CHAOS (Beneath The Secrets Book 1)

I take my place at the head of the table as Brody pulls out my seat with our hands intertwined. Glancing up, his bearded dad smirks suggestively, showing off his gold front tooth, making me swiftly avert my gaze.

“Here you go, wife,” Brody whispers in my ear as I take my seat and he sits beside me.

“Your shithead brother didn’t turn up then,” Knox says from beside Brody. Apparently, he wasn’t too happy with Brody searching out his long-lost brother.

Brody’s best man, Ash, clears his throat beside me. He’s forcefully pressing his fingers into his thigh while keeping his jaw clenched.

Resting my head on Brody’s shoulder, he wraps a protective arm around me. He’s tense, too. Maybe they had an argument. They’ve been friends since they were kids, so I doubt it.

Ash stands beside me. The excited chatter of our guests gradually fades away as he taps his knife against his glass, capturing their attention.

“I thought your speech was first?” I whisper to Brody, and he stiffens beside me.

“Welcome to the beautiful wedding of my best friend, Brody, and his stunning bride, Sofia,” he says, holding his drink up to the cheering crowd.

“I’ve been best friends with Brody for as long as I can remember. We’ve been through everything together.”

“Aww.” I nudge Brody.

He remains expressionless, clenching his fists.

“And, apparently, it seems like we share everything now, too.” Ash pauses, turning to face me and Brody.

“Isn’t that right?” Ash presses, his hand shaking around the glass.

“Stop it, Ash. I’m warning you. Not fucking now,” Brody hisses.

Ash bursts out into laughter. “What? You don’t think she deserves to know?”

“Know what?” Blood hammers in my ears, what the hell is going on.

“Ignore him,” Brody whispers.

“Well, I fucking think she should know that you’ve been sleeping with my fiancé for the past year. You bastard.” Ash waves his arm out in a grand gesture, like he wants the entire audience involved.

As I release my hand from Brody’s, his grip around my shoulders tightens. I shake my head frantically. In the silence of the room, my heart pounds relentlessly in my chest.

He’s fidgeting, scratching the back of his neck, and his cheeks are turning a rosy shade.

Panic rises within me. “Tell me he’s lying, Brody.”

He won’t look at me.

My throat squeezes shut as a sob threatens to escape. “No,” I whisper, my hand tightening around the wine flute.

“Congratulations, Brody. You’ve ruined two people’s lives today. Some best friend you are.” Ash’s words echo through the silence of the assembled guests.

I flinch as the microphone drops to the floor. I can’t even see straight. The room starts to blur.

How could he do this to me? With who? I start to wrack my brains–Ash’s fiancé, Lisa. Where have I seen her before? She’s drop dead gorgeous.

The realization dawns on me. Lisa from accounts at Brody’s firm.

I feel a fiery anger building up inside me as I stand, forcefully jabbing his arm.

“Fucking look at me,” I hiss.

His watery eyes meet mine, and the full weight of the truth hits me. All the sacrifices I’ve made for his career and this is how he repays me.

That’s why he’s pulled away from me. Not to pay for our wedding, but so he can stick his dick in Lisa.

“You piece of shit.”

In an impulsive moment, my fist flies through the air and connects with his cheekbone.

He jerks back, and his palm covers his cheek. “Fuck, Sofia.”

With trembling hands, and ignoring the pain radiating up my arm, I swipe up the wine bottle.

I can’t even bear the sight of him. My heart breaks in my chest as I barge past him, feeling the heat of everyone’s gaze on me as I storm through the marque.

“Sofia, wait.” His call is punctuated by the sound of his chair shoving away from the table.

I stop in my tracks at the door, and with frustration building, I stomp my foot for emphasis.

“Stay the hell away from me. We’re done. Over. Have a nice fucking life.”

He steps forward to grab hold of me, and Anna barrels into him.

“You piece of shit! I knew you were an asshole. But this?” Her painted nails lash out and rake down the sleeve of his suit.

“Back off.” He turns, squaring up to her.

I can’t deal with this. Their arguing all melds into a deafening noise. I run my hands along my dress, trying to regain some sense of reality.

Turning on my heel, I dart for the exit. I need some air before I pass out. How could he do this to me?

With tears streaming down my face, I feel the cold breeze against my flushed skin. He’s been cheating on me for a year.

Once safely in the parking lot, I collapse onto the hood of his car. The cool metal soothes the heat of anger burning through me as I finish off the remains of the champagne.

Fuck him.

In a moment of frustration, I wipe away the tears on my cheeks using the back of my hand, then forcefully toss the bottle to the ground, savoring the chaotic symphony of its destruction.

My breathing becomes suddenly heavy, each inhale feeling labored. None of this was real. He never loved me. I gave up my career to help him. I did everything for that piece of shit.

The parking lot is shrouded in darkness, with only the faint flicker of festival lights illuminating the surroundings.

Shit.

As I head towards the iron gates, the sound of my heels clicking along the pavement echoes in the quiet street. I need to get away from here.

With headlights getting closer, I squint, and the sound of a rumbling bike fills the air.

I keep walking. Whoever it is, they won’t be any of my friends or family.

I have no one.