Love Brewed Bitter

We weren't married, so technically, Aidan wasn't lying.

His words cut deep, and I moved to lift the curtain. But my hand paused because ripping that veil would break me.

After Sophie was settled, I left the hospital.

At home, a delivery arrived with a bouquet of my favorite roses, but the name on the card wasn't mine.

It read, [Happy birthday, Miss Newman!]

To my surprise, it was also Isabella's birthday.

Back in college, Aidan had spent a week's wages on my birthday, buying a cake and roses. When he asked me to be his girlfriend, I burst into tears and hugged him.

Now things had changed.

I waited till late hours, but Aidan hadn't called or texted me. The dinner I'd cooked and the cake I'd ordered sat untouched.

Back in our broke days, he never missed my birthday. Once, he drank himself sick at a business event just to rush home to me.

I hugged him, feeling bad. He said that he could never repay me. Hardships never swayed his love for me.

My phone chimed with a text from Callum. [Aidan booked a private room. Why aren't you here yet?]

I was confused because, from the looks of it, Aidan was going to celebrate Isabella's birthday.

Still, I felt a spark of hope, slipping into a rare dress, doing my markup, and tying my hair up to look younger. Then I took a cab to the spot.

To my surprise, it was the bar where I'd sold liquor to the rich. Memories of that pain flooded back, but I pushed through to the private room on the second floor.

At the door, I heard cheers.

Isabella, in a white dress, was in Aidan's arms.

"I can't do this," she whined, her cheeks rosy.

"Relax. It's just a bit of fun," Aidan encouraged, leaning over to kiss her.

The passion in his eyes was unmistakable. The crowd cheered even more loudly.

Someone shouted, "Way to go, Aidan!"

The two held hands as they sliced into the three-tier fondant cake, which was decorated with hearts and letters of love.

Callum popped open a bottle of champagne and sprayed it into the air. Aidan shielded Isabella from the spray, his hand resting on her waist. It was a picture of love.

As things settled, Isabella sat center stage. Aidan's friends showered her with gifts.

In contrast, I'd never been accepted by his circle. He never brought me to events, claiming that I was too pretty and that he didn't want his friends to hit on me.

Now I knew he was just ashamed of me. Turning around, he paraded Isabella proudly, some even calling her Mrs. Black. Their attitudes reflected how he saw me.

Aidan pulled out a necklace, the latest from Sparkle Elegance, worth at least $300,000.

I always loved their designs, but even their $3,000 pieces were too extravagant for me, as Aiden had said. For Isabella, he didn't blink at the price.

Isabella spotted me and smiled innocently. Then she teared up. "I can't accept this. It's too much. You should give it to your wife."

Aidan paused from putting the necklace on her, but Callum chimed in, "It's fine. Aidan and his girlfriend are basically done."

"Huh, why?" Isabella asked, feigning ignorance.