Chapter 1 1. Betrayed

~Alina~

The clock read 10:15 p.m. when I pulled into the driveway of Ashford Road.

A cool wind rattled the trees, sending a shiver down my spine as I stepped out of the car. Maybe it was the late hour, or maybe it was something deeper, but unease curled in my stomach.

Shaking it off, I made my way to the front door. Tomorrow, this house would be my home, the place where Ethan and I would start our life together. I could already picture it-lazy Sunday mornings, laughter in the kitchen, and falling asleep in his arms every night.

Marrying Ethan Lockwood, the man I had loved for five years since college and my best friend's cousin, felt like a dream come true.

Tonight, we were following the age-old wedding tradition of spending the night apart. Ethan was here in our new home while I was supposed to be at Jade's apartment. But as I was double-checking my things, I realized I had forgotten something important.

My late mother's necklace, the one I planned to wear tomorrow and the one she had given me on her deathbed. I had left it on the dresser in the master bedroom yesterday while I was packing.

Instead of calling him, I thought it would be a sweet surprise to drop by. After all, in less than twenty-four hours, he would be my husband.

I smiled to myself as I turned the key in the lock and pushed the door open.

The house was quiet and dimly lit. I slipped off my heels and padded inside. The air smelled faintly of Ethan's cologne, comforting and familiar.

Then I heard it-soft, breathless sounds.

I froze.

The unmistakable moan of a woman.

A chill shot down my spine. No. That couldn't be right.

The bedroom door at the end of the hall was slightly open, flickering light spilling from within. Another sound, deeper this time, a husky groan, sent my heart racing.

Every instinct screamed at me to turn around. Don't look. Don't confirm what you already know.

But my feet moved forward.

The door creaked as I nudged it open.

A tangle of bodies. Twisted sheets. Clothes strewn across the floor. Lace underwear and a silk dress I recognized too well.

A blonde head lifted from the pillows, and my stomach plummeted.

Jade.

My best friend. My sister in everything but blood.

And there she was-in bed with my fiancé. Her own cousin.

My jaw hit the floor instantly, and a cold shiver ran down my spine. For a moment, I was mortified. I couldn't speak or react-I just watched in horror.

Jade was sprawled across the mattress, Ethan's body half-covering hers, their limbs tangled together, skin slick with sweat. The air in my lungs vanished.

For a moment, everything blurred. My head pounded. My hands trembled. I could barely hear past the blood roaring in my ears.

Then Jade turned her head and saw me.

Her lips parted in surprise, but it was brief and fleeting before a slow, wicked smirk curled her mouth.

That small, smug curve of her lips shattered the last of my restraint.

A broken sound escaped me. A gasp? A laugh? I didn't even know.

Ethan sighed, running a lazy hand through his disheveled hair.

"Alina. You should have knocked. Why are you even here? Can't you listen to simple instructions?"

I stared at him, horror and fury warring inside me.

Knocked?

Jade stretched like a cat, unbothered by my presence. "Told you she might drop by," she mused, dragging a finger down Ethan's chest.

He chuckled.

A sick, twisted sound that made me want to scream.

"It was bound to happen sooner or later," he said.

"Better now than after the wedding."

The words hit me like a slap.

I forced out a breath. "So... this wasn't a prank?" My voice barely rose above a whisper.

Everything inside me went cold. I clenched my fists, nails biting into my palms.

I shook my head, trying to grasp onto something, anything, that made sense.

"Ethan, she's your cousin." My voice cracked. "This is incest. A disgusting abomination."

Jade let out a sharp, mocking laugh.

Ethan smirked. "Oh, Alina. You really are the dumbest twenty-three-year-old I've ever met."

The room tilted. "What...?"

Jade sat up, stretching like she had all the time in the world. "God, you actually believed that? That Ethan and I were cousins?"

She tossed her brown, wavy hair over her shoulder and rolled her eyes.

"We fed you that lie in college because we knew you wouldn't get close to him if you knew he was my boyfriend."

Ethan grinned. "And you ate it up, didn't you? Sweet, naive Alina. Rich, stupid Alina."

My stomach twisted violently.

"No. That can't be-"

Jade cut me off. "You think he actually wanted you? That he loved you?" She snorted. "You were just a fat, lonely girl desperate for attention. And since you had money, that made you useful."

Tears burned at the edges of my vision.

"No... this can't be real. Are you trying to prank me?"

Ethan exhaled, bored. "Believe whatever you want, sweetheart, but the truth is, the only reason I put up with you was for the money. You were my golden ticket. A pathetic little rich girl so desperate for love you didn't even question why your best friend would suddenly introduce you to her cousin and push you two together."

Jade laughed. "We played you for five years, and you never caught on. You even proposed, such a dummy. Your rotten parents definitely won't be resting in peace if they see how foolish their only child was."

The mention of my parents hit me like a punch to the gut.

Ethan smirked, twisting a strand of Jade's hair playfully.

"Oh, that's the best part. I was going to marry you, endure you for a few years, siphon off as much of that inheritance as I could. But then-boom. Your parents die, and guess what? Turns out Daddy wasn't as rich as everyone thought."

Jade feigned a pout. "And suddenly, you were just a broke, fat, ugly nobody."

Ethan's face twisted in disgust as he clicked his tongue mockingly.

"The idea of actually marrying you after that? Jesus. It makes me sick just thinking about it."

Jade leaned closer, her voice dripping with mock sympathy.

"So, what now, Alina? You gonna cry like the baby you are? Run away? Try to fight for a man who never wanted you?"

Ethan chuckled. "Better hurry up and decide. We've got plans tonight, and you standing there like a dumb cow is ruining the mood."

I couldn't move. I couldn't breathe.

Everything I had ever known, ever loved, was a lie.

Ethan exhaled heavily. "Honestly? I didn't plan on settling down so soon anyway."

My breath caught in my throat. "What do you mean?"

Jade smirked.

Ethan hesitated for half a second, then looked me dead in the eyes. "I mean, I never planned for things to spiral out so quickly. I just wanted fun, rip off as much money as I could from you, but then I realized how desperate you were to become my wife. You even proposed to me."

Jade shook her head, amusement dancing in her eyes.

"Who even proposes to a man? God, you're pathetic."

"A desperate little pick-me girl," she sneered.

Ethan didn't even look guilty. He leaned back against the pillows, completely at ease, like this was nothing.

Like I was nothing.

Tears rolled down my cheeks as I dropped to my knees weakly.

"Please," I whispered. "I don't have anyone else. I forgive you both. Just marry me, Ethan. Please."

Silence.

Then they burst into loud, cruel, mocking laughter.

Jade wiped at fake tears. "Oh my god, this is embarrassing."

Ethan's smirk faded. His expression turned cold.

"I only accepted your ring to save your face in public, Alina. And I forgot to mention..."

He paused, watching me, waiting for my last bit of hope to die before delivering the final blow.

"Jade's son, Dennis? He's mine."