“Are you sure?” Emma asked.

“Yes, I’m positive. I was surprised, given his proposal to you—Lena told me about it,” Jenna said.

Emma felt even more unsure about Daniel now. She thanked Jenna and left the café, lost in thought about what to do next.

Upon reaching their apartment, Emma called Daniel. “We need to talk about Sophie,” she said as soon as he answered.

“Why?” Daniel asked, surprised.

“I know you met her recently. Why didn’t you tell me?” Emma asked.

“It was just a chance meeting, Emma. It meant nothing,” Daniel explained.

Emma wasn’t convinced. “It feels like you’re hiding things from me,” she said.

“I love you, Emma. I want to spend my life with YOU. The thing with Sophie is in the past,” Daniel tried to reassure her. “Look, I have to go to a meeting now. Let’s talk when I get home.”

“Ok, see you later. Don’t be late,” she replied and hung up. Emma cooked dinner and kept waiting for Daniel. Soon, it was dark outside, and Daniel wouldn’t be home until Emma was already fast asleep.

The next day was a Saturday. Emma left for a run to clear her mind. But even during the run, she couldn’t help but think about Daniel and her relationship. Suddenly, her phone buzzed, jolting her back to reality. It was a message from Lena.

Emma’s heart sank as she read the message accompanied by a photo. The image displayed Daniel in an intimate conversation with an unknown woman at a café.

Emma took off on a run again and quickened her pace, her thoughts racing as fast as her steps. Upon arriving home, she confronted Daniel.

“Can you explain this?” she demanded, showing him the photo.

Daniel took the phone, his eyes narrowing as he looked at the photo. “It’s not what it looks like,” he said, returning the phone to her. “She’s a new client. I was trying to make her feel comfortable. She’s considering investing over a million dollars in my balanced fund. Do you know how much my commission on a million—”

She didn’t even fully hear what he said. She felt torn between the love she still felt for Daniel and the growing mound of doubts. Maybe he’s telling the truth, she thought, suddenly panicking. Or maybe he’s not.

“Daniel, how can I trust you?” she asked plaintively. “First the ring, then Sophie, now this? It’s like I don’t even know who you are anymore. I just don’t know if I can believe you!”

Daniel stepped closer to her, his expression softening. “Emma, I love you. You have to believe me. These are just misunderstandings.”

Emma stepped back, putting distance between them. “I don’t know what to believe anymore. Whenever I think we can move past this, something else comes up.”

“Emma, I love you. Please believe me,” Daniel pleaded.

Emma didn’t reply. She retreated to their bedroom, closing the door behind her. She felt overwhelmed by doubts and didn’t know what to believe.

Late that night, Emma was still up and decided to go through Daniel’s laptop. She felt like she couldn’t trust him anymore. She knew his password, and luckily, she found Daniel’s email open.

Emma’s heart sank when she found emails showing he was cheating on her with another woman. The texts between him and the woman were not just friendly; they were intimate, revealing an ongoing affair. And it was the same woman whose photo Lena had sent her. Emma could see the woman’s profile picture.

Tears blurred Emma’s vision. The man she’d loved with all her heart and decided to trust despite her doubts was just taking advantage of her innocence and manipulating her with his lies.

Emma had had enough. The next morning, she decided to meet Sophie. She messaged her through Facebook, and the woman immediately agreed.

At a cafe, the two women sat beside each other, Emma feeling extremely nervous. “Did Daniel ever cheat on you?” she asked, breaking the awkward silence between them.

Sophie sighed. “Yes, he did. I found out through a trail of lies and half-truths.”

Emma’s hands clenched into fists, her nails digging into her palms. “He told me you two just grew apart.”

Sophie scoffed in disgust. “That’s what he tells everyone,” she said. “But the truth is, Daniel can’t be faithful. He’s charming and persuasive, but it’s all a façade. He’s a player. It’s like a challenge to him to bed every attractive woman he meets. I’m sorry I didn’t do anything to expose him back then. I just walked away, so he got away with it yet again.”

Emma’s eyes welled up. “I thought our love was different.”

“Men like Daniel don’t change,” Sophie said bitterly.

“Well then, it’s time to stop him.” Emma decided. She planned a gathering at her and Daniel’s apartment, inviting all their friends and close acquaintances, including Lena and Sophie, pretending it was to celebrate their engagement.

As all the guests settled, Emma stood up and raised her wine glass, “Thank you for coming, everyone. I want to say that I have something to share with all of you. Daniel… has been cheating on me.”

A loud gasp rang out in the gathering. Everyone was shocked. Daniel was surprised and scared. Emma showed the emails to everyone. “I also have testimonies from Sophie and Lena,” she continued, turning to acknowledge them. “They’ve both witnessed Daniel’s true nature.”

Lena and Sophie nodded. Daniel tried to explain, but Emma didn’t listen and ended their relationship.

***

Months after breaking up with Daniel, Emma had an art show at a gallery. She was now living alone and was glad to be free from a man like him. Her digital art showed her feelings and growth. At the gallery, her friends and art lovers praised her work.

“Emma, these are amazing,” Lena said, looking at the art.

“Thank you. Each one helped me heal,” Emma replied with a smile.

Then, the gallery owner introduced Emma to Ms. Harper, an art critic. “Your art really speaks to people,” Ms. Harper told her.

Emma felt proud and grateful.

As the night went on, many people told her they loved her work. It made Emma happy to know she was moving on in a positive way. She looked at a piece of art that showed a phoenix rising from ashes, and it reminded her of her own fresh start.

By the end of the evening, Emma felt sure this was a new beginning for her. She was ready to write her own story — one of strength, hard work, and independence.

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