The Billion Dollar Love Triangle

ARYA

The cake I was holding in my hands fell out of them, plopping to the ground, as I opened the door to my boyfriend's bedroom in the middle of the night to find him sleeping with my stepsister.

"Brian," I called out to him, my voice wavering as I teared up at the sight.

"Arya," he said back, both of them pulling away from each other and hiding their nude bodies under the sheets. "What are you doing here?"

"Seriously?" I frowned, not quite sure which one of them to look at in that moment; which person whose betrayal pained me more. "That's your question. What am I doing here? Why are you... oh, my God!"

I turned around and slammed the door as hard as I could as I left the room, walking away.

If I hadn't gone to get a cake to celebrate his birthday in a desperate attempt to be the first person to wish him a happy birthday, I wouldn't have known that my boyfriend was sleeping with my stepsister. I started to wonder if it was better if I didn't have to find out, or if it was for the best that I did.

"Arya, wait! I can explain!" I heard his voice behind me as he ran downstairs, now in a pair of pants but still shirtless.

He grabbed me by the hand to get me to wait, but I pulled away from his grip immediately.

"Why, Brian? Why did you do this to me? And with Rose, of all people?! My stepsister?!" I didn't care that I was raising my voice in that moment. He didn't have any neighbors anyway.

Just then, Rose stepped down the stairs, tugging the zip of her dress up with a neutral expression on her face. I searched for a hint of remorse on her face, but I was slammed with a brick of nothing.

"How long has this been going on?!" I demanded loudly.

"Let's not talk about that right now, Arya. We need to talk," Brian said.

"Talk about something other than this? Brian, I drove all the way over here so we could celebrate your birthday together, I find you with my stepsister, and you can't tell me how long this has been going on? I've been nothing but a fool to you two this whole time, is that it?!"

My eyes caught Rose's gaze, and the mere nonchalance in them was the drop that made my cup of anger overflow.

"Why aren't you saying anything?!" I screamed, lunging for her.

She flinched in alarm and fear, taking huge steps back, but Brian held me back and prevented me from reaching her.

"Why did you go after my boyfriend? You knew how much I loved him! Why did you do this to me, Rose?!"

"Arya, just calm down-"

"Is this how much you hate me?! What do you think my mother and your father are going to think about this?!"

"I guess you'll have to tell them to find out," she replied with a shrug.

I pushed my way out of Brian's arms and made my way for her again when he caught me and struck me across the cheek as he screamed: "Enough, Arya!"

The shock of it had me standing in one spot for the first ten seconds.

"Arya, I didn't mean to-"

My palm connected with his cheek in return, and his eyes widened at the slap I had given in return.

"How dare you?" I challenged. "How dare you think you can cheat on me and slap me right after it?" I glanced at Rose and spoke to her in silence, reminding her that we lived under the same roof and our parents were going to find it.

"Happy fucking birthday, Brian," I turned around and left before they could see the tears in my eyes and realize just how much I was hurt.

I ignored his constant calls for me to stop and that he had something important to tell me. Whatever he had to say, he could swallow the words and possibly choke on them. I didn't want to hear a thing from him.

~~

"Rose has been sleeping with Brian!" I announced when I got into the kitchen to find my mother and my stepfather having their usual late-night sips of red wine. I sniffled, wiping my tears, but that only gave an opening for the new tears to show up.

"Brian? Your ex-boyfriend?" Mom questioned.