prologue

"Let go of what was and hold on to what will be."

 

"Come on, Amanda. Pick up your phone."

Lexie whispered to herself, she already lost track of how many times she tried to call her cousin, only to end up being annoyed as the phone just kept ringing.

 

"Dang! The witch seemed busy."

Lexie could not do anything except roll her eyes out of annoyance when for the nth time, the call's cut off tone rang in her ear.

If only she didn't need her counsin's help, she wouldn't even try to call her like this.

Lexie planned on paying her cousin Amanda a visit, she wanted to ask her for help to prepare a surprice party for Rafael, her fiance.

 

"Tsk! Fine then, I will come tob your house anyway."

Lexie whispered to herself again, a warm smile escaped her lips as she hopped on to her car and drive excitedly to Amanda's house.

 

--

 

"Cous?"

She called out loudly the moment she entered the door, her brow instantly shot up when instead of her cousin, the maid hurriedly came to her and greet her, suspicions began to gnawed at her as she noticed the maid's worried expression.

 

But she chose to just brush it off, instead, she gave her a warm smile.

 

"Where's Amanda?"

She asked, her voice filled with excitement.

 

"Y-you looked like you just come out from school, come... I'll make a delicious snack for you."

 The old woman said, and forced a worried smile.

 

"Nahh, it's okay, I'm not really hungry, thank you. Where's Amanda?"

 

"Sh-she's not here, Lexie. She went outside, she said she had something really important to attend to."

Her brow's once again furrowed as she heard the maid's answer, it also didn't escape to her attention the way the old woman kept glancing upstairs where her cousin's room was, the maid's behavior was too odd, almost suspicious.

Lexie shook her head, she didn't bother to say a single word and began to walk straight to the stairs, refusing to pay attention the the old woman's calls, Almost screaming her name as if the old woman would be in such a big trouble if she'd continue.

Lexie let out a sharp exahale, she knew the woman would only forbid her to go upstairs.

But then, Lexie once again refused to pay attention to it, instead, she walked straight to her cousin's bedroom.

 

"Amanda?"

She called out, her voice louder than the usual.

But instead of hearing answers to her calls, Lexie's ears shot up, her eyes widened as she heard familiar voices coming from behind the closed door.

From Amanda's room

 

 

"What the hell? Is that Rafael?"

She whispered to herself, Lexie even managed to push herself even closer, pinning her own ears to the wooden door.

 

Seconds later, she felt her heart punded painfully against her chest, her eyes widened in horror as she heard muffled moans and screams inside, not only she was curios, she knew who was in there.

The familiar sound they make, she heard it all before.

It took her a few more seconds until she could no longer bear it, Lexie finally pushed the door open.

The door made a loud bang enough for the two familiar faces turn to her direction.

 

Lexie clamped a hand over her mouth, stunned into silence as she stared at the two naked figures on the bed.

"You stupid motherf#c#ers!"

Her voice was barely above a whisper, but it was enough to send both her cousin Amanda and her fiancé Rafael scrambling. Amanda yanked the blanket over herself, while Rafael hurriedly reached for his clothes.

"B-babe?" – "L-Lexie?"

They called her name in unison, panic evident in their voices. Rafael rushed to get dressed, while Amanda clutched the sheets to cover herself.

"You disgusting animals!"

Lexie gritted her teeth, barely holding back her tears.

"Cous, we can explain."

Amanda's voice was filled with worry.

"I have so much to say to both of you, but I don't even know where to start. I hate you, Amanda. So much that I can't even stand hearing you call me 'cous.'"

Lexie's voice trembled with anger as she shot a glare at Rafael, who was now fully dressed and cautiously approaching her.

"Don't even think about coming near me, Rafael. God help me, I'd love to dissect you without anesthesia."

"Babe, please, let me explain."

He pleaded, taking another step toward her.

With tears brimming in her eyes, Lexie quickly backed away before bolting out of the room.

"Lexie, wait!"

She heard both her cousin and her treacherous fiancé yell as she rushed down the stairs.

"Stop following me! I don't want to hear your lies! I've seen enough!"

She shouted, picking up her pace. Without looking back, she ran straight to her car and sped away.

—

"Lexie, I know you're in there. Please, open the door. Let's talk."

"Get lost!"

She yelled back at Amanda, who had been knocking nonstop at her condo door.

"I'm not leaving until you talk to me!"

"Then rot out there!"

Lexie snapped before collapsing onto her sofa.

"Lex? Babe, please talk to us."

Her head snapped up at the sound of Rafael's voice.

The nerve.

They had the audacity to show up together after what they had done?

Furious, Lexie grabbed a glass vase from the table and hurled it at the door. The loud crash echoed through the room as shards scattered across the floor.

"Please, we know you're mad, but let us explain," Rafael pleaded, his voice joined by Amanda's sobs.

"I'm sorry, what we did was wrong. I never wanted you to find out this way, but please…"

Amanda's tearful voice only fueled Lexie's rage. She shot up from her seat and yanked the door open—not to let them in, but to demand answers.

"Since when?"

She asked coldly before either of them could speak.

"How long have you been betraying me?"

Her voice trembled with pain as she stared at them. Rafael and Amanda exchanged nervous glances before Amanda finally admitted,

"A-almost a year… I'm so sorry, Lexie."

A year.

Lexie shut her eyes tightly, no longer holding back her tears.

"W-why?"

It was the only word she could manage.

For nearly a year, the two people she trusted the most had been deceiving her. Had she been too trusting? Too blind to notice the affair between her cousin and the man she had loved for six years?

"I… I'm pregnant, Lex. I'm so sorry…"

Amanda's voice was barely above a whisper, but the words crushed Lexie's heart.

Her knees buckled, and she clutched the doorknob for support, feeling the strength drain from her body.

"I can't believe this. What the hell did I ever do to you? To you, Rafael? What did I ever do to deserve this?"

She screamed.

"Y-you did nothing wrong… We just—"

"Just what, Rafael?" Lexie cut him off. "You got horny, and because I wouldn't sleep with you, you ran to her?"

Her voice broke as she pointed accusingly at Amanda.

Silence.

Neither of them had anything to say.

Lexie's blood boiled.

"I will make your lives a living hell!"

With that, she slammed the door in their faces.