XSTORIES4U: Tales of Love, Lies, and Betrayal - Book 2

Part 39 Surprise Party? The Shocking Truth Will Leave You Breathless!

 I walked into my apartment, balloons and streamers everywhere, expecting a surprise birthday party, but the shock was on me. As I scanned the room, my eyes landed on a banner that read "Congratulations, Dad-to-Be!" Confused, I looked around for an explanation, and that's when I saw her, my boyfriend's ex, cradling her stomach. The room fell silent as I pieced it together: he was the "Dad-to-Be." My heart raced, anger simmering beneath the surface as I confronted him. His eyes widened, caught between fear and shame, while our friends awkwardly shuffled their feet, whispers filling the void. Betrayal cut deep, and I realized this wasn't just about his secret child—it was about the lies, the nights he "worked late." Suddenly, the truth felt like a tidal wave, crashing over everything I thought I knew. As I stormed out, the weight of my own denial hit me; I had ignored the signs The door slammed behind me as I stumbled into the night, the cold air stinging my skin as I tried to make sense of what had just happened. My mind raced, replaying every lie, every missed call, every excuse I had foolishly accepted. I had trusted him, believed every soft-spoken promise that I was the only one he needed. But now, all that felt like a lie woven to keep me in the dark.

I wandered aimlessly through the streets, my thoughts a tangled mess of heartbreak and rage. My phone buzzed repeatedly with messages from him, each notification a painful reminder. I didn't need to look to know they were filled with excuses, desperate explanations, pleas for forgiveness I didn't want to hear. I shoved my phone deep into my bag, unwilling to let him steal another moment of my night.

After a while, I found myself at the park near our apartment—the one where we'd once sat on countless summer evenings, talking about the future, imagining a life together. Now, it was just a place filled with empty promises. I sat down on a bench, the damp wood cold beneath me, and watched the city lights twinkle against the night sky.

Hours passed, and I barely noticed. I was exhausted, drained from the sudden crash of my world. Just when I thought I'd cried myself empty, my phone buzzed again. Only this time, it wasn't him. It was a message from an unknown number. Hesitantly, I unlocked my phone and read the text:

"Meet me at the coffee shop around the corner from your place. There's something you need to know."

My heart skipped a beat. Against my better judgment, I stood up and walked toward the shop. I couldn't explain why—maybe it was curiosity or a need for closure, but I found myself standing at the coffee shop's entrance, my eyes scanning the room. At first, it was empty. But then, in the corner, I saw her—my boyfriend's ex, still cradling her belly, her face pale and lined with worry.

I almost turned to leave, but she waved me over. Taking a deep breath, I approached her table, unsure of what to expect.

"Look," she said, her voice barely a whisper, "I'm so sorry you had to find out like that. But there's more you need to know." She looked down, hands trembling. "He... he wasn't just lying to you. He lied to me, too."

I frowned, trying to process her words. She continued, her voice breaking slightly, "He didn't tell me he was with you. I thought... I thought we were working things out. He made me believe we were rebuilding our family."

A cold realization settled over me, a deeper betrayal than I had anticipated. He hadn't just hurt me—he had led her on, too, crafting lies to string both of us along.

"But why would he do that?" I asked, my voice barely audible.

Her eyes met mine, and she sighed, looking just as worn and broken as I felt. "There's one more thing," she said, taking a deep breath. "He isn't... he isn't the father of this child."

I stared at her, confusion swirling in my mind. "Then why—"

She swallowed, looking away. "He's been helping me through a tough time. My ex walked out as soon as I told him about the baby. I think your boyfriend... felt sorry for me. Or maybe he thought he could still keep both worlds if he made you believe he was just helping me as a friend."

The air left my lungs in a rush. He'd wrapped us both in this web of deception, driven not by love or loyalty but by some twisted need to control the narrative.

"Why didn't you tell me?" I asked, my voice shaking. "Why keep this a secret?"

Tears filled her eyes as she whispered, "I didn't know you existed until tonight."

For a moment, we sat in silence, two strangers connected by shared heartbreak. And then, I felt a surge of strength. I would let go of him, of his lies, of the life I thought we were building. I realized now that the "surprise" party was a gift in disguise, exposing the truth before it was too late.

But as I stood to leave, she reached out, her fingers gripping my wrist lightly. "There's one last thing," she said, her voice barely audible.

My heart pounded, not sure how much more I could handle. "What is it?"

She took a shaky breath. "You're not the only one he's been seeing. I saw a woman leaving his apartment last week. I thought it was a friend at first, but... they were holding hands."

The shock ran through me like ice. The lies were more intricate than I'd thought, deeper than I could've imagined. A fresh wave of betrayal crashed over me, but beneath it all, I felt a sense of finality. This was it—the last piece I needed to cut him out of my life for good.

I thanked her, feeling a strange sense of relief amid the pain. And as I left the coffee shop, I made a promise to myself: never again would I ignore the signs, never again would I allow someone to manipulate me in such a way. I would heal, but I would not forget.

And as I walked into the night, the twist struck me—the banner wasn't for me at all.