The dining room had gone deathly silent after Jake’s accusation. Everyone stared at him, then at Ethan, then at Mia. The air felt thick enough to choke on.
“Jake, what the hell are you talking about?” their father demanded, voice low and dangerous. “Explain yourself. Right now.”
Jake’s chest heaved, eyes blazing with betrayal as he pointed straight at Ethan. “He’s been sleeping with Mia. Behind my back. In our house. Sarah walked in on them. I walked in on them. That’s why I beat the s**t out of him and told him never to come back here.”
Mia felt the floor tilt beneath her feet. The secret was out — fully, brutally, in front of both her parents. Her mother’s hand flew to her mouth, a soft gasp escaping. Her father’s face drained of color, turning from confusion to shock to something dar
