Ruthless

I pour a drink into my glass, lifting it high. "Cheers to finding Mr. Perfect!" My voice bubbles with excitement, the smile on my face bright enough to make Sydney roll her eyes.

She doesn't approve of my wedding to Jake, which is set for tomorrow.

"Don't you think you're rushing things? He proposed less than six months after you met," she says, her tone cautious.

I know she's worried, but she can't see what I do. "Sydney, I love him. Don't you understand? When Jake looks at me, it's like every part of me lights up. I've spent my life dreaming of a fairytale, and with him, I've finally found it. He's my prince."

She shakes her head. "Whatever you say. I just hope you're not making a huge mistake. There's something off about him. I can't put my finger on it."

"Oh, Syd," I sigh, trying to brush off the tension. "You're just being your usual, practical self."

"Nadine, I'm serious. Something feels... wrong. And you're moving way too fast."

Her words twist something deep in my chest, making me uneasy. I grab her hands and squeeze. "Just... be happy for me, okay?"

She shrugs and lifts her glass. "To a blissful marriage, babe."

"Yeah, yeah. To the most blissful marriage," I repeat, our glasses clinking together. We sip, and a shared laugh follows, but her warning clings to the edges of my thoughts.

"I need some air," I say, rising from the bed.

"Want me to come with you?" she offers.

"No, I just need a minute. I'll be back soon."

She nods, watching as I step outside, still swirling her wine.

As I walked through the hallway, lost in my thoughts about the big day ahead, a sound suddenly caught my attention. I stop, listening carefully to figure out where it was coming from. It leads me to Nathalie's room, and from the unmistakable moaning, it's clear what she was up to.

My sister has never been shy about her desires. When it comes to sex, she easily finds someone willing to fuck her while we are listening to her moaning.

But who is she with this time? I wonder as I gently open the door, careful not to interrupt their moment.

"Aw, give it to me, Jay," Nathalie's voice, breathy and pleading, fills the room. I peek through the crack in the door, my eyes widening in shock.

Jake.

He's with her, slamming into her from behind, his hands all over her. My heart stops, the world is spinning. I press a hand to my mouth, stifling the cry that threatens to leave my mouth.

My body trembles, my chest tightens, and my hands shake uncontrollably. It feels like the air's been sucked from my lungs as I watch them together, their moans filling the room, oblivious to the pain they're causing me.

But then a thought comes to mind I need evidence. Moving quietly, my heart pounding as I pull out my phone. I start recording, and every second feels like torture watching Jake and Nathalie.

Jake's sweet words to my sister stab me in my heart, cutting it deeper and squeezing life out of it. Still, I brace myself and continue filming.

Satisfied with what I've captured, I hide my phone and slip out of the room, careful not to make a sound. 

Back in the hallway, I collapse, my body shaking as I sob silently. The pain, the betrayal, it's too much.

Nathalie and I have always had a strained relationship, she's always envied what I have, always trying to take it for herself. And my father? He's always favored her, no matter what she does.

But now... now I have something, something that will finally shift the balance. I take a deep breath, forcing myself to stand, to pull myself together.