He Cheated With "Brother", I Destroyed Them

Chapter 2

I had barely stepped out of the private room when Aria hurried after me.

"Leah! How dare you call me filthy? You are just another jealous woman who knows nothing but how to humiliate others! If you are so envious, why even bother coming to gatherings like this?!

"I have known Vincent for more than twenty years. Who do you think you are? Does marrying him make you think you are better than everyone else?!"

Her voice rose higher and sharper as she spoke, "You have no idea what a bond forged through life and death means. A petty, jealous little thing like you, too narrow-minded to see past your own insecurities, will never be good enough for Vincent!"

I raised my hand, ready to slap her again, but Vincent, who had followed her out, shoved me aside so hard I stumbled.

He glared at me, his tone sharp and filled with disgust. "Leah! Have you caused enough trouble for one night?!"

Caught off guard, I fell hard to the floor. My palms scraped painfully against the rough surface, stinging as raw skin met the cold air.

Gritting my teeth, I lifted my head and looked straight at him.

For a split second, he seemed to realize he had gone too far, and his gaze shifted away, avoiding mine.

Meanwhile, Aria stood behind him, a look of triumph spreading across her face.

I lowered my eyes, pushed myself to my feet, swallowed down the rage and hurt, and walked away without another word.

In my past life, Vincent had pushed me aside for Aria countless times.

Later, it only got worse.

He allowed her to move right into our home, into the bedroom we shared.

He even let her sleep in our wedding bed.

I was left to sleep on the cold sofa in the living room, listening through the wall as sounds drifted from the bedroom, sounds that anyone with half a brain could understand.

Yet I had chosen to deceive myself, to endure it again and again.

But the loyalty and patience I gave them had only earned me a painful, sudden death.

Even now, the memory feels like thousands of needles piercing straight through my heart.

This time, though, I would not shed a single tear.

I went back to the bedroom.

One by one, I placed the hidden cameras I had prepared, tucking them into every corner, even behind the bathroom ventilation fan, leaving no spot uncovered.

'Aria, you claim your cryophobia makes you need someone to sleep beside you for warmth and comfort.'

'Vincent, you insist on stripping off your own clothes just to help your "friend" manage her condition.'

'Very well. This time, I will make sure the whole world sees exactly what kind of "friendship" this really is.'

Once I was done, I had just lain down to rest when the bedroom door was kicked open violently.

Vincent stormed in, his face dark with anger, and hauled me upright from the mattress.

"Go and wash Aria's feet. Consider it your apology for hurting her earlier tonight."

I shook his hand off firmly. "No. I refuse."

He let out a cold laugh and pulled out his phone. "Your mother's chemotherapy at the General Hospital only got scheduled because I pulled strings and used my connections. If you will not do as I say, I will make that treatment stop right now."

His cold, unfeeling tone sent a jolt through me. My heart tightened, but the image of my mother's pale, frail face flashed in my mind.

Gritting my teeth, I forced down the anger and humiliation, then turned and walked to the bathroom to draw water.

Aria was already leaning back lazily on the sofa, her legs propped up, waiting with a smug expression.

The moment her toes touched the water, she flinched and pulled them back.

"It is too hot, Leah."

I added more cold water and mixed it again.

"Now it is freezing. Are you trying to give me hypothermia?"

We went back and forth five or six times before she finally let her feet rest in the basin.

The second I turned to grab the towel, she quickly reached for the kettle on the coffee table and poured boiling water, heated to 212°F, straight into the basin.

"Ah!" She let out a high, shrill scream, deliberately loud enough to be heard. "Leah! Why would you pour boiling water on me? Do you hate me that much just for being close to Vincent?!"

Vincent rushed in at the sound.

Seeing Aria's feet already turning bright red and blistered, he grabbed the basin without a word and hurled the scalding water straight at me.

I had no time to react. The searing heat hit my skin, and blinding pain made my vision swim.

Looking down, I saw large patches of skin across my left arm and collarbone turning red and swelling, already peeling away. The raw flesh stuck to the fabric of my nightgown.

My face went pale, but I grabbed a bottle of mineral water and poured it over myself to cool the burn, my eyes burning with pure hatred as I stared at Vincent.

A flicker of panic crossed his face, but he quickly hardened his expression again and spoke coldly, "You brought this on yourself, Leah. You have no one to blame but you."

With that, he carefully lifted Aria in his arms and carried her off to treat her injuries.

I caught sight of Aria glancing back over his shoulder, a look of pure victory and provocation in her eyes.

I clenched my fists until my knuckles turned white.

'Vincent Devereux. Aria Yorke. I will remember every single thing you have done today.'

'Just wait. I will make you pay back every bit of this... tenfold.'