My Ex and Best Friend Killed My Grandma

On the anniversary of my grandmothers death, I went home to sort through the things she had left behind.

I also dragged out a few old cardboard boxes to sell for scrap.

That was when I ran into my ex-boyfriend and my ex-best friend, whom I had not seen in years.

Three years ago, on the eve of my wedding, I caught them in bed together.

Marcus Hale had stepped in front of Selena Brooks without hesitation.

If you want to blame someone, blame me, Natalie. Im the one at fault. I fell in love with Selena. I dragged her into this. Dont blame her.

Selena had cried so prettily, all trembling shoulders and tear-bright eyes.

Natalie, Im sorry. Marcus and I truly love each other. Please just let us be together.

I had been so furious I slapped them both on the spot.

I called Selena shameless.

Called her out for seducing someone elses fianc.

The next day, Marcus took his revenge.

He got ahead of the story and spread rumors everywhere that I had cheated first.

He used AI to generate explicit videos of me and circulated them.

Then he brought people to my home and trashed the place.

My grandmother, who had a heart condition, was so frightened and enraged that she suffered an attack and died on the spot.

After that, I cut Marcus out of my life completely and left the city.

Now, three years later, the two of them stood in front of me dressed head to toe in designer labels.

Marcus frowned.

Natalie King. Have these three years been that hard on you? Youre collecting trash now?

Selena was all warm concern.

Exactly, Nat. Where have you been all these years? If youre struggling, you can tell us. Marcuss business has grown so much now. Our company is about to go public. Were not short on money.

Theres no need to pick through trash. And look at you. You dont even dress yourself up anymore.

What they did not know was that any random bracelet in my jewelry cabinet was worth more than their companys market value.

Nat, if youre having trouble, you really have to tell us. Dont keep everything bottled up.

Selena smiled at me with false warmth.

I felt sick. I pulled my hand free.

No need. I was just clearing out garbage.

Clearly, Selena did not believe me.

She grabbed my hand again.

Why are you being so polite with us? Have you forgotten? We used to be best friends. If life is really hard, I have some spare cash. I can lend it to you. Dont worry about losing face.

And

She glanced at the old neighborhood behind me.

Youre living here now?

This place isnt safe. You should move somewhere else.

How about this? I have an apartment downtown sitting empty. Why dont you stay there for now?

No.

I refused again and turned to leave.

But she held me back.

Are you still holding a grudge over what happened back then? But its been so long. No matter how angry you are with us, you cant risk your health like this.

Selenas right. Marcus shoved a bank card into my hand. Theres fifty thousand in here. Take it for now.

Oh, right. Lilas getting married today. We were just heading over to her wedding. Were all friends, so you should come too.

Selena latched onto my arm and forced me into the car.

On the way, the two of them performed the role of loving husband and wife in front of me, sweet and inseparable.

I had no interest in watching.

I took out my phone and sent a message to the person waiting for me, telling him I would be late.

Then I looked out the window.

Selenas words had dragged up memories I had buried.

Lila Grant had been my college classmate.

Theirs too.

Three years ago, I cut ties with everyone from my past, so of course I had no idea today was her wedding day.

Selena chatted eagerly, then suddenly asked, By the way, Nat, its been so long. You must have a boyfriend by now, right? Dont tell me youre still single.

Im married, I said flatly.

The car went silent for a beat.

Selena covered her mouth in shock.

Really? Something that big happened and you didnt tell us? When did it happen? Who is he? Bring him out for us to meet someday. We were so close before.

The excitement in her eyes was almost impossible to hide. She looked me up and down.

Two years ago. Hes busy. No need.

Two years ago?

Marcus slammed the brakes.

Natalie, I know you still resent me for what happened, but you dont need to invent some man just to make me angry. Two years ago, we had barely been apart. Youre telling me you married someone else?

Youre overthinking it. I have no obligation to lie to you.

Marcus, Selena said quickly, maybe Natalie really did find someone she can spend her life with.

What kind of man lets her live like this?

Oh, what do you mean, like this? Who says marriage has to be about money? Maybe he treats Nat very well. Maybe hes responsible.

The two of them went back and forth.

I turned my head toward the window.

Soon, we arrived.

Selena warmly pulled me out of the car.

You havent contacted us for three years. I missed you so much. Thank goodness youre back. We can be together again.

I frowned and pushed her away.

Stay away from me.

She looked helpless.

Nat, did I do something wrong? Do you hate me?

I stared at her and suddenly found it absurd.

Was she asking on purpose?

Or had her memory rewritten itself?

She stole my fianc.

She caused the death of the grandmother who had raised me.

And she still had the nerve to say these things.

If this had been a few years ago, I might have gone mad with rage and grabbed her by the hair.

But now, all I felt was calm.

Youre overthinking it.

Selena!

A surprised voice rang out.

Lila, dressed in her wedding gown, ran over.

The two women hugged.

Then Lila noticed me standing off to the side.

This is Natalie?

Natalie, my God. Its been years. How did you end up looking so worn down?

At once, everyone else turned to look.

They were old classmates.

Naturally, they knew some of what had happened between us.

And naturally, none of them hesitated to side with Selena.

They made jokes at my expense without the slightest restraint.

Yeah, Natalie, I heard you left Harbor City after breaking up with Marcus. You must have had a tough time all these years.

Look at her. What is she even wearing? It looks like something from a street stall.

If I looked like that, I wouldnt have the nerve to come. Standing next to Selena, she looks like a clown.

Because it was my grandmothers death anniversary, I had worn simple, muted clothes.

But the fabric, the cut, the design, all of it had been custom-made by a private designer.

Money could not buy it.

Lila took my hand.

Natalie, you must really have struggled all these years. You cant even bear to buy yourself decent clothes. Oh, right, Selena said you got married. Who is your other half? Why didnt you bring him for us to see?

Yes, yes, were all curious what Natalies husband looks like.

Natalie used to be the beauty of our class. Her husband must be amazing, right?

Selena had been with me the whole time.

She had no chance to tell them in person.

Which meant she had told them in a group chat.

So they still had a group.

Of course they did.

I had cut them off for years. It was normal that I did not know.

Someone snickered.

Look at the state shes in. What kind of good husband could she have found? If he were any good, would he let her wear cheap clothes? Class beauty? Please. If Marcus hadnt liked her back then, would she ever have been put on that pedestal?

Exactly. She probably married some poor, honest guy.

Nothing like our Selena. Marcus is a CEO now, and their company is about to go public.

Natalie, why arent you saying anything? Is he too embarrassing to talk about?

Lila added another jab.

Then someone said jokingly, Dont tell me her husband is too shameful to show.

The room burst into laughter.

No matter what they said, I had no desire to respond.

All I could think about was how to find an excuse to leave.

My husband and my little one were still waiting for me.

Thinking of them warmed my heart. The corners of my mouth lifted before I even realized it.

When I looked up, I met Marcuss complicated gaze.

Natalie. Does he treat you badly?

Huh?

If youre in trouble, you can tell me anytime.

So my silence had become, in his mind, a painful inability to speak.

Suddenly, he stepped forward.

If things are really hard, you can come to me directly. After all, we used to

Youre overthinking it. I have something to do. Im leaving.

I cut him off.

I made up a random excuse and stood.

He looked at me with pained eyes.

Great.

What tragic fantasy had he invented now?

Natalie, Selena called after me, our companys IPO celebration is in two days. Come if youre free.

Oh, right. Your grandmothers blessing charm is still with me. You left it behind back then. I havent been able to contact you all these years, so I never had a chance to return it.

I had been about to refuse.

But when I heard the second half, I hesitated.

She said it on purpose.

She knew I would refuse otherwise.

In the end, I agreed.

I wanted to see what she was trying to do.

Ill drive you.

At the intersection, Marcus pulled up beside me.

I hesitated for one second, then got in.

Where do you live now?

South End Old Lane, number seventy-eight. Just drop me there.

Marcus frowned.

You still live there? That areas about to be demolished. He lets you live in a place like that?

South End Old Lane, number seventy-eight, was where my grandmother had lived.

It was also where I had lived for more than twenty years.

There had indeed been rumors of demolition recently.

But Sebastian Ford had bought the entire area.

Because I had once said I could not bear to lose it.

I was too lazy to explain, so I gave a faint hum.

Marcus got angry instead.

Natalie King! What kind of attitude is that? After leaving me, you just gave up on yourself? You dont even take your own marriage seriously?

If its really not working, divorce him.

If Sebastian heard that, he would probably sulk for half a month.

Thankfully, we had arrived.

I opened the door and got out.

No need. Goodbye.

Then I left without looking back.

Most people had moved out of the old neighborhood. Only a few elderly residents remained.

The stairwell was dim, and I felt my way up to the seventh floor.

When I opened the door, my grandmothers portrait sat in the center of the room.

I walked forward and lit three sticks of incense.

Then I sat down and talked to her.

As I spoke, I nearly fell asleep.

My phone rang.

It was a video call from Sebastian.

Mommy!

As soon as I answered, a milky little voice popped out.

My sons face filled most of the screen.

Mommy, Daddy said after he finishes work in two days, hell bring Ollie to see you. Mommy, Ollie misses you so much.

His voice was soft and sweet.

He clung to the call for a long time before finally handing the phone to Sebastian.

The mans deep-set eyes looked tired.

How have the past two days been?

Fine.

Sebastian and I met a little over two years ago.

At that time, I had just crawled out of the relationship that Marcus had left in ruins.

To heal myself, I carried a sketchboard and traveled all over the world.

Mountains, rivers, cities, oceans.

Sebastian was the model I happened to meet one day.

I saw him as my muse.

The source of my inspiration.

I created painting after painting because of him.

And he told me he had never met a woman as unusual as I was.

Somewhere along the way, we fell in love.

Later, I asked him what made me so unusual.

He said, Other women who see me want to attach themselves to me. They want some benefit from me. But you only wanted me to model for you. That was strange.

I said, Doesnt making you model count as a benefit?

He laughed.

Natalie, youre adorably foolish.

I was foolish.

Otherwise, how could I have failed to realize for so long that my so-called best friend had been stealing my fianc?

Only later did I learn that Sebastian had been born into a powerful, rigid family.

The schemes, the hierarchy, the endless fight for profit had kept him on guard his whole life.

He said that being with me gave him a kind of peace he had never known.

We were two wounded people warming each other.

Then Ollie came along.

And our little family became even more beautiful.

Two days passed quickly.

Soon, it was the day of Marcuss company celebration.

Selena sent me a message reminding me to come.

I replied: Okay.

That afternoon, I took a cab to the venue.

But I was stopped at the entrance.

Sorry, no invitation, no entry. Do you have an invitation?

The security guard looked me up and down.

No.

His attitude immediately turned sharp.

Then what are you doing here? Do you know what kind of place this is? Today is the day Hale Group celebrates its listing. Random people cant just wander in.

I was shoved back.

Suddenly, someone gasped.

Isnt that Natalie King? Marcus Hales ex-girlfriend.

It really is. Mrs. Hale, isnt that your sons ex?

It was Marcuss mother, surrounded by a group of wealthy ladies.

At that, Mrs. Hales smile froze. She rushed over at once.

Natalie King. It really is you. After betraying my son and running off with some man, you still have the nerve to come back?

Dont tell me you saw my son succeeding now, saw his company going public, and came back to get a piece of the pie.

Let me warn you. If you dare cause trouble, Ill expose everything you did back then.

The others looked at me with disgust.

I heard she cheated before the wedding and broke Marcuss heart. Thank goodness Selena was there for him later.

Exactly. Some people really have no shame.

Mrs. Hale squared her shoulders.

Did you hear me? Get out!

Selena invited me.

Selena invited you? Do you think Ill believe that?

Only then did I realize that after I left, Marcus had not only painted himself as the perfect victim.

He had also made Selena his savior.

In the end, I, the actual victim, had become the only villain.

How ironic.

I took out my phone to message Selena.

But someone slapped it out of my hand.

What? Planning to call my son? You think hell soften up and take you back?

Dream on. Get out right now!

I picked up my phone and tried again.

But the screen had gone black.

I could not send a message.

I could not even make a call.

Mom, what are you doing?

Marcus and Selena walked over.

Mrs. Hale rushed to complain.

Son, look at this woman. She must have seen youve made something of yourself and come back for benefits. I was helping you chase her away.

Mom, Natalie hasnt had it easy these years. Let it go. Its all in the past.

Marcus spoke.

Selena echoed him, stepping forward to take my hand.

Nat, you finally came. I was going to have someone pick you up, but today was so busy I forgot. Oh, right, wheres your husband? Didnt he come with you?

No.

What a shame. I was hoping there would be a few industry leaders here today. I could introduce you and your husband to some job opportunities.

She looked like a generous rich wife offering charity to a beggar.

I frowned and pulled my hand away.

The blessing charm.

She froze.

Oh, look at me. I was in such a rush that I left it upstairs. Come in with me first. Ill go get it for you later.

I had planned to take it and leave.

Now I had no choice but to go inside.

All along the way, people whispered behind me.

Selena really is generous.

Exactly. Anyone else wouldve kicked her out long ago.

I still have that video from back then saved.

Inside the hall, a small figure suddenly darted out and shoved me hard.

I fell to the floor.

Bad woman! Dont get close to my daddy!

Hugo, dont act up!

Marcus hurried forward and picked up the boy.

Selena smiled apologetically.

Im sorry, Natalie. Hes still young. He doesnt know better.

I held out my hand again.

The charm. Give it to me. Im leaving.

You vixen! Youre the one seducing my husband, arent you?

Suddenly, a force grabbed my shoulder.

A slap landed hard across my face.

A woman rushed at me like a madwoman, grabbing my hair and tearing at it.

No wonder my husband keeps coming home in the middle of the night lately. If I hadnt seen the photos, I really wouldve thought he was working late.

You shameless vixen! How dare you seduce my man!

She shoved me to the ground.

Just then, the main doors opened.

Someone shouted, It looks like Mr. Ford. Mr. Ford is here!

All sound vanished.

Everyone turned toward the entrance.