The Hidden Secrets

Luke lost his composure. "Stop talking nonsense. Just eat your food."

Everyone fell silent, except for Josh. He turned to Amanda and said, "Come on and have a seat. Luke's just grumpy. Give him a couple of days. He'll come running back."

Another laughed, "We were just betting on when he was going to dump his girlfriend."

"Shut up!" Luke roared. "I'm not breaking up with her!"

His words silenced the room and injured Amanda's pride. She sat down and turned to him, but he turned away.

Unwilling to give up, she placed a shrimp on his plate and said, "Have some of your favorite shrimp."

He glanced at me and pushed it away, a move that made her cringe. But she managed a faint smile. "Alright. I'll have it."

Unable to bear it anymore, he slapped her fork down. "Are you out of your mind? You're allergic to seafood."

His voice was loud, but his tone was tinged with concern. The shrimp hit the ground, the clatter echoing in my chest.

Amanda's eyes welled up. "If you remember my allergy, why can't you remember me?"

She fled the restaurant, tears streaming down her face.

Luke's jaw clenched. Then he chased after her, not sparing me a glance. In front of everyone else, he was always so composed. His anger and passion belonged only to Amanda.

The dinner dragged on. The others gossiped and bet on when Luke and Amanda would reunite.

Tired of it, I stepped outside and overheard Amanda on the phone.

"The money given by that idiot ran out fast," she snorted. "Marrying into the Collins family is my ultimate goal, the ticket to a good life. Luke's girlfriend? No threat. I saw them at dinner, and he denied her."

I trembled, and she paused at the sound.

Seeing it was me, she smirked, "You heard that, huh?"

I kept my voice steady. "People who betray love deserve to be struck by lightning."

"You're just his secret lover," she laughed. "You've got no right to talk about love. A hidden girlfriend? Nah, just my replacement."

Anger surged within me.

Before I could shoot back, her smile turned cruel. She shoved past me, knocking my shoulder hard. "Know your place."

Her footsteps faded, leaving me clutching my chest. The pain was unbearable.

Luke failed me, but Karma always came back around.

Once I calmed down, I went home.

Mike called. "Your fiancé got you an animal biology book with real specimens inside. Pretty cool, right? How are you going to thank me?"

"I'll reward you when I'm back for the marriage," I smiled, but my voice trailed off as I felt Luke's presence.

He had come back at some point without me noticing.

"Marriage? Who're you talking to?" he demanded.

I met his gaze. "It's Mike..."

Before I could finish, he frowned, tossing some papers into my hands. "I already talked to him."

I looked up. "What did you tell him?"

He paused. "Not much. Asked if he knew who my girlfriend was. Good thing he doesn't. Oh, and I forgot to ask about your party."

He didn't know these were my wedding documents. "It's probably no big deal. I won't go."

I smiled bitterly. Of course, he didn't care.

I opened the envelope, and a golden invitation peeked out.

Luke sensed my coldness and pulled me into his arms. His head rested on my shoulder as he explained, "I had to leave the dinner early for something. And yeah, I was a bit harsh. But you know I can't go public. It'd mess up my job at school."

His eyes landed on the invitation. "What's this, Addy?"