Caught In His Web of Manipulation

My genius boyfriend, Colten, was my savior. I was the "slow" girl he single-handedly tutored into NYU. He built my entire academic future, and I thought our love story was a fairytale.

But after I found another woman's birth control pills in his bag and caught him in lie after lie with his lab partner, Addisyn, I finally left him. The price was brutal: I failed every class and faced expulsion.

Desperate to save myself, I went back. I played the part of his sweet, obedient girlfriend, using his tutoring to ace my retake exams while secretly planning my escape to a new program.

The day my transfer was approved, he ambushed me with a public proposal. In front of a cheering crowd, he got on one knee with a diamond ring, ready to trap me in his perfect life forever.

"Will you marry me?" he asked, his voice full of triumph.

But before I could answer, a different woman stepped forward. It was Addisyn, and her hand was resting on her pregnant belly.

Chapter 1

I found the birth control pills in Colten' s backpack. They were tucked deep in a side pocket, nestled amongst a tangle of charging cables and scientific papers. My fingers brushed against the small, flat packet, and a cold dread seeped into my stomach.

Colten had always been clear about one thing: he didn't like condoms, and he definitely didn't want any surprises. "We're too focused on our careers for anything like that, Ila," he'd said, his voice firm, like he was delivering a scientific fact. It was a rule, not a preference. He'd even gone so far as to say he was allergic to latex, a convenient excuse that had always made me feel a little guilty for even questioning his stance.

Now, this.

My mind raced, trying to make sense of it. Could they be for me? No, he' d always insisted I use a diaphragm, a method he'd meticulously researched and deemed "statistically superior." This packet was different, a brand I didn' t recognize.

He' s just being practical, Ila. Maybe he bought them for you as a backup? The Comments whispered in my head, a familiar chorus of reassurance. Or maybe he' s just being a good friend, looking out for someone who needs help. That' s just the kind of thoughtful guy he is.

I closed my hand around the packet, feeling the sharp edges of the foil. My heart hammered against my ribs. Should I put them back? Pretend I never saw them? What if he thought I was snooping? He hated it when I was "nosy."

A sudden click of the lock. The door swung open. Colten walked in, his brow furrowed, a stack of books under his arm. He stopped short when he saw me, my hand still in his backpack.

"Ila? What are you doing in my stuff?" His voice was low, but it held that edge, the one that meant I was already in