02|Cheat back

Celeste pov.

It felt like a punch to the gut, not physically, but the words that stumbled from Ethan’s mouth cut just as deep.

I blinked, staring into his furious gaze, caught between disbelief and... hope.

Hope that maybe what he’d just said was some cruel joke, that he’d correct himself.

But seconds passed, and he didn’t.

He was deadly serious. I knew this, yet I couldn’t stop myself from blurting out,

“W-what did you say?” I asked, breathless, not even caring about the pain of his nails digging into my skin.

His brows furrowed, his glare unrelenting, and he opened his mouth to speak again but before he could, Liora began coughing through her tears beside me.

Almost instantly, Ethan rose from the bed and shoved me aside, sending me crashing to the floor as he leaned toward her.

“Are you okay? Do you feel any pain? You should stop crying, it’s not good for the child,” he said worriedly, the frown still etched on his face as he pulled Liora into his arms protectively.

I watched as Liora shook her head and placed a hand on her chest, leaning into Ethan’s grip.

“N-no, I’m fine. I’m fine, I promise—” her words were cut off by another round of coughing, and Ethan sighed before turning to shoot me a glare, as if all of this were somehow my fault.

“Hold on, Liora. Let me get you some water,” he said, just about to rise to his feet when the words slipped from my lips

“You’re lying,” I whispered, freezing him in place. “You’re lying, right?” My voice trembled as I blinked up at him. “You didn’t just say my sister is pregnant with your child… right?”

Ethan’s frown deepened, but before he could speak, Liora reached out and touched his hand, gently shaking her head as if to stop him. Then she turned to me with tears spilling from her eyes.

“Celeste… I really didn’t mean for you to find out this way. I—I wanted to tell you myself,” she said softly, her hands moving to cover her belly.

My eyes flickered to it, and dread pooled within me as realization dawned. Liora had been sick for the past few days, vomiting, dizzy and when I’d asked to see the doctor together, she’d insisted she was fine when she clearly wasn’t.

And now it all made sense.

She was pregnant with Ethan’s child.

How long had they been sleeping together behind my back?

What else hadn’t I known?

“H-how long…” I asked, my voice barely a whisper. I wasn’t even sure what I was asking but Liora answered anyway.

“I’m two months pregnant,” she whispered, and my hands clenched into fists as I heard her.

“B-but sister, I didn’t want to keep the baby, I promise, but—”

“What do you mean by that?” Ethan stared at Liora in disapproval. “You’re keeping this child.”

He turned to me. “Celeste, stop being dramatic and heartless. Can’t you see your sister is crying? She’s pregnant, you should be comforting her,” Ethan said, glaring at me.

But I couldn’t say anything. I couldn’t even react.

Liora’s words kept echoing in my head again and again.

She was two months pregnant— with my husband’s child.

I knew my marriage with Ethan had never been born out of love. He needed a wealthy man to back his political campaign, and my father needed a politician who could smooth the way for his business. So, to seal their alliance, I was handed over to Ethan, made to be his bride.

And after that day, whatever little happiness I had left seemed to vanish.

I was made into a trophy wife.

Hide your pain. Smile for the camera. Stay out of any scandal that could stain Ethan's reputation.

That was what I was told.

And that was exactly what I had been doing these past three years, living with a husband who didn’t care about me, who barely touched me.

And still, I tried. I tried to hold it all in. I tried to be a wife to him.

But in the end, this is what it came to.

Betrayed by my husband and my sister.

“S-sister…” Liora called out, her voice shaky but Ethan interrupted her.

“I’ve spoken to your parents about it,” he said coldly. “And we’ve agreed since you can’t seem to bear me a child, Liora will give birth to this baby in secret, and we’ll raise it as our own.”

A dry, bitter laugh escaped me as his words sank in.

“Of course they knew about this,” I whispered under my breath, shaking my head. “Everyone knew… but me.”

My nails dug into my palms, and I forced myself to stop crying. It wasn’t worth it anymore. I had already shed too many tears for people who never truly cared about me. I’d had enough.

Closing my eyes, I took a deep breath before rising from the floor. My legs felt weak, but I managed to stand, lifting my head high as I stared at the two people on the bed, my gaze narrowing on Liora.

“Congratulations on your pregnancy,” I said, my tone calm despite the storm raging inside me. “I hope you have a safe delivery.”

I saw Liora’s brows lift in surprise, but before she could say a word, I turned to Ethan and walked toward him.

His gaze narrowed, his frown deepening as he opened his mouth to speak.

“Celeste, you—”

Smack!

Before he could finish, his head whipped to the side so fast he didn’t see it coming. The sharp sound echoed through the room.

He blinked, stunned, his mouth parting as he struggled to process what had just happened.

“Ethan!” Liora screamed, reaching out to check on him, but he yanked his arm away, his glare snapping back to me.

“How dare you—!” he began, but stopped short as I pulled off my wedding ring and threw it at his chest.

Then, without hesitation, I raised my hand and slapped him across the other cheek.

“We’re getting a divorce, and you’ll be hearing from my lawyer very soon,” I hissed, my voice cold and sharp.

Without sparing either of them a glance, I turned and walked out of the room, deciding right then and there to leave this three-year sham of a marriage behind.

But first, before anything else, I knew I had to get even with that bastard.

And the perfect way to start? Cheat back.

Yes, I was going to find a man to spend the night with.

And I already knew exactly where to look.