Escaping the Web of Maternal Manipulation

My genius boyfriend, Colten, was my savior. I was the "slow" girl he single-handedly tutored into NYU. He built my entire academic future, and I thought our love story was a fairytale.

But after I found another woman's birth control pills in his bag and caught him in lie after lie with his lab partner, Addisyn, I finally left him. The price was brutal: I failed every class and faced expulsion.

Desperate to save myself, I went back. I played the part of his sweet, obedient girlfriend, using his tutoring to ace my retake exams while secretly planning my escape to a new program.

The day my transfer was approved, he ambushed me with a public proposal. In front of a cheering crowd, he got on one knee with a diamond ring, ready to trap me in his perfect life forever.

"Will you marry me?" he asked, his voice full of triumph.

But before I could answer, a different woman stepped forward. It was Addisyn, and her hand was resting on her pregnant belly.

Chapter 1

I found the birth control pills in Colten' s backpack. They were tucked deep in a side pocket, nestled amongst a tangle of charging cables and scientific papers. My fingers brushed against the small, flat packet, and a cold dread seeped into my stomach.

Colten had always been clear about one thing: he didn't like condoms, and he definitely didn't want any surprises. "We're too focused on our careers for anything like that, Ila," he'd said, his voice firm, like he was delivering a scientific fact. It was a rule, not a preference. He'd even gone so far as to say he was allergic to latex, a convenient excuse that had always made me feel a little guilty for even questioning his stance.

Now, this.

My mind raced, trying to make sense of it. Could they be for me? No, he' d always insisted I use a diaphragm, a method he'd meticulously researched and deemed "statistically superior." This packet was different, a brand I didn' t recognize.

He' s just being practical, Ila. Maybe he bought them for you as a backup? The Comments whispered in my head, a familiar chorus of reassurance. Or maybe he' s just being a good friend, looking out for someone who needs help. That' s just the kind of thoughtful guy he is.

I closed my hand around the packet, feeling the sharp edges of the foil. My heart hammered against my ribs. Should I put them back? Pretend I never saw them? What if he thought I was snooping? He hated it when I was "nosy."

A sudden click of the lock. The door swung open. Colten walked in, his brow furrowed, a stack of books under his arm. He stopped short when he saw me, my hand still in his backpack.