Five: Crimson Tears

When Carmen pulled into the driveway, she noticed Cody's car parked outside. She felt a rush of excitement -maybe he'd come back early to surprise her too. But then, why didn't he text? Maybe his phone was switched off, or maybe he didn't want to ruin the surprise. That was all that was going on in her head.

But as she stepped into the house, all her excitement turned into confusion. The living room was a mess. The arrangements she'd worked so hard to set up were scattered across the floor, some of them crushed and torn apart. The fairy lights she had painstakingly worked so hard to put up were all shattered, their glass shards glinting like broken dreams on the carpet because that was what they were right now.

The dining table was overturned, and the cake she'd ordered- a three-tiered masterpiece adorned with delicate sugar roses-was smashed to pieces on the floor. But that wasn't what made her chest ache like it had been caved in.

It was the photo album she had entrusted to Millie that left her utterly stunned. The pictures of her and Cody had been ripped to shreds.

"What happened here?" she murmured, shock washing over her. "Millie..." She stepped over the petals and candles, moving through the wreckage with growing dread.

As she climbed the stairs, she heard faint sounds from their bedroom: her heart pounded in her chest. She knew those sounds, those voices, though she didn't want to believe what her mind was piecing together.

With a trembling hand, she reached for the door and slowly pushed it open.

Her world, shattered.

There, in her own bed, was Cody, tangled up with Millie, her best friend, oblivious to Carmen's horrified gaze. They were so absorbed in each other they didn't notice her standing there.

"No, no, no, no... Cody!" Carmen's voice was barely a whisper, filled with pain and disbelief, yet it was enough to snap them out of their position.

Both Cody and Millie looked up, startled, their expressions freezing as they met Carmen's tear-filled eyes.

"Carmen...I-I can explain." Cody stammered, his face going pale.

Millie, however, looked unbothered, a satisfied smirk tugging at her lips as she pulled herself away from him. "Oh, hey, Cam. You're home early."

Carmen's gaze shifted from Cody to Millie, her heart shattering into pieces as she absorbed the sight before her of the two people she had trusted the most in the world.

"How...how could you?" Carmen choked, her voice breaking as she clutched the door frame to steady herself. Her legs felt weak, and her chest ached. She could hardly comprehend anything, all she saw was read.

Cody struggled to find words, guilt flashing across his face. He hadn't even expected Carmen to come home from work so early, but he remained silent. Millie, however, rolled her eyes unfazed. She knew Carmen would come back early, and she intentionally scattered everything. She was tired of hiding her feelings for Cody.

"Oh, come on, Cam," Millie said dismissively, shrugging as if the whole scene was an inconvenience. "It's not like you didn't see this coming."

Carmen's hands clenched into fists, and hurt burning through her veins as she looked at Millie. "You were my friend. My best friend! You helped me arrange, you helped me select gifts for him..."

Millie laughed, a cold, mocking sound. "Yeah, well, some things are just worth more than friendship, don't you think?"

Carmen's hands clenched into fists, anger burning through her veins as she looked at Millie. "You were my friend. My best friend!"

Millie laughed, a cold, mocking sound. "Yeah, well, some things are just worth more than friendship, don't you think?"

"Shut up, Millie. What the fuck are you even saying?" Carmen snapped, her voice cracking like a whip. She pointed a trembling finger at Millie. "You...you're a disgrace!"

Millie's face flushed, and her lips tightened into a thin line, but she said nothing.

"And you," Carmen turned her glare on Cody, her tone dripping with contempt. "The great Cody Wade. The man everyone admires. The perfect husband." She spat the words like poison. "You're nothing but a lying cheat. Everyone's going to know who you both really are.

Carmen's eyes flicked to Millie, who kept on smiling and then back to Cody, whose face was buried in his hands, unable to meet her gaze. Every moment they'd spent together flashed through her mind-their dates, their marriage, his proposal...it all felt like a cruel lie now. "Did you even love me?" She scoffed, tears in her eyes.

"Carmen...I'm so sorry," Cody mumbled "Please just calm down. Let's think this over."

"Calm down?" Carmen's laughter was bitter, raw. "Oh, don't worry. I'll be calm when everyone knows the truth about the two of you. I'll make sure the whole world sees you for what you are."

As she spoke, Carmen pulled out her phone and started recording, her hands steady despite the whirlwind of the different emotions churning inside her.

"Carmen, stop," Cody said, his voice dipping with anger.

Millie stepped forward, her face dripping with desperation. "Carmen! Give me that fucking phone, now!"

Before Carmen could react, Millie lunged at her, grabbing a fistful of her hair. Carmen cried out, her phone slipping from her grasp and skidding across the floor. The two women struggled, Millie clawing at Carmen like a wildcat. But Carmen, fueled by rage and adrenaline, shoved Millie back with all her strength.

Thuddd.

Millie stumbled back and fell to the floor.

Carmen didn't wait. She snatched up her phone and bolted for the door.

"Get her!" Cody barked, his voice echoing through the house. "Now, Millie."

Carmen's heart raced as she sprinted out of the house and into the cool evening air. She had no car-she'd taken a cab to the office earlier. Her only chance was to make it to the main road and flag another one. But the road was far, and the heavy traffic of trucks and cars made crossing it dangerous.

Behind her, she heard the sound of footsteps. They were chasing her.

"Carmen!" Cody shouted, his voice closer now. "Please, Stop!"

She didn't dare look back. Her breath came in ragged gasps as she reached the edge of the road. The sounds of passing trucks were defeating, their headlights blinding her as she stared ahead. Carmen hesitated, the traffic light hadn't stopped green. It wasn't safe to cross right now, but what could she do? If they caught up with her, they were going to take the only evidence she had of them cheating.

She turned ahead, hesitating as she slowly stepped forward, trying to find an opening to dash across, when she felt it-a presence behind her. A hand on her back.

Before she could turn, she was shoved forward with brutal force. Carmen stumbled onto the road, her body hitting the ground hard. Dazed, she looked up, the world spinning around her.

Her vision cleared just in time to see Millie and Cody standing at the edge of the road, their presence shrouded by darkness. Cody looked horrified, his hands trembling. "Carmen! Millie, what the hell did you just do?"

"Oh. my. God, Cody, I–I didn't mean to push her!" Millie stammered, panic etched across her face. "I was trying to bring her back, so I could grab her phone, I swear, Cody."

Carmen's heart sank as she realized Cody, the man she'd known for years and had married, wasn't making any move to help her. Still, she stretched out her hand toward them, her voice weak, tears falling down her eyes, pleading. "Please...help me." She would get up herself, but it seemed like she'd broken a bone.

But Cody's face hardened. "We don't have a choice," he muttered, his voice barely audible over the noise of the traffic. "If she gets up, she'll ruin us."

"No, Cody," Carmen whispered, tears streaming down her face. "Please... don't do this."

Cody's gaze was cold as he stepped forward. He placed his foot on her outstretched hand and pressed down, forcing her back onto the road. Carmen screamed in pain, the sound swallowed by the rumble of an approaching truck without headlights.

"Cody, no!"