LOVE,LIES AND THE HEIR

The first thing Charlotte Gomez saw was her sister’s red lace bra hanging from Ethan’s bedside lamp. For a second, her brain refused to understand it. She simply stood there outside the half-open bedroom door, her fingers tightening around the small cake box she had brought for Ethan’s surprise birthday dinner. Then she heard it. A moan. Low. Breathy. Feminine. Followed by Ethan’s voice. “f**k… Vanessa…” Charlotte’s heart stopped. The world around her tilted violently as she pushed the door open wider with trembling fingers. And everything shattered. Vanessa was beneath Ethan on the bed, completely naked under the tangled silk sheets, her manicured nails dragging down his bare back while Ethan thrust against her like a man possessed. His mouth crashed hungrily against her neck, kissing and biting the same lips Charlotte had kissed goodbye that morning. The room smelled like sweat, perfume, s*x. Charlotte couldn’t breathe. The cake box slipped from her fingers and hit the floor with a dull splatter. Ethan froze instantly. Vanessa gasped dramatically, yanking the sheets over herself, though the satisfied smirk on her face remained. “Charlotte—” Her ears rang violently. Five years. Five years loving him. Five years trusting her. Gone. Just like that. Charlotte stared at Ethan’s bare chest, at the lipstick stains on his skin, at Vanessa’s legs still wrapped shamelessly around his waist. Something inside her snapped. “You’re sleeping with my sister?” she whispered. Ethan quickly climbed off the bed, grabbing his jeans. “Baby, listen to me—” “Don’t call me baby!” Charlotte screamed. Vanessa rolled her eyes. “God, stop acting like a victim.” Charlotte turned toward her slowly, disbelief filling her tear-glazed eyes. “A victim?” she repeated. Vanessa shrugged beneath the sheets. “Maybe if you weren’t so boring in bed, Ethan wouldn’t keep coming to me.” The words sliced through Charlotte’s chest. Ethan sighed heavily but didn’t deny it. That hurt even worse. Charlotte laughed suddenly — a broken, painful sound that didn’t even sound human anymore. “You know what’s funny?” Tears streamed down her face now. “I defended both of you. I trusted both of you.” “Charlotte—” “How long?” she demanded. Silence. Her stomach dropped. “Oh my God…” Ethan ran a hand through his hair. “It just happened—” “How long?” she screamed louder. Vanessa smirked lazily. “Six months.” Charlotte physically staggered backward. Six months. Half a year. Half a year of lies while Ethan still kissed her, touched her, slept in her bed pretending to love her. Rage exploded through her body. She slapped Ethan hard across the face. The crack echoed through the room. “You disgust me.” Then she looked at Vanessa — her own flesh and blood. “You’re dead to me.” And before either of them could stop her, Charlotte turned and ran. — Rain poured heavily outside as Charlotte stumbled into the street, sobbing uncontrollably. Her chest hurt so badly she thought she might collapse. Her phone rang endlessly inside her purse. Ethan. Vanessa. Ethan again. She ignored every call. Right now, she wanted to forget they ever existed. She drove blindly through the city until neon lights suddenly illuminated the darkness ahead. NOIR. The hottest club in the city. Charlotte parked recklessly before stepping inside. The bass hit her instantly. Bodies moved together under flashing red lights, sweaty skin glistening beneath the darkness. The air smelled like alcohol, lust, and expensive cologne. Nobody here cared about broken hearts. Perfect. Charlotte walked straight to the bar. “Tequila,” she said. The bartender handed her a shot. Then another. And another. Soon warmth spread through her veins, numbing the pain enough for her to breathe again. Music pounded through her body as she stumbled toward the dance floor, letting strangers touch her waist and brush against her skin while she danced recklessly beneath the lights. Tonight she didn’t want to be good. Didn’t want to be loyal. Didn’t want to think. She wanted to feel wanted. Desired. Sexy. Charlotte swayed against the music, her tight black dress hugging every dangerous curve of her body. Men stared openly now, but she barely noticed. Until her eyes landed on him. He sat alone in the darkest corner of the VIP section, one hand wrapped around a glass of whiskey. Tall. Broad shoulders. Black shirt rolled to his forearms. Sharp jawline. Dark eyes that looked sinful enough to ruin lives. Every woman in the club seemed to glance his way. But he ignored them all. Charlotte stared at him through her drunken haze. God. He was beautiful. Too beautiful. And in her intoxicated state, one ridiculous thought entered her mind. He looked exactly like one of those rich male escorts wealthy women secretly hired. A bitter laugh escaped her lips. Perfect. If men could betray her so easily, maybe she deserved one reckless night too. Without thinking, Charlotte grabbed her purse and walked straight toward him. The stranger slowly lifted his gaze as she approached. And the moment those dark eyes locked onto hers, heat curled low in her stomach. Dangerous heat. Charlotte stopped directly in front of him. “You’re alone,” she slurred slightly. One corner of his mouth lifted slowly. “Observant.” His voice was deep. Smooth. Sinful. Charlotte’s pulse quickened. She reached into her purse shakily, pulled out a stack of cash, and dropped it onto the table in front of him. The stranger looked down at the money. Then back at her. Amusement flickered in his dark eyes. Charlotte leaned closer, her trembling fingers brushing against his expensive tie. “I want you for the night,” she whispered. The entire atmosphere changed instantly. The stranger went completely still. Deadly still. His gaze slowly darkened as his eyes traveled over her face, her lips, the exposed skin above her dress. Then he leaned back lazily in his chair. “Do I look like a man you can buy, sweetheart?” Charlotte swallowed hard. God. Even his voice felt like seduction. She forced herself to hold his gaze despite the heat pooling dangerously between her thighs. “I don’t care who you are,” she murmured. “I just want to forget someone tonight.” For the first time, something unreadable crossed his face. Then suddenly— He stood. Towering over her. Charlotte’s breath caught instantly as he stepped closer, invading every inch of her space until she could smell whiskey and expensive cologne on his skin. His fingers tilted her chin upward slowly. Possessively. “Careful,” he said softly, his thumb brushing her lower lip. “You have no idea what kind of man you just offered yourself to.” And before Charlotte could respond— He took the cash… and slid it back into her trembling hand. Then he whispered against her ear— “But I’m dangerously tempted to say yes.”