I went to check on my boyfriend, worried because he was too sick to return my message. But what I found shattered my confidence and turned my world upside down. Days later, the last person I expected showed up at my door, and together, we started something that changed my life forever.

One cool autumn day, I was sitting alone in my small, cozy apartment, with sunlight streaming weakly through the windows.

For illustrative purposes only. | Source: Midjourney
For illustrative purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

The orange and red leaves outside seemed to mock my restlessness as I stared at my phone, waiting for my boyfriend, Jace, to finally show up.

He hadn’t visited me for days, claiming he was just tired, but there was something about his excuses that didn’t add up.

I fiddled with the hem of my sweater, tapping my foot anxiously on the wooden floor. Finally, I gave in and dialed her number. The phone rang several times before she answered.

For illustrative purposes only. | Source: Midjourney
For illustrative purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

“Hello?” Jace answered, his voice deep and dazed, as if he had just woken up.

“Are you sleeping?” I asked, trying to hide the nervousness in my voice.

“Yes,” he said, pausing for a second. “I’m sorry I didn’t text you. I fell asleep. I’m not feeling well, I might have a fever or something.”

“Oh…” I said softly, not knowing what else to say.

He coughed loudly into the phone, making me flinch. “Look, I’ll send you a message later,” he murmured, his words rushed.

For illustrative purposes only. | Source: Midjourney
For illustrative purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

“I bet that…” I began, but the line cut out before I could finish.

Frustration surfaced as she tapped her fingers on the table, her thoughts racing. If Jace was really sick, I couldn’t just stand there and do nothing. I would take care of him, whether he liked it or not. That’s what couples do, isn’t it?

I grabbed my coat and stepped out into the fresh autumn air, determined. The walk to the store was brisk, the kind that makes your cheeks tingle.

For illustrative purposes only. | Source: Midjourney
For illustrative purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

Inside I bought fresh fruit, tea, and a box of throat lozenges, imagining how grateful Jace would be when he showed up.

Back at my building, I pressed the elevator button, adjusting the heavy bag I was carrying on my arm. I usually took the stairs, but not today.

The elevator hummed gently as it descended, and I became distracted by humming a tune that was stuck in my head.

For illustrative purposes only. | Source: Midjourney
For illustrative purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

When the doors opened, my heart stopped. There he was—Jace—embracing a woman I didn’t recognize.

My face was pressed against his chest, and they were so close it made my stomach churn. It wasn’t just a hug. It was something more.

“You seem to be feeling better,” I said, my voice louder than I intended, as I walked down the silent hallway.

For illustrative purposes only. | Source: Midjourney
For illustrative purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

Jace’s head turned toward me, and his face paled. “Kate…” he stammered, pulling his arms away from the woman. He came closer and held out his hand as if that would fix things. “I can explain.”

He opened his mouth, but I raised a hand to stop him. “Don’t do it. Don’t do it. If you take one more step or say one more word, I swear I’ll make you regret it.” I threw the shopping bag at him, and the fruit spilled onto the floor.

For illustrative purposes only. | Source: Midjourney
For illustrative purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

Without waiting for her reaction, I turned around and walked away, my heart pounding with rage and disgust.

He didn’t chase me, he didn’t try to stop me, and I was glad of that. It wasn’t worth it. Not anymore.

It had been a few days since she’d caught Jace in the elevator with another woman. He hadn’t bothered to call, text, or even offer a pathetic apology.

For illustrative purposes only. | Source: Midjourney
For illustrative purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

Not even a simple “I’m sorry, I’m an idiot and I don’t deserve you.” Was that too much to ask?

This unfinished business was eating me up inside. I couldn’t move on, I couldn’t let it go, because I had the feeling that it was still lurking in my life, like a shadow I couldn’t get rid of.

I decided I needed closure, even if it meant confronting him. So I texted him, my fingers trembling with anger. After a few minutes, he replied.

For illustrative purposes only. | Source: Midjourney
For illustrative purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

@Jace:

Let’s meet tonight at 6:00 PM, at our cafe.

Our coffee shop. The place where we had our first date. I was nervous. Even so, I accepted.

At six in the evening, I sat down in the private booth in the corner, the one we always chose. The warm smell of coffee and pastries surrounded me, but it didn’t comfort me.

Every time the door opened, she looked up, hoping to see him. But Jace didn’t appear.

For illustrative purposes only. | Source: Midjourney
For illustrative purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

At 7 p.m., I was tapping my foot under the table, staring at the cold tea I hadn’t touched. By 8 p.m., I was furious. Finally, my phone rang.

@Jace:

I can’t go. I can’t bear to see you so sad.

I stared at the screen, stunned by his cowardice. What did that mean? That he couldn’t stand to see me ?

He was the one who had deceived me, and yet he was acting like a victim. My anger boiled over.

For illustrative purposes only. | Source: Midjourney
For illustrative purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

When I finally got home, the fury still burned in my chest. I stomped up the stairs, muttering under my breath.

Then, as I turned the corner, I froze. There she was, in front of my apartment. The woman from the elevator. She seemed nervous, as if she’d been expecting me.

“What the hell are you doing here?” I yelled, my voice echoing down the hall. I couldn’t believe he had the nerve to show up.

“I want to talk to you,” he said, his tone calm but uneasy. “I feel like I owe you… more than just a conversation.”

For illustrative purposes only. | Source: Midjourney
For illustrative purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

I crossed my arms tightly, glaring at her. “You’re a few hours late,” I snapped. “I don’t want anything to do with that idiot. Keep him.” I turned and fumbled for my keys, determined to end the conversation.

“That’s the thing: I don’t want it either,” she said, this time with a firmer voice. She stopped me in my tracks. “I’ve finally realized what he’s really like, and I wanted to talk to someone who understood.”

For illustrative purposes only. | Source: Midjourney
For illustrative purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

I hesitated, my hand still on the doorknob. It was absurd, utter madness. But a part of me was curious.

With a deep sigh, I turned to her. “Good. Come in,” I said, pushing open the door and stepping aside.

When he came in, I asked him, “What’s your name?”

“Ashley,” she said softly, her eyes fixed on the floor.

For illustrative purposes only. | Source: Midjourney
For illustrative purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

“Kate,” I said, introducing myself reluctantly.

“I know,” he admitted, with guilt reflected on his face.

I went into the kitchen and gestured for him to follow me. “Come on,” I said. “I’d offer you tea, but I think this calls for something stronger.” I picked up a bottle of wine from the counter and set it on the floor.

For illustrative purposes only. | Source: Midjourney
For illustrative purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

Ashley sat down at the table, nervously clasping her hands. “You didn’t know anything about me,” she began. “But I knew you existed. Jace told me he had a girlfriend, but that you were awful to him. He said you ignored him, flirted with other men, made him feel worthless.”

“But what…? That’s exactly what he did to me!” I exploded, enraged.

Ashley nodded slowly. “Now I realize, after what happened when you caught us. But back then I believed him. I thought he was going to let you be with me.”

For illustrative purposes only. | Source: Midjourney
For illustrative purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

“It seems that the idiot tricked us both,” I said bitterly, pouring the wine.

“That’s why I’m here. I don’t want him to get away with it,” she said firmly.

“What do you suggest?” I asked, squinting.

Ashley smiled, a mischievous grin on her face. “Revenge,” she said simply. “Do you know how homophobic Jace is?”

For illustrative purposes only. | Source: Midjourney
For illustrative purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

His words made me pause, and my curiosity was piqued despite my anger. And that’s how it all began.

Ashley and I wasted no time putting our plan into action. We created several profiles for Jace on popular dating sites, carefully crafting his “interests” and uploading photos we had saved from his social media.

We sent flirty messages to men who seemed eager to connect, pretending to be Jace himself.

For illustrative purposes only. | Source: Midjourney
For illustrative purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

“Looking for someone special,” we wrote, ending with a winking emoji. We even arranged to meet at her apartment, choosing times when we knew she’d be home.

The idea of ​​her opening the door to confused strangers made us laugh until our sides hurt.

Elsewhere, we published his phone number with the slogan: “Night owl? Call me between 2 and 4 a.m. for some fun.”

For illustrative purposes only. | Source: Midjourney
For illustrative purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

Although we couldn’t trace the exact number of calls, the text messages we received from Jace told us everything we needed to know. “Who are these people?” “Why won’t my phone stop ringing?” His desperation spurred us on.

The billboard idea was the finishing touch. We found advertising space in the busiest areas of the city and designed a bright, eye-catching poster featuring Jace’s smiling face with the caption: “Looking for a man to support and love.”

For illustrative purposes only. | Source: Midjourney
For illustrative purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

Seeing the first billboard was priceless. We gave each other high fives in the car, imagining his face when he saw it.

Our phones were buzzing nonstop with messages and calls from Jace. ” You have to stop this,” he wrote. “Please, I beg you!”

In the end, we responded.

@I :

We can leave it, but on one condition.

For illustrative purposes only. | Source: Midjourney
For illustrative purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

@Jace :

I’ll do whatever it takes. Just let it go.

I sent her enough money for a two-week vacation in Spain. When the transfer arrived in my account, I sent her one last message.

@I:

Oh dear, we’ve forgotten our account passwords, and the posters are prepaid for two months 🙂

For illustrative purposes only. | Source: Midjourney
For illustrative purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

After sending that last message to Jace, Ashley and I blocked his number. There was nothing more to say. That moment felt strangely triumphant, like closing the chapter of a bad book I’d been reading for far too long.

We immediately focused on planning the trip. A few days later, Ashley and I landed in Spain.

The sun was shining, the air was warm, and the sound of the waves crashing against the shore was the perfect soundtrack to our newfound freedom.

For illustrative purposes only. | Source: Midjourney
For illustrative purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

We found a spot on the beach, stretched out on the sun loungers, and ordered cold sangria.

Ashley turned to me with a smile. “The best teamwork ever,” she said, raising her glass of sangria. I smiled, knowing she was right.

She had lost a horrible boyfriend, but she had gained a wonderful friend. Revenge had never been so sweet.

For illustrative purposes only. | Source: Midjourney
For illustrative purposes only. | Source: Midjourney

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