Chapter 5: The Bride With Two Faces
I didn't sleep that night.
Not because of Adrian.
Not because of Felicity.
Because I was finally seeing the pattern.
Every strange moment.
Every uncomfortable conversation.
Every time Felicity made me feel small.
It wasn't random.
It was calculated.
She didn't just want a better life.
She wanted a life where everyone around her disappeared.
Including me.
The next morning, I arrived at work early.
Too early.
My coworkers noticed.
“You okay?”” my friend Rachel asked.
Rachel had worked beside me for five years.
She knew my moods better than anyone.
“I’m fine.””
She gave me a look.
“Nurses are terrible liars.””
I smiled slightly.
“Family drama.””
She nodded.
No questions.
That was one reason I trusted her.
Some people wanted details because they cared.
Others wanted details because they wanted entertainment.
Rachel knew the difference.
During my lunch break, I received a message.
Unknown number.
I almost ignored it.
Then I opened it.
*We need to talk. Alone. — Felicity*
I stared at the screen.
My first instinct was anger.
My second was fear.
Not fear of her.
Fear of what she might do.
Because Felicity had never confronted problems honestly.
She controlled situations.
She changed stories.
She found weaknesses.
But this time, I wasn't sixteen anymore.
I wasn't the girl who stayed quiet because she wanted everyone to be happy.
I replied.
*Where?*
Five minutes later:
*The cafe near your hospital. One hour.*
Felicity arrived wearing sunglasses and designer clothes.
Even in a simple coffee shop, she looked like she was walking into a magazine photoshoot.
She sat across from me.
No greeting.
No apology.
“You talked to Adrian.””
It wasn't a question.
I took a sip of coffee.
“Yes.””
Her jaw tightened.
“I knew it.””
“You knew what?””
“That you would do this.””
I frowned.
“Do what?””
“Try to ruin my marriage.””
I stared at her.
For a moment, I genuinely couldn't believe what I was hearing.
“You humiliated me at your wedding.””
She looked away.
“You’re still upset about that?””
I laughed.
“You really don't understand, do you?””
She leaned forward.
“Jenna, you always make everything bigger than it is.””
There it was.
The sentence she had used my entire life.
You’re too sensitive.
You overreact.
You misunderstand.
I looked at her carefully.
“Did you lie to Adrian?””
She froze.
Only for a second.
But I saw it.
The hesitation.
The fear.
“I don’t know what you mean.””
“Yes, you do.””
She looked around.
“Keep your voice down.””
“Why?””
“Because this is private.””
I smiled.
“Interesting. You had no problem making me public entertainment.””
Her expression darkened.
“You don’t know what you’re doing.””
“Actually, I do.””
She shook her head.
“You think because you save people at a hospital, you’re better than everyone.””
“No.””
I looked directly at her.
“I think because I’ve spent my life helping people, I know the difference between someone who needs help and someone who uses people.””
Her face changed.
That hit something.
“You’re jealous.””
“No.””
“You always have been.””
“No, Felicity.””
My voice became quieter.
“I was never jealous of you.””
She stared at me.
“I felt sorry for you.””
The silence that followed was immediate.
For the first time in my life, Felicity had no response.
Because she expected anger.
She expected tears.
She expected me to defend myself.
She didn't expect pity.
“You think you’re so different from me?””
She leaned closer.
“You’re not.””
I didn't answer.
“You want to know the truth?””
Her smile returned.
“The world doesn't reward people like you.””
“What does that mean?””
“It means nobody cares that you work twelve-hour shifts. Nobody cares that you help strangers. They care about power.
Money. Connections.””
She pointed toward herself.
“I understood that.””
I looked at her.
“No. You misunderstood it.””
Her smile disappeared.
“You think people love you because you're impressive?””
I stood up.
“No.””
I picked up my bag.
“They love me because I don't need to pretend.””
I walked away.
But before I reached the door, she said something.
Something that made me stop.
“You should ask your father why your mother never wanted him to marry Patricia.””
I turned slowly.
“What?””
Felicity smiled.
For the first time, she looked genuinely confident.
“Maybe your family has secrets too.””
And then she walked out.
May you like
Leaving me with a question I never expected to ask.
What really happened before my father married Patricia?
