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When Betrayal Struck, Love Faded
NovelShort
Completed
In the seventh year of my relationship with Leigh Ellis, her family extended a warm invitation to my mother and me to join them at their ancestral home for the New Year. My mother was ecstatic, her joy lighting up the room. Determined to make a lasting impression on her future in-laws, she spent the entire afternoon meticulously preparing. She even pulled out an elegant dress she hadn’t worn in years, its fabric still rich with memories of another time. On the way to the ancestral home, Leigh suddenly received a call from her childhood friend, Wendell Gatlin. Without offering much explanation, she told us to find our own way and drove off in a rush, leaving us behind. Barely a minute after we stepped out of the car, my mother crumpled into the snow. The icy cold awakened her old illness and her heart stopped. Panic surged through me as I fumbled to call Leigh. Her car carried an AED; her return was my mother's only chance. But no matter how many times I called, every ring was met with an unforgiving silence. An hour later, Wendell updated his social media. In the photo, he and Leigh stood close in the courtyard of the ancestral home, spring couplets in their hands. Their faces radiated joy as they leaned against each other. “Celebrating the New Year with the one I love most is the greatest happiness of my life!” the caption read.
Chapters (6)
第1章
In the seventh year of my relationship with Leigh Ellis, her family extended a warm invitation to my mother and me to join them at their ancestral home for the New Year.
My mother was ecstatic, her joy lighting up the room. Determined to make a lasting impression on her future in-laws, she spent the entire afternoon meticulously preparing. She even pulled out an elegant dress she hadn’t worn in years, its fabric still rich with memories of another time.
On the way to the ancestral home, Leigh suddenly received a call from her childhood friend, Wendell Gatlin.
Without offering much explanation, she told us to find our own way and drove off in a rush, leaving us behind.
Barely a minute after we stepped out of the car, my mother crumpled into the snow. The icy cold awakened her old illness and her heart stopped.
Panic surged through me as I fumbled to call Leigh. Her car carried an AED; her return was my mother's only chance.
But no matter how many times I called, every ring was met with an unforgiving silence.
When she finally picked up, her tone was sharp and irritating. "Harris Laurier, didn’t I tell you to figure out your own ride? Can’t you understand simple words?" she snapped.
"Wendell’s stomach ulcer is acting up. I need to check on him immediately."
"Ask Auntie to hold on for a bit. Once she gets to the mansion, I’ll personally apologize to her," she added dismissively.
Before I could say a word, the line went dead. When I tried calling again, her phone was turned off.
I clutched my mother in my arms, tears blurring my vision as she slipped away right there in the snow.
An hour later, Wendell updated his social media. In the photo, he and Leigh stood close in the courtyard of the ancestral home, spring couplets in their hands. Their faces radiated joy as they leaned against each other.
“Celebrating the New Year with the one I love most is the greatest happiness of my life!” the caption read.
My heart crumbled to ash. I tossed the engagement letter and ring into the trash with trembling hands.
Then, I liked the post and commented: "Happy New Year. Wishing you a lifetime of happiness together."
——
Barely a moment later, Leigh, whose phone had been off all this time, called me back:
"Harris, what’s the meaning of that comment?" she demanded, her tone sharp and indignant.
"Wendell posted a New Year greeting and you respond with something so passive-aggressive? What’s your problem?"
"And now it’s dark and we’re about to start the reunion dinner. Wendell even pushed through his stomach pain to make Auntie’s favorite sweet-and-sour pork."
"Our whole family is waiting for you. When are you and Auntie planning to arrive?"
Grief engulfed me like a tide, leaving my heart heavy and lifeless, as still as dead water.
After losing my mother, I reflected deeply and came to understand so much more.
With a calmness I hadn’t felt in days, I said, "We’re not coming. Have dinner without us."
Her voice immediately rose, sharp and accusing.
"Harris, you better think this through!"
"My parents invited you over mainly to talk about our wedding. If you’ll back out over something so trivial, then maybe we shouldn’t even bother discussing marriage."
I nodded, my tone unwavering. "We shouldn’t."
"Leigh, let’s break up."
For a moment, she was completely silent, stunned into disbelief. In the seven years we’d been together, we had fought, argued and disagreed, but never had the word "breakup" crossed my lips.
She couldn’t fathom that I had actually said it.
Then, cutting through the silence, Wendell’s voice emerged beside her.
"Leigh, my stomach seems to be acting up again. Could you help me back to the room to rest?"
Without hesitation, she replied, "Of course," and then spoke sharply into the phone, "Harris, you said it yourself. Fine, we’ll break up. But don’t come crawling back to me later."
I didn’t say a word, ending the call without another thought.
By the time I had buried my mother, the seventh day of the New Year had arrived. In all that time, Leigh hadn’t called or messaged even once.
Her social media stayed eerily silent, while Wendell’s was a flurry of activity, updated like clockwork every single day.
One day, it was photos from the flower market; the next was from a temple fair and the day after that, it was a skiing trip.
第2章
Each photo, perfectly framed, featured Leigh, her presence unmistakable. The comments section erupted with excitement.
“Congrats, class rep! You’ve finally ended up with Leigh, the campus beauty.”
“True love always finds its way. Best wishes to both of you.”
“I’ve always said it—you're a perfect match.”
“Class rep, when’s the wedding banquet? We’ve been waiting forever!”
***
At home, I sat on the sofa, staring out at the snow that gently fell outside, frozen in place for the entire afternoon.
As darkness fell, the sound of keys turning in the lock echoed from the entryway.
Leigh had returned.
She paused for a moment when she saw me on the sofa.
“Harris, it’s dark. Why didn’t you turn on the lights?”
I lifted my gaze to her briefly but said nothing.
Leigh kicked off her high heels and walked over, sitting beside me.
“What, still mad at me?”
As she leaned in closer, I caught the sharp mix of cigarette smoke and men’s cologne on her.
Her crimson lips brushed toward mine, but I pulled back ever so slightly.
Leigh froze.
In the past, no matter how heated our arguments had been, her tenderness and kisses always soothed my anger.
But now, not only had I rejected her, but she also saw the disdain in my eyes.
Her brow furrowed. “Harris, how long are you going to keep this up?”
“It’s the New Year; I don’t want to argue with you.”
I pressed my lips together, remaining silent.
Her expression softened slightly. “I admit, leaving you both stranded on New Year’s Eve was thoughtless.”
“But Wendell had a serious stomach issue; I couldn’t just leave him alone.”
“Besides, I promised I’d apologize to your mom personally.”
“And just because of something so trivial, you and your mom missed the dinner.”
“Do you have any idea how much effort my parents put into that New Year’s dinner?”
“Do you know how disappointed and angry they were when you didn’t show up?”
“If it weren’t for Wendell speaking up for you, our engagement might’ve been off the table.”
Leigh pulled a gilded red invitation card from her bag and placed it on the coffee table.
“The engagement party is already set for the Portland Winter Light Festival. My parents have everything arranged.”
“I’ll call your mom right now; I’m sure she’ll be thrilled.”
I took a deep breath, struggling to keep my emotions in check. “There’s no need. We’ve already broken up.”
“And she won’t answer your call.”
Leigh’s brows furrowed even deeper. “Harris, you’re an adult. Can you stop acting like a child?”
“Do you know how much your mom dotes on me?”
“She’s told me she dreams of the day I marry you.”
“How could she possibly not answer my call?”
Her words pierced through me like an invisible hand, tightening around my chest until I could barely breathe.
She wasn’t wrong. My mom truly adored her and treated her as if she were her own.
If Leigh casually mentioned craving soup, my mom would be up before dawn, buying the freshest ingredients.
If Leigh complained about a cleaning service, my mom would show up herself, rain or shine, to tidy up.
When Leigh fell ill while I was away, my mom rushed her to the hospital, pushing herself to the brink of exhaustion despite her heart condition.
After seven years of living together, my mom had showered Leigh with as much love as she had given me.
So, when the Ellis Family invited us for New Year's dinner, my mom didn’t hesitate for a second.
Wanting to leave a lasting impression on her future in-laws, she began her preparations at the crack of dawn:
Styling her hair, applying foundation, carefully drawing her eyebrows…
第3章
She even pulled out the formal dress she had cherished for over a decade.
I tried to convince her that the weather was too cold and it wouldn’t be suitable for the New Year.
With a gentle smile, she assured me it was fine. She could wear a coat over it and with the cars picking us up and dropping us off, she wouldn’t catch a chill.
Besides, the formal dress had been a gift from my father on their wedding day.
Wearing it, she said, would be her way of honoring him.
Tears shimmered in her eyes as she spoke.
I fell silent for a few seconds, no longer trying to change her mind.
On the way to the Ellis Family’s ancestral home, my mother chatted and laughed with Leigh, her voice light and full of warmth.
But when Leigh’s phone rang, Wendell’s name flashing on the screen, her smile disappeared as if it had been wiped away with a single stroke.
She suggested we take a cab ourselves, but I refused.
In this heavy snow, hailing a cab seemed impossible and I couldn’t bear the thought of my mother enduring the cold.
My mother caught the sudden shift in Leigh’s mood and gave me a knowing look.
Always the dutiful son, I couldn’t go against her wishes, so I finally stepped out of the car.
Who could have known that less than a minute later, my mother, unable to endure the bitter cold, would collapse from a heart attack?
The more I replayed that moment in my mind, the colder my heart became and the deeper the ache settled within.
I wanted to slap myself.
If only I had been firmer, maybe my mother wouldn’t have died.
Seeing my silence, Leigh finally snapped, her patience thinning.
“Harris, I’m so disappointed in you,” she said, her voice dripping with disdain.
“Fine, since you’re so stubborn, I’ll let your mom decide who’s right and who’s wrong.”
As she reached for her phone, a ringtone sliced through the air, a distinct, familiar tone, one I’d heard only on New Year’s Eve.
Leigh’s expression faltered for just a moment before she quickly stepped onto the balcony to take the call.
Faint voices filtered through, but they were distant, muffled.
“Who are you…? What? Wendell’s drunk and passed out on the roadside?”
“…Alright, thank you. I’ll be there right away!”
Leigh rushed out, not even sparing me a glance or offering an explanation.
It was the same decisive, almost callous manner she’d shown when she abandoned my mother and me that night.
A bitter smile tugged at my lips.
No matter the situation, Wendell would always occupy a sacred spot in her heart.
If that was the case, it was time for me to leave.
My mother’s most cherished wish was seeing me marry and have children, had always been to visit Luxembourg.
It was where she and my father first met, a place filled with memories too beautiful to capture in words.
Yet, in all these years, I’d failed to make that wish come true, too consumed with taking care of Leigh.
Now, I had made up my mind. I would set off on a journey around the world with my mother’s ashes and Luxembourg would be the final stop.
As I delved into the details of the trip, Wendell’s social media updates caught my eye once more.
I had no intention of looking, but somehow, my fingers betrayed me, clicking on the screen.
The first photo showed Leigh, someone who had never so much as stepped into a kitchen, cooking noodles.
The second photo captured her feeding the noodles to Wendell, her face glowing with concern, tenderness and warmth I had never known her to show me.
The third photo was of her cleaning stains off the carpet and sofa with meticulous care.
A wave of bitterness and sorrow flooded my chest.
Last year, during the Autumn Luminary Festival, I had drunk three bottles of red wine with a client for a key Ellis Group project, vomiting until my head spun.
When Leigh found me passed out on the sofa, she was utterly at a loss, eventually calling my mother for help.
While my mother worked tirelessly to care for me, Leigh stood at a distance, wrinkling her nose in disgust at the smell of my sickness.
But when Wendell was in need, there wasn’t a trace of disgust in her eyes, only care that seemed to surpass the duties of a real wife.
Leigh didn’t return that night, nor did she show up the next few days.
第4章
I wasn’t concerned about any of this; my focus was entirely on preparing for my global travels.
On the thirteenth day of the new year, Leigh’s secretary called to inform me of a product launch conference scheduled for the next day.
At first, I didn’t want to attend. But realizing it was the result of years of hard work, I reluctantly agreed.
Seven years ago, after confirming my relationship with Leigh, I had turned down lucrative offers from Fortune 500 companies and joined Ellis Corporation.
Through my tireless efforts, I helped the company rise from a second-tier enterprise to Portland’s leading high-tech powerhouse.
This success had led the Ellis Family, who once looked down on me, to start involving me and my mother in family discussions, even inviting us to their mansion for New Year’s to discuss our marriage plans.
The product launch was grand and lively.
Just as I was about to step onto the stage to deliver my speech, Leigh suddenly appeared.
She was impeccably dressed and breathtakingly beautiful, but there was an intriguing edge to her expression.
She didn’t offer an explanation for her absence over the past few days. Instead, she halted me with a sharp command.
“Harris, wait a moment.”
“The company has arranged for someone else to deliver the speech this time.”
I froze.
For as long as I could remember, I had always been the one to lead the new product projects.
In the entire company, no one else was as qualified as I was to take the stage.
No one knew the product better than I did.
From the design to the development, I had poured my heart and soul into it, investing countless hours and effort.
It felt like my own creation, my child.
But then, Wendell’s voice echoed across the stage.
“Good day, esteemed guests! On behalf of Ellis Corporation, I extend a warm welcome to all of you.”
“Now, let me introduce the features of the product we are launching today…”
Watching him, smug and dripping with confidence, it all became clear.
I turned to Leigh, my voice cold and steady. "If everything was already arranged, why bother having me attend the launch?"
Leigh’s response came without hesitation. "As the head of the new product project, it’s only natural for you to be here."
She continued, “Harris, the decision about the speaker was made by the company and I fully support it.”
“After all, you’ve already made your mark in the industry. You don’t need this kind of superficial recognition.”
"But for Wendell, it’s different. As a newcomer, he needs this opportunity to build his credentials…”
I watched her closely as she spoke, her words flowing like water unimpeded.
The more I observed, the more she seemed like a stranger to me.
The Leigh who had once loved me deeply, who had eyes only for me, had changed entirely.
It happened after Wendell returned from abroad and joined Ellis Corporation as her assistant.
She began leaving for business trips without a word, staying out all night.
The time she spent with Wendell far outstripped the moments she’d shared with me.
I had been so wrapped up in my work that I didn’t pause to consider the growing distance.
My perceptive mother had noticed it long before I did and one day, she cautioned me, “Harris, Leigh is your girlfriend, yet she’s always with another man. Don’t you think that’s inappropriate?”
I shrugged off her concerns, dismissing them as overthinking. “Mom, you’re reading too much into it. Wendell’s just Leigh’s assistant. They have to work together; it’s nothing unusual.”
Leigh had even told me herself that Wendell had been like a brother to her since their college days.
“If they had any feelings for each other, they’d have been together long before I came into the picture,” I said, trying to reassure my mother.
Now, looking back, I realized how blind I had been.
Seeing my silence, Leigh smiled, misinterpreting it as acceptance.
“Harris, tomorrow’s our engagement day. Are you ready?” she asked, her smile almost too perfect.
I nodded stiffly, unsure of how I truly felt.
Leigh raised an eyebrow, her voice laced with mild curiosity. “Your mom must be so excited, huh? But it’s odd… I’ve been trying to reach her these past few days, but her phone’s been off.”
第5章
“Could it be her phone just acting up?”
Before I could dwell on it further, a sudden burst of applause erupted from the audience.
The presentation had ended and at that moment, I realized the truth. Wendell, not only had he presented the new product features, but he had skillfully taken the reins, positioning himself as the developer and effortlessly erasing my role from the picture.
A bitter laugh echoed in my mind, but I chose to remain silent, not wanting to air the truth for everyone to see.
However, the senior employees around us weren’t as composed. Their faces betrayed their disapproval.
Wendell gave a courteous bow to the audience before striding toward us, his voice smooth as he addressed me, “President Laurier, thank you for this opportunity to present.”
Before I could form a reply, Leigh’s voice cut in, sweet and effortless, “Wendell, no need for all the formalities between us.”
She reached out, casually adjusting his slightly misaligned collar, her fingers moving with an ease that only came from years of familiarity. It was as if they had been a pair for far longer than I had ever realized.
Wendell smiled at me, his eyes brimming with nothing but disdain, a smug victory written all over his face.
I didn’t flinch. Instead, I offered him a calm smile, masking everything beneath it.
The presentation had been a massive success. As soon as the product launched, it rocketed to the top of the trending charts.
At the cocktail party that followed, Leigh and Wendell became the shining stars, the center of attention.
They moved through the crowd with an ease that came from years of familiarity, raising their glasses, laughing freely, like an inseparable couple.
Meanwhile, I stood quietly in a corner, a silent observer of the spectacle unfolding before me.
No one took notice of my presence and truthfully, I didn’t care to be noticed.
I finished my drink, the silence around me almost comforting and then quietly slipped away.
Back at the office, I was packing up the last of my things when my phone buzzed with a stream of photos.
The sender was Wendell.
Each photo was a punch to the gut, showing him and Leigh in intimate, explicit moments at a hotel.
In the past, I would’ve lost my composure, fury surging through my veins.
But now, all I felt was emptiness.
I didn’t even waste a moment questioning the photos’ authenticity.
Ten minutes later, I posted a statement on social media, announcing my permanent departure from Ellis Corporation.
The post sent shockwaves through the industry, quickly overshadowing even the buzz from the new product launch.
Everyone knew that I was the real driving force behind the product, its creator and its heart.
Wendell? He was just the face, a hollow figure without substance.
Without my expertise, the product’s future was as bleak as a storm cloud on the horizon.
Unsurprisingly, Ellis Corporation’s stock took a sharp dive; the once-steady rise was now plummeting.
The Ellis Family scrambled to salvage their reputation, panic etched across their faces. And Leigh?
She rushed away from the cocktail party, the anxiety in her eyes unmistakable as she sought me out.
When she stepped into my office and saw the emptiness of my desk, her gaze faltered for a moment before she steeled herself.
“Harris, why did you post that statement?” she demanded, her voice strained.
“Do you realize the damage this has caused the company?”
I met her gaze coolly, my voice calm but unwavering. “Assistant Gatlin made it clear during the presentation that he’s the developer and head of the new product.”
“And with him around, that should be more than enough.”
Leigh’s face flushed crimson with fury, her brows furrowing like storm clouds ready to burst. Just as she parted her lips to speak, a female employee burst through the door, panic painting her features.
“President Ellis, something’s gone terribly wrong! Assistant Gatlin is threatening to jump!”
“He says he’s failed you, failed the company…”
“And most of all, he’s let Harris down!”
Leigh’s complexion drained of color, her breath hitching in shock as she bolted from the room.
I didn’t spare her another thought, finishing my task with cold precision before gathering my things and leaving the office.
As I stepped into the hallway, I saw Wendell perched on the window ledge, his figure a tragic silhouette against the glass.
Leigh, tears streaking down her face, was pleading with him, her voice shaking with desperation. A crowd of employees had gathered, watching the scene unfold with morbid curiosity.
As I watched Wendell’s hands, white-knuckled and clutching the window frame, a sudden understanding hit me.
I was about to leave when Leigh rushed toward me, her fingers locking around my wrist with a grip that felt almost frantic.
“Harris, you’re here just in time!” she gasped, pulling me closer.
第6章
“You’re the only one who can stop Wendell now!”
“Just delete your post and claim it was a mistake. Please.”
I pushed her away gently, but the message was clear: there would be no bending.
Seeing this, Wendell’s face crumpled, his eyes flooding with tears.
“Harris, I’ve wronged you. It’s all my fault. I acted rashly and took credit for your work. And now… the only way I can make up for it is to end it all.”
He moved toward the edge, his body swaying as if ready to leap.
Leigh, panic consuming her, rushed to his side. Without warning, she seized a handcrafted knife from the table, pressing it to her own throat.
“Harris, will you only be satisfied if you push me to death if that’s what it takes to make Wendell pay for his mistake?”
Her voice trembled with raw emotion, her tear-streaked face haunting me.
My mind was clouded with memories at that moment and I struggled to focus.
Seven years ago, when we first declared our love, her family had been vehemently against it. They tried everything to tear us apart.
In the end, it had been Leigh who, with a fruit knife in her trembling hand, threatened her own life to force them to relent.
The look in her eyes back then had mirrored the one she wore now.
But this time, she wasn’t fighting for us. No, she was fighting for Wendell.
At that moment, my heart turned as cold as ice. I pulled out my phone and deleted the post from everyone.
“Leigh, I’ll do as you wish.”
“Are you satisfied now?”
As soon as I issued the statement, Wendell climbed down from the windowsill, his legs still shaking as they touched the ground.
Leigh didn’t even look at me as she rushed toward him, pulling him into a tight embrace.
“Wendell, are you okay?”
“You were so reckless. If you’d really jumped, do you know how devastated I’d have been?”
Watching them cling to each other, a hollow laugh escaped my lips. I turned and walked away, the bitter taste of self-mockery filling my mouth.
On my way home, I dialed a friend, asking him to dig into something for me.
He agreed without hesitation, his response swift. Within the hour, a report landed in my inbox.
As I read through it, my suspicions were confirmed. Wendell’s dramatic stunt had been carefully calculated and every move was designed with a specific intent.
The next day dawned with the Portland Winter Light Festival in full swing.
The Ellis Family, ever the magnates, had rented out Portland’s only six-star hotel, transforming it into the backdrop for their grand banquet.
Tobias Ellis and Aliah Ellis were positively beaming, their spirits high, buoyed by the soaring stock prices of Ellis Group since the market had reopened.
The statement I’d issued had worked its magic.
On that day, Leigh was the picture of elegance, more radiant than ever.
She stood on the stage in a custom-designed gown, flowers in hand, the engagement ring glittering like a promise as she awaited the moment that would change everything.
The guests buzzed with eager anticipation, each one waiting for the grand moment to unfold.
But none of them knew the truth, that I had already boarded a cruise ship, my mother’s urn in hand, severing every last tie with Leigh.
As the minutes dragged on and I failed to appear, Leigh’s unease began to rise.
She turned to Wendell, asking him to call me, desperate for any word. But his calls went unanswered, blocked, just like the rest.
A knot tightened in her chest and she quickly grabbed her phone, dialing me herself.
When the automated message greeted her, telling her my number was unreachable, her brows furrowed in frustration.