Mistaking A Billionaire For A Gigolo

I heaved a heavy sigh of relief, dropping the makeup brush on my vanity, my eyes fixed on my now-made-up face in the mirror. Ethan was finally back, and I was going to see him after his six-month trip to the Madeiras. Even though I planned to confront him about the rumors, I was still happy to be seeing him.

My heart sank as I descended the stairs and saw my wicked stepmother, Mrs. Tamela, seated in the living room, fully absorbed in the blaring TV. I slowed my steps and tried to tiptoe, but she turned her head, and her gaze immediately met mine. I stopped in my tracks.

"Where do you think you’re going at this time of day in that dress?" she blurted, my pulse racing.

"Out, as you can clearly see," I replied, feigning confidence while trembling inside.

She always acted this way. The sight of her questioning me always got on my nerves. I wondered how my dad put up with her nonsense.

"Look, whatever and wherever I go is none of your business. Leave me be, you wicked witch," I bellowed. She didn't take it lightly.

She stormed up and neared me very fast.

"Watch your tone, you repulsive swine. Are you nuts? Who do you think you’re talking to?"

The resounding slap reverberated through my cheek. I tried to ignore her and leave, but she gripped my hair.

"Where do you think you're going?" she repeated.

Even though it would hurt, I didn't mind. If I needed to see Ethan, I needed to escape from this home wrecker. With an aggressive pull, I escaped her hold, her fingers grazing my strands badly, and it stung. I ran as fast as I could and hailed a taxi.

Inside Ethan’s mansion, I dialed his number multiple times, but he didn't answer. I went in without knocking, heading straight for his bedroom. Ethan always brought me to his house, so I was familiar with it.

"Babes?" I called out three times, still striding, but got no answer. As I neared his room, I noticed the door was slightly ajar, confirming he was probably in there, as mumbles accompanied it. Maybe he was on a phone call or something. I mused and opened the door, my eyes immediately piercing directly to the bathroom entrance.

There stood a lady, leaned in very close to him, whispering in his ear. I assumed it was nothing, trying to ease the tension gripping my spine. As I drew closer, he kissed her pouted lips. My heart sank, and my legs felt like jelly. Ethan opened his eyes and they met mine, which were wide with shock. She turned to face me, and my heart sank even further. I couldn't believe what I was seeing - it felt like a nightmare. The girl he had been cheating on me with was my own stepsister, Taylor.

"Ethan, tell me this is just a hallucination," I said, my voice low and laced with hurt and exhaustion, as I approached them.

He had walked out of the bathroom entrance and was now seated on his bed.

"Tell me it's not real," I pleaded.

He glared into my eyes with disdain, his expression twisted in anger, before exhaling a frustrated sigh.

"Do you hear that sound, Ethan? It sounds like a rat choking," Taylor mocked my sobbing, glancing around the room, pretending I was invisible.

"Ah, found it!" she exclaimed, her eyes locking onto mine as she folded her arms, a smirk still plastered on her face.

I ignored her and faced Ethan, my voice trembling with hurt. "How could you, Ethan? After all these years, after everything I've done for you, is this how you repay me? Is this how you say thank you?" I gritted my teeth, trying to hold back tears.

Ethan remained silent, and I continued, my emotions pouring out. "Is this how you decide to dump me? Come on, Ethan, you know I love you."

But he cut me off, his voice cold and detached. "Enough! If only you had called, you wouldn't have broken your own heart."

"Really? Was that all he could say? What happened to 'I'm sorry' or 'I got bored because you weren't with me all the time'?"

I could understand that, but with my stepsister? It was too much.

“Didn't you see the clues all this while? Are you dumb, Emma? Goddamn it, I even made fake accounts just to trip you up.”

His words hurt me; I never knew Ethan could be this cruel. He even fabricated those cheating texts and pictures against himself. I couldn't breathe properly.

He pulled Taylor closer and added, “I've found my match, Emma. Move on already. We're done; get that into your head.”

Taylor, with a smirk playing on her lips, kissed him right in front of me, “Go to hell.” She spat emphatically.

And I couldn't take it anymore.