The Life I Stole

I was supposed to be nothing more than a doomed side character in someone else's story. After I woke up to the truth, though, I became the male lead's best friend instead—and ended up with the wealthy girl who had always loved him, leaving him free to live happily ever after with the school's golden girl. Ten years later, though, he made a very public announcement that he was single and back in town. Then, in the old class group chat that had been inactive for a long time, he sent two messages. [I'm back. We should all get together sometime.] [@Whitney Charlton, you'll be there, right?] The group chat exploded instantly. After all, everyone still remembered the golden boy we had known back then: the charming, arrogant guy who had been the center of attention everywhere he went. When graduation came, he had not chosen the aloof top student who had pursued him for four years. Even after all those years, it was still one of those things everyone wished had ended differently. I glanced down at Whitney, asleep beside me, and raised an eyebrow. I found it regrettable too. After all, I had been waiting ten years for this opportunity. Chapter 1 [Whitney is definitely coming, right? She waited ten whole years for Jethro! How could anyone not be moved by that kind of devotion?] [Seriously. There hasn't been so much as a rumor about her getting married all these years. I always knew she was still waiting for Jethro.] [I really want these two to end up together. I'm so invested in them!] I stared at the messages racing across the screen. My fingers tightened around my phone without me realizing it, but my eyes drifted toward Whitney Charlton, who was sleeping peacefully beside me. She looked completely at ease, her breathing slow and even. Under the soft glow of the bedside lamp, the usually cool, distant lines of her profile looked surprisingly gentle. Fifteen years. Fifteen years had passed since my senior year of high school, when I awakened to my memories and learned the truth. I was not the hero of this story. I was not even an important side character. I was just some forgettable extra whose name barely mattered. When I started college, the first thing I did was deliberately get close to Jethro Scott. He was the brightest, most dazzling guy on campus, the kind of person who seemed born to be the center of attention. As I knew how the story was supposed to go, I always managed to show up at exactly the right moment when he needed someone. Whenever he was hurting, I knew exactly what to say. Before long, I had naturally become his best friend. Everyone used to say, "Patrick, you lucky bastard. How did you end up becoming Jethro's best friend?" Only I knew the truth. I was simply riding his spotlight, borrowing some of his main-character luck to make my own life a little easier. Throughout our four years of college, I went everywhere with Jethro. I joined him in all kinds of activities, met everyone in his circle, and eventually met Whitney too. She came from a wealthy family, had the grades to match, and was as icy and untouchable as they came. Yet somehow, Jethro was the only person she ever seemed to see. Then graduation came. Jethro chose Yoana Gibson, the most popular girl on campus, and left the country with her. Before he left, he clapped me on the shoulder and grinned. "Patrick, Whitney's a really great girl. You two should get together. Then I'll be able to leave without worrying about her." As I watched his easy, carefree smile, I knew the truth better than anyone. Whitney only had eyes for him. According to the original story, ten years later, when Jethro returned home, Whitney was supposed to run straight into his arms with our child in tow. But so what? Whitney's family background, education, and abilities were all things someone like me, a guy from an ordinary family, could never reach no matter how hard I worked. Marrying her meant I could use her connections to move up, enter better circles, and build a network of my own. As for love? I had never expected it. Hence, when Jethro tried to set us up, I did not hesitate. I told Whitney how I felt. Back then, I was as calm as if I were closing a business deal. I had every step planned out. What I had not planned for was the way a person's heart could slowly soften after spending day after day with someone. By our third year of marriage, my company successfully got off the ground. Whitney quietly put access to many of her connections and resources at my disposal. In our fifth year, our son, Lucas Cooper, was born. Whitney curled up against me and whispered, "I'm so happy." She remembered that I could not stand cilantro. She knew I had a sensitive stomach, so she always made sure I had my medicine nearby. In our eighth year, my company ran into a crisis. Without a second thought, she used her own savings to help me get through it. Ten years. For ten years, everyone kept telling me the same thing. "Patrick, you married a good woman." Chapter 2 I almost managed to fool myself into believing that maybe this life was not so bad. Maybe I could just keep going like that. However, Jethro was back. The story was finally getting back on track. I watched the messages continue to pour into the group chat. Whatever doubts I had left were crushed beneath cold, hard reason. Maybe this was for the best. I would give Whitney one last chance. If she chose me this time, if she chose our family, I would pretend I knew nothing. I would stay in this marriage and carry on as if everything were fine. However, if she chose Jethro… Then it would be time to put the final stage of my plan into motion. ... The next morning, sunlight slipped through the gap in the curtains. Whitney was already awake. She was lying on her side, watching me. The moment I opened my eyes, she wrapped an arm around my waist, her voice still soft and sleepy. "Awake?" "Yeah," I answered, pretending I had just remembered something. Then, as casually as I could, I said, "Oh, by the way, the class group chat blew up last night. Jethro's back in town. He wants everyone to get together this weekend. Are you going?" Whitney froze for a moment, then she rolled onto her back and stared at the ceiling. "No." "Why not?" I propped myself up on one elbow and looked at her. "You two used to..." She cut me off and turned to face me. Her expression was perfectly calm. "There's nothing for me to go back to. It's all in the past. Besides, what's the point? It'll just be a bunch of people pretending they're still close, flattering one other and making small talk. Sounds exhausting." I said nothing, waiting for her to continue. Instead, she curled up against me and buried her face in my chest. "You shouldn't go either. Lucas has his martial arts test this weekend. Someone needs to be there with him. If you go, who's going to take care of him?" I wrapped an arm around her slender waist and kissed her hair, breathing in its familiar fragrance. After a few seconds of silence, I finally said softly, "You're right. I won't go." Whitney hugged me tighter and kissed me under the chin. "Good boy." … Friday evening, Whitney came home earlier than usual. During dinner, she put a piece of meatloaf on my plate and spoke in a gentle voice. "Oh, by the way, I have to work this weekend. There's a project that's behind schedule." My fork paused. I looked up at her. "Both days?" "Yeah. I'll probably be working pretty late." She nodded, then added, "I'll drop Lucas off at my parents' tomorrow morning and let them keep him for a couple of days. You should get some rest this weekend. You've been exhausted from taking care of him lately." I looked at her gentle, familiar expression and smiled as I nodded. However, the last little bit of hope I had left was slowly fading away. "Okay. Just don't work too hard. Take care of yourself." She looked at me, her eyes soft. "My husband really is the sweetest." … Early Saturday morning, Whitney quietly slipped out of bed. I kept my eyes closed and pretended to be asleep. I felt her lean over and kiss my cheek. She gently tucked the blanket around me, then tiptoed out of the bedroom. When I heard the front door close, I opened my eyes. Ten minutes later, I was dressed, wearing a hat and a face mask. I called a cab and followed Whitney's car. She was not driving toward the office. Instead, she headed in the direction of Alderwood's upscale private club district. Eventually, she pulled up outside a private club. I told the driver to pull over by the curb and watched through the window as Whitney got out. Then I saw Jethro. He was standing outside the club in a burgundy suit, smiling like he did not have a care in the world. Ten years had passed, but he did not seem to have changed at all. He was still the same dazzling, larger-than-life guy who had once been the center of attention on campus. Whitney walked toward him. Jethro stepped forward to meet her, casually slipping an arm around her shoulders. He looked down at her with a bright smile and said something I could not hear. Chapter 3 Whitney tilted her head up to listen, the soft, familiar lines of her profile looking exactly the same as always. Then Jethro let go of her, opened his arms, and pulled her into a hug. Whitney stiffened for a moment, but she did not push him away. The two of them stood outside the private club, wrapped in each other's arms like lovers reunited after years apart. I sat quietly in the back of the cab, watching them. I felt completely calm. The last ridiculous bit of hope I had been holding on to finally went out. I pulled out my phone, aimed it at them, adjusted the focus, and took a photo. "Take me to my attorney's office." ... The conference room at the law firm was chilled by the powerful air conditioning. I slid my phone across the table. On the screen was the picture of Whitney and Jethro embracing outside the club. Tessa Lynch, my attorney, was a woman in her 40s who wore gold-rimmed glasses. She had the sharp, capable look of someone who did not waste time. She studied the photo carefully before looking up at me. Her voice was professional and calm. "Mr. Cooper, it's going to be difficult to prove infidelity with this photo alone. Courts have fairly strict standards when it comes to proving adultery. We'll need more direct evidence, such as photos showing unmistakably intimate behavior, messages between the two of them, financial records, things like that." I smiled and took my phone back. "There will be more evidence. Ms. Lynch, go ahead and draft the divorce agreement for me first. My requests are simple. I want Whitney to have full custody of our child. As for the marital assets, I'll take only the share I'm legally entitled to." Tessa gave me a thoughtful look, apparently surprised by how calm I was. Then she nodded. "Of course. I'll have the agreement drafted as soon as possible. And if you can collect more evidence, they could strengthen your position when it comes to dividing the marital assets." "I know." I stood up. "Once the agreement is ready, email it to me. I'll be ready to sign." By the time I left the law firm, it was already noon. I did not go home. Instead, I wandered around the mall, bought myself a new suit, and got a haircut. At 4:00 pm, I returned home with my shopping bags. The house was empty. Just as I had expected, Whitney still had not come back. I made myself a plate of pasta. I had barely finished eating when my phone buzzed. It was a multimedia message from an unknown number. I opened it, only to see a ten-second video. Inside a dimly lit private room, Whitney was leaning against Jethro's chest. She tilted her head up and kissed him, her expression almost reverent. The video was crystal clear. I could see Whitney's face perfectly, even the slight flutter of her eyelashes as she closed her eyes. The moment I finished watching it, another message came in from the same number. [Patrick, I think the only way to be happy in a marriage is to marry someone who truly loves you. Don't you agree?] I saved the video and took screenshots. I saved the message thread too. At 7:00 pm, Whitney called. "Honey, I have a work thing tonight. I might be home late. Go ahead and get some sleep. Don't wait up for me." Her voice came through the phone, but the background was strangely quiet. It did not sound like she was at any kind of work event. "Okay," I said calmly. "Don't drink too much." After hanging up, I sat on the couch in the living room, turned on the TV, and put on a random basketball game. The game was painfully boring. After watching for a while, I gave up and went to bed. Sometime after midnight, while I was half asleep, I felt someone climb into bed. She moved carefully, and I caught the faint smell of alcohol. Whitney slipped her arms around me from behind and cautiously buried her face in the crook of my neck. Then, in the quietest voice, she whispered, "I'm sorry..." I did not move. I kept my breathing slow and steady, pretending to be asleep. Inwardly, however, I laughed bitterly. What was this supposed to mean? Had she suddenly grown a conscience after cheating on me? Or did she feel guilty and decide to throw me a little fake tenderness? Chapter 4 Whitney held me for a while. Her breathing gradually evened out, and before long, she fell asleep. I opened my eyes and stared at the moonlight spilling through the window. My heart felt like ice. ... As the days went by, Whitney's 'overtime' became more and more frequent. Every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, she somehow found an excuse for staying away from home past ten. "We're rushing to finish a project." "I'm having dinner with a client." "It's a company event." The excuses were always different, but the result was the same—she did not come back home. Lucas used to spend only one night a week at his grandparents' house. Now, he was staying there three nights a week. Every time he came home, the look he gave me seemed a little colder, a little more disgusted. "Dad, why are you always so angry? You're like a crazy person." "Dad, why are you never home? Is it because you don't love me?" "I hate you! You're a bad person! Just go away! I don't want you taking care of me!" I knew what was happening. Jethro had already started getting close to Lucas. The story was unfolding exactly as it had in the original novel, one step at a time. Whitney would take our child and run straight into Jethro's arms. I, the side character, was finally supposed to exit the stage. However, before I did, I was not going to leave empty-handed. Not a single thing I was entitled to would be left behind. I secretly began investigating the assets Whitney had under her name. I had no idea what I would find. Once I started digging, however, I discovered that over the past month, ownership of her three properties and shares in two companies had quietly been transferred. Most of the money in her accounts had also been moved overseas. Both the new ownership records and the overseas account were linked to Jethro. What shocked me even more was that Whitney had also misappropriated three million dollars in company funds into Jethro's account. I photographed every transfer record, every document showing the changes in share ownership, and every property transfer record. I compiled everything into a complete evidence file and sent it all to Tessa. Half an hour later, Tessa called me. Her voice was serious. "Mr. Cooper, your wife's actions could constitute an improper transfer of marital assets. And misappropriating company funds could expose her to criminal charges. With the evidence we have, she's put herself in a very difficult position. "It could have a serious impact on the division of marital assets, and she could end up receiving a substantially reduced share of the marital assets. "I strongly recommend that you file for divorce as soon as possible and ask the court to freeze the marital assets before she can move or dispose of anything else." "I know." I stared at the evidence on my computer screen, my voice calm. "Ms. Lynch, prepare the necessary documents. I'll let you know once I've decided on the timing." "When are you planning to file?" I thought for a moment. Then I suddenly remembered a scene from the original novel. Jethro's birthday was coming up. He was going to throw a huge party, and during the celebration, he and Whitney would lose control of themselves and sleep together in one of the private rooms. In the original story, that party was a major turning point. Jethro would announce to everyone that he was divorced and had returned home. He would also make it public that he and Whitney had rekindled their old relationship. "In a few days," I said. "After his birthday party." After hanging up, I opened my calendar and stared at the date I had circled in red. Three days from now was Jethro's birthday. I slowly ran my finger over the red circle, a cold smile curling at the corner of my mouth. I hoped Jethro would like the birthday present I had prepared for him. ... Jethro's birthday party was held at a private estate outside the city. I took the invitation card I had found in Whitney's study, put on a simple black suit, and drove there alone. The estate was glowing with lights, filled with elegant guests dressed to impress. I stood in the shadows off to the side and watched Jethro in the center of the ballroom. He wore a burgundy tuxedo, his hair perfectly styled. His smile was bright and confident, with the effortless charm of a prince. Whitney stood beside him. She was wearing the dress I had personally ironed for her that morning, holding Lucas by the hand. Chapter 5 The three of them stood together, looking like one big happy family. People around the room had already started whispering. "Isn't that Whitney? Who's the guy she's with? He's gorgeous." "I think that's Jethro. He was the golden boy back in college. I heard he just got back from overseas." "Whitney's married, isn't she? I remember her husband was one of our classmates. Patrick, right?" "Wow! Looking at them, I'd say Patrick doesn't stand a chance." I listened to the whispers without letting a single emotion show on my face. I picked up a glass of champagne and took a small sip. Then someone asked Jethro, "Jethro, didn't you marry Yoana and move overseas back then? How come you came back alone?" The smile on Jethro's face faded for just a second. Then he put on a perfectly measured look of vulnerability. "I was young and stupid back then. I thought love was all that mattered. After I married Yoana, she... She started staying away from home all the time. And whenever she came back, she smelled like a different man's cologne." His eyes grew slightly red as he spoke. Whitney immediately slipped an arm around his shoulders and murmured something comforting. A wave of sympathy swept through the room. Jethro closed his eyes for a moment and swallowed hard before continuing in a restrained voice, "I couldn't take it anymore, so I divorced her and came back home. Luckily... Luckily, I had Whitney to help me through it." He looked at Whitney, his eyes filled with tenderness. Whitney tightened her grip on his hand. Then she looked around the room, her voice low and full of pain. "The truth is... Patrick and I have been over for a long time. All these years, he's been suspicious of everything. He thinks I'm involved with every man I talk to. "If I work late, he accuses me of cheating. If I have dinner with a male client, he assumes I'm having an affair. I couldn't take it anymore, so I asked for a divorce, but he refused. He even threatened to kill himself if I left him..." "Oh, my God. What happened to Patrick?" "That's terrifying. Is he seriously unstable?" "Whitney's been through so much. Getting stuck with a guy like that..." The whispers grew louder. Everyone was looking at me now with a mixture of pity and disgust. Yes. They had finally noticed me. I stood alone in the corner, letting their eyes fall on me. I felt completely calm. Jethro walked over to me, his voice carrying the smug generosity of someone offering a favor. "Patrick, we've known each other for years, so I'm going to give you some advice. Let her go. Whitney doesn't love you anymore. The more you cling to her, the more embarrassed you'll make yourself for yourself. "If you're willing to divorce her, Whitney said she'll give you a portion of the marital assets. It'll be enough to support you for the rest of your life." I looked at Whitney. "Do you feel the same way?" Whitney avoided my eyes. Her voice was clear and firm. "Patrick, let's just end this peacefully. The way you've been acting... It's exhausting me." "Dad, just leave Mom alone!" Lucas came running over too. He grabbed the hem of my jacket, his little face full of resentment. "Jethro is always so nice to Mom. He's nice to me too. Can't you be more like him?" I looked at the child who shared my blood, the child I had raised for five years. Now, he was looking at me with nothing but disgust, siding with another man and accusing me. Whatever warmth I had left inside me disappeared completely. I took a deep breath, lifted my head, and looked at Whitney and Jethro. My voice was clear and calm. "I agree to the divorce." A smile immediately spread across Whitney's and Jethro's faces. Their expressions showed a mixture of triumph, relief, and the smug satisfaction of people who were convinced they had already won. But then I continued, I added, "However, I want Whitney to walk away with nothing."