I Gave My Bestie Condoms, Then She Married My Man

Ten minutes before my best friend's wedding, I gave her a gifta box of condoms and a little bridesmaid joke. Aren't you scared I'll get worn out? That is Julian Sterling, heir to the Sterling crime family. He is also the man I dated for 10 years. —the man marrying her today. That's me, those condoms I'll use every one tonight. Relax, I'm kidding. I'll explain after the ceremony. You know how I feel about you. Trust me. I believed him like always, so I stood there as the maid of honor and watched the two people I loved most get married. Rings on, vows said, done. The bride was Cassie, my best friend since college. The groom was Julian, the man I gave 10 years to, and me, the fool holding their flowers. The second it ended, Julian came straight to me. He begged me to forgive him. Funny thing. He knelt like that once before, at 19 he knelt to ask me out. He swore he wouldn't get up until I said yes. Back then, I thought it was the start of forever; turns out it was just the start of the lie. I spent ten years saving him, then he married my best friend.

I left that wedding with nothing but a bouquet. Ten years, and that was my severance. Liv, I already explained. What more do you want from me? It was just a wedding. She only wanted to be a bride. You wanted to get married. Fine, City Hall tomorrow. Because Julian got better years ago, fully better. He runs the family's operations and gives the orders. He used to bury his face in my neck at night. I really thought that meant he loved me. Every time I brought up a wedding. he had a reason"Let me take over for my grandfather first. "They're naming me next in line. Maybe next year. then he'd flip it like I was the problem. Cassie's out there building something real. Why are you so stuck on a wedding? I actually felt guilty, so I tried to help her more. Two years before the wedding, I had texted the old Don two lines. I even told him to look out for her. He didn't say much, but he did. In secret, two years later, she'd climbed fast. She had money, respect, a condo downtown. I brought wine to celebrate. Drag Julian along. God, I was so stupid.

Keep scrolling; it only got worse. He took her to fancy coffee places and restaurants. With me, it was always "I don't do that stuff. " For her, he did all of it gladly. The man wouldn't make me toast in ten years. He cooked her a whole dinner from scratch. Two years ago, I had the flu and begged him for soup. "Just order in, Liv; I don't cook. " Turns out he cooked—just never for me. His voice on the phone was soft and warm. He never used that voice with me. But here is what really guts me. It isn't even Julian. Cassie was nobody when I found her. She was an orphan, broke, locked out over fees. I paid them off quietly. No one knew. When street guys hassled her, I got between them. I brought her home and called her my sister. When no family would take her, I vouched for her. She cried into my shoulder back then. I'll repay you my whole life. I handed her a life. She paid me back by taking mine. Best friends, huh? So this is my thank you. Fine, take each other. Julian called my name. I didn't turn around. My phone would not stop buzzing. Here is the thing about me, Mr. My family was nearly wiped out once, the old Don stepped in and saved all of us, so I grew up knowing one thing we owed them, that is why I never left Julian, not in ten years, I should have been angry, I just felt empty, ten years with him over in one afternoon.

Ten years ago, Julian's parents were gunned down. Overnight, the Sterling heir went silent; he quit talking and wouldn't leave his room. He basically shut down completely. His grandfather, the old Don, ran out of ideas, so he put Julian in my hands and left town. Bring him back to me. Then he was gone, and I did it. It took years. I fed him and sat with him in the dark for 3650 days. I never left. This wedding was my thank you card. She didn't say a word, but I could see it in her eyes. She'd won. When did it start? Cassie's fiancé bailed. The invites were already out. ; everyone was already there. The shame would ruin her. So naturally, my family should just swallow it. Live, we're best friends. Just help me this once. Me and Julian? It's nothing, I swear. Just stand there and smile for me. One day, I didn't buy a single word, so I pulled out my phone and opened her page post after post. A Julian I had never met. That was the week I crashed my car. The week he swore he was away on business. He didn't even bother slipping my ring off first.

And if I say no. then think about your dad. His heart's not great. He didn't finish the threat; he didn't have to. Neither of us slept that night. He knew I'd cave. I always caved. Liv's phone screen flooding with messagesovernight word had spread. Cassie, the home wrecker. And somehow, every finger pointed back at me. Julian kicked my door open. Liv! Cassie's your friend. How could you smear her? He didn't let me speak. He just dragged me out. He hauled me to the Sterling Estate. My knee cracked in the car door. I yelped. He didn't even slow down. In the car, Julian leans into her face. "You ungrateful bitch. " Ten years, and that is the first thing he calls me. Inside, the whole underworld was waiting. Every captain and ally Dawn was there to watch. Cassie sat up front, dabbing fake tears. Julian rushed to her side and left me alone. Then, the room turned on me all at once. We got attacked years back; it made her unstable. She's been chasing Julian, trying to wreck them. Going after her best friend's man. shameless. Liv's fists clenched, knuckles white. He swore he'd never tell, so how did Cassie know? Cassie caught my eye and smiled. Then the big screen behind her lit up. It was my face and my bruises up on the screen. The room exploded. People whispered and raised their phones. She's damaged goods. Still chasing Julian, pathetic. She got drunk and wrecked the wedding. That's why it slipped. Honestly. who attacks a girl that broken, tragic? My throat closed. I couldn't get a sound out. I couldn't tell them the truth that the one he kept secret all these years was me. Cameras flashed, reporters shoved mics at my face; nobody wanted the truth, just the show.

They're promoting Cassie soon. We'll do City Hall. Not marry me, just let's get it done. And that ring. He gave her the one of a kind, the forever one. He handed me the leftovers. I won't marry you. Get out. He thought I was bluffing. Get some sleep. Tomorrow you make a statement. Tell everyone you were the side piece. It clears Cassie. And my name? You don't care what happens to me at all. Cassie's an orphan; she clawed her way up. You're her best friend. Think about her, think about her. I built her from nothing. Think about those photos. You want them out there? He pulled me close, chin resting on my head, like the fight was over and I'd give in. And just like that, I was 19 again. Back then, Julian was at his lowest. I chased him everywhere. One night, the family's enemies grabbed me off the street. They couldn't touch the Sterling, so they touched me. When Julian found me, he swore the men were gone, the photos destroyed. He held my face and said. "From now on, it's only you. " That promise was the only reason I survived it. Ten years later, he is using it against me.