A secret lover

Ashley had been stringing me along for seven years, refusing to publicly acknowledge me as her fiancé. All because she was still hung up on her childhood sweetheart, Ethan. She even gave him the award that should have been mine. I didn't yell, I didn't scream. I calmly broke up with her and walked away. Later, she came crawling back, begging me to take her back, swearing she only loved me.

1.

I was backstage changing when my agent, Carol, told me the award had been snatched away. My hand froze mid-zip. "Why?" I asked, incredulous. This award represented years of relentless work – 365 days a year of rehearsals, script memorization, and pushing myself to the limit. How could it be taken away just like that?

Carol's face was grim. "I just got the call. They're giving it to Ethan Parker." She added, "He's got connections. I heard he's Ashley's... boyfriend."

My blood ran cold. Ashley, my fiancée. The young, powerful CEO. We'd been together for seven years, engaged for three. But she'd kept our relationship a secret. So secret that even Carol, my agent, had no idea.

2.

Seeing Ashley walk in, arm in arm with Ethan, felt like a punch to the gut. I knew about Ethan. He was Ashley's childhood sweetheart, back in the picture after years abroad. They sat in the front row, laughing and whispering like newlyweds. The sight was a dagger to my heart. All she had to do was turn her head and she would have seen me – the man whose years of work she'd just dismissed. But she didn't. Her eyes were only for Ethan. After seven years, my heart shattered.

As the presenter prepared to announce the winner, I clenched my fists, a mix of anger, sadness, and resentment churning inside me. Carol squeezed my arm. "Let it go," she whispered. "We'll get it next year."

"And the winner for Best Actor is... Ethan Parker!" The crowd erupted in applause. Ethan stood up, feigning surprise. The presenter gushed, "Hard work pays off, Ethan! You deserve this."

Ashley beamed up at him. I could read her lips: "Go on! You always wanted this." She’d said those exact words to me once. I'd promised her I'd make her proud. She’d said she couldn’t wait to see me win. And now, she’d handed my dream to someone else.

As Ethan accepted the award, the camera focused on Ashley's radiant face. Pictures of her adoring gaze quickly spread online, along with shots of my devastated expression.

3.

#EthanParker #AshleyMiller #EthanBestActor #MarkDavisReaction

The internet, as always, sided with the perceived winner. Comments flooded in, mocking me. "Sore loser much? Get over yourself!" "So this was the 'surprise' he promised his fans? What a joke." "My image of Mark Davis is officially ruined." "Ethan totally deserved it! So glad Ashley was there to support him."

I stared at the comments, numb. I didn’t know how hard Ethan had worked, but I knew my own dedication was undeniable. I felt so betrayed. Why would the woman I loved do this to me?

Seeing Ethan share his victory with Ashley, I almost lun...