His Late Regret For Defending My Bully

1 In the sixth year of my relationship with Devin, his first love came back. The girl who had brutally bullied me in high school, Angela, had returned from abroad, transformed into an elegant, soft-spoken woman. When she first saw me, she greeted me with a warm, beaming smile. But beneath the heavy tablecloth of the dining room, she pinched my arm with vicious force, her voice dropping into a toxic whisper. "Gwen, did you seriously think you could take what belongs to me? You must be tired of living." When I told Devin what she had done, his only response was a look of profound disappointment. "Gwen, fabricating stories like a child isn't a good look on you." I looked down at my hands, my heart going entirely numb. Fine, I thought. Keep her. I don't want you anymore anyway. He had promised he would always protect me, but he never did. He only ever protected Angela. … The day I found out Angela was returning, I dropped a porcelain soup bowl. As I knelt on the kitchen tile to gather the pieces, a jagged shard sliced deep into my finger. Devin rushed over, sweeping the broken ceramic away before tapping my nose playfully. "Careless, aren't we, Gwen? Don't tell me you’re throwing a jealous fit just because I’m going to see her?" "It’s just a casual high school reunion, everyone’s going. You should come with me." I looked up at him. Without even looking in a mirror, I knew my face was completely devoid of color. "You’ve ignored every single high school reunion for six years. Why is this one so important?" Devin’s playful smile stiffened. He paused for two seconds before offering a smooth explanation. "Well, Garrett is going to be there. You know he’s my best friend, and we haven't caught up in ages. Besides, he’s the one who heard Angela was back and insisted on throwing her a welcome-back dinner." Looking at his calm, steady expression, I let out a cold, quiet laugh. Whether he was doing this for Garrett, or simply using his friend as a shield to see his old crush, only he knew. After all, back in high school, Devin had been one of the most devoted boys in Angela’s orbit. A sudden, bone-deep exhaustion settled over me. During our six years together, Angela’s name had always been a shadow over our relationship. Every time it came up, we would have a screaming match, ending with him sighing and sweeping it under the rug. But today, I didn't even have the energy to fight. I stood up and walked to the bathroom to clean my cut. Devin followed close behind, hovering at the door. "Gwen, I know you had a rough time with Angela back in school, but it was all just a big misunderstanding. Let’s use this dinner to clear the air. For my sake?" I spun around, glaring at him. "There was no misunderstanding. She is a cruel, manipulative bitch. Just thinking about her makes me physically sick." Devin hadn't expected such a sharp, venomous reaction. His accommodating, sweet demeanor instantly vanished, replaced by a cold sneer. "You’re crossing the line, Gwen. Just because Angela is beautiful and was more popular than you, you don't need to turn this into a bitter, insecure petty girl fight." His words, loaded with baseless accusations, stung like a whip. It was terrifying to realize that after six years of sharing a bed, this was still how he saw me. Was the power of a first love really that absolute? Even a stray dog would have earned more trust after six years of devotion. I clenched my fists, my knuckles turning white. "In sophomore year, Angela accused me of stealing the class trip fund," I said, my voice trembling with the weight of the memory. "She locked me in a dirty bathroom stall for three hours. Because of her, the entire school treated me like a parasite. She even took the last heirloom my grandmother left me before she died and threw it down the storm drain." "For two years, they wrote 'thief' and 'trash' on my locker. Have you forgotten all of that?" I stared directly into his eyes. No matter how much time had passed, the memory still made my lungs squeeze with panic. "That was ancient history," Devin said, his tone genuinely puzzled, as if he couldn't comprehend why I was still crying. "We were just kids back then. Angela has always been a bit dramatic and reckless, but she apologized to you later. What else do you want from her?" Listening to his affectionate defense of her, the blood in my veins turned to ice. Of course he hadn't forgotten. He remembered everything about her. And as for that apology. Yes, she had apologized. She had brought me a box of homemade peanut butter cookies, practically forcing me to eat them in front of everyone. She knew about my severe peanut allergy, yet she watched me swallow them, landing me in the ICU with anaphylactic shock. And afterward, she had stood behind her friends, sobbing softly. "Gwen, did you fake a medical emergency just because you hate me so much?" Her tears had turned the entire class against me. They called me a liar, a manipulative drama queen who would risk her own life just to frame a sweet girl like Angela. I had almost died on that hallway floor, gasping for breath while they stood in a circle and mocked me. It was Devin who had finally called a teacher to get an ambulance, which was the only reason I had fallen in love with him in the first place. I had thought he was my savior. Devin sighed, pulling me back toward the dinner table. "Alright, let’s not fight. We’re getting married in August, let’s not ruin the mood." I looked at him, my heart hollow. Last month, his parents had decided our six-year courtship had gone on long enough, setting our wedding date for August. We were supposed to start planning the ceremony next week. But once he saw Angela, would he still want to marry me? In the end, Devin still dragged me to the reunion. "Everyone’s going," he argued as we got out of the car. "If you stay home, it’ll just look weird. Are you worried people will bring up the old days? Don't worry, it's been years. Nobody cares anymore." I didn't answer. I just looked at him. "Do you really want me to go in there, Devin?" He frowned, clearly annoyed by my solemn attitude, but nodded anyway. And so, I knew that once we crossed that threshold, there would be no turning back. The bistro was high-end, the air smelling of expensive wine and perfume. A few of our old classmates were already there, and they immediately swarmed Devin, slapping his back. "The star of the class! Look at you, you haven't changed a bit!" "The girls are going to swoon when they see you. We don't stand a chance tonight." "Wait... who is this?" One of the men noticed me standing behind Devin, his eyes narrowing with a look of recognition. Devin pulled me forward, his smile tight. "My girlfriend, Gwen. She’s changed a bit since high school, so it’s normal if you don't recognize her at first." "Oh! The thief from the bathroom stalls?" the man blurted out. The table went dead silent. The air grew thick with awkward tension. I looked the man dead in the eye, my voice perfectly steady. "I didn't steal anything. It was proven to be a lie." The man let out a sloppy laugh, offering a half-hearted shrug. "Sorry, sorry. First impressions, you know?" Devin quickly tried to smooth things over. "Come on, guys, that was a lifetime ago. Let’s not bring up old drama." I brushed Devin’s hand off my arm, stepping forward. "Why shouldn't we bring it up?" "If we’re being honest, half the people in this room owe me a sincere, written apology for what they did to me." Devin’s expression darkened instantly. "Gwen, don't make a scene," he whispered, his voice sharp with warning. "Think about where we are." I looked at him, a mocking smile on my lips. "But Devin, you’re the one who insisted I come. I thought you’d be proud of your future wife standing up for her dignity." Before he could answer, Garrett arrived. He had heard the entire exchange. He clapped Devin on the shoulder, giving me a dismissive, mocking look. "Don't sweat it, bro. If our old jokes still hurt her feelings, we can give her a bone. For Devin’s sake, guys, let’s say sorry." A few of the men muttered a careless, mocking "sorry," their lips curling into sneers. I didn't say another word. I took a seat at the far end of the table. The real guest of honor hadn't arrived yet anyway. Devin sat next to me, his jaw clenched, but he kept his mouth shut, conscious of the eyes on us. Angela was the last to arrive, entering like a queen making an appearance. The moment she stepped into the private dining room, my mind flashed back to high school. She was still breathtakingly beautiful, dressed in a simple, pristine white silk dress that made her look like a delicate lily. Every man at the table stood up to greet her. I glanced at Devin. His eyes were wide, filled with an unmistakable, burning fascination. "Long time no see, everyone," Angela smiled softly, her voice sweet and musical. The men practically tripped over themselves to pull out a chair for her. Naturally, she looked toward Devin, her eyes wide and innocent. "I want to sit next to Devin." "Of course," Devin said instantly, pulling out the chair beside him. The classmates moved their plates around, whispering about how perfect they looked together, like a golden couple. Throughout the entire display, not a single person acknowledged that his actual girlfriend was sitting right next to him. But that was fine. I picked up my fork and let it drop onto the porcelain plate, the sharp chime echoing through the quiet chatter. Devin jumped, looking at me with a sudden flash of panic. Angela finally turned her gaze to me, blinking as if she had just noticed my existence. "Is that Gwen? You look... slightly better than you did in school. I almost didn't recognize you." Garrett laughed, taking a sip of his beer. "Yeah, Angela, did you know? Gwen and Devin are actually together now." Angela’s eyes went wide, and she playfully punched Devin’s shoulder before looking back at me. "Devin never mentioned it! Gwen, you don't mind me sitting next to him, do you?" Before I could even open my mouth, Devin spoke for me. "Of course she doesn't mind. Gwen isn't that petty." Angela let out a soft sigh, patting her chest. "Oh, thank goodness. I was worried you’d be angry, Gwen. I remember in school, you had such a terrifying, aggressive temper." Devin chuckled, shaking his head. "Yeah, she’s always been highly sensitive, constantly on guard. She can’t compare to your sweet, easygoing nature." Highly sensitive. Constantly on guard. Six years of my life, of cooking his meals, cleaning his house, and loving him with everything I had, and I was still the bitter, unstable girl compared to his pure, golden angel. I forced my hands to stop trembling, my voice coming out cold and sharp as glass. "Actually, I mind. Very much. In fact, I am incredibly angry." "Angela, I want you to apologize to me. Before you arrived, half the guys at this table already apologized for the bullying."