Page 3
Story: Moonlit Betrayal
I had no idea what to do when my phone buzzed unexpectedly and a message from Anastasia appeared on the screen.
I opened it to find a video containing hundreds of photos of Zane and Anastasia. They held hands, ate together, rode the Ferris wheel, and did all of the typical things couples do.
My entire body shook while I watched. They looked so good together, and I felt like the other woman. I pressed my hand to my mouth, tears streaming down my cheeks.
Anastasia taunted me openly by sending me those photos.
Was she aware of Zane’s true identity? Did everyone else know the truth about him, leaving me in the dark?
I felt like an idiot.
Then the doctor called my name. “Ms. Black? They’re ready for you in the operating room.”
My eyes welled up with tears once again. The pain was so intense that my legs gave out, and I crumpled to the floor, sobbing uncontrollably.
A nurse quickly approached and patted my shoulder. “Miss, are you okay? We can always do this another day if you’re not ready.” I pressed my hands over my ears, tears streaming down my cheeks.
There was no denying that I still loved Zane. I couldn’t stop thinking about him, despite the fact that he had lied and hurt me.
My heart felt torn apart, and the pain was so intense that I could barely breathe.
My hand shook as I pressed it to my stomach, remembering the steady thump of the pup’s heartbeat from the prenatal monitor. The sound gave me a sense of softness and fragility.
I owed Zane another chance, even if it was only for the puppy. I had to try. I wiped my tears away and picked up the phone to call Zane.
His voice came from the other end of the queue. “Hey, Lyra? What’s up? I’m in the middle of something—”
“Zane, I need to talk to you. Can you-”
Before I could finish, Anastasia’s voice broke through from the background. “Sweetheart, can you tie the back of my dress?”
And just like that, any hope I’d had slipped away.
“Lyra, what’s wrong?” Zane gently enquired on the other end.
“Nothing.”
My body shook as I finished it. Tears blurred my vision again, and I bit my lip hard to avoid making a sound. That was when I lost all hope.
I got up and turned to face the nurse. “I’ll have the surgery.”
She noticed my bloodshot, puffy eyes and spoke in a worried voice. “Are you absolutely sure?”
I forced a faint smile and nodded. “Yes. I’m sure.”
…
The procedure went quickly and smoothly. When they rolled me out of the operating room, my body felt hollow, as if my tears had dried up.
I arrived home, but Zane and Anastasia were not there.
I lay on the bed alone, eyes fixed on the ceiling, my thoughts drifting. I had no idea how to proceed or deal with a world so full of betrayal and pain.
Later that night, Zane returned.
He noticed me lying there, pale and still, and his tone softened with concern. “Lyra, what was it you wanted to tell me at the hospital today? Your eyes are really red… have you been thinking about Zane again?”
I stared at his face, so familiar yet so distant, and felt a rush of emotions rise in my chest.
I opened it to find a video containing hundreds of photos of Zane and Anastasia. They held hands, ate together, rode the Ferris wheel, and did all of the typical things couples do.
My entire body shook while I watched. They looked so good together, and I felt like the other woman. I pressed my hand to my mouth, tears streaming down my cheeks.
Anastasia taunted me openly by sending me those photos.
Was she aware of Zane’s true identity? Did everyone else know the truth about him, leaving me in the dark?
I felt like an idiot.
Then the doctor called my name. “Ms. Black? They’re ready for you in the operating room.”
My eyes welled up with tears once again. The pain was so intense that my legs gave out, and I crumpled to the floor, sobbing uncontrollably.
A nurse quickly approached and patted my shoulder. “Miss, are you okay? We can always do this another day if you’re not ready.” I pressed my hands over my ears, tears streaming down my cheeks.
There was no denying that I still loved Zane. I couldn’t stop thinking about him, despite the fact that he had lied and hurt me.
My heart felt torn apart, and the pain was so intense that I could barely breathe.
My hand shook as I pressed it to my stomach, remembering the steady thump of the pup’s heartbeat from the prenatal monitor. The sound gave me a sense of softness and fragility.
I owed Zane another chance, even if it was only for the puppy. I had to try. I wiped my tears away and picked up the phone to call Zane.
His voice came from the other end of the queue. “Hey, Lyra? What’s up? I’m in the middle of something—”
“Zane, I need to talk to you. Can you-”
Before I could finish, Anastasia’s voice broke through from the background. “Sweetheart, can you tie the back of my dress?”
And just like that, any hope I’d had slipped away.
“Lyra, what’s wrong?” Zane gently enquired on the other end.
“Nothing.”
My body shook as I finished it. Tears blurred my vision again, and I bit my lip hard to avoid making a sound. That was when I lost all hope.
I got up and turned to face the nurse. “I’ll have the surgery.”
She noticed my bloodshot, puffy eyes and spoke in a worried voice. “Are you absolutely sure?”
I forced a faint smile and nodded. “Yes. I’m sure.”
…
The procedure went quickly and smoothly. When they rolled me out of the operating room, my body felt hollow, as if my tears had dried up.
I arrived home, but Zane and Anastasia were not there.
I lay on the bed alone, eyes fixed on the ceiling, my thoughts drifting. I had no idea how to proceed or deal with a world so full of betrayal and pain.
Later that night, Zane returned.
He noticed me lying there, pale and still, and his tone softened with concern. “Lyra, what was it you wanted to tell me at the hospital today? Your eyes are really red… have you been thinking about Zane again?”
I stared at his face, so familiar yet so distant, and felt a rush of emotions rise in my chest.