Chapter 2 Double Betrayal

Lizandra

I'm in shock.

Were my ears deceiving me? The female voice moaning like a cat in heat, and the name she repeated incessantly, was what I thought I was hearing. Maybe it would be better to leave and pretend that none of this was happening.

"Delicious!"

Now it was a male voice's turn to speak and then release something very similar to a roar, which left me completely disgusted, and a strong feeling of indignation with the situation I was experiencing at that moment started to form within me. I needed to take action, but my feet seemed to be planted on the expansive veranda floor.

"Let's get up, Jú. I'm covered in sweat and need a shower."

There was no doubt about the owner of the male voice anymore, and I was facing a harsh betrayal.

"Wait, let me fix my dress, Sam," Juliana requested with a smile in her voice.

I could hear their steps and the laughter getting closer. I was at the front of the veranda, and I deduced they were right at the beginning of the lateral part, as quickly they were turning the "corner" and appearing before me, still standing like a betrayed idiot statue.

"So, it's 'Jú' and 'Sam'?" I asked ironically.

They abruptly stopped, almost colliding with each other upon realizing my presence on the veranda.

"It's not what you're thinking, Lily!" Samuel quickly said, raising his hand, evidently trying to evade blame.

"Of course not," I said with a scornful smile. "You were moaning because it's fun to do it behind my back, right?"

"We were going to tell you, cousin," Juliana had the decency to admit. "But you're always so tired to meet Sam that he didn't have the chance."

To make the scene even more interesting, as soon as Juliana said that, Samuel approached her, and he wrapped his arm around her shoulders, which she soon reciprocated, forming the "millionaire" couple.

"So, the blame for you two having an affair behind my back and making me look like a fool is mine for not having time available for my boyfriend? Is that what you mean, Juliana!?"

"I didn't say that!" Juliana protested. "We fell in love, and it just happened, it wasn't planned. And nothing should have happened between us before Sam ended things with you, but for days he's been trying to do that."

I felt even worse hearing this explanation because when Samuel said a few days ago that he needed to talk about something very important, I thought he was going to propose to me again. I even concluded that this time I would accept his proposal. I could never have imagined that what he wanted to say was about his passion for my cousin and their desire to be together.

"You're a nice and easy-going girl, Lily," Samuel continued with the humiliation, "but after years of dating you, I realized I don't love you."

"Great that you found that out now, isn't it? Imagine if I had accepted your marriage proposal a few months ago, and you only discovered this sudden passion for Juliana after we were married. After all, the fact that she's 'giving' you something I didn't has nothing to do with it, right?"

"Don't be so low, Lizandra! Samuel and I love each other, and we're going to be together."

"Enjoy it, 'Jú'..."

I didn't stay for another second in that place and descended the stairs two steps at a time, trying to get away as quickly as possible from that veranda and those two cowardly traitors-my cousin and my boyfriend. Who would have thought that the shy and introverted Juliana would be so bold, I thought with cynicism. She didn't even wait for the wedding to give herself to her great love. Haha, it seems like a joke.

I walked boldly through the streets of São Miguel do Gostoso, paying no attention to the various people all around, the majority of them smiling and bronzed from hours on the beautiful and warm beaches of the city. Many beautiful and happy people, but I felt neither. I just wanted to get to my room and let out all the tears I was holding back at great cost.

But my discouragement grew even more when I encountered Luciano Monteiro, as I was sure he would offer to accompany me to the inn, and I had no desire to talk to anyone, let alone force myself to be friendly with a stranger.

"Well, if it isn't the most beautiful girl in town right in front of me," Luciano joked.

I forced my best smile, and that was all I could manage.

"Are you heading home?" he asked the one thing I feared the most. "Lucrécia was looking for you."

Those words set off an alarm in my brain, "Oh no!" I was not inclined to talk to my aunt now, and even less to do anything she might ask of me today. Only then did I realize that the best thing to do at the moment is not to go back home now?

But where could I go alone? I had no other place to go.

"I'm not going home," I replied succinctly.

Luciano seemed quite pleased with my answer and soon made the offer I already anticipated he would make, inviting me again to go with him to see the fireworks. Due to a lack of options, I accepted.

We walked through the streets together, but I tried to keep as much distance as possible from Luciano. I didn't want anyone to think there was something between us. After all, in a small town like Gostoso, everything was a reason for rumors about the residents.

"Where's your little boyfriend?" Luciano asked, starting the conversation in the wrong way.

"I will meet him later; he doesn't need to know what happened, and I can use this as an excuse to leave when necessary."

Luciano insisted that I accompany him to one of the upscale hotels on the waterfront, where a big party with nationally famous artists was happening. However, I could never accept something like that. I wasn't even dressed to go to a high-end place like that! When he realized that he wouldn't convince me, he opted to stay on the waterfront, where many people were gathering to witness the New Year's Eve festivities. While he had a few drinks, I accepted only a soda.

But as I looked at the people and thought about the great disappointment I experienced that night, I also questioned what would happen from now on when everyone found out that my boyfriend and my cousin had simply discovered that they love each other and want to be together.

However, it never crossed my mind that it would happen so quickly until I saw, like in a horrible nightmare, the newest couple walking hand in hand in front of everyone, not caring for a second how I would feel about it.

"Isn't that your cousin... Juliana?" Luciano asked with a smile, which soon became even bigger upon seeing my cousin's companion. "Isn't the one hugging her your..."

"Yes..." I confirmed with difficulty, a lump forming in my throat. "It's him."