Echoes of Revenge

Chapter 1

'I have a perfect life'

I thought as I stepped into the car. I glanced at the cake I was holding and smiled.

I wore a short red sequin sleeveless dress that hugged my body perfectly, my jade skin looked more vibrant under the bright color. For the first time, I was able to pull off strap heels which complimented my dress in the most perfect and sexy way.

What else could I ask for? I had a perfect man who absolutely loved me more than anything. I was going to get married pretty soon and well about my career, I was going to get my medical degree in a few months.

Today's anniversary present was going to be more than just a bouquet and cake for Mark.

Mark had been my boyfriend for the past three years and I always envisioned our wedding, even though he was yet to propose, but I had a feeling that he was going to do that soon. I had already told anyone who cared to listen that I was going to get out of singlehood in a few month's time.

No, scratch that,I know he would, I found a ring in his drawer the day before when I was looking for a pen.

So here I was, on my way to surprise the love of my life on our anniversary. I didn't call him to inform him that I was on my way, but I knew that he would be home. I wanted him to be greatly surprised.

The traffic was pretty bad so I pulled out my phone to check my Social media feeds.

The first notification I got was that Kiara just posted a photo and I went to her page to see that she posted a photo of her fingers and she was wearing a gold ring. It was beautiful and it looked expensive. It looked oddly familiar and I scrunched my face and then grinned widely as I saw the caption.

The caption was "About to become a Mrs"

OMG!! Kiara's getting married. I frowned. That was strange, She didn't tell me she was seeing anyone, but nevertheless,I was happy for her.

Kiara was my best friend and we've been best of friends since we were children. We told each other everything and that was why I found it weird that she didn't tell me that she was seeing anyone. It was weird, but I brushed it off. She probably didn't think it was important enough to let me know and I was going to ask her about it.

I was about to call her when it hit me, the ring—-, why it looked familiar! it was because it looked very much like mine, like the one I found in Mark's drawer, and the inscription too. I didn't pay much attention when I first saw the ring in his desk drawer, but now that I think about it, it had a K&M inscribed by the side, just like the ring on Kiara's finger.

K&M was probably a brand that made jewelry. I mentally cursed myself for being so focused on my studies that I didn't know about the trendy things. Perhaps, K&M was the biggest Jewelry company right now. I made a mental note to check their page on social media later.

I exhaled loudly as I started driving upon hearing the honks from the cars behind mine, I was so lost in thoughts that I didn't know when the road was cleared.

I dialed Kiara's number quickly and it went straight to voicemail. I sighed Looked at the cake beside me and smiled again. It was indeed a good day. I and my best friend were going to get the ring on the same day. What was even more exciting was that the ring looked the same and was made by the same company.

I stepped out of the car with the cake in my hand and hummed silently as I stepped into the elevator and pressed the number to take me to the fifth floor, where his apartment was located.

Excitement coursed through my veins as I unlocked the front door, the anticipation of a special evening tingling in the air.

I was eager to celebrate with the man I had shared so many precious moments with. A subtle fragrance of scented candles fills the hallway, He really was going to do it!

The door was slightly opened and I pushed it a little bit open, wondering how he knew I was going to show up at the house without calling me.

Maybe Kiara had told him that I was going to come to surprise him and he had decided that he would instead surprise me. I frowned and suddenly stopped. I had forgotten to inform Kiara about our anniversary or did she somehow know? I decided that it didn't matter, it could even be that he was still preparing the house and would call me over soon.

My heart brimmed with love, and a smile danced on my lips. As I approached the bedroom, the soft glow of flickering candles spilled from beneath the door, heightening my joy. This was it! This was exactly what I had been waiting for, for a long time.

I gently pushed the door open, ready to share an intimate night filled with laughter and memories with the one I loved.

"Happy……" The scene that unfolded before me shattered my happiness like a fragile glass and in an instant my smile was replaced by a deep frown, my happiness gone.

I stopped in my tracks. The cake dropped first, then my bag. I furrowed my eyebrows in confusion and then…

"Lexie, let me explain" He said, buttoning his pants, while she wrapped the sheets around her body, looking everywhere else but my face.

"How..what..how" I stammered, my emotions betraying me as the tears clouded my eyes.

My best friend, and my boyfriend. The things that I see happening in movies and books, now happening to me. This was impossible. I shook my head rapidly as if I was trying to clear my head of the ugly memory I had witnessed.

"Fuck this!" Kiara suddenly yelled, glaring at me in anger.

"Do you know how difficult it was to pretend I was okay with everything? with you telling everyone you were dating my man?!" She continued and my mouth was wide open as I looked at her. My eyes looked like they were ready to finally bulge out of their socket.

I was stunned and continued to stand there with my mouth agape, unable to fully comprehend what was happening.

"Kiara stop!, we agreed to have this conversation with her quietly," he said and I watched them continue arguing, my mind was wandering, I couldn't separate reality from Imagination.

"I am sick and tired of this bullshit! Just how much more time do you need to tell her?" She yelled back.

"We agreed to tell her when the time is right"

"And when is that right time?!, Do you think a right time would ever come? It's been a year!"

she faced me "And you Alexa, you're so selfish and stupid. I mean how come you didn't notice anything all those years" she spat ruefully and I winced.

A torrent of emotions engulfed me—sadness, anger, pain, and an overwhelming sense of betrayal.

My carefully planned night was gone and in its place was the painful reminder of a broken promise. She had just said it's been a year. A year of them fooling me, right under my nose and I never noticed!

Coupled with other emotions I felt, I felt stupid. She had just said a year. They had been together for that long '

"Lexie calm down, I know how you're feeling right now, but trust me, there's more to the story than you think," He said and I felt hands on my shoulder, trying to soothe me

"Come sit and let's talk like adults," he said again, trying to guide me to sit like I was an invalid. I must've looked like one as I stood there, like a statue with mouth wide open and eyes that seemed to want to bulge out of their sockets and stare into nothingness.

They must have thought I was a fool. "Oh, she's too stupid to find out." They must have said to each other. I must look like a fool to them. They must've laughed at my expense.

"Get your fucking hands off me!" I screamed and ran out, the weight of betrayal echoing in my ears. The tears mingled with rain as I stumbled through the front door of my apartment, desperate for escape.

The cool rain kissed my face as I ran, my breath hitching, as if the faster my pace, the quicker I could outrun the painful truth.

Chapter 2