Read with BonusRead with Bonus

My husband's best friend

When she opened her eyes, Robert Graham was no longer in the room. Light streamed in through the window, and the sun cast rays onto her face, making her cover her face due to the brightness that assaulted her. It had been a terrible night for her, a horrifying first time, and a man very rough and inconsiderate with her and her body.

When she stood up, her legs, abdomen, and vagina ached. She looked at the bloodstains on the sheets and hurriedly ran to the bathroom. She stepped into the shower and washed her body with tears, erasing any trace of Robert Graham, although not for long. Her hips and back hurt too; he hadn't shown a single hint of kindness, just claiming her, stealing her virginity with that roughness, that force and brutality he used to deflower her. Thus, the marriage was consummated, making use of their wedding night.

When she emerged from the shower, she looked at her body in the mirror. There was a small bruise on her right side and several small marks on her neck. Then she remembered how he had kissed and bitten her neck, like a beast. His hands were rough, as was his member, causing Alice to cry throughout. Dressed, she went downstairs for breakfast, realizing that her husband was there, alongside Jared Sinclair, her best friend. The man she loved.

Alice wanted to stop and step back, to flee from there to avoid seeing the love of her life with her husband, but it was too late. Jared's green eyes focused on her, and upon recognizing her, he stood up, coming over to greet her.

"Jared," she said very timidly. Alice lowered her gaze, feeling embarrassed as she had to think of Jared while her husband claimed ownership of her body. Now seeing him made her blush. She had thought of him, and now that she saw him, she blushed, her cheeks burning. "Good morning."

"Good morning, Alice," he left a small kiss on her cheek, immediately noticing the marks on her neck. Feeling his gaze there, Alice covered her neck with her hand, her eyes watering, about to cry as he saw those traces of the wedding night she had with her newlywed husband. "Congratulations on your wedding," he said in a low tone, stepping a few paces away from her and speaking, maintaining the distance.

"I didn't see you at the wedding. I thought you'd attend," she commented. She hadn't invited him, but she knew Robert had, after all, he was his best friend. She had felt relieved that he hadn't come, but now she was mortified to suddenly see him that morning, just after what she had done with her recent husband the previous night.

"I wasn't in the country," Jared replied. "I couldn't change my schedule to attend your wedding, but I'm happy for both of you. How are you? Are you here for breakfast too?"

"Yes, but don't worry, I'll take another table. I'm sure you have things to discuss, that's why you're here. I'll let you talk."

"Of course not! Come," he took her hand and led her to the table. At Jared's touch, Alice felt a strong tingling in her hand and stomach. "Sit with us. I just came to apologize for not attending your wedding. But Robert tells me everything went wonderfully, which I'm glad about, for both of you." He pulled out a chair, and she took a seat, facing Robert and next to Jared.

"Yes, it's a shame you couldn't make it. I just realized you already knew my wife," Robert said coldly, looking at both of them. He hadn't thought that the gentle Alice knew his best friend.

"Who doesn't know the beautiful Alice Taylor?" Jared replied. "We went to the same university; she was very popular, like all her sisters, who also attended there."

"Ah, I see. The popular Alice Taylor," he feigned sympathy towards his friend, but all Robert wondered was who the man was that his wife loved; that thought couldn't leave his mind. "Were you two close in college?"

"I was like her older brother, looking after her. But then I graduated before her; I've had a lot of work, you know, Robert."

"You never mentioned her to me," Robert said. That seemed strange to him.

"And you never told me you were planning to marry her," Jared retorted. That caught him off guard; he never imagined Alice would marry so young, or that she would be engaged to Robert. He also didn't know they knew each other or had anything in common.

"It was very sudden," Robert admitted. More than sudden, it was an obligation, something neither of them wanted to admit. "But here I am, tied to a Taylor. Isn't that wonderful?" he asked with a smirk on his face, focusing on his wife.

"It's every man's dream."

"Not mine," he took a sip of his coffee and then looked at his wife. The marks on her neck, the way she sat, the shape of her face, how elegant she was, her breasts showing through that fabric, her full lips. "But here I am, married to her. What do you think, Jared?"

"You're a very lucky man."

"Do you think so? I believe there's a luckier man than me, right, Alice?" he referred to the person Alice Taylor was in love with. "Well, I think we should be leaving, Alice," he stood up and extended his hand to his wife.

"But she hasn't eaten anything yet," Jared intervened. "You go ahead; I'll make sure she gets to your room's door, don't worry. I'll take good care of her."

"Alright, but don't take too long. We have a very tight schedule today. It's our honeymoon! I'll enjoy my wife as much as possible." He placed a hand on her face, and his thumb trailed down to Alice's lips, running over them.

When they were alone, and Robert left, Alice felt more relaxed, less tense, but equally embarrassed.

"I'm still amazed, Alice," Jared admitted. It was truly surprising. "You got married out of nowhere, and to my best friend at that. What's strange is that neither of you told me anything. Was it a secret? He never told me anything."

"It was...sudden," she rubbed her hands, now very nervous as they were alone, without Robert's presence.

"I didn't know you were in love with Robert. I didn't even know you two knew each other." There was something that didn't add up for him, and he had been turning it over in his mind since Robert Graham told him he was going to marry Alice Taylor. "When I received the wedding invitation, I couldn't help but be surprised to find out it was you marrying Robert. It was...confusing."

When Jared first met Alice, she was the youngest of her sisters, yet due to her great intelligence, she was already in university. He always looked out for her, but not as an older brother as he had said earlier; on the contrary, he cared for her with strong emotions. However, Alice was very young, and he was eight years older than her, while Robert was ten years older. Now she was an adult, a woman, and married to another man, to his best friend, which not only made Alice Taylor an impossible woman for him but also a forbidden one.

He wasn't just surprised by her sudden wedding; he felt hurt in a way, especially because it was his best friend who was marrying the woman he loved. Now they were husband and wife, effectively closing any possibility for Jared Sinclair and labeling Alice as lost to him forever.

Alice felt so much pain being by his side, being married to another man. But Jared had no idea of Alice's true feelings for him. He believed she was in love with Robert.

"I'm sorry; I think I better leave. Robert is probably waiting for me," she stood up, and he accompanied her to the elevator. He couldn't bear the tension and the pain in his chest from being near his beloved.

"I hope you find happiness," he wished her just as the elevator doors closed. From the depths of his heart, Jared was wounded, hurt by the fact that she was now forbidden to him.

With tears filling her eyes, she cried, calming down before reaching her room.

"We have a flight in an hour," Robert said as soon as he saw her enter. "I'll make the most of our honeymoon. Somehow, I'll make you forget about that other man you claim to love. And believe me, I'll find out who he is, and when I do, I'll flaunt you in front of him. I'll make him know that you're mine and that you'll never, ever stop being mine, Alice Taylor. My possession can't love anyone else. You'll see."

Previous Chapter
Next Chapter