Martin was on his way to visit Sheila in her hospital ward, hoping to surprise her. But when he peered inside, he stopped cold. What he saw made his chest tighten with rage and disbelief.
There they were—Sheila and Justine—kissing passionately, completely unaware of their surroundings.
Martin's hands clenched at his sides. His breathing grew shallow. He hadn't told Sheila he would be visiting. He had wanted to surprise her, but in the end, he was the one surprised.
How long has this been going on? he thought, his jaw tightening.
It all made sense now—why Justine insisted on being their lawyer. It wasn't just professionalism. It was personal. Very personal.
He took a deep breath, fighting back the emotions. "Martin, your karma came faster than expected," he muttered to himself with a bitter chuckle.
Instead of storming in, he stepped back and pulled out his phone. He tried calling her, but unsurprisingly, Sheila didn't answer. She was too busy kissing another man.
Martin left the hospital, his steps heavy. He sat in his car, gripping the steering wheel as anger surged through him.
"I can't believe this," he said aloud, hitting the dashboard. "When I finally decided to take a woman seriously, I ended up being the fool."
He laughed bitterly to himself.
So, all this time… You've been lying to me, Sheila?
I gave you everything. And this is how you repay me?
He didn't want to let it slide. Not again. He remembered how he had treated Sharlene in the past—how he never gave her the respect or love she deserved. Now, the tables had turned.
"Only the devil doesn't take revenge," he thought darkly. "Fine, Sheila. I'll play this game with you. But I'll play it better."
Just as he was about to start the car, his phone vibrated. He glanced at the screen, expecting it to be Sheila. But it wasn't.
It was Sharlene.
He hesitated for a moment before answering.
They both stayed silent for a few seconds. Then he heard her clear her throat before speaking:
"Your advance payment for the child's hospital bill helped a lot. Thank you. That's all… Good night."
The call ended.
He stared at the screen, lost in thought. He had never loved Sharlene. Their relationship back in college wasn't born out of romance—it was the result of alcohol and a careless night.
They were practically strangers, attending the same school.
Flashback
It was their last year of college, nearing graduation. His friend had invited him out to the club.
"Come on, Martin. You need to unwind. Last week before we graduate!" his friend said, slinging an arm around his shoulders.
"Who are we meeting?" Martin asked.
"My girlfriend and her friend."
When they arrived, his friend's girlfriend introduced them. Her companion, clearly uncomfortable in the club's wild environment, stayed quiet.
"Sorry about my friend. She was dragged into this," the girlfriend said.
Martin sat at the table, quietly drinking while music blared and lights flashed. He wasn't in the mood to flirt, but after a few drinks, he turned to the quiet girl beside him.
"Hey, what's your name?" he asked, slightly tipsy.
"Sharlene Rosario," she replied stiffly.
"Martin Francisco. Nice to meet you." He smiled and offered a handshake.
She nodded politely. He poured another drink and looked at her.
"You should have some. It's no fun if I'm drinking alone."
"I don't drink," she said firmly.
"Just one," he urged.
Eventually, she gave in and took a small sip. She grimaced and nearly gagged. Martin laughed and gave her three more shots.
"I don't want any more. My head hurts. I want to go home," she said, stumbling slightly.
"I'll drive you," he offered.
"I don't want a drunk guy driving me. We'll get in an accident."
Before she could leave, Martin pulled her into a kiss. It shocked them both. She tried to push him away, but he kissed her again.
Later that night, they ended up at his place. The alcohol had dulled their senses, and boundaries blurred. The next morning, he woke up beside her.
Sharlene shot up in bed, horrified. She got dressed without saying much.
"Nothing happened between us," she said quickly, then left, clearly shaken.
But even if they tried to deny it, what happened that night left evidence.
Martin rubbed his temples at the memory. "Damn it," he whispered.
His phone vibrated again, snapping him back to the present. He frowned at the screen.
It was another unexpected call.