I had been looking forward to my business trip as a much-needed break from the daily grind. My fiancé, Mike, and I had been together for three years, and our wedding was just two months away. Liz, my best friend since childhood, was helping me plan the wedding while I was away. But everything changed when my sister, Emily, sent me a photo that shattered my world.

The photo was of Mike and Liz, locked in a passionate kiss outside a café—the very place where Mike and I had our first date. It was devastating to see them together, so openly and disrespectfully. My mind raced as I tried to process the betrayal. I had been supporting Liz financially for years, helping her with college, rent, and a car because her family couldn’t afford it. Mike, on the other hand, was living in my apartment rent-free, and I took care of most of the chores and our four dogs.

Feeling utterly betrayed and furious, I knew I couldn’t just let this slide. They had to face consequences, and simply causing a scene wouldn’t suffice. I quickly composed myself and began making plans.

First, I contacted our family lawyer to ensure that Mike had no legal claim to my apartment or any of my belongings. He hadn’t lived there long enough to establish any rights. I also made sure he had no claim to our dogs, as their ownership was legally mine. I transferred all our shared funds into my personal account and informed the bank to deny any inquiries from Mike or Liz regarding the account.

I texted both of them, lying that there was a temporary issue with my bank accounts to explain the sudden unavailability of funds. With everything in place, I decided to take a step back from work and focus on dealing with the fallout.

The next day, I returned home while Mike was at work. With the help of my mom and sister, we packed up all my belongings from the apartment I shared with Mike and moved into a rented place. We also packed up Mike’s things, including the Xbox I had gifted him and our shared iPad, and changed the locks to prevent him from accessing the apartment.

After settling into my new apartment, I decided to make Liz’s life difficult too. I reported the car she was using under my name as stolen and asked her landlord to remove my name as a guarantor. Liz ended up getting arrested for the stolen vehicle, and her landlord demanded proof of income from her, which she couldn’t provide. I also had my lawyer draft a letter asking Liz to reimburse me for the tuition I had paid for her college.

With my wedding plans in ruins, I decided to throw a party instead. I called it a celebration of escaping a disastrous relationship and invited friends and family. I posted the photo of Mike and Liz on our “Save the Date” Facebook event and blocked them from all social media and communication channels. The only people who knew beforehand were Mike’s parents, who expressed their condolences and apologized for their son’s actions. They later refused to take him back, telling him he had lost the best thing that ever happened to him.

Liz’s family also reached out, apologizing and cutting off contact with her as a lesson. Mike and Liz tried to reach out to me through various channels, but I chose not to engage. Instead, I requested a relocation from my company and moved to a new city, purchasing a house with a backyard for my dogs. I immersed myself in fitness classes and other activities, focusing on my well-being.

Despite the pain, I was slowly healing and finding joy in my new life. I hadn’t seen or spoken to Mike or Liz since everything happened, and I was content with keeping it that way.