She Got the Ring, But I Got the Last LaughChapter 1
Vivian's POV
When Zachary’s company teetered on the edge of bankruptcy, I became his girlfriend. For five long years, I silently funneled my family’s resources into his business, watching from the shadows as he went from struggling to thriving. And just when the company was about to go public, Zachary finally got down on one knee, promising me the world. He said he’d make me the happiest woman alive.
But happiness shattered in an instant when I stumbled upon his chat history.
[Zachary: I’m only marrying Vivian to make Yvette jealous.]
[Zachary: Once the IPO hits, I’ll be a billionaire, and Yvette won’t stand idly by while I marry that woman.]
[Zachary: As soon as she comes back from abroad for me, I’ll drop Vivian without a second thought and marry her instead.]
The moment I saw those words, I didn’t hesitate. I called my dad and told him to pull our family’s investments from Zachary’s company. I’d let them be miserable together.
"Dad, you can start pulling our investments from Zachary’s company."
With the IPO on the horizon, my father’s withdrawal would be a fatal blow to everything Zachary built on lies and manipulation.
"Did that bastard hurt you? I’ll make sure he regrets it!" My dad, always protective, was ready to confront Zachary without even needing the details.
I forced a bitter smile, swallowing the pain. "Dad, let me handle this one."
My voice cracked, but I couldn’t let him hear how much I was hurting. I quickly hung up, but my eyes stayed locked on that chat window, the words still burning in my mind. My heart felt like it was shattering into pieces.
Zachary Donovan was my senior in college.
I could still remember during my freshman year, I was cornered by a group of thugs and Zachary stepped in without hesitation, getting into a brutal fight to protect me.
That was when I fell hard for him. He was the first man, besides my dad, to stand up for me so selflessly.
From that moment on, I chased after him for years, through our college days. Yet, he never accepted my feelings.
Back then, I used to think his indifference made him more desirable, as if his coldness was a challenge I was meant to overcome.
But looking back now, I see how naïve I was.