As I tried to sleep, my mind drifted back to the image, and the comments below them. Instead of me, she was the one who was always around him, laughing at his jokes, standing just a little too close. Even though it bothered me, I had brushed it off every time. Every. Single. Time.
Not anymore.
The next morning, I walked into the hospital, and it was no different. Their eyes flicked to their phones and then back to me, smirking, gossiping. Everyone looked at me like I had trespassed into their private property, the usual whispers replaced by sharper, louder taunts.
"Hey, Mia, isn’t that your Alpha mate?"
"Maybe not! Ouch!" Another sneered.
When I tried to meet their eyes, they flashed the photo on my face.
But before I could respond, someone else chimed in.
"Oh, please, everyone knows Aiden’s been spending more time with Ella than you. I mean, look at them. You gotta wonder who the real mate is."
Laughter.
I could barely breathe, feeling a twist in my stomach. I could no longer tolerate the bullying, the mocks, and even the silent eyes that followed me like hawks and returned home early. But Aiden still hadn't returned. And he didn't even bother to tell me his whereabouts or ask mine.
That night, I paced along the living room as I waited for Aiden to come home, my eyes glued to the door. The photo still burned in my mind. The comments below almost choked me. How could he do this to me... especially on our anniversary? A single tear rolled down my cheek, wanting the world to collapse now or for me to disappear.
But as soon as I heard the door creak open, I wiped it away, waiting for whatever storm was to arrive with him. And there he was, calm, unbothered. As if nothing had happened.
"Mia, what’s wrong?" he asked, glancing at me as he hung his jacket.
I held my phone up, shaking with anger. "This! This is what’s wrong, Aiden. Yesterday was our fifth anniversary, Aiden. But instead, you were out with Ella!"
His eyes flicked to the phone, then back to me. No guilt. Just annoyance. "It’s just a photo, Mia. We were catching up. It was a last minute plan after a business proposal. You are overreacting."
I froze. My heart shattered into a thousand pieces. Overreacting?
"You ditched me for her. On our anniversary!" My voice broke, tears welling in my eyes. "Do you even care anymore?"