. I did not know how to explain things to her. More than that, I could not bear to let her know the truth. Just as I was working up the courage to speak, Fiona suddenly walked into the room. She sat beside Mom's bed and, just as she had for the past ten years, gently massaged her with a warm smile. "Gavin wasn't happy with how the wedding photos came out, so we sent them back to the studio for more editing. We'll get our marriage license in a couple of days instead. We'll show you the pictures then, Audrey." For the first time, Fiona called her by her name instead of "Ms. Sutton." That single word moved my mother to tears. She was so touched that she completely missed how strange things were between us. Keeping a grim face, I pulled Fiona out into the hallway. "I already walked away. What more do you want from me?" Like she always had, she slipped her arms around my waist and let out a quiet sigh. "Gavin, we've been together for twelve years. Do you really have the heart to break up with me?" What did it matter whether I did or not? She was someone else's wife now. My eyes burned as I shoved her away and let out a bitter laugh. "Whether I can bear it or not, I have to. I'm not in the habit of being the other man." I turned to leave, but Fiona stepped in front of me. Then, without warning, she wrapped both arms around me. "But I can't let you go." She clung to me stubbornly. She was small, yet somehow impossibly strong. No matter how hard I tried, I could not push her away. "When I was saving up to buy you that car in college, I met Oliver at the coffee shop where I worked part-time. "I was shy back then. I blushed whenever I spoke, and people were always taking advantage of me. He stood up for me all the time, and before long, we became close. "One day, a customer slipped something into my drink. Oliver rushed to the hotel and saved me. The drug was too strong, and we couldn't control ourselves. I tried to end things with him, but my conscience wouldn't let me hurt him. "Oliver has been with me all these years without a title or any promises. He never complained, never fought with you, never asked me for anything. I've wronged him, so I had to make it up to him by marrying him." Only then did I realize that twelve years and eight years were not just overlapping numbers. While I had been grinning like an idiot, holding the key to the car she bought me, Fiona had already been in another man's arms. While I waited for her in our tiny apartment with a plate of her favorite honey-glazed ribs, she had been eating pasta another man cooked for her. There had been countless moments when I thought I was the happiest man alive. Every one of them had been built on betrayal. "When you were in danger, why didn't you call me, your boyfriend? Why did you turn to someone else?" I had heard enough. I raised my hand. "That's enough. I don't want to hear another word about how the two of you got together. Just get out." Fiona trembled with fear, but she did not dodge. Instead, she closed her eyes. My strength vanished. With a weary sigh, I lowered my hand. Fiona hugged me even tighter. "I may have married Oliver, but everything else… whatever he has, you'll have even more. My love, my money, my time, and the way I care for your mom. None of that will change just because I married him. Then, she added softly, "Oh, and there's a new medication overseas that's been showing promising results for late-stage stomach cancer. Gavin, when should we take your mom to try it?" I closed my eyes helplessly. Over the years, Fiona really had treated me well. If Oliver had never existed, I might have been the happiest man in the world. Mom had always been sick. Taking care of her had left me with little time for my career, and I had fallen far behind Fiona. But she had never cared that I earned less or accomplished less than she did. Anything I wanted, she bought for me without ever looking at the price. Anywhere I wanted to go, she went with me, even if it meant canceling business meetings. When Mom got sick, Fiona took care of her, staying up late with the doctors to discuss treatment plans. She had also paid every expensive medical bill. I could not leave Fiona. At least, not until my mother recovered. Chapter 4 The Truth Written in Blood Life seemed to slip back into its old routine. I still lived in what had once been our marital home. I worked during the day and spent every evening at the hospital taking care of Mom. Fiona was busy with her new husband and rarely contacted me. For me, the silence was a relief. After work, I stopped by Mom's favorite diner and picked up some chicken pot pies before heading to the hospital. When I walked into her room, I froze. Two young men were sitting beside her bed. My heart leaped, and I rushed over. Then, they turned around. It was Sean and Oliver. My voice trembled. "Sean, why did you bring him here?" Mom smiled at me and explained, "Sean was worried I'd get lonely, so he brought his friend to keep me company. "I'd never met Oliver before today, but I liked him the moment I did. He's such a kind, gentle young man. It's outrageous that his wife cheated on him." She sighed. "Oliver, believe me. Homewreckers always get what's coming to them." Oliver slowly rose to his feet and walked over to me. He glanced at me with a smile that never reached his eyes. Then he turned to Mom with a gracious smile that somehow felt even crueler. "Ms. Sutton, you're absolutely right. Homewreckers always get what's coming to them. "So, when is your son going to face his punishment? Then again, maybe he already has. It just happened to fall on you instead. Terminal stomach cancer… I'd say that's punishment enough." Mom's face turned ghostly pale. She struggled to sit up and glared at Oliver. "What nonsense are you talking about?" Sean angrily pulled out a marriage certificate and threw it onto Mom's lap. "Oliver isn't making anything up. Gavin is the shameless homewrecker. "Look for yourself. Oliver and Fiona are legally married. They're husband and wife. Gavin knew Fiona had a husband, but he still shamelessly lived in her house and spent her money to pay your medical bills. That money belongs to both of them. Oliver has every right to take it back." The marriage certificate was dated June 19. My birthday. Mom stared at the date as if she could not believe it. Then she suddenly coughed up a mouthful of blood. "Mom!" I reached for the emergency call button, sobbing. But before I could press it, Sean and Oliver grabbed me. Oliver let out a cold laugh. "Your mother said it herself. Homewreckers deserve to be punished. If she doesn't pay the price today, you'll never learn your lesson. You'll just keep trying to steal my wife. "Maybe it's better if she dies. Fiona doesn't earn money to support freeloaders like you and your mother." I begged Sean to save Mom. All I got in return was a scornful laugh. "Best friends? I don't have a homewrecker for a friend. Oliver is my best friend. "Ever since we were kids, you always had to outshine me. You were better-looking, got better grades, and even your girlfriend was prettier than mine. I was sick of that fake nice-guy act. Who wanted your pity? Everything that's happening today is exactly what you deserve." I staggered back a step. A loud ringing filled my ears. So all the times I had looked out for him, he had only seen it as pity. I had thought we were best friends. But to him, we had always been enemies. Before I could say a word, they forced me to the floor. All I could do was watch as Mom's body convulsed violently on the hospital bed. The heart monitor spiked into a frantic rhythm. Then, little by little, the jagged line on the screen flattened. Mom was gone. Something inside me broke completely. I struggled free and grabbed the fruit knife Mom used every day to peel apples for me and lunged at them. I was going to make them pay with their lives. "Gavin, have you lost your mind?" The door flew open. Fiona had just walked in. She had only seen the final moment. She had no idea what had happened before. Without hesitation, she rushed toward me. Using her own body as a shield, she threw herself in front of Oliver. The instant before the knife reached her chest, I twisted my wrist with all my strength. The blade plunged straight into my own chest instead. Blood sprayed across Fiona's face. She caught me as I collapsed into her arms and screamed my name with heartbreaking desperation. "Gavin!"