Caught

(Emma's POV)

I pulled into the driveway a little after eleven, the Uber dropping me off early because the training session had wrapped up sooner than expected. I was exhausted but excited, I couldn’t wait to surprise Ethan. Four days away felt like forever, especially so soon after the wedding. I grabbed my small suitcase and let myself in quietly, hoping to catch him off guard.

The house was dim, only the living room lamp on. I smiled to myself as I kicked off my heels by the door. “Ethan? Baby, I caught an earlier flight! Surprise!”

No answer.

I left my suitcase at the bottom of the stairs and headed up, my socked feet silent on the carpet. Maybe he was already in bed. The thought made me warm inside. I could crawl in next to him, wrap myself around his body, and finally feel his arms around me again.

The bedroom door was slightly ajar. Soft sounds were coming from inside,, I heard breathing and movement, the faint creak of the mattress.

My hand pushed the door open.

And my reality stopped spinning.

Ethan was on top of Lila.

Both of them completely naked.

His hips were still moving, slowly and deeply inside my cousin, buried inside her. Her legs were wrapped around his waist, her hands clutching his back. Their skin was shiny with sweat. The room smelled like sex, the thick, musky, unmistakable scent of two people fucking. Cum was already leaking from where they were joined, glistening on her thighs and the sheets.

They both froze the second the door opened.

Lila’s eyes flew wide. She tried to push Ethan off, scrambling, but it was too late. Ethan’s head snapped toward me, his face draining of color.

“Emma—”

I couldn’t speak. My brain refused to process what I was seeing. My husband, the man I married three weeks ago, was inside my cousin. In our bed. The same bed we’d made love in on our wedding night.

Tears flooded my eyes instantly. A sharp, crushing pain exploded in my chest, like someone had punched straight through my ribs and grabbed my heart.

My knees felt weak.

This wasn’t real. It couldn’t be.

I was trying to make sense of all this but it couldn't just be placed right

Ethan pulled out of her with a wet sound that made me want to vomit. Lila grabbed the sheet, trying desperately to cover herself, her face pale with shock.

Tears filled my eyes instantly

“Emma, wait — it’s not—” Ethan started, voice cracking as he reached for his sweatpants.

I couldn’t listen anymore to any lies. I turned away and ran downstairs

Tears blurred everything.

I stormed down the stairs, droplets falling onto the wooden floor with soft little taps.

How? How could he do this? How could she? Lila -- my own sister and best friend since we were little, the girl who helped me pick my wedding dress. And Ethan… my husband. The man who'd promised me forever just weeks ago-- This doesn't feel like forever, does it.

I heard him behind me, footsteps stumming down the stairs as I stormed out of the house “Emma! Emma, please!”

I didn’t stop for him--never. I reached the front door, hand shaking as I grabbed the knob.

“Emma, wait- let me explain!”

I spun around slowly without uttering any words. Ethan was there in nothing but his underwear, hair messy, guilt and panic all over his face. Lila stood a few steps behind him on the stairs, wrapped in the bedsheet, her eyes filled with shock.

I didn’t think. I gave him a very harsh slap.

The slap cracked across his cheek so hard my palm stung. The sound echoed through the house. Lila gasped and covered her mouth with her palm in shocked.

Ethan’s head snapped to the side. A red handprint reflecting instantly on his skin.

I looked straight at Lila next. She flinched at my stare. I didn’t say a word, didn’t need to. The stare I gave her said everything: 'We are not family anymore. You are dead to me.'

Then I turned, yanked the door open, and walked out.

I got in my car, started the engine, leaving them in the house, and drove away, far far away.

Tears streamed down my face the whole drive. I didn’t know where I was going but I knew I just needed to get away from that house.

From them at least..

I ended up at a quiet bar a few miles away. The kind with dim lights and worn leather stools.

I sat at the counter and ordered shots.

Tequila first.

Then whiskey.

Then whatever the bartender put in front of me.

The first few didn’t touch the pain. It just sat like an unmovable rock in my chest, sharp. But I kept seeing them anyways..Ethan’s hips moving between Lila’s legs, the way she was holding onto him. My husband. My cousin--in our marital bed.

-Shit

I took another shot.

Then another.

Then another..

Then another...

Then another...

Till I lost count - I guess.

The room started spinning slowly. My thoughts grew thick and fuzzy, but the hurt was still there, throbbing-but far away. How could he do this to me? I expected betrayal from men eventually… but not him. And especially not just few weeks after saying “I do.” This is premium betrayal.

And Lila… she was supposed to be my sister.

I slammed the empty glass down.

No. I was done being the victim. Done crying over people who didn’t give a fuck about me.

Revenge.

This was the only thing that made sense now.

The alcohol made my brain slow, but the idea came anyway, dark and ugly and that's what made it perfect.

Lila has a younger brother. Steven. He turned 18 last month. Still lived with their parents. Sweet kid. Innocent. Family.

I smiled bitterly into my next shot.

I would fuck him. Take Lila’s little brother the same way she took my husband. Let her feel what it’s like to have someone she loves betrayed by family.

The thought should have disgusted me, but instead, the alcohol made it make so so much sense, made it fell like justice.

I paid my tab, grabbed an unopened bottle from the counter when the bartender wasn’t looking, and stumbled out to my car.

The world tilted as I climbed in, but I didn’t care. I don't care an-anymore.

I was done hurting.

It is time to hurt them back.🤕