Chapter 4: Caught on Act

Dominic... My Dominic is entwined with Camilla, my half-sister. Their bodies are pressed together in an intimate embrace that leaves no room for misinterpretation. They are sleeping naked and sharing the same blanket on the sofa. By the looks of them, I'm not naive enough to believe that nothing happened between them. So this is the secret they are trying to keep from me, huh?

I knew he grabbed the opportunity of me going home late to bang my sister. They're just stupid for not choosing a private spot.

I feel like I've been punched in the stomach, the breath knocked out of me. I want to scream, to cry, to lash out, but all I can do is stand there, frozen in shock.

"Uhm..." Dominic moved, blinded by the sudden light. His gaze was fixed in my direction. I could see his face turn pale when he saw me. "L-love..."

His movement woke Camilla from her sleep. "Hi, Paige. You're here! Sorry, you found us in this situation. It's embarrassing. Next time, we'll do it in the room for privacy." She smiled and moved her body closer to my boyfriend. Her words are full of sarcasm and insult and I couldn't help but get even angrier at her.

What angers me more was Dominic not even doing anything to deny everything that I witnessed.

"You're disgusting," I said, my tears began to fall from my eyes. It felt like something was stuck in my throat because of all the things I wanted to say but couldn't. 

Why am I even disgusted? I feel like I'm the biggest hypocrite right now. I also fucked a stranger just minutes ago. I should be disgusted with myself as well. But crap, this hurts so much imagining he's been so good to me but actually cheating with my very own sister. How long have they been deceiving me?

Camilla pulls away from Dominic, her cheeks flushed with a glow that I recognize all too well. She turns to me, her eyes gleaming with a triumphant spark that turns my blood to ice. "I have good news by the way. I'm pregnant, Paige," she announces, her voice sickeningly sweet. "And Dominic is the father."

Her words hit me like a ton of bricks, each syllable a cruel blow. I stagger back, my hand flying to my mouth. I want to deny it, to shout that she's lying. But the smug look on Camilla's face and the guilt in Dominic's eyes tell me the bitter truth. 

"Why?" I manage to choke out, my voice barely a whisper. "Why would you do this? Isn't it enough that you're making my life a living hell?"

Camilla shrugs, a cruel smile curling her lips. "Because I can. And because I don't want to be stuck with that worthless Montague boy. Dom and I love each other. You should just move on. Stop making a drama out of it," she said and kissed Dominic right in front of me.

"D-Dominic..." I tried to call him, but he completely avoided looking at me. I crave for his explanation, I want him to deny everything I saw and choose me. But the truth hurts real deep. His kiss back to Camilla and his total ignorance of my presence confirms it all.

I found myself walking towards my room. The moment I closed my door, that's when I let out all the pain that wanted to escape from my heart. I cried as if there was no tomorrow.

The room spins around me, her words echoing in my head. Betrayal, hurt, and anger surge within me like a tidal wave threatening to pull me under. I feel the walls of my world crumbling down, leaving me exposed and vulnerable. I thought I knew my life. But in this moment, everything I thought I knew is shattered.

I feel like karma hit me so fast. Maybe fate already knew that I would do something foolish in life, so it prepared karma for me right away. But this still doesn't feel fair.

I did it for the money to save my mother. Yes, I made out with a stranger, and it was supposed to be only a kiss. That was a one-night stand without feelings involved. But them? They've been lying to me all this time. He even got my sister pregnant! Fuck.

I just cried and cried until I didn't even notice the onset of sleep in my system.

The first light of dawn was just beginning to peek through the window when a loud argument from the living room jolted me awake. I sat up in bed, my heart pounding as I listened to the voices. One was undoubtedly my stepmother, Victoria, her words sharp and filled with anger. The other was Camilla, her voice shaky, and almost frightened. 

I remember what happened last night. Great. Just, great. I thought it was just a nightmare. Turns out the nightmare is true after all. I freshened up a bit before deciding to emerge from my self-imposed isolation in my room. I still don't feel like doing anything, but I am dying out of curiosity to know what's happening outside my room. 

I was going down the stairs and saw Camilla and Dominic holding hands, who were just bowing their heads while facing Dad and Victoria, arguing in the living room. I can see how embarrassed they are. My guess is our parents already found out about the affair. So, what's next?

"Camilla, you can't just run away from your responsibilities!" Victoria's voice echoed through the house, her tone harsher than I had ever heard before. Wow, I admit it feels good to see Victoria angry at her only daughter for the first time during my entire stay in this mansion. She was always their favorite. Even when she was wrong, Dad and Victoria always sided with her. And Victoria never failed to make me feel unwelcome in the family since I arrived. I can't blame them because I'm just an illegitimate child. I should be grateful that they still take me in.

"But I'm pregnant, mom! I can't marry him. I've told you so many times. I will never marry that bastard! It would be shameful. Marrying someone with a bad record is a disgrace," Camilla retorted, her voice filled with defiance.

Victoria stood with her arms crossed, her face wearing a mask of anger. Camilla, on the other hand, looked like a deer caught in headlights, her eyes wide with fear.

"You're not off the hook, Dominic. Paige and Camilla, seriously? Of all the women, why both of my daughters? Have some shame!" Dad pointed and shouted at Dominic, who was incessantly apologizing. Wow, he seems to know how to say sorry. Why doesn't he apologize to me?

"Wow. Scolding the one and only princess of Evans. That's new. What a chaos," I interjected.

They all stopped in their tracks when I spoke. I looked at them boredly. I glared at Camilla, and I saw her roll her eyes at me. The audacity to act like that after they cheated behind my back.

"Don't meddle in this, Paige. This is a serious matter. There's no room for your heartbreak here! Why don't you just get lost and find a new guy?" Victoria yelled at me, fueling my anger. A part of me hoped they would take my side for once, but I was wrong. Well, what else should I expect? Just because they're mad at Camilla doesn't mean they'll support me.

"Dad?" I turned to Dad, hoping he would say something and take my side. But what he said disappointed me even more.

"Victoria is right, Paige. There's no room for your emotions here. We're figuring out how to save the company's losses since Camilla can't marry Sebastian Montague's son now because of what happened."

So it's clear after all that only business matters to them, not their own daughters.

"Why not let Paige marry that Nathaniel instead? She's single now! Besides, I'm not the only daughter who's Evans here. She also carries the Evans name!" Camilla suggested out of nowhere.

"What? Hell no! I will never marry someone I don't know!" I protested.

"But you are the heiress and legitimate Evans, Camilla! Come to think of it! The Montague family will be disappointed if their child marries an illegitimate one," Victoria said, uttering the words with disgust and mockery towards me.

"Aren't they a match? We all know Nathaniel Montague is also an illegitimate son," Camilla said and rolled her eyes.

That's it. I don't want to add more pain to what I'm feeling by listening to their harsh words. Last night was painful enough.

"Since it seems like your family problem and you don't consider me family, please don't drag me into your mess," I bitterly said, about to turn away to leave when Camilla grabbed my arm, causing me to stop.

"Ha! Why don't you want to join the fun? Are you bitter because Dom chose me and not you? Just get married! You and Nathaniel Montague suit each other! Both worthless--"

*slap!*

She couldn't finish her sentence as I slapped her on the cheek. My handprint was red on her face.