Chapter 2

 The next day happened to be Paulina’s half sister’s birthday. So she tried to surprise her sister in her apartment since there was no work on that day. 

As she got into the house with her spare key, she noticed that something seemed a little off. Paulina stood frozen in the hallway as she approached Alexis' room, curiosity filling her.

 She hesitated for a moment, not sure whether invading her sister's personal space was worth it,  but then a wave of determination washed over her.  She would just peep. 

Taking a deep breath, she turned the knob and pushed the door open only for her to be broken by what she had seen, as it had made her stomach churn.

 James was in her sister’s bed, his arm wrapped casually over the bare back of Alexis, she couldn’t believe it was her own step-sister.

 The sheets were tangled around their bodies, and the room reeked of sex and alcohol.

Paulina gasped, the sound tearing through the silence of the room. Both James and Alexis jolted up, their eyes wide with shock.

"Paulina! What the hell are you doing here?" James barked; his voice laced with panic as he grabbed a pillow to cover himself.

"What am I doing here?" Paulina’s voice trembled with anger and heartbreak. "What am I doing here? James, you—" 

She choked on her words, tears welling up in her eyes. "You’re in bed with my sister!"

"Paulina, it’s not what it looks like," Alexis stammered, her face flushed with no guilt or remorse, she seemed to be enjoying this.

 She scrambled to cover herself with the sheets.Paulina shook her head in disbelief, taking a step back as the room began to spin.

"Not what it looks like? How could you, Alexis? My sister? After everything I’ve done for you?"

Alexis avoided her gaze, pulling the sheets tighter around herself. "Paulina, please…"

"No!" Paulina’s voice was sharp, filled with pain. 

"I don’t want to hear your excuses. I trusted you, both of you!" She looked at James, her eyes brimming with tears. 

"I gave you everything, James. Everything! And this is how you repay me?"James sat up, running a hand through his hair. 

"Paulina, calm down. We can talk about this—"

“I came here to celebrate your birthday Alexis…

Alexis looks down a bit. “I didn’t know.”

"Of course, you wouldn’t know!" Paulina shouted, her voice rising with anger. 

"You were too busy sleeping with my husband to care about anything else!"

James finally found his voice, though it was weak, almost pleading. 

"Paulina, I’m sorry. I never wanted to hurt you—"

"But you did, James," Paulina cut him off, her voice cold and resolute.

 "And now, you’re going to pay for it."

Without another word, she pulled out her phone and snapped a picture of them together, the flash illuminating their guilty faces. 

"Paulina, what are you doing?" Alexis cried out, panic lacing her voice.Paulina stared at them, her hands shaking but her resolve firm. 

"I’m going to post this on the Business Daily blog. Everyone will know that James Whitney, CEO of my father’s company, is having an affair with his employee, when he has a wife."

"Paulina, no!" James leaped out of bed, trying to grab her phone, but she was faster. 

She dashed out of the room, her heart pounding in her chest as she heard them scrambling behind her.

"Paulina, wait!" James shouted, his footsteps heavy as he chased after her.

“Paulina, please, don’t do this!" Alexis’ voice was desperate, her bare feet slapping against the wooden floor as she hurried to catch up.

Paulina didn’t stop. 

She ran down the hallway, the adrenaline coursing through her veins. She had to get out, had to expose them for what they had done. 

The betrayal, the lies—it all fueled her need for justice.She reached the top of the staircase, her breath coming in ragged gasps. Just as she was about to descend, Alexis caught up with her. "Paulina, stop!" 

Alexis grabbed her arm, yanking her back.Paulina tried to pull away, her voice trembling with fear and anger.

 "Let go of me, Alexis!"But Alexis didn’t let go.“I’m going to ruin you before you ruin me bitch!”  In her desperation, she pushed Paulina with all her strength, sending her stumbling backward. 

Paulina’s foot slipped on the edge of the step, and she lost her balance.

For a brief, horrifying moment, time seemed to slow. Paulina’s arms flailed as she tried to grab onto something—anything—to stop her fall. But there was nothing.

She tumbled down the stairs, her body hitting the steps in painful thuds. 

The world spun around her, the pain searing through her body as she fell down.At the bottom of the staircase, Paulina lay motionless, her vision fading to black. 

The last thing she heard before the darkness consumed her was Alexis screaming her name.