My Fiancé Was Sexting My Best Friend

My fiancé, Don Luciano Carbone, and my best friend, Maya, never got along. They fought every time they met. But just before my wedding, I found out they’d been sleeping together for a long time.Today, Maya flew in from Miami for my last week of freedom.She’d chopped her hair. Short, black, and rebellious.Leather jacket, ripped jeans, and the same old pair of Doc Martens.She was an anarchist in my world of etiquette and order. But she was my best friend.We ordered takeout on her phone, ready for a girls' night in.But when she went to shower, her phone buzzed on the couch. The screen lit up.I glanced over, thinking it was the food delivery notification."Catherine, can you see who it is?" Maya called out.But it wasn't a delivery app on the screen.It was a text.From: King of Spades[Game on. My weapon's ready for you tonight.]My hand froze over the screen.That nickname… Fucking weird.But what was weirder? The contact was pinned to the top.The phone buzzed again.This time, i

Tears streamed down my face. I couldn't stop them.I came to this shithole because I was worried about her. I was afraid someone would hurt her. But she was the one betraying me.The thought ripped my heart to shreds.Luciano's hands were still all over Maya, his lips on her neck.In the next second, he lifted her into his arms and carried her into a VIP room behind them.I could imagine exactly what they were about to do.Use that bondage gear. Have wild, rough sex like the most intimate of lovers.I remembered what Luciano once told me. "I hate betrayal more than anything. My mother betrayed the family, betrayed my father. So she died. I will never make the same mistake."I remembered his loving gaze. "Catherine, you're my light. The only pure thing in my dark world."I remembered him holding me tight at night. "I'll protect you. Always."Even though our worlds were miles apart, I was willing to embrace his.When Luciano proposed, my parents were dead set against it."His family is t

I opened my car door and got out. Every movement was slow, graceful, just like my mother had taught me.Even at your angriest, maintain your composure.Marco and the others tensed up, their hands instinctively moving to the guns hidden under their jackets, like soldiers facing a sudden enemy.But Luciano stopped them with a look.I walked until I was standing right in front of them, just three steps away.Close enough to see the panic in Luciano's eyes. Close enough to smell the mix of sweat and perfume on Maya."Having fun, Luciano?"Luciano opened his mouth, but no sound came out."Catherine, this isn't what it looks like—" Marco stepped forward, trying to smooth things over, sweat already beading on his forehead.But Maya just let out a smirk. It was full of malice and victory.She deliberately linked her arm with Luciano's, a possessive gesture, and stared at me with a triumphant glint in her green eyes.She looked glad I'd found out. Like this was what she wanted all along.I reme

A fiery pain exploded across my face.But it was nothing compared to the venom in Maya's eyes."Finally!" she shrieked. "Finally, I don't have to pretend anymore!"Her face was twisted into an ugly mask."Do you have any idea how much I hate you? Catherine Sterling, the perfect little princess!"Her voice echoed through the lobby. A few passersby stopped to stare."I hate your perfect family! I hate your clean background! I hate how you get everything without even trying!"I stood there, listening, as my heart bled."Luciano was supposed to be mine! The queen's throne was supposed to be mine!" Maya's voice grew shriller. "But then you floated in, St. Catherine, and you bewitched him with your wide-eyed innocence and your fucking kindness!""I never—""You did!" she cut me off. "You took everything from him! His love, his attention, his promises! And what was I? I was left to hide in the shadows, stealing scraps of what should have been mine!"I thought back to a night six years ago.Ma

Luciano's POVMaya’s words made my stomach turn.I shot to my feet, grabbed a fistful of her hair, and dragged her.She screamed in pain, but I didn't give a damn."You think I need you?" I slammed her head against a stone pillar. "What the fuck are you?"Blood started to trickle down her forehead, but my rage was far from over."Just two days ago, we—" she tried to argue."Two days ago?" I sneered, my hand closing around her throat, squeezing until her face started to turn purple. "You were a warm body. A hole to fuck. That's all you ever were.""You really think I could ever love you?" My voice was venom. "Maya Cross, you're not worth a single eyelash that falls from Catherine's face.""You… you said you loved me…" she choked out."Love you?" I let go, watching her collapse to the floor, coughing. "I never loved you. You're just an animal who spreads her legs, a bitch who knows how to bark. You do the filthy things Catherine would never do."Tears mixed with blood streamed down Maya'