Revenge Looks Good In Gucci

Failed Proposal

Xavier checked his wrist watch, Lisa would be home any minute.

With his heart racing, he picked up his phone, opened TikTok, and went live.

His TikTok followers were already pouring in.

  “Yo, what’s up guys.” He whispered, grinning nervously at the camera. “This is it, I've been planning this for weeks. Missus doesn’t know a thing. I’m about to surprise her with dinner, candles, her favourite wine... and a little question.”

He winked at the camera and panned to show the setup.

  “She’ll be home any second now, and I thought it was best to take you all along on this journey since you've been engaging on our cute videos. So y’all better stay tuned.”

He placed the phone carefully on a corner shelf, angling it to capture the full room. The lights were off, just the soft candlelight glowing across the room.

Emerald was still at the neighbor’s, Mrs.Pritchard, just as he planned.

Xavier had spent months planning this. Two months of budgeting, two months of depriving himself just to buy a ring. Tonight had to be perfect.

The living room smelled like roses and vanilla, scented candles flickering in every corner. The soft glow kissed the petals scattered across the table, Xavier had outdone himself. Hours spent on watching YouTube cooking tutorials had finally paid off.

Back in the kitchen, he opened the fridge to grab the hundred-dollar bottle of red wine. His fingers were on the cork when he heard it…

The front door opened.

Perfect timing.

A smile tugged at his lips as he turned with the wine bottle in hand.

But when he stepped into the living room… he froze.

There she was.

Lisa.

Her arms wrapped tightly around another man’s neck.

Kissing him.

Soft, deep and familiar.

She hadn’t even noticed the candles. Or the phone still streaming. Or the ring box on the table.

The soft candlelight danced across their bodies, casting shadows that made the betrayal feel even more real.

Xavier couldn’t move and his hand trembled.

The bottle slipped from his grasp.

CRASH.

Red wine spilled across the floor like blood.

It was only after the sharp crash of the wine bottle that Lisa and her guest turned.

Lisa blinked. But instead of guilt or shock, her face twisted in irritation 

  “Seriously, Xavier?” Her voice was sharp. “Can you go one day without making a mess? Who’s going to clean that up?”

Xavier just stood there, frozen. The scent of roses and wine hung heavy in the air, and somewhere behind him, his phone was still streaming on TikTok, still rolling for all the world to see.

Lisa's eyes finally took in the room, the flickering candles, the dinner spread he had spent hours preparing, the petals on the floor.

  “Wait…” she frowned. “What is all this supposed to be?”

Xavier didn’t answer. He couldn’t. His throat was too tight. His fingers were too numb.

He had been in the kitchen, setting the mood. Smiling like an idiot, telling the Internet how much he loved her. How perfect the night would be.

But here is the love of his life. The mother of his child, locked in someone else's arms.

He looked at her, really looked at her, and all he saw was someone he couldn’t recognise.

The man beside her didn’t seem fazed. In fact, he smirked as he stepped slightly behind Lisa and looked Xavier up and down.

 “Was this… a proposal or something?” he asked with a chuckle. “Damn. That’s cold.”

That voice.

That tone.

It snapped something in Xavier.

  “Who the hell are you?” he said, his voice low but shaking with rage. “What are you doing in my house? With my woman?”

Lisa raised a brow and laughed bitterly. “Your woman?" she repeated, venom dripping from her voice.

   "Xavier, what woman are you talking about? Because the last time I checked, you don’t own me. And we both own this house.”

Xavier’s eyes widened. “Lisa…”

But she wasn’t done.

  “What gave you the right to turn our living room into a candle shop?” 

She stepped over a rose on the floor, picked it up, sniffed it and then scoffed. “God, you can't even get the flowers right. These smell like funeral arrangements.”

The stranger chuckled behind her. "What did you expect from a café boy? You think errand runners know anything about romance?”

Xavier took a step forward, his fists clenched.

   “Say that again.”

The guy smirked. “Say what? That you’re just a barista with a fantasy? Come on, man. You should be thanking me. At least now you know the truth.”

Xavier moved. He crossed the space in two steps and grabbed the man by his collar, slamming him against the wall. 

   “You’re in my house. Kissing my woman. And running your mouth?” he growled. “One more word from you…”

The man raised his hands slowly, mocking him with a grin. “Touch me again, and see what happens.”

Lisa stepped in quickly, yanking Xavier’s arm.

  “Stop it, Xavier! You’re embarrassing me.”

He turned to her, eyes blazing.

   “Embarrassing you? Are you for real? You walked in here kissing another man. You’ve been cheating on me!”

Lisa scoffed. “Cheating on you?” Her laugh was sharp and cold. “God, you’re not just dumb, Xavier you’re a whole damn joke.”

She shook her head slowly, like she pitied him. “I don’t even know how I tolerated this mess for this long. But I’m done. I’m leaving, with my daughter.”

His jaw clenched.

  “What do you mean you’re leaving? Because of this man? What the hell has he filled your head with? You’re throwing away eight years, Lisa. Eight years!”

  “Eight years of what? Struggle? Shame?” she snapped. “You call that a relationship? Those weren’t years of love, Xavier… those were years of me wallowing in your poverty.”

  “You said it didn’t matter. You said you loved me. And I–”

  “Love you?” Lisa cut in, her voice rising. “I never loved you. Never. What I felt was pity. I felt sorry for you, Xavier.”

He took a step back, as if her words physically struck him.

  “You’re a walking burden,” she continued, unrelenting. “You claim you love me? News flash, love doesn’t pay rent. Love doesn’t buy diapers. Look at me, Xavier! I’m not even the woman I used to be. You dragged me down and I won’t let my daughter grow up in this kind of mess.”

His voice cracked. “Emerald is mine too. You can’t just take her away.”

But Lisa's lover cut him short.

  “Wait. What daughter?” the other man still lounging smugly nearby, raised a brow. “What’s he talking about?”

Xavier snapped. “Stay out of this. This is between Lisa and me.”

But Lisa stepped forward, eyes cold.

  “No. It’s his business too. Because… he is Emerald’s father.”

The words hit harder than any punch.

Xavier stumbled, grabbing the back of the nearest chair for support. His lips parted, but no sound came out.

The man stepped closer, grinning.

  “You heard her. And by the way, the name’s Antonio.” He stretched out a hand, mocking. “Nice to finally meet you.”

Xavier stared at them. His body went numb. 

Behind him, the phone on the shelf blinked silently. Still live. Still streaming.

The whole world is watching.