That night was the hardest test for Khloe. Sleeping in the same bed with a traitor, Ethan fell into a deep and fast sleep, perhaps tired after having a good time with Isla on what he called visiting his sick mother. Khloe lay beside him, staring at the dark ceiling of the room. She listened to her husband’s soft snoring, a sound that once gave her security and now sounded like that of a monster. Khloe turned on her side, looking at Ethan’s face in the darkness. That face, which looked so innocent in sleep, concealed a million deceptions. Khloe whispered very quietly, almost inaudibly, promising that every tear she had shed that day would be extinguished with drops of Ethan’s sweat and blood in the future.
The next morning, Khloe began her performance. During breakfast, with a radiant face, she gave Ethan great news. She told him that her father had just called to inform her that the asset liquidation process for the $10 million was moving faster than expected. Ethan’s eyes lit up instantly. The spoon in his hand stopped for a moment. Greed was clearly reflected in his gaze. Although he tried to hide it with a grateful smile, Ethan asked enthusiastically when he could receive the money. Khloe replied that maybe in a week or two, but that there were some documents Ethan had to manage for the change of ownership of the assets and to reduce taxes. Of course, it was a lie. It was just Khloe’s way of keeping Ethan busy and making him feel that victory was within reach. Ethan seemed very excited, even forgetting to feign sadness for his mother. He immediately began to talk about his fake business plans as if the money were already in his hands. Khloe listened attentively, occasionally offering supportive suggestions, making Ethan feel more and more on top of the world.
In the middle of breakfast, Ethan’s mobile vibrated. Ethan glanced at the screen briefly and then quickly turned it off. Khloe knew it must be Isla. In an innocent tone, Khloe asked,
“Who was calling?”
“Just a work colleague asking about the progress of a project,” Ethan replied.
Khloe smiled and nodded. Inside, she laughed. She knew Ethan must be impatient to tell Isla the news of the $10 million, and that was exactly what Khloe wanted. The higher their hopes, the more devastating their fall would be.
That afternoon, Khloe left the house on purpose with the excuse of doing the monthly shopping. Her goal was to give Ethan space to call his accomplices freely from a listening app she had secretly installed on Ethan’s mobile while he was showering that morning. Khloe could hear their conversation in real time. Sure enough, as soon as Khloe was out the door, Ethan called Isla. Ethan’s voice sounded euphoric. He shouted with joy, announcing that the jackpot was about to arrive. He promised Isla a luxury house in an exclusive area as a gift for the pregnancy. Hearing this, Khloe, who was driving her car, just smiled coldly.
“Keep dreaming, Ethan. Dream as high as you can.”
Khloe murmured as she gripped the steering wheel tightly. Her revenge plan had just begun, and she would make sure there was no escape for the traitors.
The news of the $10 million transfer was like a fresh wind that fanned the fire of greed in Ethan’s heart even more. Since Khloe told him the fake news, Ethan’s attitude became drastically more impatient and impulsive. Every time his mobile rang, he would jump slightly with an enthusiasm that was hard to hide, hoping it was a call from the bank or the solicitor. Khloe watched her husband’s change in behavior with a subtle, meaningful smile. She saw how Ethan began to frequently visit luxury property websites and high-end car magazines on his tablet while they relaxed in the living room. Ethan no longer even tried to hide his interest in luxury items that were previously out of reach of his monthly salary. For Khloe, this was a sign that the bait she had thrown had been completely swallowed. The big fish was already on the hook. It was just a matter of waiting for the right moment to pull it out of the water and let it gasp until it ran out of breath.
To accelerate her plan, Khloe decided to raise the level of her game. She wanted to see Isla’s face, the woman who had stabbed her in the back right in front of her. Khloe wanted to see how the two traitors would act before her eyes. So during dinner, in a relaxed and natural tone of voice, Khloe proposed an idea to Ethan. She suggested inviting Isla over for dinner at their house in 2 days. The reason was simple. Khloe said she missed her friend because they had not seen each other for a long time and she wanted to catch up. Besides, Khloe argued that she wanted to privately celebrate the good news about her father’s money. Although the money had not yet been transferred, they could at least share their happiness with someone close.
Ethan seemed surprised by the suggestion. His face tensed for a moment. His eyes shifted restlessly. Perhaps he feared his charade would be exposed if his wife and his mistress were in the same room. However, his greedy and arrogant nature quickly took control. Ethan thought it was an excellent opportunity to show Isla the luxury that would soon be hers. So, Ethan agreed to the idea with feigned enthusiasm, saying it was a fantastic idea to keep in touch.
The day of the dinner arrived. Khloe was busy in the kitchen since the afternoon, preparing special dishes as if welcoming an honored guest. She cooked several of Isla’s favorite dishes, a gesture she once made out of a friend’s affection, but which she now performed as part of her psychological warfare strategy. The aroma of the food filled the entire house, creating the illusion of a perfect, warm home. Exactly at 8:00 p.m., the doorbell rang. Ethan rushed to open the door, acting like a teenager in love, very different from the cold attitude he usually showed with Khloe’s other guests.
Khloe walked slowly from the dining room, controlling her breathing and expression. When she saw Isla enter, she felt a burning in her chest containing her anger. Isla was perfectly made up and wore rather tight clothes that tried to highlight her curves. However, Khloe could clearly see a slight change in her friend’s figure, especially in her abdomen, which was beginning to bulge a little, although it could still be concealed. Khloe greeted Isla with a warm hug. A hug that to Isla might seem normal, but to Khloe was a farewell hug to their dead friendship. Isla returned the hug awkwardly. Her eyes glanced sideways at Ethan, who stood behind Khloe with a mischievous smile. They believed Khloe did not see those exchanged glances, but Khloe caught everything clearly through the reflection in the large mirror hanging on the hall wall.
