My Boyfriend Sold Me Online

The company was on the verge of going public, but my boyfriend Arsen couldn't stop fooling around with his childhood friend, Amelia Hall—no matter the time or place. All I did was gently remind them to act more appropriately.

The next day, a friend sent me a screenshot from a private livestream.

I couldn't believe what I was seeing. I dropped everything and rushed to Arsen's office—only to overhear him talking with his buddies right outside his door.

"You guys really went all out last night, huh? I didn't wanna miss a thing. Seriously, man, you're the best—always up for trying new things."

"Oh yeah, especially when Celine started moaning 'husband' all dazed… man, that got me going."

"Arsen, aren't you worried Celine might find out? You're not exactly subtle."

I heard him tap his phone and laugh. "So what if she does? I've used her up. What's she gonna do—leave me? She wouldn't dare make a scene."

He went on, "If you wanna pick out some outfits, go check out Amelia's shop. Her sales have been tanking lately. Girl hasn't smiled in days." The whole group burst into crude laughter.

Then someone asked, "Arsen… Celine's been nothing but good to you. Why are you treating her like this?"

The smile vanished from Arsen's voice. "I can't stand her acting all high and mighty. Just 'cause she helped me out a few times, she thinks I owe her my life. She doesn't get that a woman's real virtue is being clueless."

He sneered, "If she doesn't get it, I'll teach her."

A cold wave of nausea hit me. I looked down at my phone and saw a new message from him:

Celine, babe work is killing me. I'm exhausted. I just wish you were here with me forever.

"Arsen, isn't this a little too cruel?" one friend teased, his voice dripping with sick amusement. "She's a top-tier graduate from an elite school, and you set the full stream at just eight bucks? That's cheaper than a latte."

Arsen put his phone down. "It's to make a point. This educated, high-class girl throwing herself at me? She's worth eight dollars in my eyes."

"So what if she's smart and comes from a good family? Even the proudest rose gets its thorns plucked. And I'm the one who's gonna drag her down into the dirt." I could hear the arrogance oozing from his words.

Standing frozen outside that door, I'd bitten my lip so hard the taste of blood filled my mouth.

Just minutes before, when my friend first sent me that screenshot and accused Arsen, a part of me still wanted to believe it wasn't true. Maybe we were set up. Maybe he didn't know.

On my way over, I'd already thought of three different ways to fix this. But after hearing that conversation… I couldn't lie to myself anymore.