Chapter 2

~~ETHEL~~

After closing from the office, I took a ride straight to Max’s apartment.

I had been a lousy girlfriend lately. Because of Martell Corporation’s latest investment, I’d had to work several late nights and attend late business meetings.

But Max had been so understanding through it all, knowing I needed to do all that to get to my dream career.

Pressing the doorbell, I tapped my feet idly as I waited for him to open up.

Even though we’d texted in the afternoon, I hadn’t told him that I would be coming to his place after work, so I knew this would be a pleasant surprise for him.

I pressed the doorbell again after thirty seconds, but there was still no answer.

My face fell. Maybe he wasn’t home. Now I was regretting not informing him I would be coming over.

Taking out my phone from my handbag, I dialed his number. It went straight to voicemail.

I frowned. I’d come all the way here and couldn’t just leave. I would just wait for him inside.

Max had given me a spare key card two months ago. I’d only ever used it once to surprise him with dinner. Thank God, it was in the handbag I decided to bring to work today.

Bringing it out, I placed it on the reader, the faint unlocking sound sounding a second later.

Pushing the door open, I was surprised to find the lights already on. Perhaps Max had forgotten to turn them off before leaving.

I walked towards the living room and set my bag on the glass centerpiece, but just as I was about to take a seat on the couch, a sound made me stiffen.

It was short and muffled, but it was the unmistakable sound of a moan.

For several seconds, there was nothing until I began to wonder whether I’d imagined it. And then,

“Fuck, just like that. Ride that dick.”

My stomach dropped.

No, it couldn’t be.

“You like that, don’t you?” A woman’s voice. One that sounded too familiar.

I should’ve grabbed my bag and got the hell out of the apartment. But I needed to see. Maybe it wasn’t what I was thinking. Maybe Max was just watching p**n.

So I slowly walked down the hallway and pushed the door open. The scene in front of me made me feel sick to my stomach.

Max was lying on his bed completely naked, moaning as a woman rode his dick. But it wasn’t just any woman.

It was my step sister. Tanya.

“What the fuck is this?” The words escaped my mouth as I stared at them.

The movements stilled as they both turned to look at me. Then Max pushed Tanya so aggressively off him that she nearly fell down from the bed.

“Ethel...babe...” Max stuttered as he scurried off the bed, reaching for his pants and shoving his legs into it. “Ethel... it’s... it’s not—”

“Don’t you dare,” I hissed. “Don’t you fucking dare tell me it’s not what it looks like because it sure looked like you had your dick inside my step sister!”

I moved my gaze to the woman in question. Not a hint of remorse was on her face, but that didn’t shock me. I would’ve been shocked if there was any.

My stepsister had never cared about me. She’d stolen my high school boyfriend with crocodile tears and a sob story. She’d turned my mother against me so many times I’d lost count. Of course she’d take Max too.

“Ethel...babe please listen to me.” Max tried to plead.

”Come on, Max.” Tanya rolled her eyes. ”It was about time she found out anyway that we’re together.“

“You and I are not together, Tanya. Shut the fuck up!” Max barked, causing Tanya to flinch before he turned to me, coming closer. “Babe, please hear me out. This... This is...”

His hands moved to touch my face. The same hands that had been on my step sister’s hips and God knows where else.

I slapped him. Hard. Twice.

Max clutched his cheek, his eyes wide as he stared back at me.

“I never want to see you again, Max. You’re a fucking bastard.”

I turned to Tanya, taking in her smug expression. “Congratulations, Tanya. You did it again.”

And with that I turned and strode out of there, ignoring Max’s pleas behind me.

༺❀༻༺❀༻༺❀༻

“Oh no, she didn’t! That bitch.” My best friend, Maya, gnashed her teeth, her hands fisted like a boxer ready to throw a punch.

I’d come to Maya’s apartment immediately after leaving Max’s, because I knew my best friend was the one person I could rant to.

“That step sister of yours is so fucking envious of you. It kills her to see you happy. God, this is unbelievable!” Her etes blazed. “You know what? Those two are going to hear from me!”

Maya didn’t bluff so I knew she was just about to drive off to Max’s apartment. Luckily, I caught her by the wrist and blocked her path before she could leave.

“There’s no need, Maya. He’s not worth it.”

Maya dragged in a deep breath. “Damn, right he’s not. But nobody hurts my beat friend and gets away with it.”

I couldn’t help the smile that stretched my face, even as my chest tightened. “Thanks, Maya.”

The truth was, Max and I had only been together for seven months. I wasn’t head over heels in love with him or anything.

But it still hurt. The lies, the sneaking around, and the fact that while I’d been feeling guilty for working late, he’d been screwing my stepsister.

And knowing it was Tanya doing it again to hurt me as usual made it so much worse.

As usual, Maya had her way of making me feel better as we prepared dinner together. After dinner, I decided to head home, and Maya insisted on driving me.

We’d just taken the homestretch leading to my flat when Maya hissed,

“Oh, that bastard. He didn’t dare show his face at your door.”

I followed her furious gaze to find Max standing on my porch. Maya stopped the car in front of the driveway and got out immediately.

I quickly got out after her, not wanting her to do anything stupid.

“You jerk!” She spat. “How dare you show your face here after what you’ve done?”

Max scowled back at her. “This is between my girlfriend and I, okay? Don’t butt yourself into it.”

“Ethel is like a sister to me, so yes, I’m involved!” Maya shot back.

She looked like she was ready to throw hands, so I quickly stepped in front of her, facing Max. Disgust rose up my throat, remembering the scene back in his bedroom.

“What are you doing here, Max? I made it very clear that I never want to see you again.”

Desperation contorted his face. ”Ethel, we need to talk.”

I scoffed. “You and I have nothing to talk about.”

“Baby, please. I made a mistake, but you can’t really blame me for it.” He took a step closer. “You’d become so distant in the past month. You were always busy and going to meetings even late at night. I felt so ignored, and Tanya took advantage of that to seduce me.”

“Oh, so now it’s my fault that you cheated on me?” An incredulous laugh left my throat. “You’re pathetic, Max. If this was how you truly felt, you should’ve communicated it to me like any decent man would. Not shoved your dick into my sister.”

Before I could move, Max lunged forward, wrapping his arms around me. “It was just a moment of weakness, baby.”

“What the fuck? Let me go!” I demanded, attempting to push him off but he held on.

“Give me a second chance. I promise it won’t...”

“She said let her go.” A calm but sharp voice cut through Max’s words.

I knew who the voice belonged to even before I turned my head.

It was Keanu, stalking towards us, his face set in a calm, dangerous storm.

What was he doing here?

“Let go of her.” He repeated, his tone leaving no room for arguments.

Max released me, a puzzled look on his face. “Keanu Martell? What are you doing here?”

Keanu stopped right behind me, his eyes pinned on Max. “Are you fond of forcing yourself on women?”

“Forcing my—” Max sputtered, looking offended. “I’m not forcing myself on her. She’s my girlfriend.”

“Ex-girlfriend,” I reminded him sharply. “I want nothing to do with you anymore.”

“You’re only saying that because you’re hurt, but I know you can’t leave me because you love me.”

God, this man was full of himself. How did I not see it before?

Something snapped inside me. His betrayal. His arrogance standing on my doorstep acting like he had any right to me. I wanted to hurt him back.

“Are you sure about that?” I crossed my arms on my chest. “What if I told you you weren’t the only one having some fun on the side?”

Max frowned. “What is that supposed to mean?”

I knew I was going to regret what I was about to do, but before I could stop myself, I turned to Keanu, wrapped my arms around his neck, and crashed my lips to his.