CHAPTER 1

Tessa’s pov

My boyfriend fucked my best friend.

The room tilted, walls blurring as if the world itself had lost its balance. The sound of skin against skin echoed in my ears, sharp and unmistakable.

A woman’s voice echoed through the room, breathless and intimate.

“Fuck yeah! Evan…oh daddy…oh God oh!!” The woman moaned. “Take my hole, baby. Don’t…don’t stop. Deeper honey, put that big boy deeper!”

My boyfriend’s manhood dug in and out of her like a maniac in search of food. His movements were frantic as he merged himself into her.

“Oh Lydia my princess, how I love your moans. How do you like my cock, huh?” Evan asked, his voice thick with lust. Her hands were tied tightly to the bed frame leaving her completely at his mercy. With his right palm caressing her breasts in a cruel manner and his left palm slapping her butt at intervals, Lydia mumbled his name while basking in her ecstasy.

Tears blurred my vision. My grandfather’s medical bills crumpled in my sweaty palms. “My princess”?? Evan had never called me that. Not during our few good moments, not in public and not even in bed. With me, he was distracted, impatient, always tired before it even began, always turning away as though loving me was a chore. He wasn’t even so much interested in having sex with me.

I had run here just to beg him for money for my grandfather’s treatment. Just this once since we started dating. Only to meet a shocking scene.

Lydia noticed my presence first and she hesitated only a bit, guilt written all over her face -at least that’s what it looked like-before a wicked smile curled up her lips. “What if your girlfriend walks in right now?” She asked Evan, carelessly wrapping her legs round his neck as he dug even deeper.

He laughed. “She won’t. She must be by her grandfather’s bedside playing the loyal dog”. Their laughter filled the room.

Lydia’s eyes darted towards where I stood, satisfied with his answer and making sure I heard what my supposed boyfriend just blurted out. My weak fingers grabbed the table for support brushing the edge of some items as they fell.

The laughter stopped and Evan turned to where I stood. Shock flashed across his face, his dirty smile vanishing within seconds.In a rush of panic, he seized a blanket and dragged it over himself as though that should be an atonement for his deeds.

“T…Tessa…” his voice shaking, eyes darting between me and the woman on the bed. “What you’re seeing isn’t what you think”

I waited for him to deny it, to apologize, to say he messed up. Just anything.

My hands trembled so badly the medical bills slipped through my fingers and dropped to the floor. I laughed bitterly, a sound I barely recognized.

“What a fool I’ve been” I mumbled,unable to process my thoughts. “I ran here for your help And, seriously?? This!!? You’re saying what I’m seeing isn’t what I think?” I looked up at him, my teary eyes begging him to tell me this isn’t true, begging him to tell me it’s just another nightmare.

Lydia shifted clumsily on the bed and scratched her ears as though I was a whining dog that needed to be tamed. “Well,” she said lightly “Look who finally decided to show up”

I gritted my teeth, trying to keep my composure steady. I was shocked at Evan’s silence. He didn’t seem moved by my presence anymore. I’ve always judged women who chase after their cheating partners instead of walking away from the toxic relationship immediately.But here I was, secretly hoping they would get down on their knees and apologize like the normal thing to be done. I begged the heavens to take my life at that point.

“You always did take your boyfriend seriously, didn’t you, Tessa? Her words, as light as it was, sliced through me like a knife.

“For goodness sake, do you have a conscience??!!” The tears now flowed freely down my cheeks as I stared at the woman I called my best friend.

“You are overreacting , Tessa” ,Evan said at last. His voice was calm as though it was only me in the room taking everything too seriously. His face filled with guilt as he looked away slowly immediately he noticed my shocked expression.

“What do you mean I am overreacting? Goddammit, Evan, I called you thrice at the hospital but you didn’t pick up!. But here you are digging your fucking rod into my best friend’s ass. Indeed you two need a round of applause” I screamed, unable to control my emotions any longer.

Evan didn’t flinch. He just looked at me, almost amused that I could raise my voice at him. “You know, you’re so exhausted sometimes. Why the hell would you be so clingy and possessive of me just because I am your first boyfriend? The guilt on his face seemed to fade off.

“What did you just say”? I asked, his words hitting me like Ice as my throat burned.

He stepped closer, gently removing Lydia’s hands which tried to hold him back.

“Listen to me, Tessa.” He said, stroking his hands on my shoulder as I pushed it off immediately.

“Don’t you dare touch me” I said, resisting myself from slapping him.

“You know I am not the one at fault here. You seemed distant all the times we were together. I don’t mean to shade you Tessa but you were always boring in bed”. He paused a little as though bracing himself to spit out the final words. “Your desperation to be loved was what made me pity you when we first met”.

I stumbled back, my legs shaking too violently. I had to clutch the edge of the doorway for support. I knew Evan was always blunt whenever he spoke but the effects of his words made me stare at the man whom I had long branded my soulmate. Always boring in bed? Too desperate for love? The words echoed in my head, making me stagger and drop to the floor in shock.

“You…” I started, my voice breaking. I wanted to do or say something to make him feel the smallest fraction of the agony he had caused. But the words wouldn’t come. Rage, humiliation, heartbreak all tangled into one sharp knot in my chest.

I wonder how women handle these kinds of situations.

In the novels I read, the girl would storm in, yell, throw things, make the man beg, cause a scene even. But here I was, frozen and trying to maintain composure as my boyfriend defended the girl who had stolen everything I thought I had.

“Uhhh, this is just so exhausting” Lydia said, leaning back on the bed, crossing her legs. Her eyes darted seductively to where Evan stood. “Baby, I need your big boy right now. My kitties can’t wait much longer” she said, biting her lower lip and reaching out to the bedside drawer for a vibrator.

Something snapped inside me. My eyes roamed the room and finally rested on a flower vase, my hands itching to grab it. Just one swing…I thought. One swing and maybe she’ll understand the rage hovering inside of me.

Evan’s eyes widened the moment I picked up the vase and lunged towards Lydia.

Then, smack!

Pain exploded across my cheek as Evan’s hands landed as a slap.

“Enough!” He screamed. “You’re insane , Tessa. Leave right now! We can talk later over this matter.

Lydia burst into a soft mocking laughter making me wish the ground should just open and swallow my whole existence. She dropped the vibrator and walked towards me, smirk still plastered on her face. “You’re so pathetic, you know” she began

“What”?

“I don’t get it ,Tessa. Why are you so fragile?” she said,stepping closer, circling me like a predator. “Why do you let people trample over you? I knew you were always so innocent and naive. But how could you be my best friend for years without noticing I have a crush on your man?. But still, you stand here, stiff like a statue and throwing back hilarious responses.” She scoffed.

“Lydia?” I mumbled.

“Leave. He clearly said you should get out. Do you want a miracle to happen or for our hearts to be melted by your tears?.”

I didn’t move right away. I looked down and saw the medical bills still scattered across the floor, some of them half under the bed.

Lydia followed my gaze and laughed softly.

“Oh,” she said. “You can leave those”.

Evan didn’t look at my face again. He stepped past the papers like they were trash and held the door wider, a reaction that told me he was already done with me.