The Hidden Secrets

For four years, I was in a secret relationship with Luke Collins. Even his closest friends had no clue. But everything changed when his first love returned. His friends started betting on when he'd break up with his girlfriend. "Right now." I blurted out. I knew because I was about to walk into an arranged marriage with someone else. Chapter 1 ... The night was quiet as I made a call to my uncle, Mike Wilson. "I booked my flight for Wednesday afternoon," I said. "I'm skipping the graduation party." Mike's voice boomed with approval. "That's great. You're finally coming around. You dated that guy for so long, but we never got to see him. It just would not work. If you had agreed to this sooner, you would probably have had kids by now." My eyes prickled with unshed tears. I lowered my gaze and whispered, "Sorry." His voice softened as he caught the tremor in mine. "Never mind. By the way, why don't you invite Luke? He's my old college buddy and your professor. You two can come together." He paused, then added, "Oh, and I listed him as the contact for your marriage documents. You can share the news when you pick them up." "He's not coming," I cut him off. Before Mike could reply, a shadow blocked the balcony's cool breeze. A low, magnetic voice boomed, sending a chill through me. "Not coming to what?" Luke Collins had come out of the shower. Droplets slid from his damp hair and vanished into the folds of his robe. The fabric clung to his frame, outlining his toned body. "It's just a party." I hurriedly ended the call, trying to avoid him and leave the balcony. 'Actually, it's my wedding,' I thought. His hand shot out, pulling me gently against him. The familiar warmth seeped through my clothes, stirring an ache in my chest. He chuckled, "Were you talking to Mike? Did you spill our secret?" Luke was undeniably striking. At school, he was an iceberg, cold and untouchable. But in private, he was warm and almost clingy. In the past, I'd have melted into his arms, blushing. Now I just stepped back, creating distance. "Didn't you want to keep us hidden?" I muttered. His eyes flickered as he caught the edge of my tone. Still, he pressed on with the question that always lingered. "You know we can't go public." His breath grazed my ear, but I couldn't smile. At school, I was his invisible girlfriend. To my family, I couldn't even mention his name. "Don't worry," I said blandly. "I didn't tell him anything." I knew my place. I was more of a substitute than a girlfriend to him. Love swept me away at 20. I fell hard for Luke. It began on a rainy night when he picked me up, a favor arranged through Mike. The spark ignited, quiet but undeniable. Later, I found myself caring for a drunken Luke. Beer cans littered the floor, and he was a mess, with flushed cheeks and hazy eyes. That image was nothing like the distant professor everyone knew. Exhausted, I collapsed on the couch and fell asleep. When I woke, something tickled my face. I opened my eyes to find Luke gazing at me. But instead of looking away, he smiled at me. "Ada, let's be together." After that, we began a secret relationship. Every summer and winter break, my parents begged me to go home, but I always made excuses to stay. For his sake, I hadn't seen my family for four years. Mike would call Luke, grumbling about my lovesick behavior, asking about my boyfriend, and telling Luke to watch over me. He never knew I was with Luke. During one of those calls, Luke stroked my back. His eyes glinted with mischief. After the call, he joked, "Mike would never guess I'm the one stealing your heart." But all his love for me collapsed the moment I heard about Amanda Snyder. One night, Luke stumbled in, reeking of alcohol. I caught him as he nearly fell. He looked up and smiled bitterly, "Amanda, you're back. I'm so happy." Confused but worried, I helped him to the couch and brewed a hangover remedy. As he sipped it, his hand slid to my waist, his voice low and rough. "Amanda, don't ever leave me." I froze, realizing I hadn't heard it wrong. He was muttering another woman's name. I asked around and finally learned the truth. Luke, the campus legend, had only ever lost himself to Amanda, a bar singer. For her, he dropped out, spiraled into chaos, and became a shadow of himself. His mother paid Amanda to leave, and Luke swore off love until he met me. The reason? I looked like Amanda. Four years of my devotion couldn't outshine their brief, fiery romance. That was when I decided to go back to my family, marry who they chose, and never see Luke again. Chapter 2 The next morning, Luke was gone, leaving only a text with an address. I arrived at the restaurant, but he wasn't there yet. His friends greeted me warmly, knowing me as Mike's niece but not as Luke's girlfriend. "Ada, come and sit." They waved me over. "Spill some dirt on Mike." My stomach twisted as I feared they had started to suspect our relationship. "You live with Luke," one said, leaning in. "You've met his girlfriend, right?" I nodded, my mind racing. That was clearly probing. "His first love's back in town," another said. "Let's make a bet on when he is going to dump his current girl." The words hit me like a blow, but Josh Morgan didn't hold back. "I give it two weeks. He's been with her for four years, after all." Another guy scoffed, "Four years, and he never introduced her to us? I say one week." "Three days," another bet. Josh turned to me. "What do you think?" I squeezed my hands under the table, forcing myself to stay composed, but each bet chipped away at the fragile hope I'd clung to. I managed a thin smile. "Right now." Laughter erupted around the table. They thought I was joking, but Josh's gaze lingered, as if he sensed the weight behind my words. "Ada..." Before he could say more, Luke hurried in. His eyes locked on me immediately, and he asked, "What's so funny?" Josh shrugged. "Amanda's back. We're betting on when you'll ditch your girlfriend to get back with her." Luke clutched his jaw. "I told you guys not to mention her." The room fell silent. Someone quickly changed the subject to ease the tension. Luke slid into the seat beside me. Under the table, his fingers found mine, squeezing gently. He leaned in and whispered, "She is history. You're the one I'm with now." Just then, the door swung open. His hand jerked and quickly withdrew. His face tensed as he looked at the newcomer. Amanda Snyder walked in, a vision in a bold red coat. She was radiating confidence and allure. But with her arrival, a chill swept through the room. She chuckled behind her hand. "Why the surprise? You know I'm the host of the party." Her gaze shifted to me, and she extended a hand with a calculated smile. "You must be Ada. Luke talked about you. Thanks for taking care of him all this time." I froze, then reached out my hand, but Luke pulled me back, sulking, "Drop the act." Amanda's eyes dimmed, her confidence faltering for a moment. Josh jumped in, trying to smooth things over. "Well, that's Luke. He talks like that, but everyone here knows how much he cares for you." The others joined in, reminiscing about the two's passionate past. Flustered, Luke turned to me. I looked away, unwilling to face him. Chapter 3 Luke lost his composure. "Stop talking nonsense. Just eat your food." Everyone fell silent, except for Josh. He turned to Amanda and said, "Come on and have a seat. Luke's just grumpy. Give him a couple of days. He'll come running back." Another laughed, "We were just betting on when he was going to dump his girlfriend." "Shut up!" Luke roared. "I'm not breaking up with her!" His words silenced the room and injured Amanda's pride. She sat down and turned to him, but he turned away. Unwilling to give up, she placed a shrimp on his plate and said, "Have some of your favorite shrimp." He glanced at me and pushed it away, a move that made her cringe. But she managed a faint smile. "Alright. I'll have it." Unable to bear it anymore, he slapped her fork down. "Are you out of your mind? You're allergic to seafood." His voice was loud, but his tone was tinged with concern. The shrimp hit the ground, the clatter echoing in my chest. Amanda's eyes welled up. "If you remember my allergy, why can't you remember me?" She fled the restaurant, tears streaming down her face. Luke's jaw clenched. Then he chased after her, not sparing me a glance. In front of everyone else, he was always so composed. His anger and passion belonged only to Amanda. The dinner dragged on. The others gossiped and bet on when Luke and Amanda would reunite. Tired of it, I stepped outside and overheard Amanda on the phone. "The money given by that idiot ran out fast," she snorted. "Marrying into the Collins family is my ultimate goal, the ticket to a good life. Luke's girlfriend? No threat. I saw them at dinner, and he denied her." I trembled, and she paused at the sound. Seeing it was me, she smirked, "You heard that, huh?" I kept my voice steady. "People who betray love deserve to be struck by lightning." "You're just his secret lover," she laughed. "You've got no right to talk about love. A hidden girlfriend? Nah, just my replacement." Anger surged within me. Before I could shoot back, her smile turned cruel. She shoved past me, knocking my shoulder hard. "Know your place." Her footsteps faded, leaving me clutching my chest. The pain was unbearable. Luke failed me, but Karma always came back around. Once I calmed down, I went home. Mike called. "Your fiancé got you an animal biology book with real specimens inside. Pretty cool, right? How are you going to thank me?" "I'll reward you when I'm back for the marriage," I smiled, but my voice trailed off as I felt Luke's presence. He had come back at some point without me noticing. "Marriage? Who're you talking to?" he demanded. I met his gaze. "It's Mike..." Before I could finish, he frowned, tossing some papers into my hands. "I already talked to him." I looked up. "What did you tell him?" He paused. "Not much. Asked if he knew who my girlfriend was. Good thing he doesn't. Oh, and I forgot to ask about your party." He didn't know these were my wedding documents. "It's probably no big deal. I won't go." I smiled bitterly. Of course, he didn't care. I opened the envelope, and a golden invitation peeked out. Luke sensed my coldness and pulled me into his arms. His head rested on my shoulder as he explained, "I had to leave the dinner early for something. And yeah, I was a bit harsh. But you know I can't go public. It'd mess up my job at school." His eyes landed on the invitation. "What's this, Addy?" Chapter 4 I held up the unopened invitation. "My wedding. Wanna see it?" Luke gaped, then laughed, "Who else would you marry besides me?" He brushed the invitation to the floor. "You..." I looked up at him, but he went quiet, frowning at his phone. His hand twitched, and a few seconds later, he finally lifted the phone to his ear. His lips pressed into a thin line, but there was still a flicker of hope in his eyes. "I'm not coming," he said. Amanda said something on the other end, and he pulled away from me. "Where are you?" He rushed out, slamming the door. The cold air hit my face, matching the chill in my heart. Luke was usually so calm and gentle, but coldness was hidden behind his façade. It turned out he could be flustered and desperate. He was just alive only with Amanda. I guessed that was what love looked like. That evening, Josh called, his voice frantic. "Come to the bar. Some guy is hassling Amanda, and Luke is drinking himself sick over it." I hesitated but went. When I arrived, Luke was punching the guy and gripping his collar. "You lost the game. Apologize to her, as you promised." Josh pulled him back. "Enough, Luke. He's done." The guy glared at Amanda. Luke swung again. "Don't you dare look at her!" They fought, and in the end, Josh dragged a battered, drunk Luke out. He spat blood, slurring, "He apologized. Good. I've made it right." It was hard to believe the cool and reserved man would show jealousy for once. Even before passing out, he was worried about Amanda. I took him to the hospital, and he mumbled her name in his sleep. Seeing his worried expression, I couldn't hold back. "Why are you doing this to me? I'm not a replacement." He stirred and whispered Amanda's name again. I laughed bitterly, looking away. Morning came, and my face itched. I woke to Luke's chuckle, his eyes holding a warmth I hadn't seen in years. He asked, "You looked after me all night?" I nodded, but my voice was icy. "Yeah, for Mike's sake. Consider this me repaying you for four years of care." His brow furrowed. "Repay?" Before he could say more, Josh arrived with a relieved expression. He pulled me outside and asked seriously, "Are you and Luke together? I figured it out at dinner." I froze, done hiding. "Yeah. But not for long." "You saw what Luke did for Amanda at the bar," he sighed. "Keep this up, and you're gonna get hurt." My face turned pale, but I forced a smile. "I get it." Turning around, I saw Luke standing there. He shot Josh a glare and said, "You can leave now." Still weak, he questioned me, "Why did you tell him we're together?" I jerked up my head, trying to explain, but he wouldn't listen. He patted my shoulder and said, "It's fine. You don't need to explain. I'll go public when the time's right." "Don't bother. We're done!" I shoved his hand off, my voice trembling from grievance. Chapter 5 Luke froze at my words. "Do you even know what you're saying?" I swallowed the bitterness. "I know. We're done." "Stop talking nonsense. Think about it," he sulked, walking away. I laughed. There was no need to think. I didn't want him anymore. As I headed down the stairwell, Amanda blocked my path, holding one of my earrings. She stared at my bare earlobe and taunted, "You took Luke away from the bar, didn't you?" Uninterested in her games, I moved to step past her, but she blocked me again, her smile twisting into something venomous. "I didn't see you as a threat," she hissed. "But it's not pleasing to see Luke orbit around you." I flinched at her glare, and she took the chance to shove my shoulder. I lost my balance and tumbled down the stairs. Pain seared through my ankle as I grabbed the wall, barely managing to steady myself. Her heels clicked as she descended, stopping above me. "Does it hurt? Well, a little pain will remind you of your place." Her malice ignited something in me. Ignoring the agony, I stood and slapped her across the face. "You think you're protecting some treasure? He's garbage. You think I'm like you?" I snapped. Just then, the stairwell door swung open. Luke appeared with a dark expression. Amanda wiped her tears, and he pulled her into his arms. His gaze was icy as he turned to me. "Garbage? I need you to apologize." Amanda sobbed against him, her trembling seeming to shake him too. He repeated, "I said apologize!" "She doesn't deserve it," I countered. His hand shot out and struck my cheek. "You hit her and won't even take responsibility? Is that what Mike taught you? Did I teach you that?" My cheek burned, and I clutched it. He wavered, feeling guilty, but it did nothing to thaw the chill in my heart. The sight of their closeness disgusted me. I yelled, "I did nothing wrong, and you will regret this!" I flung the wedding invitation at his feet. "You're blind if you can't see my injury. That's your failure, not mine. My wedding is my business. You are Mike's friend, so I'm inviting you. Show up or not. Your choice." He stepped on the invitation. "Stop right there! Your wedding? Who are you marrying?" His shouts echoed behind me as I limped away, my ankle throbbing with every step. My eyes were wet with unshed tears. A doctor spotted me outside and ushered me into a room. He examined my leg and sighed, "How did you get hurt like this? It's swollen badly. We'll need to put it in a cast." I turned my face away. "I fell by accident." Luke passed by, with Amanda cradled in his arms. Chapter 6 Luke had crushed the invitation and cast the matter aside. He paused when he saw me inside. I turned away, unwilling to see his face. Amanda whined in his arms, "My feet hurt. These heels made them swell." He glanced at her ankles, red from her shoes, but he barely noticed my leg in a cast when he walked in and said, "Check her first." I glared. "Don't push it!" The doctor glanced at Amanda's feet. "Medical resources are for real injuries. Find another doctor." Amanda hid her frustration. "It's not that bad. I can wait..." Before she could continue, Luke stopped her and gently set her on the next bed. Then he made a call. Soon, the doctor apologized, "Sorry, I'll take you to another doctor." I realized Luke had pulled strings behind it, but instead of arguing with him, I took a deep breath and left with the doctor's help. I glanced at Luke, who remained composed. "A lesson will teach you where you went wrong." I walked away without responding. Soon, another doctor cast my foot. Then I went home and called a cleaner to clear out my room. The jewelry, clothes, and bags Luke had given me were all donated. The couple's items I'd bought for him were all thrown away. I stared at the pile. Those hidden things, once cherished, now saw daylight in a trash bin. I turned to leave, only to bump into a warm embrace. Luke glanced at the dumpster, and his eyes narrowed. "Had enough? Throwing a tantrum is childish, don't you think?" he sulked. I simply walked past him, grabbed my suitcase, and headed for a taxi. The driver saw my limp and helped load my luggage. Luke strode over, stopping him. "Running away? Cut the drama, okay?" "You're standing in my way," I muttered. He froze, taken aback by my indifference. Before, I'd have screamed and cried. As the stalemate went on, he finally noticed my cast. "What happened to your..." I ignored him and limped to the car. He lowered his head, sighing. "Fine, go have fun. We'll talk when you're back." "We have nothing to talk about!" I snorted, getting into the taxi. He froze, then bolted toward the house, like he had forgotten something. The driver sighed, "Your boyfriend, huh? Rushing home like that, not even checking on you." I looked out the window, taking one last glance at the place I'd lived for four years. I didn't answer. "Airport, please." Maybe Luke never saw me as his girlfriend. It was fine. We'd never cross paths again.