Claimed And Marked By Her Stepbrother Mates - Chapter 120

Chapter 120: 120-The Bitter Truth And Shattered Friendship

Helanie:

“Tell me, did you cheat on me? Is that why I felt that pain?” Gavin insisted, his voice unwavering. But Lucy’s confidence had been shattered.

I guessed she had hoped for a different outcome when they came out of the café. She had really believed Gavin would confess something that would justify her cheating back on him. But now that it turned out to be a huge misunderstanding, she seemed uncertain whether she could tell him the truth and still save their relationship.

“I was distressed, and maybe that’s why you felt that pain,” she said, clearing her throat and instantly lying, even though she had come out here to tell him the truth.

“No, Lucy. You’re not lying to me anymore. You need to tell me the truth now. It’s now or never,” Gavin said, keeping his distance from her. She didn’t try to move closer to him either.

I stood by and watched as two people—mates—who had once loved each other deeply and seemed so full of life began to fall apart.

In that moment, I couldn’t help but think about my own relationship. How would I react if I ever faced Altan again? Would I hit him, slap him, curse him, or just cry at the fact that I had ever loved someone so weak and cowardly?

But what would I want to hear in that moment—the truth or a lie that might make me feel less disgusted with him?

I would choose the truth.

“Lucy—” Gavin yelled, and at last, she opened her mouth to confess.

“I did,” she said, her voice trembling. Silence engulfed them.

“You did what? Say it clearly,” Gavin demanded, his tone now broken. The harshness and anger had dissipated, leaving only pain.

“I cheated on you. I did it with someone, and then I made out with him again the other night when you felt that pain,” she admitted, her voice barely audible as she closed her eyes in shame.

My breath hitched when Gavin turned to look at me, his eyes shooting daggers.

“What is she saying? She did it with someone—” Gavin stammered, his words tumbling out in a confused jumble. There was a strained smile on his face, one that suggested he was desperately hoping we’d tell him this was all some sort of sick joke.

His hands flew to his head, grasping his hair in disbelief.

“We didn’t finish—” Lucy stammered, as if that detail would somehow help the situation.

Gavin abruptly stopped pulling at his hair and rushed toward her. I instinctively stepped between them in a split second.

“Oh, thank you so much for not finishing,” he yelled sarcastically. It seemed he wasn’t trying to hurt her but needed to confront her face-to-face, to make sure she understood the depth of his pain.

“So wait a minute—” Gavin’s voice grew quieter as if he were piecing everything together. The realization dawned on his face.

“So you cheated on me, and you just kept going without even confirming if I cheated on you?” he hissed, his eyes spilling over with tears.

Lucy clutched at my sweater, seeking some form of comfort, but I couldn’t help wanting to reach out to Gavin instead. He looked utterly destroyed.

“And then—you just kept lying. Was it really you thinking I cheated on you, or was that just an excuse you made up to cheat on me?” His voice broke as tears streamed down his face.

I wished Lucy would say something—anything—to help calm him down because he was spiraling. His hands tugged violently at his hair, and he was breathing heavily, his veins bulging in his neck.

“And you—” Gavin’s finger suddenly pointed at me, and I realized it was my turn to be confronted.

“You knew about it? Because she was in her room that night, so—wait—” He slapped his forehead, little sobs of helplessness escaping his lips.

“Gavin—” I started, stepping forward to try to comfort him, but he raised a hand to stop me.

“Who was it?” he demanded out of the blue.

I silently prayed that question wouldn’t come up.

“It was a mistake. I was so broken ever since I felt that pain—Gavin, it was so consistent for days that I just—” Lucy finally opened her mouth, her voice trembling, but Gavin shook his head. He wasn’t listening anymore.

“I don’t care,” he snapped. “I told you on the first night you called me, accusing me of cheating, that I felt distant from you. I was miserable—wondering if I would ever even make it into the academy, if I could be with you and share that experience with you. But no, instead of supporting me, you accused me of sleeping with someone.”

“Yes, I grew distant from you, but I never cheated on you. But now—it doesn’t matter. You cheated on me.” He clenched his fists, his voice trembling with anger.

“Now tell me—who the fuck was it?” His voice turned from broken to harsh, the words cutting through the silence like a blade.

“Gavin, why do you want to do this to yourself? Whoever it was, it wasn’t serious. And she’s not even—” I tried to step in and resolve the matter, but he hushed me, his glare stopping me mid-sentence.

I realized I was wrong. He had every right to know who it was, as long as he didn’t do something reckless and get himself into trouble, like picking a fight with a classmate.

“You stay out of it. You chose her friendship over mine, Helanie,” he snapped, pointing a finger at me. His anger burned in his eyes, making them red and fierce.

Guilt consumed me. It was my first time making friends, and I had already managed to betray their trust.

“Tell me,” Gavin yelled, his voice breaking as Lucy shook her head. She lowered it, sobbing while wrapping her arms tightly around herself.

“It can’t be nothing because you did it twice. Is it—your roommate? Because who else would have been in the room at that hour of the night?” Gavin’s mind was racing, piecing everything together with terrifying precision.

“Was it Lamar?” he finally said, his voice trembling as he uttered the name.

Lucy yelped, covering her mouth in shock, but her reaction gave her away.

That was it. The truth was out, raw and undeniable.

I wasn’t sure how things would go from here, but a heavy, nauseating feeling settled in my stomach. Everything was spiraling out of control, and I suddenly felt very, very sick.