Chapter 1

My stepsister posted a sexy bed pic: "Got bored of my sister's ex. New one fucks better. ?"

SCREENSHOT. I sent it straight to my ex.

"Karma for cheating while I was PREGNANT, asshole!"

"She's riding new dick now. Enjoy being the cuck?"

Read. No reply.

Half an hour later, he directly called.

"Got the bastard at the station. Come see who's the REAL cuck here."

I walked in—

STOPPED COLD.

MY HUSBAND was beating my EX, protecting HER.

Sienna——my stepsister.

She saw me and smirked. "Sis, you're dumb, but really good at picking men."

"Every dick you marry stays hard forever."

"When I get bored of Jaxon, I'll give him back to you~"

And the man who beat my ex EIGHTEEN times just to defend me—

Was now shielding THAT SLUT.

Turns out my salvation was just another betrayal.

You love fucking every man I marry, bitch?

Fine—catch STDs and rot together, assholes!

...

My mind went completely blank.

When I came to, I was standing right in front of Jaxon.

My voice shook. "Why?"

He knew how badly my first marriage destroyed me.

He knew how much I HATED Sienna, but he still fucked her anyway.

Jaxon pulled back his fist and smirked. "Why? Come on. It's just sex."

"But your ex was right. Compared to Sienna, you're boring as hell in bed."

My chest tightened. I couldn't even breathe.

At that moment, Sienna's sobbing broke through the air.

"Sister, this is all my fault."

"Please don't fight with Jaxon."

Three years ago, seven months pregnant, I walked in on Carter raw-dogging her in OUR bedroom.

Sienna hid behind him just like this, crying her fake tears.

That day, I lost it.

Smashed everything in that room to pieces.

Screamed at Carter for being a cheating bastard.

Cursed Sienna to rot in hell.

Right before my hand hit her face—

Carter shoved me hard, and I fell into broken glass.

Blood everywhere.

I couldn't tell if it was mine or the baby's.

When I woke up again, I'd lost the baby.

I laughed suddenly.

Laughed until tears ran down my face without even noticing.

"When did it start?"

"And all that shit about defending me—was that a lie too?"

Jaxon glanced at me.

"Not at first. I really did want to get back at him for you."

"But then I realized I was getting screwed over."

"Carter fucked you all those years. Figured I should see what HIS wife tastes like."

The lights overhead flickered.

I didn't understand how the man who held me, who said he didn't care about my past—

Turned into this monster.

Sienna leaned against him. Hickeys all over her neck.

She caught my eye. Smiled like she'd won.

That moment, I had nothing left to say.

I didn't cry. Didn't scream.

Didn't throw things like I did three years ago when I caught Carter cheating.

I just turned around. Walked out of that station.

Behind me, Sienna's fake-ass voice called out.

"Jaxon, aren't you going after your wife?"

Jaxon let out a light laugh.

"I just beat up your husband."

"If I go after her, how are you gonna handle him alone?"

Those words cut deeper than winter wind.

I got home and pulled out the pregnancy report from my bag.

Stared at the words: eight weeks pregnant.

After a long pause, I tore it into pieces. Threw it into the trash.

My phone buzzed.

Message from Sienna.

She sent me a location—the most famous sex hotel in San Francisco.

[Sis, you might be dumb, but you've got good taste.]

[Every man you pick has great stamina.]

[When I get bored of Jaxon, I'll give him back to you~]

Chapter 2

I quickly typed back, firmly.

[Three years later and you still love stealing my leftovers.]

Blocked her. Started packing.

But not long after, the doorbell rang.

My father—hadn't seen him in three years—slapped me across the face.

"Isla Bennett, we're FAMILY. How dare you call your sister a homewrecker?"

I spit blood.

"I'm just some orphan trash. What family?"

Mom glared at me.

"That was years ago. Why still bring it up?"

"Sienna's crying because of you. Go apologizeto her right now."

Ridiculous.

After I miscarried back then, my parents rushed over immediately.

They said Carter was bad for me and insisted I divorce him.

For a second, I thought they actually had my back.

But the day after the divorce was finalized—

They posted on Facebook all excited.

"Our daughter was getting married next month. Everyone's invited!"

They pushed me to divorce just to clear the way.

So their precious adopted daughter could marry Carter without looking like a homewrecker.

After that, I cut them off completely.

I looked at them now. Voice cold.

"My husband cheated on me with HER. Again."

Mom's anger froze on her face.

Then she snapped, humiliated and furious.

"Look at the men you pick! Sienna's young—your husband must've seduced her!"

Even though I'd given up on them years ago, my chest still ached.

I wiped the blood from my mouth.

Looked at Jaxon, who'd just walked in.

"Aren't you going to pour tea for your future in-laws?"

My parents turned around instantly. Faces went pale.

After warning me not to talk nonsense, they left in a hurry.

Once they were gone, I handed Jaxon the divorce papers.

"You heard everything just now. Let's get divorced."

Jaxon stopped and turned to look at me.

"Isla, is divorce really necessary?"

Thinking of the photos Sienna sent, my stomach churned.

"You disgust ME. Only you know how many times you fucked that bitch!"

Jaxon frowned, avoiding the cheating part completely.

"Isla, Sienna's your sister. Stop insulting her."

I laughed bitterly.

Sister?

Fifteen years after I was kidnapped and trafficked, my biological parents finally found me.

But by then, they had already adopted another daughter.

Sienna's favorite hobby? Playing innocent while framing me for stealing.

Even when I had proof, my parents NEVER believe me.

They looked at me with disgust. Said I'd learned to lie on the streets.

When I finally turned eighteen, Sienna secretly changed my college applications.

I could've gone to a top school.

But she switched it to some shitty no-name college.

I begged to retake the exam.

My parents took her side. Refused to give me a dime.

I was desperate to escape, so I went to that trash school anyway.

After graduation, I finally found love and married the man I loved.

Then Sienna stole my husband a year after I got married.

When I told Jaxon all of this through tears—

He held me. Said Sienna was filthy and manipulative,

Said my parents were blind for not believing their own daughter.

Said he'd make them all pay for every bit of pain they caused me.

But now? He wanted me to ACCEPT Sienna as my sister.

I swallowed the lump in my throat, voice shaking.

"Sienna loves being a homewrecker—"

Before I could say "bitch," pain exploded across my face.

When Dad hit me, I didn't cry.

I was used to him not caring.

But this time, it was JAXON REED.

The man who pulled me out of hell. Who swore I wasn't the one at fault.

And now, HE was the one shoving me straight back into hell.

Chapter 3

Jaxon realized what he'd done and reached for my face, guilty.

"I'm sorry, I just—"

I slapped his hand away.

Hit him back just as hard.

"I'll call Sienna a bitch whenever I want. What, you gonna kill me?"

"How good is she in bed that you're all lining up to fuck her?!"

He didn't fight back. Let me hit and kick him.

But the rage made everything go black.

I collapsed.

When I opened my eyes again, I was in a hospital.

Jaxon stared at the test results, face dark.

When he saw I was awake, the first thing he said was:

"Get rid of it. Before it's too late."

I gripped the sheets. Couldn't recognize the man in front of me anymore.

Back when Jaxon first confessed to me—

I thought he was messing with me. Didn't take it seriously.

After all, even my own parents didn't love me.

Why would anyone else?

I gave up on myself and waited to rot away in a rented apartment.

But Jaxon didn't give up.

When he found out my body was wrecked from the miscarriage, he went to every hospital.

Brought me homemade herbal soup every single day.

Scared I'd hurt myself, he texted me every hour.

If I didn't reply within three hours, he'd show up at my door to make sure I was okay.

On nice days, he'd drag me to the park just to get me some fresh air.

I told him he was annoying. Called him crazy.

Took all my anger out on him.

Yet instead of getting mad, Jaxon actually looked relieved.

"Bad emotions need an outlet. If you keep it inside, it'll eat you alive."

Maybe it was the soft moonlight that night.

Maybe it was how real his feelings looked.

When Jaxon confessed again, I said yes without thinking.

After we got married, he was perfect.

Dealt with his parents pressuring us for a baby. Told me to take my time.

But I knew Jaxon loved kids.

Every holiday at his relatives' place, he'd play with the little ones for hours.

This second marriage made me happy. Made me want a baby too.

When I found out I was pregnant, I couldn't wait to tell him—

We were FINALLY going to have a baby.

But the higher you climb, the harder you fall.

I gritted my teeth and refused to back down.

"It's MY baby too. You DON'T get to decide."

"If you don't want to pay child support, I'll raise it myself!"

Jaxon threw the report in my face, voice ice-cold.

"Isla, I can put up with your tantrums."

"But I'm not raising some other man's bastard."

I stared at him in disbelief.

"What the fuck are you saying? You think I cheated?!"

He looked at me with disgust.

"Sienna told me Carter went to LA last month too."

I looked up, stunned.

He kept going.

"And that thing years ago? YOU were the one who drugged Sienna to ruin her reputation."

"That's why your parents kicked you out."

My throat felt stuffed with cotton.

Finally, I croaked, "So you think... I lied to you?"

Jaxon scoffed. "Didn't you?"

Every word stabbed like a thousand needles.

"Isla, I'm giving you one week to think about it."

"If you get rid of the kid, I'll come back in six months."

I looked at him, refusing to yield.

"I'm NOT getting rid of this baby."

Jaxon glared at me.

Before slamming the door, he left me with one cold sentence.

"Then you'll regret it."

The door slammed shut.

And the tears finally broke free, falling uncontrollably.

Three years of marriage, and I lost to some new bitch's lies.