Part 3Betting Her Life: A Girlfriend's Vengeance

Ashley had that innocent, girl-next-door vibe. She actually looked a lot like a famous actress known for her sweet, angelic image.

Her personality was great too – really gentle and considerate. Aside from not having much education, she was pretty much the perfect kept woman, a little songbird in a gilded cage.

So, we fell hard and fast, settling into this blissful, passionate life together.

She took care of the apartment, cooking and cleaning like some kind of domestic goddess while I went out and made the money to support us both. Sometimes, I'd see her tending to plants on the balcony, looking so peaceful and content, and I'd actually think about marrying her, keeping her safe forever.

We clicked in almost every way, but I always sensed this invisible barrier between us, something I couldn't quite define. She was good to me, almost too good, in a way that felt… performed. Like she was deliberately trying to please me to get something in return.

We were happy together for a while. The only slightly weird thing was how she'd occasionally ask questions about Leo. Nothing major, just little things.

Once, I teased her about it. "What? You still got a thing for Leo?"

"That's ridiculous! How could I possibly like him?" she shot back defensively.

"If you keep talking nonsense, I'm gonna have to get rough with you," she added, playfully raising a small fist like she was going to punch my arm.

I laughed it off and then asked the question that, looking back now, I regret more than anything. "Haha, yeah, I guess you're right. With a great guy like me around, who'd still be thinking about him?"

"He asked me to grab dinner this weekend. Wanna come along?"

She pretended to hesitate for a second, then nodded yes.

At the time, I figured that our first meeting at the club was also her first time seeing Leo. I assumed she was just struck by this guy who oozed bad-boy charm.

I never imagined that her being with me was never about me. It was always about using me to get to Leo.

Even when I walked in on them together, caught them red-handed, my mind couldn't process it. I refused to believe it.

A wave of dizziness washed over me; I almost passed out right there.

When the hell did they start hooking up behind my back?