Chapter 1: Shattered Vows

Lauren used to think the worst pain was losing the man she loved.

How wrong was she?

*****​

Lauren Hill balanced the little cake box in one hand, as she fumbled with her keys.

The scent of vanilla drifted up, making her smile because she knew he would absolutely love it.

It was early, barely seven o'clock, and she had dragged herself out of bed before dawn to bake his favorite cake and even wore the new lingerie she bought, just for him.

The plan was simple: wake Logan with a kiss, hand him the cake, and at last have sex with him.

She felt light, almost giddy, as she pushed the door open, bouncing inside, her grin so wide her cheeks hurt.

"This is it," she whispered, standing in the living room. "Today is going to be awesome."

She was finally ready to lose her virginity to Logan White, the love of her life.

He didn't have a clue she was coming, not after she played sick on the phone last night, faking a cough and everything.

Five years together, and she still got a kick out of surprising him, just to watch his face light up like a little kid.

“Baby?”

​“Are you still sleeping, babe?” she called out, her voice a little louder.

Then she heard it, a sound she couldn't place at first.

It almost sounded like someone in pain, but then it came again, louder this time, and there was no mistaking it — a woman's moan.

Her heart slammed against her ribs, panic crawling up her throat.

She froze in place, holding her breath, but somehow managed to move her legs up the stairs.

Her stomach twisted so badly she thought she might throw up by the time she reached the top.

She paused at his door, her hand trembling so much she nearly dropped the cake, and with fingers that barely worked, she pushed it open.

What she saw completely broke her heart.

It was Logan and her twin sister, Corinne.

Logan knelt at the edge of the bed, his broad shoulders hunched and his dark hair tousled. His hands gripped Corinne’s thighs, fingers digging into her pale skin as his mouth worked between her legs. 

Corrinne lay sprawled across the sheets, her back arched, her breasts, which were larger than Lauren’s and always the first thing men noticed, heaved with each ragged breath. 

One hand gripped the sheets while the other tangled in Logan’s hair, pulling him closer as her hips rolled in slow, desperate circles.

“Oh, yes... right there,” Corinne moaned, her hips arching. “Your tongue’s so good…”

Lauren stood completely still, unable to tear her eyes away; the intense shock froze her mind and body.

They were so lost in each other, they didn’t notice her standing there.

At that moment, Corinne’s eyes darted toward the doorway.

Her hazel eyes, very much like Lauren’s, widened briefly before a slow, wicked smirk curled her lips. 

She didn’t stop, she didn’t push him away.

Instead, she arched her back further, grinding harder against his face, moaning loudly. “Fuck, yes,” she rasped, the sound deep and husky. “I’m about to cum, baby.”

The room appeared to spin, and Lauren’s fingers loosened. The cake box slipped from her grasp and hit the floor with a loud thud.

Logan jolted at the sound and turned around, his mouth shiny and lips swollen. Shock and guilt flooded his face as he saw Lauren standing in the doorway.

“Lauren...” His face went pale as he stared at her horrified expression.

He scrambled backwards, stumbling over his own feet, his hard cock swinging as he hurried to grab the sheet and cover himself.

“Well, this is awkward,” Corinne’s lips curved into a cruel smile. 

“Lauren,” Logan gasped. “Wait, please, I can explain...’’

“Explain what? That you got caught? Oh, come on, Logan, don’t act like a saint now.” Corinne interrupted him as she stood, completely unbothered by her own nakedness.

​She stepped closer to her sister, her breasts softly swaying. “What’s the big deal, sis? You weren’t giving it to him anyway. I just did you a favor.”

Lauren’s hands shook as tears threatened to spill from her eyes. “Why, Corinne?” she managed to say, her voice trembling. “Why do you hate me so much?”

Corinne’s eyes flashed, her lips curling into a bitter sneer. “You really don’t get it, do you? It was always you; dad’s favorite, mom’s perfect girl. I was nothing to them, just your shadow.”

Her voice cracked slightly as she continued, “You got all their love, and I got scraps. All I ever wanted was for one of them to notice me, to see me, but it never happened because of you.” She spat the words out, her voice dripping with contempt.

​"Now,” she said, a wicked smile flashing. “I will spend my entire life trying to make you feel as empty as I did.” 

Lauren stared at her, tears burning her eyes and blurring her vision as she fought to hold them back. “And you hated me for that? You’re my sister!” she whispered.

“Don’t you dare play the victim, Lauren, you’re pathetic.” Corinne scoffed.

“Corinne, please stop.” Logan buried his face in his hands.

She ignored him.

’'You're a fucking prude, Lauren,’' she hissed. ’'You think saving yourself for marriage makes you better than me? Well, it just made you plain boring. Hell, you're still a virgin, for fuck's sake,’’ she snorted, rolling her eyes hard toward the ceiling. ‘’What kind of girlfriend waits five years?”

Lauren flinched, the words hitting harder than she expected. She couldn’t bring herself to tell Logan that she had planned to have sex with him. Revealing it now would only make her look more pathetic and desperate, and she could already feel the heat of shame crawling up her neck.

“That was our decision,” she insisted. “A mutual one. We both agreed.”

​“Agreed?” Corinne looked her sister straight in the eye, her voice dripping with sarcasm: “Sweetie, the only thing Logan agreed to was letting me ride his amazing dick while you were out playing the perfect fiancée.’’

“Screw you, Corinne,” Lauren yelled, her voice shaking as nausea hit her. “You knew we were engaged.”

Engaged?” Corinne’s laughter was sharp and cruel. “Oh, honey, you’re delusional.”

She walked towards Logan, grabbed his wrist in a tight grip, and pressed his fingers between her legs. “Tell her how wet I am for you, baby. Tell her how good it feels when you fuck me.”

“Stop, Corinne, that’s enough!” Logan screamed, pushing her away. “You’re making it worse.”

Lauren’s voice was barely audible, trembling with rage. “Why?” she whispered, her whole body vibrating with suppressed fury. “How could you, Logan? My sister? After all this time... everything we planned?” Her voice broke, but her fists were clenched by her side. “I freaking trusted you!”

Logan’s eyes dropped, his shoulders sagging under the weight of her gaze. “Lauren, please,” his voice breaking, "I messed up, but I…”

“Was any of it real?” she spat, her eyes boring into his.

​He couldn't lift his head, staring blindly at the floor. His shoulders heaved violently with sobs that tore through him. “I’m sorry,” he choked out. “I… I didn’t mean for this to happen.”

Lauren's sudden laughter cut him off, a cold sound that sent shivers down Logan’s spine. “You didn’t mean for this to happen?” she echoed, her voice laced with sarcasm. “What, you just tripped and landed in bed with my sister?”

His face crumbled as he attempted to look at her. “I love you, I do,” he managed to say, his voice trembling. “But you... You’re just so...” He hesitated, searching for the right words, “...so stiff, so boring. And Corinne...” He stopped, his eyes darting to Corinne, who was watching them with a smug, satisfied smile.

“Corinne, what?” Lauren narrowed her eyes as her whole body tensed.

“Corinne is… exciting,” he confessed. “She’s wild and free,” he paused, visibly struggling against his own guilt. “I just… I wish you were more like her.”

Corinne's laughter was like a slap in the face. “You hear that?” She challenged, tilting her head. “He finally admits it. Someone prefers me for once.”

Lauren stumbled back, her eyes wide with shock and hurt. She reached out blindly for something to hold on to.

Tears ran down her cheeks, her body shaking with rage. “You could have broken up with me,” she choked out, every word filled with pain. “You didn’t have to humiliate me.” Her voice rose, venomous. “You’re a coward, Logan, and I hate you for this.”

​​“Lauren, please, I didn’t mean to…” Logan pleaded, reaching for her.

She shook her head, blocking out his words as her hand flew up, landing against his cheek with a loud, echoing sound.

Logan staggered, his eyes going wide, one hand flying to his cheek where her slap left a bright red mark.

“That’s five years of my life you threw away,” she managed, her voice shaking so violently it felt impossible to form words. “Five years! I was foolish enough to believe you were my forever.”

She pulled off her engagement ring and hurled it at him. It bounced off his chest, landing near the ruined cake.

She stumbled back a step, her hand groping blindly for the doorframe.

​Corinne’s laughter followed her out. “Maybe next time, sis, you’ll actually fuck your man before someone else does.” 

Somehow, Lauren ended up outside, unsure how she had gotten there, her face wet with tears she couldn’t stop.

Everything around her blurred; all she could hear was Corinne’s laughter and her own heartbeat pounding in her ears.

She stepped off the curb, barely seeing through the tears that kept flowing, her legs shaky and unsteady.

A loud horn blared close by, making her turn and squint into bright headlights.

The car's sudden impact threw her backward, knocking her to the ground. Her head hit the pavement, and everything went dark.