You traitorthere will be no wedding.
My love, honestly, what nonsense are you accusing me of? Charles barely glanced at the photos on my phone. I only love you, and I don’t need anyone else. This is obviously a fakesomeone’s doctored the pictures.
Oh really? And who would do that, in your mind? I felt a prickle of anger at how dismissive Charles was, even answering with remarkable laziness.
The beauty salon my grandmother left me never really captivated my interest.
What I really enjoyed was teaching art to children at the local art school. I hadnt, of course, turned down my inheritance.
The salon brought in a comfortable income, looked after by a trustworthy manager, so I could devote myself to my passion and want for nothingexcept perhaps a family.
After Gran passed away, I felt terribly alone at 27, until, a year later, I met Charles at a gallery exhibition.
He seemed a true English gentleman, charming in a shy sort of way, whose kindness and chivalry drew me in.
Within a couple of months, Charles invited me to his house to meet his stepfather, Edward.
My real dad passed away when I was four, Charles told me quietly. Mum remarried after ten years.
Never could quite bring myself to call Edward Dad, but we get on alright. When Mum died two years ago, I just kept living here with him.
I rather liked Edwardtrim, sharp-eyed, well-spokena far cry, in looks and attitude, from his 56 years.
Apparently, I made a decent impression too.
Our Charles is a lucky sod, Edward announced grandly, kissing my hand.
Oi, why lucky sod? Charles feigned hurt.
Because, lad, a real man wouldve moved beyond selling hobby supplies for a living, Edward shot back, laughing. Never mind! The important thing is youve bagged yourself a fiancée!
At first, I felt awkward among their banter, but found myself laughing all evening, nearly making Charles jealous.
Half a year later, Charles proposed. I was so besotted, dreaming of the family wed have, that I barely registered the odd photos that landed in my messages.
But when I did, I stood stock still in shock.
Photo after photo: my Charles, tenderly hugging and kissing some girl, that familiar bashful smile on his face.
The date at the bottom said these were only taken a couple of weeks ago.
My love, honestly, what nonsense are you accusing me of? Charles hardly looked at the pictures. I only love you. This is obviously a fake.
Oh, and whos supposed to have done this? His offhand attitude and half-hearted defence stung.
Ive no idea, he replied, serenely. Plenty of crazy people out there.
That was it. He could at least have tried to explain, to swear he loved me, promise to track down whoever was behind this. Instead, hed not only betrayed me, but felt no need to even pretend regret.
Youre a traitor! The wedding is off! I burst into tears, darted from his flat, leaving Charles staring after me in surprise.
For three days, I locked myself at home, sobbing. For another week I didnt leave the house, calling in sick. I replayed everything in my mindCharles never once messaged or called. After a while, I forced myself to think straight.
What if the images really were phoney? Nowadays, people can generate anything with AImaybe someone really was trying to break us up. Had I been too quick to judge?
To my surprise, the girl in the photos turned out to be real. I came across her online. She went by Emily on her profiles, and agreed to meet me without fuss.
Those are old photos, she smirked when I showed them. Thats over a year ago.
But the date I started.
Oh, please. Faking a date is the easiest thing in the world, Emily looked at me with pity. If someone wanted to.
Did you send them? I prodded.
Why would I? Charles and I broke things off ages ago; we barely lasted a couple of months. Didnt click. In any case, Im getting married soon.
Funny, I didn’t see a fiancé on your page, I said, a little pointedly.
Theres happiness in silence, she shrugged. Dont want to jinx things. But Ill definitely post the wedding photos.
So someone really had tried to slander Charlesand Id believed it. Id wronged him. I had to set things right.
He didnt reply to my messages or calls. Eventually, I set out for Charles place to catch him at home.
When I arrived that evening, I saw Charles stepping out of the car of my old frenemy, Sarah.
Sarah and Id grown up on the same street. Wed once been close, though her brash style and relentless ambition always left me exhausted. After Gran died, Sarah had constantly pressured me to sell the salonshe wanted to convert it into a massage parlour. She already owned two, but our buildings location was perfect.
Of course, I knew all too well what went on in her establishments. And I needed the salon myself.
Id turned down Sarahs generous offers several times. Now she was after my fiancé?
As I was mulling all this over, Charles and Sarah finished chatting, exchanged a warm goodbye, and she drove off.
See what I said? Charles is a lucky sod, a voice murmured in my ear, making me jump. It was Edward.
Hello, Mr. Stephens, I stammered.
Evening. Charles doesnt seem at a loss, does he? Best marry me instead, Edward joked lightly, though his eyes were serious.
Im sorry, I I really have to go, I babbled, even more flustered, heading off as fast as I could.
Finding Sarah wasnt difficult. Shed just arrived back at our old block of flats.
So, decided to steal my fiancé, have you? I glared at her. But your little photo trick didnt workI figured it out.
What photos? she looked genuinely confused. What are you talking about?
Dont pretend. The shots of Charles with another girltrying to set me up to ditch him? With you waiting in the wings?
Are you feeling alright? she asked. I never sent you anything like that. Charles started chasing me about a week ago. I thought you two had split up.
I searched her faceshe seemed to be telling the truth. I needed to think, alone, in peace.
I almost thought youd finally decided to sell the salon! Sarah called after me as I hurried home, but I ignored her.
At home, after steadying myself, I rang Charles again. To my surprise, he picked up.
Alright, he said flatly when I asked to meet. You can come round if you like. Im not feeling great.
I didnt need telling twice.
Charles, I made a mistake. Please forgive me. I just love you so mucheverything looked so convincing, I just Please, forgive me!
He just shrugged. These things happen.
Youre wonderful! I flung my arms round him. How I love you!
But Charles gently pushed me away.
Lets just be friends, he said.
Pardon? Were supposed to get married
He grimaced. Im marrying Sarah.
What? You said you loved me, that wed
No drama, please. That overactive imagination of yours is really the reason I changed my mind. Im not after all these hysterics.
And, well Sarahs business does better, brings in more. I need to think about my own future.
I was dumbstruck, utterly speechless.
So that was itCharles had just used me, and now swapped me in for someone else.
I ran from his flat, down the stairs and out onto the pavement, but my legs gave out and I collapsed onto a nearby bench.
After five minutes, Edward appeared beside me.
You poor thing, he said softly, stroking my head. Better you found out now than later
I just cant work out who set all of this up! I sobbed.
I did, he said quietly.
You? But why? I stared at him, the tears momentarily stopped.
I fell for you that first night you came to ours. Decided Id marry you. But you never even glanced at mealways Charles this, Charles that. Why waste yourself on him?
But youre much older and besides, I loved Charles or I thought I did
He sighed. At first, I thought Id ruin you in Charles eyes, but then overheard him bragging to his mate about snagging a rich bride. I realised hed never let you go of his own accord. So I decided to help things along. Thats all there is to it.
Youve ruined my life! I cried desperately.
No. I saved it. Youd only have suffered more later. Marry me, Alice. Please?
Youre mad! I leapt to my feet and headed home, leaving him sitting on the bench.
Soon after, I moved away from London, but Edward found me and kept writing, persuading. Eventually, we kept up a friendship, nothing more.
A year later, Edward passed away, leaving everything he owned to me. But I felt no joy. Id grown used to him over time.
Charles, by the way, was furious about losing the flat. But I had no interest in that man any longer.
