My Ex, My stepbrother, My Ruin

CHAPTER ONE

Ashley's POV

I rolled my suitcase toward the airport entrance, the wheels clicking softly over the concrete. But before I could enter, my phone buzzed in my hand.

It was a notification from the airline.

“Flight delayed due to unfavorable weather conditions. Rescheduled for tomorrow at 9:30 am”

I stared at the message for a second… then a laugh slipped out of me, right there on the pavement. I didn’t care who heard it.

This was exactly what I needed.

One more with Jake, my boyfriend.

College exams were finally over and I was heading back to New York to stay with my mother. We promised we'd see whenever he had the chance to.

I turned around immediately, dragging my suitcase away from the entrance, and hailed the first taxi I saw.

While sitting in the backseat, I tried calling him. The phone rang once… twice… then his voicemail picked up.

“Hey, you’ve reached Jake..”

I pulled the phone away before the message finished and tried again, but it resulted in the same voicemail greeting.

I arched an eyebrow, staring at his contact on the screen.

Jake never forwarded my call to voicemail.

Shrugging, I decided to drop a text.

“I'm coming home, darling,” I typed. “The flight was postponed.”

The taxi slowed to a stop in front of his building. I paid, climbed out, and opened the gate since I already knew his password. I dragged my suitcase up the familiar driveway, the porch light throwing a soft yellow glow across the front door.

I was about to knock when I heard it.

My hands hovered above the doorknob as I pressed my ear to the door, just to make sure I wasn't imagining things.

But the sound didn’t stop.

The muffled cries were getting louder.

My heart slammed against my ribs as I slowly turned the doorknob.

The door opened.

I slipped off my shoes at the entrance so my steps wouldn’t make a sound. The floor felt cool beneath my feet as I tiptoed inside toward the direction of the sound.

There was an unmistakable rhythm echoing through the hallway, the faint slapping of skin against skin, and the more it grew louder, the more my chest tightened painfully.

Finally, I stopped at the door leading to his bedroom.

The sound was coming from inside and the door was open.

I hesitated, still foolishly praying it was something else but when I looked in, the colour slowly drained from my face.

Sitting on the same table Jake and I had made out on countless times… was my best friend. Ava. The same Ava who has called me earlier today, saying she had travelled to Texas to meet with a friend. So Texas was my boyfriend's house and the friend was Jake.

I stood numb at the doorway, like a bucket of ice water had just been dumped over me, staring at the two people I trusted most in the world betray me.

They didn’t even notice I was there.

Both of them were completely naked and their clothes scattered carelessly across the floor like none of it mattered.

Ava sat on the table with her legs spread wide. Her hair fell down her back and her head tipped back, a soft sound slipping from her lips as she held onto him.

Jake stood between her legs, his body moving against hers, slow and deep, like I had never been enough.

Jake’s back was to the door, so he had no idea I was standing right there behind him. Ava’s eyes were shut tight, her mouth parted as she cried his name into the room like nothing else existed.

My bag slipped from my shoulder and hit the floor with a dull thud.

Ava's eyes snapped open.

The moment she saw me, a slow smirk curved her lips. She didn’t look surprised. If anything, she looked… pleased.

Like she wanted me to see this.

I clasped my hand over my mouth, trying to control my emotions.

Jake shifted slightly, like he noticed I was standing behind him.

For a second, his head moved, just a small turn, like he was about to look back.

But Ava’s hand slid into his hair and pulled him closer.

“Ahh… Jake, baby, harder. Yes… don’t stop…” her voice was soft but sharp enough to anchor him right back into her

He didn’t turn. And that was the moment my throat closed. I opened my mouth to scream, but nothing came out.

She moved with him, matching every thrust with her gaze locked on mine. There was something cold in her eyes. And I could see the satisfaction that was etched on her face.

My chest tightened so hard I thought something inside me might snap. But I didn’t move toward them.

I just stood there… breaking silently, piece by piece, while they kept going like I didn’t exist. And when I couldn't watch anymore, I picked up my bag, and walked out quietly, tears streaming down my cheeks. I didn't know if he heard my receding footsteps but I also didn't care either. All I wanted was to get as far away as possible from here.

My hands curled into fists at my sides as I dragged my suitcase down the driveway. The wheels scraped against the ground, loud in the silence.

I pressed my lips together so hard it hurt. If I opened my mouth, I’d scream.

By the time I stepped out of his compound, my chest rose and fell unevenly as I walked with my head down, trying to keep the sobs from spilling out.

I reached the bus stop and sat down, waiting for the bus. It pulled up not long after.

I wiped my tears, climbed in and took a seat by the window.

I didn’t even know where I was going.

My rent at the lodge had been due two days ago. I’d begged the landlord to let me stay just a little longer since I was supposed to leave today anyway. I couldn’t go back now. She’d make me pay a fresh rent, and I didn’t have the strength, or the money for that.

A motel would have to do.

Luckily, I still had a little cash left.

The memory of Jake and Ava together still replayed in my head, over and over. The tears threatened to fall again but I held them back.

Five years together… and this was what I got for loving him.

The bus slowed to a stop in front of a motel. I paid him and stepped down with my luggage in hand.

The place looked old and worn. The paint was peeling off the walls and the lights were dim.

I walked up to the blonde receptionist at the front desk and spoke as politely as I could.

“Hey, can I get a room?”

“Sure,” she said with a practiced smile and handed me a key.

She brought out the card machine and I slid my card in. My hands shook as I entered my password, and waited.

A second later, her smile faded slightly.

“I’m sorry, ma’am… but your card isn’t working.”

My heart sank.

“What?” My brows pulled together. “How’s that possible?”

I took the machine from her and stared at the screen.

That was when it hit me. I was truly stuck.

“Shit,” I muttered under my breath, dragging a hand through my hair.

How come I hadn't noticed?

I pulled out my phone and opened my messages. The message was there, I hadn’t even read it. It said my debit card had expired a day ago. I had been too distracted with Jake to even notice the warnings.

My grip tightened around the phone.

I handed the machine back, took my card, and turned away. My suitcase wheels rattled loudly as I dragged it out of the motel.

Outside, I stopped by the roadside. I tried calling my mother to see if she could transfer some money to my mobile bank account but there was no answer.

I lowered the phone slowly, staring at the screen like it could miraculously solve my problem.

Cars kept moving. People kept going. And I just stood there, like a ghost in the night.

I let out a shaky breath.

Of all times for this to happen.

There was only one person I could go to right now.

And the worst part?

He used to love me too.