SIN-PHORIA: Secret Love Stories

“Please, I can’t—” I begged, my voice hoarse as I pushed against his warm rigid bare chest.

“You mean you can’t wait for your ex-daddy to fill your pulsing hole with his cock?” He smirked loudly.

Well, that’s me. And you’re probably wondering how I ended up in this situation.

Hmmm.

My name is Kai. And I’m part of those who do not believe in that “love is blind” bullshit. Why? Even if you’re in love, you should still be able to see the red flags in your partner.

In this case, my mother has gone blind, even worse than a bat trying to fly in the afternoon. And she’s a victim of my stepdaddy’s adulterous behavior.

We were currently seated at the dining table. My mother was smiling at Adrian. While my own stomach had been constantly churning at the disgusting sight of him.

To my mother, he is the savior who rescued us from debt after my father died. He gave us a house. He played the perfect husband.

And that tactic used to work on me. Not anymore.

Adrian… is a fucking liar.

Over the past few months, he had started leaving the house late at night than usual. The reasons he laid out—dinners with clients, office emergencies and many more—were obvious lies. I knew that because he always came home exhausted, drunk and acted suspicious since he stopped picking calls in front of me anymore.

My mind tells me that he’s cheating on my mother.

And I… will find out.

"Happy eighteenth birthday, Kai," Mom said, her hands trembling slightly as she pushed a small, slightly charred box across the table.

I opened it. A tarnished gold ring sat on the faded cushion.

"That was the last thing left of your father after the fire," she whispered and a single tear slipped down her cheek, catching the dining room light. "He loved us so much when he was here. I’m giving you this because I know he would want you to have it."

I gripped the box. My chest tightened, a fierce ache spreading through my ribs.

Seeing her cry over him, seeing how much she still cherished real love... it made the secret I carried feel like poison.

Mom has always been fragile.

She has already survived one tragedy.

Can she bear another one?

"Thank you, Mom," I said, my voice thick.

Adrian cleared his throat, shattering the moment. "There's nothing to be excited about. He's an adult now. Let's hope he starts acting like one." He checked his watch and stood up. "I have a late night meeting. I'm going to rest first."

He kissed my mother's cheek and walked upstairs.

The bedroom door clicked shut.

I slipped my father's ring into my pocket. My blood boiled. A late meeting. The same excuse. If Adrian broke her heart after all she had been through, it would destroy her.

I wouldn't let that happen. Tonight, I was going to catch him.

At exactly 11:45 PM, the front door creaked open.

That was Adrian leaving the house.

I grabbed my car keys and my wallet.

I trailed his car across town. Unsurprisingly, after seven minutes, he pulled to the roadside opposite an exclusive club downtown.

I stayed in my car, my heart racing.

It took a while before the driver’s door opened and Adrian stepped out.

My jaw fell.

He had swapped his business suit for a tight black shirt and baggy jeans. He wore dark sunglasses to complement his fit. His hand slowly brushed back his hair.

I blinked, seeing if he’s really the one.

He looked completely different. He looked hot.

My stomach twisted.

He didn't dress like that for Mom. He dressed like that for a random woman.

Fuck you, Adrian.

He walked past the bouncers and entered the building. I hurried after him, but a thick arm blocked my path.

"Members only," the security guard grunted. "You need a membership."

"How much?" I asked.

"Five thousand dollars."

My jaw dropped. I took a step back. "Five thousand?"

My debit card held exactly five thousand five hundred dollars—my entire life savings from years of part-time shifts because I wanted to be an independent person.

I kicked a nearby pole, regretting not taking all the money my mother and Adrian had given me before.

Fuck.

I can’t afford this.

Defeated, I turned around and started walking back to my car.

And again, who charges that much for a club? Adrian was burning serious money—well, that wouldn’t affect him even in the slightest way. He makes pretty much a lot from his workplace.

As I settled back into my car, ignited the car’s engine and placed my hand on the steering wheel, my gaze caught the cold metal of my father’s ring.

Mom.

That was what came to my mind at first. She can’t keep suffering. Not this way. If I walk away now, she will live a lie forever.

Exhaling, I turned off the engine and marched back to the guard.

My hands shook as I pulled out my ATM card and shoved it into his hand. The machine beeped. The receipt printed. The chime of the debit alert on my phone almost made me cry.

My bank account was almost drained in one second.

But I am doing this for my Mom.

No pressure.

The guards stepped aside and I made my way inside.

Neon lights cut through the smoke. Heavy bass rattled the floorboards. Leather booths lined the walls, occupied by couples grabbing at each other in the shadows.

Bile rose in my throat.

This isn’t a place for meetings. This is Adrian's sanctuary. He is indeed cheating on my mom.

I scanned the crowd. Adrian was gone. I walked up to the bar and caught the bartender's attention.

"Hey," I said. "Did you see an older man in a black shirt and baggy jeans? He came in a few minutes ago."

The bartender smiled, her teeth flashing. "Oh, Mr. Hale.”

“Wow. He’s even a regular.” I scoffed.

“Yes, he's a regular." She leaned closer, her eyes raking over my face and body. "Are you one of his clients tonight?"

Clients?

My breath hitched.

What was she talking about? Was he really here for business? Or was he selling himself?

What the fuck is going on?!

“I’m not his client.” I pouted.

“Then why are you here?”

“Fine. I am his client.” I whispered, swallowing hard right after.

Anything to get inside… I guess? There is turning back after spending my life’s savings to enter here.

"He went that way," she finally said, gesturing toward a heavy door at the back of the room.

I nodded and walked toward it.

The music faded into a dull thump. I didn't know what I would find on the other side of that door.

A mistress? A buyer? A secret life?

It doesn’t matter.

I squeezed my father's ring in my palm.

Now, call me a bastard if I do not ruin my step-daddy’s affair.