When I was eighteen, I caught a cash-strapped college kid named Lucas stealing pigs from our family farm. To keep Lucas in school, I was up before dawn daily feeding the hogs and shoveling manure. I even sold the gold bracelet my mom left me. He knelt by the pigpen and vowed: “Aria, when I make it big, I’ll make you the most cherished wife.” Seven years later, Lucas was a tech tycoon with a publicly traded company, worth hundreds of millions. But the day before our wedding, a girl who bore a 70% resemblance to me showed up at my door. She wore the exact same wedding dress as mine, pinching her nose in disgust: “Lucas always said you smell like pig slop. He’s put up with that stench for seven years and can barely stand it anymore.” “Watching you wallow in the mud with those sows all these years—it’s just pathetic and ridiculous.” “Here’s a $100,000 check. Take it and go back to your filthy pig farm. Don’t ruin my wedding to Lucas.” Staring at that check, I didn’t cry or cause a scene. I just quietly pulled out my phone, and called my uncle. “Brain, cut off all funding to Lucas’s company. And tell him…” “That core patent he’s so proud of? That’s not his. It clearly has my name written on it.”
“Lucas was right. A lowlife pig farmer like you can be bought off with a little cash. He didn’t even need to come himself.” “Take the money and get out. Don’t let your pig stench ruin tomorrow’s wedding venue.” I bent down to pick up the check—not for the money, but to tear it up and throw it in her face. As soon as she finished speaking, the gate was abruptly pushed open. “Who told you to come here?” Lucas stood there in a tailored suit, his tie hanging crookedly. Beads of sweat dotted his temples—he’d clearly run all the way over. When he saw Vivian standing in front of me, he grabbed her wrist so hard she yelped immediately. Lucas’s voice turned terrifyingly cold: “Tell me! Who told you to come here?” Vivian’s eyes filled with tears as she stared at him in shock. “Lucas, I did this for you! This woman won’t let you move on…” “Shut up!” Lucas shoved her away roughly. In her high heels, Vivian stumbled backward, nearly landing in the feed trough. “Get back in the car. Don’t make me repeat myself.” Lucas didn’t spare her a glance, his eyes fixed on me. Vivian shot me a venomous look, but ultimately feared Lucas’s anger and awkwardly climbed back into the car. The yard fell silent, except for the occasional oinks from the pigpen. Lucas took a deep breath and turned to face me. His previously fierce expression softened instantly, even taking on a hint of nervous ingratiate. He stepped closer, trying to take my hand, but I stepped out of his reach. Lucas’s hand froze mid-air. He gave a helpless, bitter smile: “Aria, don’t listen to her nonsense.” “I never wanted to drive you away, and I’ve never been disgusted by how you smell.” He pulled out a handkerchief and took my hand, carefully wiping the dirt from between my fingers. “You know the company’s about to go public. I need the resources Vivian’s family can provide.” “Marrying her is just a temporary measure—she’s basically a prop.” “In my heart, you’re the only woman who’ll ever be my wife.” I looked up at his face. Seven years had refined him into someone increasingly handsome. He was no longer that poor kid cramming vocabulary by the pigpen. And I was still Aria, the one who’d been shoveling pig manure behind him for seven years. The affection in his eyes seemed so genuine. So genuine that if Vivian hadn’t shown up today, I might have almost fallen for it. “What exactly are you trying to say?” I asked flatly. Lucas thought I was warming up to him. A flicker of hope crossed his face. He immediately pulled a velvet box from his jacket. Inside was a diamond ring the size of a pigeon’s egg. “I bought you a downtown penthouse. It’s in your name.” “Once I marry Vivian and lock in her family’s investment, I’ll push her to the side.” “You’ll still be my only wife—we’ll just skip the marriage certificate.” He leaned down, his warm breath brushing my ear, his voice cajoling. “Aria, you know I can’t live without you. But I also can’t lose the company.” “Just do this for me—compromise a little, please?”
Compromise a little. Lucas made it sound so easy. Seven years ago, he’d said: “Aria, just keep raising pigs a little longer until I make it big.” Seven years later, he said: “Aria, just be my secret lover for a while. Once I’m done with Vivian’s family, I’ll come back to you.” He reached out to ruffle my hair, the way he used to when he wanted me to buy him new sneakers. Lucas, even the old sow in the pigpen would get tired of your manipulations. “You want me to be your side piece?” I looked into his eyes, my voice steady—surprisingly so, even to myself. Lucas frowned slightly, clearly not liking the term “side piece.” “Side piece? That sounds terrible.” He walked to the window, looking annoyed, and lit a cigarette. Through the smoke, his expression was hazy, but his words dripped with entitlement. “Aria, you’re a smart woman. You know in today’s world, it’s all about who you know.” “But when it comes to feelings? I only have eyes for you.” “That Vivian—she’s got money, but she’s not worth one of your fingers. She’s just a hollow copy of you.” He turned around and pointed at the check on the coffee table. “Keep the hundred grand Vivian gave you—think of it as walking-around money.” “The condo I’m giving you is worth twenty million, plus an unlimited credit card.” “Quit the pig farm. Shut it down.” “That dirty, backbreaking work isn’t for you.” “Just stay in the condo, take up flower arranging, get spa treatments, and wait for me to come home. Doesn’t that sound better?” He said it so earnestly, like he was offering me some amazing gift. In his mind, pulling me out of the pigpen and locking me in a gilded cage was saving me. I couldn’t help but laugh. Seven years ago, when he made that vow by the pigpen, he’d worn the exact same expression. Now that he had money, the first thing he offered me was to be his secret lover. “Lucas, do you honestly think I’d be stuck in the mud without you?” Lucas hesitated, then put out his cigarette and pulled me into a hug. “Aria, don’t be ridiculous. You only have a high school diploma. What else can you do besides raise pigs?” “The world out there is tough. Without me looking out for you, people will eat you alive.” “Tomorrow’s wedding will be packed. I don’t want Vivian’s family giving you a hard time.” “I’m doing this to keep you safe.” Protect me? Was he protecting his wedding from disruption, or keeping me as his fool? Looking into those so-called loving eyes, the tight string I’d held for seven years suddenly snapped. “Fine.” The worry in Lucas’s eyes vanished instantly, replaced by a satisfied grin. He bent down and kissed my forehead, like rewarding a well-behaved pet. “I knew it—Aria’s always so reasonable.” “After the wedding, I’ll come stay with you.” “We’ll go to the Maldives, just the two of us.” In high spirits, he grabbed his jacket, like he’d just wrapped up a big deal. “I still have a meeting. The driver’s downstairs to help you move.” “Make sure to throw out all those old clothes. I bought you new ones.” After speaking, he tried to lean in for another forehead kiss. I stepped back, avoiding his advance. “Fine, you’re still upset. I won’t push it.” He turned and strode toward his Maybach, and I stood watching the taillights disappear around the bend. I crumpled the hundred-thousand-dollar check in my hand into a ball. Lucas, you really didn’t let me down. You’re even more rotten than I thought.
The next morning, I got a call from an unknown number. It was Vivian. “Aria, Lucas said you agreed to be his side piece?” On the other end, her voice dripped with triumphant arrogance: “Since you’re the other woman, you should know your place.” “Come to the downtown bridal shop. I have something for you to do.” She hung up before I could respond. I stared at my phone, a cold smile tugging at my lips. Perfect. I wanted to see what other tricks this pair of scumbags had up their sleeves. As soon as I walked in, I saw Lucas helping Vivian try on wedding dresses. Vivian wore a million-dollar mermaid gown, preening in front of the mirror. Lucas sat on the nearby sofa,furrowed his brow, clearly bored. When he saw me enter, he jumped to his feet, panic flashing in his eyes. “Who told you to come? Didn’t I tell you to wait at home?” “Do you think this is the kind of place you belong?” He spoke while nervously glancing at Vivian, afraid she’d blow up right there. The classic cheater move—trying to keep his wife and mistress separate. He played the part perfectly. “I’m the one who called her.” Vivian lifted her skirt and walked over, wearing a smug smile. “Lucas, since you can’t bear to get rid of this country bumpkin, why not make her my bridesmaid?” “Let her watch our happiness firsthand. That way she’ll learn her place faster, don’t you think?” Lucas’s face darkened significantly: “Vivian, knock it off. Aria doesn’t know anything about this.” Vivian latched onto Lucas’s arm, pouting while shooting me a provocative gaze. “Aria, don’t you love Lucas? If you do, can’t you handle this little compromise?” Lucas, clearly fed up, looked at me helplessly: “Aria, since Vivian’s set on this, maybe you should…” “Just do me this favor.” He leaned close to my ear, speaking so only we could hear: “Seeing you in a bridesmaid dress will tide me over. Then tonight I’ll come to your place and make it up to you properly.” Absolutely revolting. Looking at Lucas’s two-faced hypocrisy, I agreed without hesitation. “Sure.” “Since you’re both so eager, I’ll definitely play along.” Lucas froze, clearly surprised by my willingness. A glint of victory flashed in his eyes. He thought I was still that Aria who loved him desperately, willing to endure any humiliation for him. Vivian pointed to the corner: “There, that’s yours. Go change.” “Don’t let your filth ruin my clothes—they’re imported.” I took the dress and headed for the fitting room. Looking at the cheap, neon green dress in the mirror, I smiled coldly. But I put it on anyway and pushed open the door. Sure enough, Vivian doubled over laughing, holding up her phone to take pictures: “Oh my god, it’s perfect on you! Don’t you look just like a green worm crawling out of a garden?” Disgust flashed in Lucas’s eyes. He waved dismissively. “Take it off. Keep the dress and bring it to the venue yourself tomorrow.” He pulled a slip of paper from his pocket and tossed it to me: “This is the condo address. The code is your birthday.” “Don’t go wandering around, and definitely don’t go back to the pig farm. I don’t want you bringing that smell with you.” I silently picked up the paper and changed back into my clothes. Lucas. Vivian. Laugh all you want. Because after tonight, neither of you will ever laugh again.
The condo Lucas prepared for me was definitely luxurious. A 2,000-square-foot river-view unit with fancy decor. The walk-in closet was filled with the season’s latest styles. Even the vanity was covered with expensive skincare products I’d never normally dream of buying. If I were some ordinary girl, I might have cried tears of joy. I might have gladly become his lifelong mistress. That night at ten, Lucas arrived, reeking of alcohol. As soon as he walked in, he wrapped his arms around me from behind. “Aria, do you like it?” He buried his face in my neck: “Tomorrow at the wedding, don’t look at me, okay? Not even once.” “Because I’ll weaken. I’ll want to take you away.” “But I can’t.” He closed his eyes dramatically, like he was having some epic internal battle. “For our future, I have to marry Vivian.” “Aria, do you get what I’m going through?” Watching this display of supposed devotion, I just felt sick. Wanting to be a player while acting like a saint—that summed Lucas up perfectly. “Lucas.” I gently pushed him away and picked up the document he’d tossed casually on the table. It was a prenuptial property agreement. But not between him and Vivian—between him and me. Titled as a gift, it was really a contract of servitude. The agreement stated that while the condo was in my name, it was fully mortgaged, with Lucas’s company as the lender. If I violated the terms, the condo would be immediately repossessed, and I’d be stuck with massive debt. Even more absurd was a clause at the end: [The female party must unconditionally cooperate with the male party’s technical research and development needs, including but not limited to providing inspiration and organizing data.] So he didn’t just want my body—he wanted my mind too. He’d long suspected that the company’s key technical breakthroughs were connected to me. But he refused to admit that Aria the pig farmer was his technological savior. He’d rather believe it was my “inspiration”—a resource he could exploit whenever he wanted. “Lucas, do you really love me?” I held up the agreement. Lucas’s eyes shifted, then he stepped over and took my hand. “Of course I love you. If I didn’t, why would I give you all this?” “Sign it, Aria. Then we can be together forever.” He pressed a pen into my hand, watching eagerly. In Lucas’s mind, I was like that old sow back in the pigpen. Useful for breeding when alive, good for meat when dead. He wanted to squeeze every last drop of value from me, leaving nothing behind. “Okay, I’ll sign.” I bent my head and scribbled on the agreement. But it wasn’t “Aria.” I drew a little pig. Lucas didn’t look closely. Seeing me put pen to paper, he immediately relaxed, satisfied, and tucked the agreement away. “That’s my girl.” “Get some rest tonight. Wait for my text tomorrow.” He left in a rush, not even staying the night. Probably hurrying back to sweet-talk his fiancée, or eager to lock this “contract of servitude” in his safe. I stood by the floor-to-ceiling window, watching his luxury car vanish into the night. I pulled out my phone and called Brain. “Tomorrow at ten in the morning, I’m going to Lucas’s wedding.” Lucas and Vivian’s wedding was at the Peninsula Hotel, the fanciest in the city. I heard they’d flown in dozens of tons of fresh flowers, and the champagne tower was taller than a person. All of River City’s elite showed up. Media cameras lined the entrance. Vivian clung to Lucas’s arm at the door greeting guests, grinning from ear to ear. Truly a match made in heaven—if it weren’t for me. The ceremony time arrived. The emcee on stage passionately told their “love story.” “Mr. Lucas and Miss Vivian met in humble beginnings, childhood sweethearts who grew up together…” Thunderous applause broke out below. Lucas looked at Vivian with deep affection, about to exchange rings. “Wait.”
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