A Marriage Built On Lies

Synopsis

A year after my wedding, I find myself backed into a corner, my blouse ripped open. The woman in front of me holds up her phone, the little red "LIVE" icon glowing. Then, she slaps me hard. "You slut!" she screams into the camera. "This is what you get for messing with my husband!" She is impossibly strong, and I am pinned. All I can do is clutch the torn fabric over my chest. "You have the wrong person!" I choke out, my voice shaking. "I'm married! I don't even know your husband!" She just laughs before shoving a marriage certificate in my face. It is dated three years ago. And the smiling groom in the photo is my husband, Richard Hughes. "Richard and I got this three years ago, Lily Shaw," she sneers, jabbing a finger at the document. "Face it. You're the other woman." My world goes silent. Everything just fades into a dull roar in my ears. Overnight, my reputation is in shreds. The promotion at the TV station I have worked so hard for is gone. I am blacklisted. My career is over. I find myself on the balcony of the apartment Richard and I have called home, the cold night air doing nothing to numb the ache in my soul. I am ready to let go of it all. Just as I climb onto the ledge, I hear voices from the other side of the door. "You're a real piece of work, Richard," she barks and laughs. "We've only known each other three months, and you let me use a fake marriage certificate just to screw with her head to make me happy." "As long as you're happy," Richard murmurs gently. "You can play any game you want." I stare at the door, the last bit of hope inside me crumbling to dust. It isn't a mistake. The complete and utter destruction of my life is all just a game to him, a little show to entertain his fling.