15: Party Trouble.
Seth, dad, and I arrived at the venue. I had managed to eventually convince them to the party. The gender reveal party was in full swing, laughter and chatter filling the air. Balloons and pastel decorations adorned the room.
I adjusted the hem of my dress, as I wondered if I was taking things too far. But then I reminded myself. I wasn’t the one who started this. I was just ensuring the scales were balanced. I had to have my revenge of course?
As we walked in, Ash‘ s gaze landed on me almost instantly. His eyes widened briefly, and he broke away from the small group he was speaking to, walking toward me.
“You look… incredible,” he said with a smile plastered on his face.
I didn’t even spare him a glance, brushing past him as though he didn’t exist. The
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15: Party Trouble.
brief flicker of hurt in his eyes didn’t faze
- me. Not anymore.
Seth and dad exchanged glances, their expressions dark. They had both agreed to come, but I could sense their reluctance. Seth especially it had taken everything in me to convince him not to lose his temper
before the truth unraveled.
“Let’s find a spot,” I said quietly, leading them to a corner where we could watch the spectacle unfold.
Kate was in the center of the room, basking in the attention as she laughed with a group of women. Her hand rested on her flat stomach in a way that made my stomach churn. The audacity!
Seth muttered something under his breath, his fists clenching, but I placed a calming hand on his arm. “Not yet,” I whispered.
The room fell silent as Ash’s parents took center stage, holding a small box that likely contained the reveal. Ash stood beside
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15: Party Trouble.
them, his gaze flickering between the crowd and Kate. He looked restless when he locked eyes with me as if sensing something was amiss.
I scoffed.
Now was the Perfect time. I walked up to Ash’s parents just beside the stage and after exchanging pleasantries, I asked to make a speech.
Ash hesitated at first, firing me a
suspicious look but his parents, who had always adored me, insisted, leaving him no choice.
Kate, standing by the sidelines, shot daggers at me with her eyes, her jaw clenched tight, she was pissed off the entire time seeing me here but had to swallow her anger, clearly aware of the crowd of guests surrounding us. Instead she wore a wild smile on her face.
I beamed a smile and began. “Good evening, everyone. Thank you for allowing
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15: Party Trouble.
me the honor of speaking today. First, I’d dike to congratulate Ash and Kate on this siloccasion.”
I paused, my gaze flickering to Kate‘ s stomach. “Becoming a parent is no small feat, and I applaud Ash for stepping into such a role. It’s truly remarkable….
- e. Iv
the st
Fass
ing m
parent
especially considering the child isn‘ t his.”
The polite clapping in the room stopped abruptly, leaving an uncomfortable silence.
let it linger, savoring the unease.
ed lesh stiffened, his face frozen in disbelief,
nd Kate’s carefully composed expression racked for a fraction of a second before
he recovered. But I wasn‘ t done.
lelines
yes, le
pissed stood by this man for three years,” I ere ontinued, my voice calm but cutting. “I dy amoved him, supported him, and trusted dinguim. And yet, I watched him break every 1 herbromise he ever made to me. I hoped
gan.
e‘ d learn the meaning of love and yalty. Instead, karma decided to teach im its own lesson.”
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15: Party Trouble.
Ash’s voice cut through the murmurs. “Astrid, that’s enough. Come down right.
now.”
But his parents held him back, their faces. pale but resolute. His father’s hand rested firmly on his shoulder, silently telling him. to stay quiet and let me speak.
I turned to them and bowed slightly. “To Ash’s parents, I owe you an apology. You welcomed me into your family with open arms, and for that, I’ll always be grateful. But your son…”I met Ash‘ s gaze, my voice growing colder.
“Your son married me not out of love but because you wanted him to settle down. I was never more than a pawn in his game to earn your approval.” As I spoke I looked at the shocked gaze of everyone.
Kate’s face turned red with rage, but before she could interrupt, I pressed on. “Let’s not forget the day I was kidnapped. Because of him, I was taken and tortured. And when they demanded that he choose
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Party Trouble.
then tho to save, his wife or his mistress, he
Cadn’t even hesitate. He chose her.” My pice trembled, but I pushed through. “I urvived by sheer will, but our unborn bit bad
hild didn’t. That’s on you, Ash!” I father!
ointed at him.
siler
ne spae room was immediately filled with
asps and murmurs. Ash‘ s face turned nowed
shen, and Kate’s eyes darted around
You an a
ervously.
Our fam
Il and my mother?” I continued, letting the t Ash’sight of my words settle. “She’s still
ing in a hospital bed because you, Ash,
nted her to buy flowers for Kate,
ie noto
him tos
1 a pawn
owing full well she was allergic to
len. Do you even remember that?”
As Isph opened his mouth to respond, but I cut everyoun off. “No, don‘ t bother. There‘ s
re.”
red with!!
erruptached into my bag and pulled out the e day Iotograph, holding it high. “And here‘ s as taken ma‘ s grand finale. Your precious wife, anded he, has been having an affair.” I tossed
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15: Party Trouble.
the photograph onto a nearby table, where guests immediately crowded around to see.
Before anyone could recover, I pressed play on the recording of Kate’s conversation with the doctor. Her voice filled the room, confirming her lies and deceit.
“And that’s not all,” I said, my voice laced with mockery. “The baby you‘ re all here. to celebrate? It doesn‘ t exist. Kate fabricated everything to keep Ash‘ s parents happy. Isn’t that right, Kate?”
The room exploded into chaos. Guests whispered, gasped, and stared at Kate in disbelief. Ash turned to her, his face a mixture of shock and fury. “Is this true?” he demanded, his voice low and trembling.
Kate stammered, her confident façade crumbling under the weight of the evidence. “Ash, I… it’s not what it looks
like…”
But he wasn’t listening. The crowd‘ s judgmental stares bore into them both, and
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15: Party Trouble.
I took that as my cue to leave.
I stepped off the stage, walking past Ash who had a pale face. Even his parents looked at him in disappointment.
As I reached the door, I beamed a small, satisfied smile. “Let them deal with the
wreckage.”
This was my perfect revenge.
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