Shattered Vows

Chapter 9: Rachel's Plan

Sophie sat across from Rachel at their usual spot in the cozy café, the smell of fresh coffee mingling with the hum of light chatter around them. It had become a sanctuary for Sophie in recent weeks—a place where she could talk freely, where she could momentarily strip away the mask she'd been wearing for everyone else. Rachel, her loyal best friend, was the only one who knew the truth, the only one who had seen Sophie's heart shatter into pieces that fateful night at the engagement party.

Rachel leaned in, her voice low but intense, her eyes blazing with indignation. "You have to expose them, Sophie. Right in front of everyone. At the wedding. Imagine the look on their faces when you lay it all out there, when everyone sees what they've done."

Sophie had been expecting this. Rachel's righteous anger on her behalf had been unwavering from the moment she'd confided in her. It was comforting, in a way, to know that someone was as furious as she was. But as much as Sophie wanted to see Mark and Jessica suffer, the idea of a public confrontation made her stomach churn.

"I can't do that, Rach," Sophie said, shaking her head. "It's too... dramatic. I don't want to be the center of a spectacle. I don't want people to see me as the scorned woman, humiliated at her own wedding. That's what they want—to see me broken."

Rachel frowned, her fingers tightening around her coffee cup. "They deserve to be humiliated, Sophie. After everything they've done to you, they deserve to be called out in front of everyone."

Sophie took a sip of her coffee, the bitterness grounding her. "I don't want to give them that satisfaction. If I blow up at them, it's exactly what they're expecting. They think they've won already. But what if..." She trailed off, her mind racing as the pieces began to fall into place.

Rachel raised an eyebrow. "What if what?"

Sophie leaned forward, her voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper. "What if I make them destroy each other?"

Rachel blinked, clearly intrigued. "What do you mean?"

"I mean, I'm not going to explode in front of everyone. I'm not going to confront them at all—not directly. I'm going to plant seeds of doubt. Make them doubt each other, question their loyalty. If I play it right, they'll start to unravel on their own. And I won't have to lift a finger."

Rachel stared at her, a slow smile creeping across her face. "You're devious. I love it."

Sophie smiled back, though there was no joy in it. It was a smile born of determination, of survival. "I've spent years watching them, listening to their lies. They think they've been playing me, but they don't realize I've been paying attention. I know how to push their buttons."

Sophie's plan was simple, yet intricate. She would subtly manipulate Mark and Jessica, planting doubts about their trust in each other. She knew that, at their core, their relationship was built on deception, and that kind of relationship was fragile. If she could make them doubt each other, it would only be a matter of time before the cracks began to show.

The first opportunity came later that evening, when Mark was getting ready for bed. He was in the bathroom, brushing his teeth, while Sophie sat on the edge of the bed, her fingers lightly tracing the edge of her phone. She had spent hours crafting the perfect message to Jessica, and now, as she watched the minutes tick by, she waited for the right moment.

Finally, she heard the water turn off. Mark stepped out of the bathroom, towel around his waist, and walked over to his side of the bed, his phone in hand. Sophie felt her pulse quicken as she typed out a message, sending it just as Mark's phone lit up.

Jessica: I can't believe we're this close to finally being free. I love you.

It was a lie, of course. The message wasn't from Jessica at all. Sophie had sent it from a burner phone she had bought just for this occasion, but it was written in Jessica's style, with just the right amount of intimacy.

Mark's eyes flickered down to his phone, and Sophie watched, barely breathing, as his expression shifted. His brows furrowed slightly, confusion flashing across his face. He quickly pocketed the phone, saying nothing, but Sophie saw the way his movements became stiff, the way he avoided her gaze as he climbed into bed.

She said nothing, pretending not to notice, but inside, she felt a thrill of satisfaction. The seed had been planted.

The next day, she took a different approach with Jessica. They were at a family brunch, seated next to each other at the table. Jessica, ever the picture of self-assurance, was chatting animatedly with their mother, her laughter light and carefree. But Sophie was patient. She waited until their mother was distracted before leaning in, her voice low.

"You and Mark seem distant lately," Sophie said, feigning concern. "I don't know... something feels off."

Jessica's smile faltered for just a moment, her eyes flicking to Sophie's face, searching. "What do you mean?"

Sophie shrugged, playing it cool. "I don't know. He's just been acting strange. Distant. Like he's hiding something."

Jessica's expression tightened, but she quickly recovered, brushing it off with a wave of her hand. "You're just stressed about the wedding. Mark's fine. Everything's fine."

But Sophie could see the unease in Jessica's eyes. It was subtle, but it was there. Another seed planted.

Over the next few days, Sophie kept the pressure on, alternating between Mark and Jessica, carefully crafting moments of doubt and suspicion. She left her phone unlocked on the kitchen counter, a series of vague texts from "Evan" displayed prominently. She casually mentioned to Mark that Jessica had been acting strange lately, dropping hints that she had seen her sneaking around. To Jessica, she suggested that Mark had been unusually close with one of his female coworkers.

The tension between them was growing, the strain beginning to show. Mark was more withdrawn than ever, and Jessica's smugness had started to waver, replaced by uncertainty. They were still playing their roles, pretending everything was fine, but Sophie could see the cracks forming.

The final push came one evening when Sophie and Mark were sitting down for dinner. Mark had barely touched his food, his eyes distant, lost in thought. Sophie, her expression carefully neutral, reached for her phone and glanced at it, as if checking a message.

She sighed, just loud enough for Mark to hear.

"What is it?" he asked, his voice tinged with frustration.

"Oh, nothing," Sophie said, shaking her head. "It's just... Jessica. She's been so secretive lately. I don't know what's going on with her."

Mark's fork clattered against his plate, and Sophie saw the storm brewing behind his eyes. He said nothing, but she could feel the tension radiating off him.

They were close now. So close to breaking.

And when they finally did, Sophie would be there to watch it all come crashing down.