The worst day of my life started with a slap.
Not metaphorically.
An actual, loud, shameless, everyone is watching kind of slap.
Gasps rippled through the small crowd gathered in front of the café. Phones were already out. Of course they were. Because why wouldn't the universe make sure my humiliation was recorded in HD?
"You're unbelievable!" my boyfriend...no, ex-boyfriend snapped, pointing at me like I had personally ruined his bloodline.
I blinked, still processing the sting on my cheek. "Wait… you cheated on me, and I'm the problem?"
"Yes!" he shot back without missing a beat. "You're too dramatic. Too loud.Too...too.. much!"
Too much?
I let out a short, disbelieving laugh. "Oh, I'm sorry. Next time you cheat, I'll bring snacks and clap for you."
A few people in the crowd snickered.
His face darkened. "See? This is exactly what I mean!"
Before I could respond, a girl stepped forward and slipped her arm around his.
The girl.
The one he told me not to worry about.
Classic.
She smiled at me sweetly. Too sweetly. "You should really learn how to keep a man."
I stared at her for a full second.
Then another.
Then—
"Keep?" I repeated slowly. "Oh, I'm so sorry, is he a dog? Should I have put him on a leash?"
This time, the crowd didn't even try to hide their laughter.
His ears turned red. "You're embarrassing!"
"Me?" I pointed at myself. "You brought your side character to the main stage and I'm embarrassing?"
I should have walked away.
I really should have.
But no.
Because clearly, my life had chosen chaos.
"Fine," he snapped. "We're done."
I folded my arms. "Oh no," I deadpanned. "Whatever will I do without a lying, cheating.."
"Good luck finding someone better than me!" he cut in.
And that.
That was the final straw.
I stepped closer, smiling sweetly.
"You're right," I said. "It'll be hard finding someone worse."
The crowd lost it.
He looked like he might explode.
And honestly?
Worth it.
Absolutely worth it.
I turned on my heel, ready to leave with what little dignity I had left—
—and immediately tripped.
Of course I did.
Because why not complete the performance?
I braced for impact.
For the hard pavement.
For the final, tragic end to my already destroyed reputation.
But it never came.
Instead...
Everything… stopped.
The laughter.
The movement.
Even the wind.
I blinked.
Someone's phone hung mid-air, frozen.
A drop of water hovered inches from the ground.
"…Okay," I whispered. "I've officially lost my mind."
"You always say that at this point."
The voice came from behind me.
Calm.
Amused.
Way too comfortable.
Slowly, I turned.
And there he was.
A man stood a few steps away, hands tucked casually into his pockets like he had all the time in the world.
Tall.
Annoyingly handsome.
The kind of face that made you question your life choices.
He looked at me, really looked at me, then sighed.
"Wow," he said, shaking his head slightly. "I leave you alone for a few years and this is what you're doing?"
I stared at him.
"…Excuse me?"
He took a step closer.
Then another.
Like this frozen world belonged to him.
"Public breakup?" he continued. "Dramatic speech? Tripping at the end?" He nodded thoughtfully. "Yeah. This timeline is still a mess."
I blinked again.
"…Who are you?"
He stopped right in front of me.
Close enough that I could see the faint amusement in his eyes.
Close enough that my heart did something… weird.
Then he smiled.
Not a normal smile.
The kind that said he knew something I didn't.
Something big.
Something dangerous.
Something infuriating.
"Relax," he said.
And then, very casually,
like he was telling me the weather, he dropped the bomb.
"I'm your husband."
I froze.
"…What?"
He tilted his head.
"From the future," he added.
Pause.
Then, with a small, almost regretful sigh...
"And honestly?" he said. "I was hoping you'd be less embarrassing when I met you for the first time."
"…You're insane."
"Yeah," he nodded. "That's exactly what you said the first seventeen times too."
I stared at him.
He stared back.
The world remained frozen.
And somewhere deep in my soul…
I had a terrible feeling...
my life was about to get much, much worse.