(Ayra's POV)
My legs felt like jelly beneath me as I leaned against the chair, struggling to process what I had just walked into.
My husband. My best friend. Naked in bed—plotting my death.
It felt like the ground beneath me was splitting open, threatening to swallow me whole.
My chest tightened under the weight of betrayal, and my hands trembled uncontrollably at my sides.
The sound of my presence startled them. Sasha yelped, and Kyle froze.
They scrambled to cover themselves with the sheets, but it was too late—I had already seen everything.
"You?" My voice cracked as I spat the word, my chest heaving with a mixture of fury and heartbreak. "Both of you?"
Sasha's lips parted, but no sound came out. Kyle ran a hand through his hair, his face pale as he fumbled for words.
"Ayra," he began, his voice shaky, "this isn't what it looks like."
"Not what it looks like?" I laughed bitterly, the sound hollow and trembling.
"So you weren't lying here, plotting to kill me? You weren't in bed with my best friend?" My voice wavered, and tears burned in my eyes, but I refused to let them fall. Not yet.
"So you heard it all," Sasha said, her voice dripping with venom.
"Heard it all? That's all you have to say, Sasha?" I spat, my voice trembling with a mix of rage and disbelief.
"Oh, Ayra," she said mockingly, her tone so sweet. "You were never supposed to find out like this. But I suppose it doesn't matter now."
No apology. No explanation. She sounded almost...relieved. As though a mask had finally slipped.
Kyle rose to his feet, his face blank and devoid of guilt. "Calm down, Ayra," he said coldly. "You're making a scene."
"A scene?" My voice rose. "Incredulous."
"You've betrayed me, plotted my death, and I'm making a scene? How could you?"
Then I turned to Sasha who had already stood from the bed, her arms crossed and her eyes gleaming with malice.
"Why Sasha." I whispered
"Why?" she echoed venomously. "You really don't know, do you, Ayra?
All these years, you've been so blind, so wrapped up in your perfect little world. You never noticed how much I hated you."
"Hated me?" I echoed, her words slicing through me like a blade.
"Yes, I hated you!" she snapped, her voice rising. "Do you even realize how easy your life has always been? Everything was handed to you on a silver platter.
You had it all - A wealthy family, a luxurious life. Even after your parents died, you didn't suffer for anything. You had your inheritance, your grandmother's love, and, to top it all off, a perfect partner.
And me? I had nothing! A broken home, divorced parents, crushing poverty.
No man wanted me. No one looked at me the way they looked at you. You had it all handed to you, Ayra!"
Her words cut through me like knives, sharper with each strike.
"Sasha, what are you saying? I've always shared everything with you. You were my best friend since we were kids—"
"Shared?" she sneered, cutting me off. "You don't get it, do you? Sharing your leftovers doesn't make up for anything.
You don't know what it's like to grow up with nothing. To have nothing."
Tears blurred my vision as I stumbled back, shaking my head.
"But I—Sasha, I helped you. I made sure you never lacked anything. I got you into my company, gave you a good-paying job—"
"And I'm sick of it!" she screamed, her face twisting with years of bitterness. "I'm sick of being your charity case.
You think giving me crumbs from your table makes up for everything?" she spat.
"You think I enjoyed standing in your shadow all these years, watching you live your perfect little life?
You were always the star, Ayra, and I was just the poor girl you pitied. I'm tired of it. I deserve more. I want my own life now. My own happiness."
I couldn't breathe. Her words struck me like a physical blow.
I couldn't fathom how someone I trusted all these years could harbor this much hatred for me.
My throat tightened, and tears blurred my vision.
"You were my best friend, Sasha. I trusted you. I let you into my life, into my family. I loved you like a sister, you were like family and this is how you repay me?"
She laughed coldly, the sound sending a chill down my spine.
"Family? Don't make me laugh. You were just an obstacle. Always in my way, reminding me of what I didn't have. But not anymore."
My gaze snapped to Kyle, who had been silent the whole time, his head bowed. "And you," I whispered, my voice trembling.
"How long have you been on this? Why, Kyle? How could you do this to me? I loved you. Was it all just...a lie?"
He scoffed, crossing his arms. "You really think I was with you for love? Don't be naïve, Ayra. I was with you for your wealth.
I tolerated you all these years so I could get your inheritance. Now that I have it, there's no use for you anymore. You're just an inconvenience."
His words hit me like a painful blow. My breath came in shallow gasps as the room tilted.
"So that's it? You married me for my wealth, and now you're plotting to kill me because I'm inconvenient?"
Kyle's lips curled into a cruel smile. Since you know that now what's the point of all this drama?"
Rage exploded within me, burning through the heartbreak. I lunged at him, pounding my fists against his chest.
"You monster! You animal! I gave you everything—my love, my trust, my life!" I screamed.
Kyle grabbed my wrists, his grip like iron. "Enough Ayra!" he hissed.
Sasha's laughter pierced through the chaos. She bent down, picking up the envelope I had dropped in shock.
"What's this?" she sneered, opening it. "Ah, advanced-stage leukemia. Poor little Ayra. Looks like you're dying already."
Her words chilled me, but I refused to let her see my fear.
Wrenching free from Kyle's grasp, I squared my shoulders.
"I wouldn't be sick right now if you've not been feeding me poison for only God knows how long!" I shouted.
Sasha smirked. "Well I only hastened things up a bit. Honestly, there's no need for all this fuss. You're dying anyway."
"You're wrong, Sasha," I said, my voice trembling but defiant. "I'm going to fight this and I'll live. And I swear, I'll make you both pay for everything."
Her smirk faltered, but she quickly masked it with a laugh. "Always so dramatic, Ayra. You don't have to make things so difficult. Just die already."
I glared at her my mind reeling with rage and then I grabbed my medical report from her and turned to leave.
But Kyle grabbed my arm, yanking me back.
"Where do you think you're going?" he growled.
"Let me go, you monster!"
"You're not going anywhere," he said menacingly. "You know too much now and I cannot let you stand in our way."
Panic surged as I realized how deep the danger I was in. If I didn't escape, I may not live to see another day.
I had to find a way to escape and fast too!