Chapter 1

~ Sophia 

I drove like a madwoman, my eyes glued to the road, heart pounding in my chest, and my hands gripping the steering wheel with a death grip. The sound of the engine roaring as I sped down the highway matched the frantic thumping of my pulse. Ethan's birthday gifts were stacked precariously in the back seat, swaying with every sharp turn and swerve I made. The cake, that perfectly frosted masterpiece, wobbled dangerously close to the edge, threatening to plunge onto the floor at any moment.

I glanced in the rearview mirror and saw the cake tilting, dangerously close to disaster. Without thinking, I reached back with one hand, my fingers barely brushing the edge of the cake box, trying to pull it closer to the seat. My focus wavered, eyes flicking between the road and the back seat, anxiety bubbling in my chest. 

That was when it happened.

I heard the screeching of tires, the high-pitched squeal that sent my stomach plummeting. The jarring impact followed immediately, throwing my body forward violently. My seatbelt dug painfully into my chest, holding me in place as the world seemed to tilt around me. Metal crunched, glass shattered, and for a few seconds, I was disoriented, frozen in shock. 

The world fell silent. My car had come to an abrupt stop, nose-to-tail with the vehicle in front of me. The scratch on the side of their car was deep and jagged.

I stumbled out of my car, legs trembling beneath me as I surveyed the damage. My breath came in shallow gasps, panic setting in. “Oh my God, what have I done?” I whispered, running my hands through my hair as frustration boiled over. I paced back and forth, kicking at the ground in a futile attempt to release my pent-up emotions. "I should've just slowed down," I muttered angrily to myself, knowing it was too late now.

A voice from behind startled me out of my thoughts.

“Hey, are you alright?” 

I turned to see the driver of the other car approaching me. He was a middle-aged man with kind eyes, his expression a mix of concern and understanding. I felt a lump form in my throat, guilt washing over me.

“I’m so sorry,” I blurted out, voice trembling. “I wasn’t paying attention. I was trying to grab a present, and…” My words trailed off as I gestured helplessly towards the back seat, where the gifts and cake now lay in a sad heap.

He glanced at the damage and then back at me, offering a sympathetic smile. “It’s alright,” he said gently. “It’s just a scratch. No one’s hurt, that’s what matters most.”

Relief flooded through me, and I let out a deep, shaky breath. “Thank you,” I whispered, feeling the tension in my chest ease slightly. I didn’t deserve his kindness, not after being so reckless. But he waved it off with a shrug before returning to his car, leaving me standing there, still reeling from the shock of it all.

Eventually, I managed to compose myself enough to get back in the car and drive the rest of the way to Ethan’s apartment. By the time I arrived, my nerves were frayed, but the excitement of seeing him and surprising him with the gifts kept me going. 

I gathered the presents and hurried inside, practically running up the stairs to his floor, a smile forming on my lips despite everything. As I approached his door, I heard faint noises coming from the apartment next to his—laughter, music, and a few… unmistakable sounds. I couldn’t help but laugh under my breath. "Some people just can't get enough," I muttered, shaking my head. But when I knocked on Ethan’s door, there was no answer. 

“Babe, are you home?” I called out, my knuckles rapping against the wood again. Still nothing. I frowned, shifting the cake box in my arms as it suddenly felt much heavier.

The door wasn’t locked, so I twisted the knob and pushed it open cautiously. “Ethan?” I called, stepping inside. The apartment was eerily quiet, save for some muffled noises coming from the bedroom. My stomach twisted uneasily. 

With hesitant steps, I walked toward the bedroom, heart racing once more, but this time for a different reason entirely. I pushed the door open slightly, just enough to peer inside, and that’s when I saw it. 

Ethan. My best friend, Sarah. Both of them tangled in the sheets, naked, their bodies moving together in perfect, traitorous harmony. 

I froze. Time seemed to slow to a crawl as my mind struggled to process what I was seeing. My hands went limp, the cake slipping from my grasp and crashing onto the floor in a sticky, ruined mess. “Ethan?” I whispered, my voice barely audible, my throat constricting painfully.

Ethan’s eyes shot open, and his expression morphed from pleasure to panic in an instant. Sarah's face was a mask of guilt, her wide eyes meeting mine for just a moment before she scrambled to cover herself.

“What the hell is this?” I choked out, my voice trembling with a mixture of disbelief and pain. My heart shattered in my chest, the betrayal hitting me like a physical blow.

Ethan rolled off Sarah, his movements awkward and rushed as he grabbed for his clothes. "You weren't supposed to find out like this," he muttered under his breath, his voice cold and detached. 

I staggered back, unable to breathe, unable to comprehend how my entire world had just crumbled in front of me. “I loved you,” I whispered, my voice breaking. “How could you do this to me?”

Ethan sneered, his words slicing through the air like a dagger. “Love?” he scoffed. “I never loved you, Sophia. You were convenient. That’s all.”

Sarah stood awkwardly by the bed, clutching the sheets to her chest. She took a hesitant step toward me, but I recoiled. “I’m sorry,” she said weakly. “I never meant for this to happen.”

Her words felt empty, hollow, like a rehearsed excuse. The betrayal stung too deeply for apologies. “Don’t touch me,” I spat, venom dripping from every word. 

Before I could react further, Ethan’s next words hit me like a wrecking ball. “She’s carrying my baby,” he said flatly, as if that explained everything.

My world tilted on its axis, and I collapsed to my knees, tears blurring my vision. This couldn’t be happening. It couldn’t be real.