Honeymoon Quake: Ditching Me for Her

As the hotel crumbled before my eyes, I realized I had returned to the day of the earthquake.Ethan Parker and Lily Foster clung to each other in panic. I only watched with a smirk.Details I'd missed in my past life now stood out clear as day.He gently wiped her tears, patting her back to calm her. "Don't fret. I'm here with you."He ignored the fact that Lily was my step-sister, while I stood right there staring.Only when I cleared my throat did they jump apart."Claire? You're here too," Ethan stammered, trying to hide his guilt.Lily, catching the anger in my eyes, teared up. "Ethan was just worried about you and mistook me for you."Her pitiful act, combined with Ethan's innocent face, stirred up the hatred from my past life.I slapped them both, snapping, "You think I'm dumb enough to buy your lies?"Ethan grabbed my wrist. "Enough!"Lily clutched her swollen cheek, sobbing, "I'm sorry. I overstepped." Ethan looked at her, full of pity. "I just ran into Lily downs

Ethan's face darkened.Lily tugged his sleeve, shooting him a pleading look.I pretended not to notice, slipping to a corner to cancel Ethan's ticket on my phone.His account was still logged in on my device. I paid for the whole trip.When we planned the honeymoon, he said he was too busy with work to go. I figured that he was just too cheap to spend on an overseas trip. So, I offered to cover all costs, and he agreed without hesitation.Looking back, my taste in men was awful. Among all the well-off guys my friends introduced, I picked a nobody.I thought he was honest, better than flashy rich guys. Turned out, he was just another jerk.After handling the ticket, I stepped out.Lily dropped her act. "I couldn't get a ticket. Can you give me yours?"I grinned, "Sure."Her face lit up. "You're the kindest person in the world."I brushed it off, holding up my fingers. "Five grand. Pay up, and I'll sign over my ticket to you."Her smile froze because she didn't have that kind

After I passed through security, my nerves finally settled.An hour later, the plane took off.Susan and Greg were waiting at the arrivals gate. Susan rushed over, wrapping me in a big hug. "Thank God you're okay. I wouldn't know how to go on without you."Greg craned his neck, looking for Lily."Where is Ethan?" Susan asked, noticing he wasn't there with me.I hadn't told her about Ethan and Lily earlier to spare her worry. Now, I could spill."Oh, they're still in Lumora, enjoying their honeymoon," I replied.Susan was puzzled, and I explained, "The night of the quake, Ethan ran out of Lily's room."Greg's guilty look confirmed my story, but he still tried to defend her. "Lily is just young and ignorant. Maybe she crossed a line, but you shouldn't have left her behind."I raised an eyebrow. "Young and ignorant? They cheated on me, and you knew, didn't you?"He clung to Susan's arm, teary-eyed. "I swear I didn't know."His pathetic act made me wonder what he did for a livin

Two days later, Susan's friends called to thank me.My earlier warning saved their businesses from the aftershock. They promised to back our company no matter what.When I asked about Ethan and Lily, one of them scoffed, "That girl offered herself to me for a ticket. I'm old enough to be her dad. What's wrong with her?"His disgust grew as he mentioned Ethan. "That guy said he could make do if I was into men. Crazy world."I stifled a laugh, and he continued, "After the aftershock, I haven't seen them. Lumora is a mess, with tons of stranded tourists. I asked around, but no one saw them. No clue if they're alive."I was about to file Ethan's death certificate when an uninvited guest showed up.Lily, somehow back in the country, sobbed at our doorstep, begging Susan for justice. The quake must have struck her dumb. Of course, Susan would not side with her over me."Claire left me behind in Lumora," she accused me. "Alone in a dangerous place, I nearly got kidnapped. You have to u

The next morning, Susan and I dressed to the nines and hit the airport.Ethan broke down, nothing like his cocky self.I faked a smile, hugging him. "Honey, I'm so glad you're okay. I was wrong to leave you behind."A sour stench hit my nose. Even Susan made a face.I held my breath, handing him a stack of papers. "Susan and I decided to transfer our shares to you. You'll run the company. You always wanted me to quit and be a housewife, right? I'll start learning to cook and clean for you."Ethan didn't expect me to let his betrayal slide and hand him the company. He grinned, showing teeth that hadn't seen a toothbrush in days.I nearly gagged.He signed it without reading, smug as ever. "Women should just stick to cooking and cleaning. Leave the big stuff to men."Susan felt offended, nearly losing it.Now that he had signed the agreement, I didn't have to fake it anymore.I kicked him and sneered, "Go home and dream about being the CEO."My action struck him dumb. I raised