BETRAYED BY DESIRE

The bedroom door creaked open, and my breath caught in my throat. At first, I couldn’t believe what I was seeing. Ethan was there, standing beside the bed, shirtless, his back to me. My heart thudded in my chest as my gaze shifted to the woman on the bed, her long, dark hair spilling over the silk sheets like a shadow. Something twisted inside me. It couldn’t be. I blinked, hoping—praying—that my eyes were deceiving me. But the woman lounging on *our* bed wasn’t just anyone. It was Sofia. My best friend. My chest tightened, the air leaving my lungs as if I’d been punched in the gut. Time seemed to slow down, and the world blurred around me as I took in the sight of her smirking at me, her robe slipping provocatively from her shoulders. She was practically naked, her presence dripping with arrogance and triumph. “Maya,” Ethan’s voice broke through the suffocating silence, cold and detached. He didn’t move, didn’t even glance my way. “We need to talk.” My hands trembled as I stood frozen in the doorway, my legs refusing to carry me any further. My heart raced, my stomach knotted in fear and disbelief. I had rushed home, excited to break the news to Ethan, hoping it would fix the tension that had been between us for weeks. But instead, I was met with this—a betrayal so deep it left me gasping for breath. “What the hell is this?” I whispered, barely able to form the words as I tried to piece together what I was seeing. Sofia rose slowly from the bed, the silk robe slipping even further down her body as she sauntered toward me with that smug grin plastered on her face. “Oh, Maya,” she said, her voice thick with false sympathy. “You should’ve known it would come to this.” My hands balled into fists as I fought the urge to scream. The woman I had trusted with my secrets, my fears, my hopes—was standing there, in my bedroom, draped over my husband. The room spun. I tried to make sense of it, but the pieces refused to fit together. “Ethan…” I whispered again, my voice trembling. “Why? Why?” He finally turned to face me, his expression devoid of any remorse, any guilt. “It’s over, Maya,” he said, his tone flat, as if this were a simple business decision. “I want a divorce.” The word hit me like a physical blow. Divorce. My chest tightened, my pulse quickened, and for a moment, I couldn’t breathe. *This wasn’t happening. This couldn’t be happening.* “You can’t be serious,” I gasped, shaking my head as I stumbled forward, my mind reeling. “After everything we’ve been through? You’re leaving me for *her*?” Sofia let out a soft chuckle, her eyes sparkling with malicious delight. “You really thought you could keep him, didn’t you?” she sneered. “Ethan belongs with someone who understands him. Someone who knows how to give him what he needs.” “Why?” I gasped, my voice barely audible through my tears. “Why are you doing this? You were my friend…” Her expression darkened, a flash of anger crossing her face. “Friend?” she hissed, stepping closer, her hands clenching into fists. “You think this was ever about friendship? I never wanted to be your friend. I wanted what you had. What I was meant to have.” She leaned down, her breath hot against my face as she sneered. “I was always supposed to be with Ethan. Not you. You were just a placeholder.” Anger surged through me like wildfire. I clenched my fists, my nails digging into my palms as the rage bubbled to the surface. “Shut your mouth, Sofia,” I spat, the venom in my voice surprising even me. “You don’t get to act like this is your victory.” Sofia’s smile twisted into something darker, her eyes narrowing. “Oh, but it is, sweetheart.” Without thinking, I lunged at her, my hand swinging toward her face with every ounce of rage and betrayal burning inside me. But she was quicker. She grabbed my wrist mid-air, her grip painfully tight. Her smirk widened, and before I could react, she slapped me across the face—hard. The sting was sharp and instant, my head snapping to the side as I staggered back from the impact. The room blurred for a second, and I raised my hand to my cheek, the burn spreading across my skin. But she wasn’t done. As I tried to steady myself, my vision swimming, she slapped me again—this time with even more force. The blow left my ears ringing, and I stumbled, my back hitting the wall. Tears welled up in my eyes, but I fought them back, refusing to give her the satisfaction of seeing me crumble. I turned to Ethan, my heart shattering all over again. “Ethan, do something! Stop her! I’m your wife!” I cried out, desperate for any sign that he still cared. That he hadn’t completely abandoned me to this nightmare. But he didn’t move. He didn’t say a word. He just stood there, watching with that same cold, detached expression. As if this was all beneath him. As if *I* was beneath him. “Ethan!” I screamed, the desperation clawing at my throat. “Please, stop this!” His eyes flicked to mine for the briefest moment, and then he turned away, as if I didn’t even exist. My heart shattered into a million pieces. How could he be so heartless? Sofia’s laughter rang in my ears as she stepped closer, her voice dripping with venom. “You’re pathetic, Maya. Clinging to a man who doesn’t want you. Haven’t you figured it out by now? He’s *mine*.” My blood boiled. “I loved him! I gave him everything!” I shot back, my voice cracking with emotion. “And you—” I jabbed a finger toward her chest. “You’re just a homewrecker!” Her eyes darkened, and before I could react, she grabbed my wrist again, twisting it painfully. “Homewrecker?” she hissed, her breath hot against my face. “You think *you* were ever his home?” She stepped forward, her grip tightening, her eyes flashing with hatred. “You think you’re better than me?” she snarled, her voice trembling with fury. In one swift motion, she shoved me backward, and I hit the wall again, the force knocking the breath out of me. Before I could recover, her knee shot up, slamming into my stomach with brutal force. Pain exploded through me, and I crumpled to the floor, clutching my abdomen as a wave of dizziness washed over me. My vision blurred, and the room spun around me as I gasped for air. Through the haze of pain, I heard Ethan’s voice—distant, detached. “Call the butler,” he said coldly. “Get her to the hospital.” And he left the room without looking back. I blinked, trying to focus, but my body refused to cooperate. My fingers slipped from the envelope I had been holding, the news I had rushed home to share with him now lying discarded on the floor. Sofia’s eyes darted to the paper, curiosity flashing across her face. She bent down, her fingers brushing against the corner of the envelope. Her expression changed as she read the words on the paper, with her face twisting with something darker than I had ever seen before. Anger. Jealousy. Hatred. “You’re pregnant?” she spat, her voice dripping with venom. “You?” I stared at her, my heart pounding in my chest. I opened my mouth to speak, but the words wouldn’t come. Sofia’s expression darkened even further, her eyes blazing with fury. “You think this changes anything?” she hissed. “You think a baby will make him love you again?” Through the fog of pain, I saw something flicker in her eyes—rage, jealousy, and something darker. A twisted, vicious thought. She leaned down, her face inches from mine. “You should’ve stayed out of my way, Maya.” Before I could understand what was happening, she stomped hard on my stomach, the force sending a blinding wave of agony through my entire body. A scream tore from my throat, raw and desperate. I scrambled to sit up, but the pain shot through me again, making my limbs feel weak and heavy. I glanced down, panic rising in my throat as I saw it—bright red blood, smearing against my skin. It was everywhere, spreading slowly, as though time itself was conspiring against me. “No,” I whispered, my voice trembling, my heart racing. “No, no, no…” I reached out, my shaking hands frantically clutching my abdomen. There was more blood, seeping through my fingers, soaking into my clothes. The world around me narrowed, my vision darkening as my worst fear came to life. “My baby,” I choked out, my voice cracking with terror. “My baby!” Before I knew what happened, I blacked out completely. The last thing I heard was Sofia’s cold laughter echoing in the darkness.